JetBlue, Breeze, and Azul Airlines Founder David Neeleman, his son Daniel, and Startup-Founder Shawn Ames Thwart abduction and murder in Fairfield Country, CT . Request documentation of events to support application for the FBI Commendation for Valor via recent DOJ filing.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn., Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Shawn Ames, a member of the startup team for David Neeleman's multi-billion dollar Brazilian airline, Azul, have formally requested that Neeleman provide a public statement detailing their joint efforts to thwart a kidnapping and potential murder in 2019.
The incident occurred at a Home Depot in Fairfield County, Connecticut, where Neeleman, his son Daniel Neeleman, and Shawn Ames had gone to purchase a generator following a power outage at Neeleman's New Canaan residence caused by a severe storm. A distressed woman approached the trio, screaming and begging for help, saying that men were trying to kill her.
"From the way she was screaming, we all knew it was super-serious," says Shawn Ames. "David, who was America's most famous and powerful airline CEO at the time, could have ignored this woman, I was shocked as he took the lead to save her life, and Daniel and I just all fell in behind David immediately, each of us playing our role."
Without hesitation, the group quickly jumped into action, with David Neeleman as the driver, Daniel Neeleman as the navigator, and Shawn Ames as the communications and intel specialist, relaying information to state police while ensuring the woman's safety. As they herded the woman into their vehicle, the men chasing her emerged and gave chase in a small, older Honda with reckless intensity.
"These guys were seriously after this woman," says Ames. "It appears they really were trying to kill her, and now possibly us. It was a very frightening situation."
The ensuing car chase reached speeds of 90 miles per hour, weaving through traffic for at least 20 minutes, with both vehicles nearly colliding with others on the road. State police eventually responded but initially went the wrong way down the 95 Highway, with Ames on the phone trying to direct them. The kidnappers peeled off the highway upon spotting state police doubling back.
"It appeared these guys had her in the midst of a crime, and possibly even a rape, she didn't mention it, but since she wasn't wearing shoes and had somehow lost them, it seemed obvious she was in a compromising situation" says Ames.
Shawn Ames' attorneys are seeking a public statement from David Neeleman to support Mr. Ames' application for the prestigious FBI Commendation for Valor, which he is pursuing for separate events. Ames notes that this incident marks the second kidnapping he has countered, with the first taking place in Tijuana, Mexico, during the height of the 2007 Mexican Drug War.
"I never wanted credit for this, until a recent defense-related event drove the need to make this public," says Ames. "Christians are told to take action when we see someone in trouble because that is what the Lord commands us to do. We wanted to save her life, and in this case, I believe we obviously did."
Ames emphasizes that David Neeleman was the absolute leader and hero throughout the ordeal, with Daniel Neeleman and himself forming a natural team around him. The group managed to find a safe McDonald's where the grateful woman requested to be let out to coordinate police efforts from the secure location.
The requested statement from David Neeleman is expected to shed light on the harrowing experience and the importance of swift, coordinated action when confronted with life-threatening situations.
About Shawn Ames: Shawn Ames is the Founder of Sheepdogs Defense AI, a startup dedicated to re-building, protecting, and promoting the American Brand by connecting Patriotic Donors with Patriotic Influencers and offering defense, cybersecurity, and national security products.
For more information, please contact:
Shawn Ames
347-375-6591
Media Contact
Shawn Ames, Sheepdogs Defense AI, 1 3473756591, [email protected], Linkedin.com/in/shawnames
SOURCE Shawn Ames
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