The average Glendon Oakley, recently returned home after serving in Kuwait, came to Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso shopping. He just chose a t-shirt in the store, when in there rushed a child and said that in the local Walmart «shoot».
At first, the customers decided that it was just a bad joke — but then they heard the shots, instantly convinced of the opposite. 22-year-old soldier, recently received a license to carry firearms, mechanically pulled out a gun and was about to join the group of visitors, rushing to his eyes to the door, when noticed in the play area at the supermarket a group of children unattended.
Oakley immediately forgot about all his plans and rushed to their aid.
«I saw the children alone, without adults. — the man tells MSNBC In one hand I held the bag, but still tried to grab as many as they could and withdraw. <…> When we got out, one of the police officers seem to have thought I was shot, so had to show him a license to carry firearms».
This is Glen Oakley.
He was in the @FootLocker when the El Paso shooting happened. When he ran to leave, he saw kids in the mall without their parents, scared and alone.
So he picked up as many as he could and carried them to safety.
Focus on the heroes.#ElPasoShooting pic.twitter.com/1NofPvegjL
— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) August 3, 2019
Oakley — private first class and specialist in automated techobanine stationed at Fort bliss, was born in a military family. His father retired in the rank of chief Sergeant after 31 years at the post, and mother behind — 20 years of service with the rank of Sergeant. However, Glenn admits he is not immediately followed in the footsteps of relatives. His childhood and youth spent in kileen (TX), the man describes as «slightly problematic».
«I was several times in prison, says Oakley — because of the fights, marijuana, because of any nonsense. Several times fell in a senseless shooting. <…> In kileen it’s business as usual».
That all changed when the guy moved to Macon (GA), where he met with the army recruiter, who helped him to collect all the necessary documents and after two years of hard work to finally get the service. Glen graduated in March 2018 and went with his battalion to Kuwait — only a few months ago when I returned home.
9 months later.. pic.twitter.com/dn0rRohwra
— OAKLEY 🇯🇲 (@broglennn) March 30, 2019
When the shooting started, he was off duty — but that didn’t stop the man immediately to respond to the threat.
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«This taught us, explains military — to get a gun, if you hear gunshots, and act quickly. It’s not even words can explain, an instinct».
Oakley now — a «real American heroa» for local residents and for users of social networks. The journalist Muhammad Lila, published in his Twitter interview with the military, advised others in the Wake of the tragedy to focus not on the arrow, and the men like Oakley, forgotten in the chaos of their own safety for the sake of strangers.
If it wasn’t for the army teaching me selfless service, idk what I would’ve done.
— OAKLEY 🇯🇲 (@broglennn) August 3, 2019
Glen himself believes he owes his heroic act of service in the army, «who taught him selflessness».
«I heard that killed 4 children. he adds it is a Pity that I couldn’t do more.»
