Boy receives Citizen Honor Award for shielding classmate during school shooting

A 11-year-old boy from Minneapolis was recognized with a Citizen Honor Award in Washington, D.C., for helping save a classmate's life during a mass shooting at their school.

Victor Greenawalt is among this year's six honorees -- five individuals and one nonprofit -- for showing "extraordinary bravery far beyond his years," the Congressional Medal of Honor Society said in a statement. "Instinctively, Victorprotected a classmatewith his own body, directly saving their life."

10-year-old Victor Greenawalt leaped in front of gunfire to protect his friend during the tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.

For his bravery, he is now receiving a Citizen Honor Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

Victor was injured when he used his body to shield his friend from the gunfire at Annunciation Catholic School, according to MPR News.

"My friend Victor, like, saved me though. He laid on top of me, but he got hit," the friend, Weston Halsne, told Minneapolis station KARE last year. "He was really brave."

An 8-year-old and 10-year-old sitting in pews were killed and many others were injured when the shooter opened fire through the windows of the school's church on Aug. 27, 2025. The shooter died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,police said.

Victor is receiving the young hero award, which honors Americans 17 years old or younger "for their courage in a dire situation," the Congressional Medal of Honor Society said.