Two heroes stopped a would-be rapist who attacked a woman walking her dog at 8:30 in the morning near Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles. The two hikers ran to the woman's rescue when they heard her screams, subdued him, and got him off of her. In a time when it feels like all we hear about are people ignoring people and not helping those in need, a story like this can be simultaneously terrifying (because who attacks someone in broad daylight?!) and comforting (because there are good citizens out there).
As a woman, I know to be cautious once the sun goes down. I don't like to take my dog out after dark or walk home alone from places. Sure, I live in a safe neighborhood, but you can never be too careful. Now it seems I may need to fear daylight, too.
The thing is, attacks can happen anywhere at any time, and when they do, you just hope you are near people brave enough to rush to your aid. See video below:
On the East Coast, especially in the Northeast, we are notorious for not coming to anyone's aid. Obviously, there is the Kitty Genovese story -- the woman in the 1960s who was murdered in front of so many people who never came to help her -- but even less dramatic stories happen every day.
I have fallen twice while running and I wasn't helped either time, even though the second time, I broke my ankle and could clearly not walk.
Fine, people want to mind their own business. They aren't always sure of what they are seeing. And many times, in the case of a crime, they don't want to be robbed or raped, too.
But come on. Don't we kind of owe it to our fellow citizens to give a crap? If you see someone writhing on the ground in pain, wouldn't you want to help them?
Personally, I am not sure. If I were with my children or alone myself as a woman, I might try to get help rather than attacking someone myself. But these men are truly heroic. That is what a real hero does and I would challenge anyone who says differently. A woman is safe today because two men risked their own lives.
It makes me feel better about humanity in some strange way.
Would you help a person like this?
Image via blmurch/Flickr
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Comments 20
Its good to know that there are some people out there not afraid to jump in and help. There are some people that can just look the other way. We should all try and help someone in need if we can.
First, the Kitty Genovese story is widely misrepresented. A quick google search would have shown that your understanding is incorrect. Although some people heard cries or witnessed some parts of the crime, almost none recognized the events to actually be a crime. Most who heard cries could not hear them clearly enough to hear that they were cries for help. Just as most who witnessed different parts of the crime did not recognize the actions they were seeing as attacks. many thought they were an arguing couple while others thought they were drunks on the way home from a bar. Second, can we take a moment to recognize that most men are like the heroic rescuers and not the rapist. It was men who rescued this woman. Thank heavens they were there. Actually, thank heavens for men.
I live in a "safe neighborhood" (almost all young couples with kids or elderly grandparents) in LA. I was walking my dog a few weeks ago at about 9:30 at night STUPIDLY in only my old gym shorts and a hoodie. No cell phone, no mace, not even my keys :( (my bf was home and I was only going to be gone for 10 min so I reckoned it was fine...again, stupid STUPID) As I was walking along a beat up old car with dark tinted windows blasting rap music going way above the speed limit came to a screaching halt right in front of me, for seemingly no reason. I stopped, waited to see what they would do. After maybe half a minute the car pulled over to the side of the road about 10 feet away and just waited. No one got out, no one came in, nothing...now maybe they were just checking their iphone for directions or something and it was perfectly innocent, but I thought it was a little...odd. I waited, they waited. (Again, i STUPIDLY was just wearing gym shorts, ugh) I wanted to return home just in case but my house was in their direction so I decided to keep walking and loop around to the next street to go back that way... (TBC)
About 5 minutes later on the other street I saw in the distance (maybe 50 ft away) 3 very large, tall men walking down the middle of the street (literally, not on the sidewalk) side by side like hulking gorillas forming a brick wall right towards. They weren't walking a dog, they weren't a couple out for a nice walk. Maybe they were just buddies going for a walk...maybe not. I immediately turned around and they KEPT PACE WITH ME as I kept glancing over their shoulder. I.e. I walked faster, THEY walked faster (again, could have been mere coincidence...), and i know I have no proof of any wrongdoing, but the whole thing was VERY strange and made my women's intuition tingle with nerves. The whole thing just felt "off" to me you know? I was so scared I ran all the way home and locked the door tight. Better to be a fool than a victim! Better to be safe than sorry! And I learned my lesson and will now NEVER leave home w/o the keys, call, and mace package :(
Saphron, holy cow. Can I just say you were wise to trust your instincts and make decisions to protect yourself. Scary indeed. Glad it turned out ok.
i would help. and have in the past.
I wanna know wtf is wrong with the "multiple residents" who pulled out their video camera's/digital cameras and took pictures, instead of ACTUALLY HELPING. Like seriously? "Oh shit's goin' down!! Grab the camera! I bet we could sell these pics to the news!!!"
smh....
@Livn4hevn how do you know they didn't..? It only takes one person to call the police, so if the person recording was with someone else, then presumably that person called it in. Why assume the worst?