Dallas Police Department officials commended several police officers Tuesday who used a tourniquet to help save a child with a gunshot wound.
Police said officers Christina Mattox and Jesus Tovar applied a tourniquet to the 4-year-old girl's leg after she was shot by three gunmen near the intersection of North Marsalis Avenue and East 6th Street in Oak Cliff at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
"Between the experience both in the military and police, I still never once thought I’d be using [a tourniquet] on a child," Mattox said. "I was worrying it wouldn’t get small enough to fit around her leg."
Paramedics arrived shortly after and transported the girl to a hospital.
"I kind of felt like I had that connection with her," Mattox said. "I told my partner, 'Here’s my car keys. I’m going in that ambulance.'"
Mattox remained by the girl's side, held her hand and kept her distracted as they rode in the ambulance to the hospital, according to police.
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"I was talking to her saying, 'You’re doing so good. You’re so brave,'" she said. "I was just trying to keep her conscious."
NBC 5's Jeff Smith contributed to this report.
