Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he will be giving the state’s highest civilian award to the man who stopped a shooting at the West Freeway Church of Christ.
Jack Wilson, 71, shot and killed a gunman who opened fire in a church seconds after the shooting started, likely saving dozens of lives. Wilson, who is running to be a county commissioner, said he never envisioned he would be in the position where he would have to return fire on an active shooter.
“The events at West Freeway Church of Christ put me in a position that I would hope no one would have to be in, but evil exist and I had to take out an active shooter in church,” Wilson wrote. “I’m thankful to GOD that I have been blessed with the ability and desire to serve him in the role of head of security at the church. I am very sad in the loss of two dear friends and brothers in CHRIST, but evil does exist in this world and I and other members are not going to allow evil to succeed.”
Wilson was lauded as a hero by many, including Abbott. The governor announced that he will award Wilson the Governor’s Medal of Courage on Monday for his bravery and quick response during the shooting. Abbott noted that the award is the highest honor given to civilians by the governor.
[Read more: ‘Scariest thing’: Gunman dead after parishioners return fire in Texas church shooting]
On Monday I will present the Governor’s Medal of Courage to man who stopped a gunman in a deadly shooting at a church in North Texas.
It is the highest award given to civilians by the Governor. https://t.co/bhNyGLQygs
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 10, 2020
The medal is reserved for “great acts of heroism” by individuals “risking their own safety to save another’s life.”
Abbott and Wilson met when the governor visited the church to honor the victims. The governor tweeted a picture with Wilson and wrote, “This is the good guy with a gun who stopped a bad guy with a gun at the church in White Settlement. It took 6 seconds. He saved countless lives. He is Jack Wilson and a true Texas hero.”
This is the good guy with a gun who stopped a bad guy with a gun at the church in White Settlement.
It took 6 seconds.
He saved countless lives.
He is Jack Wilson and a true Texas hero. pic.twitter.com/kfAv79xcoT
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 3, 2020
Two died in the shooting, which took place outside of Fort Worth. The gunman, a 43-year-old, had a lengthy criminal record with felonies for previous crimes, including assault with a deadly weapon.
