A veteran cop pleaded to an armed veteran who wanted to end his life saying that the Lord had sent him to help him. Later, he gave his life to Jesus.
Veteran Wanting To End His Life
An incident that happened three years ago is still inspiring many people today. It was an encounter between veterans who had been dealing with the same struggle. One had already overcome. Meanwhile, the other was still struggling and wanted to end his life.
Faust, Benjamin. Veteran, Retrieved May 3, 2023 from: https://unsplash.com/photos/xOUs1VJnIP0
Outside a downtown hospital in Pueblo, an armed man was found sitting and contemplating on ending his life. The Pueblo Police Department soon received a report and responded to the call. And officer Richard Jones arrived on the scene first.
‘Shoot Me’
The Officer has been “trained in mental health crisis intervention.” Hence, he found ways to stop the armed man from doing his planned suicide. Later, he also discovered through the man’s uniform that he’s a veteran like him.
Richard pleaded to the veteran to drop his weapon. But the veteran replied, “shoot me.” He wanted the Officer to shoot him because he felt no one would help anyway. He was holding a “semi-automatic weapon,” ready to pull the trigger to shoot himself.
The Pueblo Officer pleaded, “let me help you, but not this way. I’m a retired army guy. Let me help you. Don’t make me do this.”
Later, other police officers also arrived on the scene. Everyone tried to convince the man. But despite their plea, he kept asking Officer Richard to kill him. And Richard kept telling him he couldn’t do it.
“I was in your shoes a few months ago, brother,” the Officer told the man. “In November I was in your shoes. And I made the call. It took everything in my body.”
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‘The Lord Sent Me’
Richard then shared how he decided to ask for help and received the help he needed. So, this time, he wanted to do the same towards him because he didn’t want to lose any veteran brother anymore.
“I can’t help you if you don’t help me.. the Lord sent me here to you today,” he told him. “He didn’t send one of these other guys. He sent me as a vet to help you because I’m there, I’ve been there.”
Then eleven minutes later, the man dropped his gun and gave in to Richard’s plea.
At the of the video, Richard could be heard crying as he was overwhelmed by what just happened. He also hugged his fellow vet after the incident.
In an interview with 9news, he shared how grateful that he was there at that moment to save the man.
Reference | YouTube – Mike The Cop
