Officer who helped save boy speaks out

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Chicago police officer says he was just doing his job when he helped save a 10-year-old boy critically wounded by gunfire on Monday.

When a call came in on the 3900-block of West Polk on Monday night, it was one that Sgt. Bryan Topczweski had to take.

Instead of his planned return to the station to finish up reports on several other shootings that night, the 20-year police veteran immediately rushed to the scene.

The first to arrive, Topczweski found 10-year-old Tavon Tanner on the floor of his home.

The boy's mother was crying and his twin sister was holding his hand.

"She was saying, 'Don't die, don't die.' He said, 'I'm going to die, I'm going to die,'" said Topczewski.

Tavon had been playing on the porch of his home when someone opened fire on the street. He collapsed after walking through his front door. Tavon was hit in the back, with no visible bleeding.

Sgt. Topczewki knew the bullet likely hit Tavon's organs and there was internal bleeding. He did everything he could to stop internal bleeding before the paramedics arrived.

"I'm just a guy doing a job, I had training and as the first one the scene, I'm there and I'm doing what I think will stop the bleeding," said Topczewski.

The 48-year-old cop used a compression bandage in his trauma pack to apply pressure.

While humble, Topczewki says saving Tavon is what he gets paid to do, although he admits the job does become personal.

"He is close in age to my daughter, so you don't forget it. You appreciate what you have, you appreciate your time off, you appreciate your family," said Topczewski.

He hopes to visit Tavon in the hospital on Friday, where Tavon is still in critical condition.