Man Who Reacted to Shots Is Among 4 Honorees

A reserve sheriff’s deputy who tackled a man suspected of shooting a lawyer outside the Van Nuys courthouse in October was one of four citizens honored for their courage Thursday by the Los Angeles County district attorney.

David Katz, 40, a traffic court judge and corporate attorney as well as a reserve deputy, was leaving the courthouse Oct. 31 when he heard gunshots. Katz ran back toward the building, wrestled the alleged shooter to the pavement and confiscated two guns. The event, captured by television cameras there to cover the Robert Blake murder case, was broadcast nationally.

“Many people, upon hearing gunshots, would have continued to their cars and hurried away from the area,” said Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, addressing the honorees and Northridge Kiwanis Club members, who sponsored the annual Courageous Citizens Awards ceremony.

“Because David Katz ignored his own safety and acted to stop a dangerous and unstable man from hurting anyone else, we honor him today,” Cooley said.

Attorney Gerald E. Curry, 53, of Simi Valley, suffered gunshot wounds to the neck and chest in the incident and was hospitalized for two days. He did not know the alleged gunman, William Strier, 64, of Thousand Oaks, but had appeared in court that morning in connection with a dispute over the management of a trust that had been set up for Strier. Strier did not attend the proceeding.

After Thursday’s ceremony, Curry praised Katz’s heroism.

“What he did was very courageous,” Curry said.

Because of Katz, he said, the gunman “is off the street and not a threat to me and my family and I appreciate it very much.”

Katz, Fred Thayer of Granada Hills, Pedro Gonzalez of Panorama City and Sergio Medrano of Mission Hills were recognized for their bravery at a luncheon in Granada Hills.

Thayer, 59, was honored for pulling 4-year-old Marquise Diantae McDonald from a house fire that erupted during a bitter domestic dispute between the boy’s parents, Jaquetta “Nicole” Taylor and Duane West.

Months before the crime in July 2001, Taylor had informed West that he was the boy’s father and asked him for $150 a month in child support, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Craig Mitchell.

West beat Taylor and set her hair on fire with a flammable liquid and a match, Mitchell said. The fire spread to the bed where Marquise was sleeping. Taylor survived but the boy died of his injuries a day later.

West was convicted of murder and attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

“I was just helping another person,” Thayer said after the ceremony. “Even though it didn’t turn out as well as I thought it would.”

Gonzalez, 23, and Medrano, 47, thwarted an armed robbery on June 19, 2002, at the Carl’s Jr. restaurant where they worked by detaining the assailant until police arrived, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Annette Peterson.

During the incident, gunman Jason Perry repeatedly struck Gonzalez over the head with his gun and hit Medrano with a mop and bit him in an attempt to get away, Peterson said.

Perry, who was convicted of attempted robbery, assault with a firearm and making criminal threats, awaits sentencing.