At times, merely being in the right location at the right moment is insufficient to rectify a situation. Frequently, it also requires the bravery to demonstrate your willingness to advocate for those who are in need and for the vulnerable.
What initially appeared to be an ordinary night out transformed into an unforgettable experience for four young boys. Arnaud Nimenya, Carsyn Wright, James Hielema, and Starlyn Rives-Perez were skateboarding in an underground parking garage when they encountered a rather unusual scene. A young girl, approximately 15 years old and inebriated, was being forcibly dragged through the area by a well-dressed older man. This sight alarmed the boys, who sensed that something was amiss. The girl’s condition was dire; she was so intoxicated that one of the boys recalled, “she was screaming and yelling. She just wanted to be out of there. She was all scuffed up and dirty.”
However, as the boys approached in an attempt to assist the girl in escaping from the man, he asserted that he was her father. The girl did not provide any confirmation regarding this claim, prompting them to retreat.
“You don’t want to really think of the worst in somebody like that. You don’t want that situation to be real, so you just brush it off and hope for the best,” Wright remarked.
Nevertheless, the boys somehow sensed that he was not being truthful, leading them to turn around and check on the girl once more.
This decision ultimately proved to be crucial in saving the young woman’s life.
Upon returning, they were utterly horrified by the gruesome scene. The man was in the act of sexually assaulting the young woman, who was powerless to defend herself.
“You walk in, and you see something like that, and you freeze. You don’t know what to do,” Nimenya, one of the young men, stated.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, they knew they had to act swiftly, so they sprinted towards the assailant, who began to flee in an attempt to escape the parking lot.
“He was attempting to exit and distance himself from us,” Nimenya recounted. “He forcefully shoved me aside, almost as if to say with a smile, ‘I can do this. You are powerless to stop me.’”
These courageous youths refused to let the assailant evade justice, thus they resolved to apprehend him. This culminated in a physical altercation when the man began striking the boys with one of their skateboards. Fortunately, the police arrived just in time.
The boys felt relieved that the woman was now safe and unharmed. The police officers, however, were determined that the boys’ act of heroism would not go unrecognized, so they chose to express their gratitude for their bravery and valor by inviting them to the Chief’s Awards Gala, where they would receive awards and the public acknowledgment they rightfully earned.
We take immense pride in how these young men managed the situation. They even put their lives at risk for the safety of a vulnerable and defenseless woman. You are our real-life heroes and a genuine source of inspiration.