Vienna, Ill., man clings to life after gun attack

VIENNA, Ill. -- Gary Weston was excited to be going to the troubled nation of Kosovo and help as a United Nations peacekeeper. His family bears that in mind now as they pray for a miracle to deliver him from a hospital bed in Kosovo. There, with his wife, Nina, at his bedside, family members said Wednesday he remains in extremely critical condition after taking two gunshots to the head.

The 52-year-old Vienna, Ill., resident was one of 10 Americans wounded when a Jordanian policeman opened fire on a group of U.N. police in Kosovo on Saturday. Two Americans were killed in the fray.

Kim Bigley had worked with Gary Weston at the Shawnee Correctional Center in Vienna. Bigley, of Paducah, Ky., was one of the two U.N. officers killed.

"His passion was to make a difference," said Gary Weston's brother, Ben, on Wednesday. "He wanted to go over there amongst all the hate and make a difference through the Lord's love."

That religious desire inspired the retired Illinois Department of Corrections officer and auditor to take his 30 years of experience and knowledge of prison systems abroad to aid the U.N. in establishing a system in Kosovo. He had arrived less than a week before the incident, which occurred as Gary Weston and his fellow officers were leaving the detention center after a day of training. It was his first day on the job.

Nina Weston received the phone call Saturday evening, was on her way with Ben Weston to St. Louis on Sunday, and was at her husband's side by Monday morning.

The Jordanian policeman who started the 10-minute gunfight was among those on guard at the prison, a fact that troubles Weston's sister-in-law, Susan Weston.

"You don't know who to trust over there," she said.

trehagen@semissourian.com

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