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2025-2026 Bill 5614: SCSA 2025 Medal of Valor recipient Elijah Pierce - South Carolina Legislature Online
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5614
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Wooten, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G.M. Smith, M.M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis and Yow
Document Path: LC-0388HA-GM26.docx
Introduced in the House on April 29, 2026
Adopted by the House on April 29, 2026
Summary: SCSA 2025 Medal of Valor recipient Elijah Pierce
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date
Body
Action Description with journal page number
4/29/2026
House
Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 13
)
View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
04/29/2026
A
house
RESOLUTION
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DEPUTY ELIJAH PIERCE OF THE
ANDERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE, SELFLESSNESS,
AND DECISIVE ACTIONS DURING THE LIFE-THREATENING RESCUE OF THREE-YEAR-OLD
BENNETT DORNELLAS ON MAY 8, 2024, AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS HEROIC ACTIONS IN
THE LINE OF DUTY AS DESERVING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION MEDAL
OF VALOR.
W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to recognize
individuals whose bravery and dedication to duty exemplify the highest
standards of public service and law enforcement; and
W
hereas, on May 8,
2024, Deputy Elijah Pierce of the Anderson County Sheriff's Office responded to
a critical and dangerous incident involving the violent kidnapping of a three-year-old
child, Bennett Dornellas, by his father, Joshua Dornellas, from the child's
home in Belton, South Carolina; and
W
hereas, Deputy Pierce
played a vital role in the coordinated search efforts that led law enforcement
officers to locate the suspect's vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed
along Interstate 85. The deputy's vigilance and communication were instrumental
in helping deputies close in on the fleeing suspect; and
W
hereas, as the pursuit
continued into the State of Georgia, the suspect intentionally set the truck on
fire and jumped from the moving vehicle, leaving young Bennett trapped inside
as the burning truck veered off the roadway, traveled up an embankment, and
came to rest in a wooded area while rapidly becoming engulfed in flames; and
W
hereas, without
hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Deputy
Pierce ran toward the burning vehicle alongside fellow deputies to attempt a
rescue under rapidly deteriorating and life-threatening conditions; and
W
hereas, during the
rescue effort, Sergeant Hunter Ruff entered the burning truck headfirst through
the driver's side window and located Bennett trapped on the driver's
floorboard, and Deputy Pierce immediately acted to assist, pulling Sergeant
Ruff from the burning vehicle while Sergeant Ruff held the child in his arms;
and
W
hereas, Deputy
Pierce's courage, situational awareness, and swift actions ensured the safe
extraction of both Sergeant Ruff and Bennett Dornellas, allowing the child to
receive urgent medical care and undoubtedly contributing to the preservation of
his life; and
W
hereas, although
Bennett suffered severe burns during the horrific incident, he survived, and
his resilience stands as a testament to the bravery and determination of the
deputies who refused to leave him behind; and
W
hereas, Sergeant
Hunter Ruff, Sergeant Danny McCown, and Sergeant Stephen Earwood have each been
recognized with the Medal of Valor for their courage and heroism displayed
during this incident, and it is fitting and proper that Deputy Elijah Pierce
receive equal recognition for his indispensable and heroic actions; and
W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for Deputy Pierce's
unwavering commitment to duty, his devotion to protecting others, and the
example of honor and courage he has set for his community and this State. Now, therefore,
B
e it resolved by the
House of Representatives
:
T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
House of Representatives
,
by this resolution, recognize and honor Deputy Elijah Pierce of the Anderson
County Sheriff's Office for his extraordinary courage, and selflessness, and
decisive action during the life-threatening rescue of three-year-old Bennett
Dornellas on May 8, 2024, and commend him for his heroic actions in the line of
duty as deserving of the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of Valor.
B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Deputy Elijah Pierce.
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This web page was last updated on April 29, 2026 at 11:40 AM