Man Saves Four Texas Children From Fire, Gets Arrested
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2003 11:36 am
Man Saves Four Texas Children From Fire, Gets Arrested
Parole Violation Lands Man In Jail
POSTED: 8:11 a.m. EDT April 29, 2003
UPDATED: 8:54 a.m. EDT April 29, 2003
ABILENE, Texas -- One family calls him a hero, but a sheriff's deputy says he's under arrest.
Kris Leija,22, repeatedly ran into a burning apartment building in Abilene, Texas, and carried four children to safety. But once he appeared on TV to talk about the fire, an officer recognized him for failing to meet with his probation officer.
Leija had been on four months probation for a burglary conviction. His mother said he knew he could have been arrested when he got on TV, but was responding to a request by the children's family to find out who he was.
From jail, Leija said he wants everyone to remember him for the good he did and not the bad in his past.
At 3 a.m. Sunday, an Abilene apartment building erupted in flames.
"I just thought, 'Let me see if I can do anything to help,'" Leija said.
He ran straight into the fire and returned with a child. Emergency crews couldn't stop him.
"I turned back and I heard the police officers and firefighters telling me, 'Don't go back, come back.' But I had to get two more kids that I left in there."
And he did. The story was broadcast nationwide, but among those watching was a sheriff's deputy who knew Leija, (pictured, right) was a wanted man. He was on four years probation for a burglary last year and he failed to meet his parole officer last month.
"I learned my mistakes for what I did and that ain't me," Leija said. "I just want the community to look at me as a good person for what I did."
The arresting officer in the case said she still considers Leija a hero for saving the children, but said he should have been more responsible about his personal matters.
The fire eventually left 70 families homeless, but no one was injured.
Parole Violation Lands Man In Jail
POSTED: 8:11 a.m. EDT April 29, 2003
UPDATED: 8:54 a.m. EDT April 29, 2003
ABILENE, Texas -- One family calls him a hero, but a sheriff's deputy says he's under arrest.
Kris Leija,22, repeatedly ran into a burning apartment building in Abilene, Texas, and carried four children to safety. But once he appeared on TV to talk about the fire, an officer recognized him for failing to meet with his probation officer.
Leija had been on four months probation for a burglary conviction. His mother said he knew he could have been arrested when he got on TV, but was responding to a request by the children's family to find out who he was.
From jail, Leija said he wants everyone to remember him for the good he did and not the bad in his past.
At 3 a.m. Sunday, an Abilene apartment building erupted in flames.
"I just thought, 'Let me see if I can do anything to help,'" Leija said.
He ran straight into the fire and returned with a child. Emergency crews couldn't stop him.
"I turned back and I heard the police officers and firefighters telling me, 'Don't go back, come back.' But I had to get two more kids that I left in there."
And he did. The story was broadcast nationwide, but among those watching was a sheriff's deputy who knew Leija, (pictured, right) was a wanted man. He was on four years probation for a burglary last year and he failed to meet his parole officer last month.
"I learned my mistakes for what I did and that ain't me," Leija said. "I just want the community to look at me as a good person for what I did."
The arresting officer in the case said she still considers Leija a hero for saving the children, but said he should have been more responsible about his personal matters.
The fire eventually left 70 families homeless, but no one was injured.
