Sand Springs Native Aids Woman After Pennsylvania Gym Shooting

Three people were shot and killed and the shooter killed himself at a Pennsylvania gym.  A Sand Springs native was at the gym at the time of the shooting Tuesday and carried a woman to safety.

Wednesday, August 5th 2009, 1:01 pm

By: News On 6


By Dan Bewley and Terry Hood, The News On 6

PITTSBURGH, PA -- A Berryhill High School graduate who just moved to Pennsylvania two weeks ago played an important role after a Monday night shooting in Bridgeville.

Richard Walker just started a job working on an oil rig.  He was a high school hero on the basketball court in Oklahoma.  Now he's a hero of a different kind, thanks to quick action during the shooting.

Police say 48-year-old George Sodini killed three women and injured nine others at a health club in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania.  Among the crowd was Richard Walker.

Walker was playing basketball in the gym when the shooting began.  One of the women who came running through the basketball court was shot in the leg.  The Berryhill High School grad told a Pittsburgh TV station he saw her struggling and helped her out of the gym.

"All she kept saying over and over, 'He's going to kill me, he's going to kill me,'" said Richard Walker.

Nearly a thousand miles away, Walker's mother was recovering from surgery when she heard the news.

"It's just crazy that he's from here and he's up there and something like that happens," said Misty Walker.

Misty Walker wasn't surprised when she learned her son helped save a woman from the tragic scene.

"He's had a good raising. We've taught our kids to help people that need help.  He's a good kid," said Misty Walker.

His mother helped The News On 6 get in touch with her son, who says he didn't really think about helping the woman.  He just did what needed to be done.

"My adrenaline, it was rushing, I didn't even, it didn't feel like I had anybody in my arms. I just picked her up, like, with ease. Like I bent down, picking up a basketball and running. I just picked her up and took off running," said Richard Walker.

Misty Walker always thought her son would do the right thing if needed, now she has proof.

"Just really proud of him. Proud of him for doing the right thing and proud of him for helping her and grateful that he wasn't injured or, worse, killed," said Misty Walker.

Richard says he wasn't scared and is proud of how he reacted and says he'd do it again if necessary.     
 

 

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