Sometimes, being in the right place at the right time isn’t sufficient to make everything right. It often requires the courage to stand up for those who are vulnerable and in need.
What began as 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 visibly intoxicated, was being forcefully pulled through the area by a well-dressed older man. This sight alarmed the boys, who sensed that something was amiss. The girl appeared to be in a terrible state. 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.”
As the boys moved closer, hoping to assist the girl in escaping from the man, he asserted that he was her father. The girl didn’t confirm this, so they chose to step back.
“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 said.
Nevertheless, the boys instinctively felt that he was lying, prompting them to turn around and check on the girl once more.
It turned out to be a decision that ultimately saved this lady’s life.
Upon returning, they were utterly shocked by the horrific scene. The man was 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, said.
Realizing they needed to act swiftly, they rushed towards the attacker. He began to flee, trying to escape the parking lot.
“He was trying to walk out and walk away from us,” said Nimenya. “He pushed me aggressively out of the way, kinda like just gives me the smile, like, ‘I can do this. You can’t do anything about it.’”
These young heroes were not about to let the attacker get away, so they were resolute in their pursuit. This led to a physical altercation when the man started 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. The police officers, however, wanted to ensure the boys’ courageous actions were recognized, so they invited them to the Chief’s Awards Gala, where they would receive awards and the public acknowledgment they truly deserved.
We are incredibly proud of how these young men responded to the situation. They even put their own lives at risk for the safety of a vulnerable and defenseless woman. You all are our real-life heroes and a genuine source of inspiration.
