A D.C. Metro employee is being called a hero today after he died attempting to stop a gunman during a shooting rampage at a train station on Wednesday morning. Three other individuals were injured during the attack. The Bible says there’s no greater love than for a man to lay down his life for his friends — or in this case, absolute strangers — and this worker put that on full display during this incident.
The employee, who has been identified as 64-year-old Robert Cunningham, was killed by a gunshot wound as he, along with another employee, tried to stop an altercation between a man with a gun and a woman on the platform located at the Potomac Avenue station in Washington, D.C., according to information released to the public by the police.
“His heroism has to be recognized here today,” Ashan Benedict, the executive assistant chief of police for the Metropolitan Police Department, went on to say at a press conference with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and several others.
“Investigators are still piecing together what transpired, including a motive, but Benedict told the media the gunman appeared to be “agitated” about something. Benedict said that police believe the gunman first shot someone in the leg on a Metrobus before shooting another person trying to purchase a farecard in the leg at the station,” the Daily Wire reported.
“On the platform, after Cunningham was shot, Benedict said the second employee appears to have succeeded in de-escalating the situation. The gunman got on and off a train, which did not move out of the station, before other people tackled him, Benedict said. Upon their arrival, police officers took the man into custody,” the report continued.
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Benedict stated that the wounded victims, which included an individual with an injured finger, were all receiving medical treatment for their wounds. It appears none of the injuries that were sustained are life-threatening. Benedict then made a call for witnesses to step forward and help with the investigation.
“The nation’s capital started the year with an alarming spike in crime. In a statement, Randy Clarke, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority general manager and CEO, called for an end to gun violence while also recognizing Cunningham’s sacrifice,” the Daily Wire said.
“Today, I feel profound sadness about the loss of our Metro family member, Robert Cunningham. We grieve for our employee, his family, and all who have been affected by this senseless tragedy,” he stated. “I appreciate the outpouring of support Metro has received today. Gun violence must stop. Unfortunately, Metro is not immune to the violence that our country is experiencing right now. These senseless acts must be addressed together by our leaders and community. We will take time to process this loss and take care of our employees. We are all hurting and will continue to lean on each other for support.”
Metro honored the heroic employee by lowering flags to half-staff. We live in a day and age where heroism is something that is not seen as widely as it used to be. People are too centered on themselves to be of much use to others in dire situations. But it’s not all the way dead, as Cunningham reminded us. Thank God for men like him. Let’s hope more are inspired to rise up by his actions.
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