A Niagara County deputy sheriff is headed to the White House. Joseph Tortorella will receive the Presidential Medal of Valor from President Obama on Monday for his heroics during a shooting in April 2015. Tortorella responded to a 911 hang-up from on Errick Road in North Tonawanda, when he was confronted by a man who had already killed his own parents. The deputy was shot in his bullet proof vest and returned fire. He was able to call dispatchers to put Errick Road Elementary School into lockdown.
Law enforcement forced their way into the home, where they found two people, Duane Bores Sr., 58, and Cynthia Bores, 55, had been shot. One was shot once; the other multiple times.
Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour said Duane Bores Jr., 25, engaged in an exchange of gunfire with Tortorella, was shot, then ran back inside the home. He was later found dead inside the home. Voutour said Bores had taken his own life.
After the incident, Tortorella was taken to the hospital to be checked out and later released. He had been on the force for 10 years at the time.
In January of this year, Tortorella was also honored by the New York State Sheriff's Association, which named him Deputy of the Year.
