Reports: Plumber shoots, injures First Baptist Church gunman
Stephen Willeford, 55, is credited with helping to bring down man who killed 26 in Texas
Photo credit: Stephen Willeford/Facebook
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas — Local plumber Stephen Willeford, 55, is being hailed as a hero for his role in bringing down the man who killed 26 people Nov. 5 at First Baptist Church, according to a report in The Daily Mail.
Willeford, who lives near the church, grabbed his own rifle and ran to the church barefoot after hearing the gunshots. According to reports, he confronted the gunman as the gunman was leaving the church, exchanging fire and “hitting him at least once,” according to The Washington Post.
Willeford then joined with another local man, Johnnie Langendorff, 27, who drove after the injured gunman while Willeford continued to “[engage] the suspect.” The gunman eventually crashed his SUV and took his own life.
The ages of those killed in the shooting range from just 18 months to 77 years, and one family lost eight members in the tragic shooting.
Read more about Willeford’s actions here.
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