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(Austin, TX) — When Austin, Texas jogger Josh Williams left his home on Friday morning, he didn’t know he’d have to use the Glock 43 he’s carried for a decade.
He tries to take a jog at least once a week on the Austin’s Hike-and-Bike Trail, but never has had to use his firearm to stop a sexual assault.
It was still dark outside on the trail when he heard a young 22-year-old woman screaming.
She was screaming loud enough to where he could hear the scream through his ear buds.
He sprang into action quickly, telling the rapist to get off the woman while pointing his gun at him.
Police ended up arresting Richard McEachern and have charged him with sexual assault.
According to the report in KVUE.com, Williams did what he’s training to do:
“It’s dark, and I don’t know what’s out there, so I have it to protect myself and other people,” Williams, 39, told Tony Plohetski in a recent KVUE News/Austin American-Statesman joint-exclusive interview.
“That’s what it’s all about anyway, to help other people with it, not just myself.”
On the morning of Sept. 15, at around 5:30 a.m., Williams was running on the north side of the trail.
He heard screams from a woman, pointed his flashlight in the direction of them and said he realized that she was being sexually assaulted.
The crime was one of three similar incidents in a several week period that put runners’ on edge along the busy path.
“I came up, pulled my gun and told him to get off of her,” he said. “Get on your knees and show me your hands.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever have to pull it,” he said. “Did I want to? No, but just right place, right time.”
And what does Williams think about the notion of being a hero?
“I don’t see myself as being a hero,” he said. “But I guess I am.”