21-Year-Old Uses 'Stop the Bleed' Training to Help Shooting Victims

Giles Foster's quick actions at an Olive Garden in Warrensville Heights are being recognized by county leaders.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:52pm

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Giles Foster, a 21-year-old employee at an Olive Garden in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, is being honored for using his 'Stop the Bleed' training to provide life-saving aid to two shooting victims who rushed into the restaurant. Foster dropped beside the wounded men and applied bleeding-control techniques he had recently learned, helping to save their lives until first responders arrived.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the importance of 'Stop the Bleed' training programs, which teach residents how to respond to bleeding emergencies. County officials organized the training after a deadly shooting at a local nightclub, recognizing that bystanders' lack of knowledge about bleeding control may have contributed to the victim's death. Foster's actions show how this training can empower community members to take life-saving action.

The details

The shooting occurred around 10:30 pm on February 24 at the Olive Garden where Foster works. Two wounded men rushed inside the restaurant, and Foster immediately applied the bleeding-control techniques he had learned just a few months earlier at a 'Stop the Bleed' training organized by the county's Office of Violence Prevention. Foster's quick thinking and willingness to act helped save the lives of the two victims until first responders arrived.

  • The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. on February 24, 2026.
  • Foster had learned the 'Stop the Bleed' techniques a few months earlier.

The players

Giles Foster

A 21-year-old employee at the Warrensville Heights Olive Garden who used his 'Stop the Bleed' training to provide life-saving aid to two shooting victims.

Chris Ronayne

The Cuyahoga County Executive who read a proclamation honoring Foster for his quick thinking and lifesaving actions.

Meredith Turner

A Cuyahoga County Council member who praised Foster's 'extraordinary courage, preparedness and compassion' in helping the victims.

Myesha Watkins

The Cuyahoga County's first violence prevention administrator who organized the 'Stop the Bleed' training that Foster attended.

Lamauri Gilbert-Grays

One of two 19-year-old men arrested and charged in connection with the shooting.

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What they’re saying

“You remind us that community safety is strengthened not only by institutions but also by the willingness of citizens to act with compassion and courage in extraordinary moments.”

— Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Executive (cleveland.com)

“Giles is an example of that.”

— Myesha Watkins, Cuyahoga County's first violence prevention administrator (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Lamauri Gilbert-Grays and Jonathan Sledge, the two 19-year-old men charged in connection with the shooting, out on bail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of 'Stop the Bleed' training programs that empower community members to take life-saving action in emergency situations. Giles Foster's quick thinking and willingness to help demonstrates how this training can make a real difference in saving lives.