The Texas Man Who Stopped a Church Massacre Says 'I Don't See Myself As a Hero'

Brittany M. Hughes | December 30, 2019
DONATE
Font Size

One week ago, Jack Wilson was just a man from Texas who went to church and taught firearms classes during the week.

Today, he’s a hero. But he doesn’t see himself that way.

Wilson, 71, is credited with saving an untold number of lives after he fatally shot a gunman who began firing at parishioners inside West Freeway Church of Christ Sunday morning. The shooting, which left two people and the gunman dead, was over in under six seconds after Wilson, who heads up the church’s volunteer security team, pulled out his own handgun and fired one shot into the gunman’s head. Wilson is a trained firearms instructor and former deputy sheriff. 

But while he's now being hailed as the man who singlehandedly stopped a massacre, Wilson said he’s no hero, having simply done “what needed to be done” in the moment.

"I don't see myself as a hero. I see myself as doing what needed to be done to take out the evil threat."
 


Wilson told reporters his extensive training is what enabled him to stay calm and measured during what could have over wise been a bloody massacre. While live-streamed footage of the worship service shows other congregation members diving under pews and between aisles when the gunshots erupted, Wilson remained steady, saying he waited to get a clear shot of the attacker before firing his own weapon.

“That's when I was able to engage him. And I fired one round,” he said.
 

donate