St. Charles Man Honored For Saving Jogger In Rottweiler Attack

ST. CHARLES, IL — A St. Charles man who is credited with saving the life of a jogger who was attacked by two rottweilers in December was honored for his bravery on Tuesday and says he is prepared to help anyone who needs assistance.

Chris Shanahan was presented with the Heroic Citizen Award during Tuesday’s Kane County Commission meeting. Shanahan came to the assistance of Laura Kizman, who was attacked by a pair of rottweilers which left her seriously injured. Kizman is now suing the couple.

Shanahan was driving along Windsor Drive when he saw Kizman being attacked by the dogs. Shanahan’s initial efforts to free Kizman from the dogs were unsuccessful, which prompted him to call his father and bring a shotgun. Shanahan, who has a concealed carry license, shot one of the dogs and was able to get the other dog to release Kizman by firing another shot.

"If he had not acted then, I would have been killed," Kizman said in the release issued announcing the lawsuit in January. "I kept telling myself to hold on and stay conscious for my kids and my husband, but I thought I was going to die. The pain was so intense."

Shanahan said his ultimate goal was to help Kizman so she could return to her husband and four children for the “moments that matter”, he told board members at Tuesday’s meeting.

“We are never surprised to see our citizens step up to help another in this great community,” Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain said. “Chris Shanahan is a true hero, and it is an honor to recognize him for his swift actions to save Ms. Kizman’s life.”

Kizman was hospitalized with serious injuries to her arms, legs, and head and underwent several weeks of treatment at a local trauma center. She is expected to make a full recovery.

Shanahan was recognized with a standing ovation at Tuesday’s Kane County Commission meeting.

“I was prepared to do this for anyone,” Shanahan told board members on Tuesday. “It didn’t matter who the victim was in this particular incident. I was committed to stopping and preventing what could have been a terrible, terrible tragedy.”