“You see it in movies and on TV all the time, but you never think it will happen in real life until it happens. At that time, I was in shock,” said Justin Herron during a news conference on Wednesday with Murry Rogers, another spectator credited for stopping the attack. Both were awarded awards for outstanding service from the Tempe Police Department.
A 30-year-old man was trying to sexually assault a 71-year-old woman in a public park, according to police, when Herron and Rogers heard cries for help. Herron, a 6’5 “offensive striker who just completed his debut season at the New England Patriots, said he was taking a walk when he heard the attack.
“I knew at that moment that I had to go,” said Herron, who ordered the man to stop and pulled him off the woman.
“I try not to be too aggressive towards individuals, knowing that I can hurt someone,” said Herron. The suspect obeyed and remained stationary while the police were on their way.
Rogers said he was in the park for his daughter’s birthday party and prevented the suspect from escaping while Herron consoled the victim. “It was terrible to witness,” he said.
The man was taken into custody and an investigation into the attack is ongoing, police said.
“If it weren’t for the quick actions of Mr. Justin Herron and Mr. Murry Rogers, this cruel attack could have been much worse,” said Tempe police detective Natalie Barela.
The two good Samaritans met privately with the victim before the press conference.
“It was touching to see her, but also painful to see how she responded to the trauma and how she is dealing with it,” said Herron. “Nobody should go through this.”
“She thanked us. She called us her angels,” said Rogers. “I’m a little bit of a whiner, so it was very exciting.”