During the White House’s National Day of Prayer ceremony, President Trump invited military veteran Oscar Stewart and Border Patrol agent Jonathan Morales up on the stage with him. Stewart and Morales helped disrupt the gunman who started shooting at people inside the Chabad of Poway synagogue last week.
“This morning we’re privileged to be in the presence of heroes who raced after the murderer and helped disrupt the attack at the Poway synagogue. Army veteran Oscar Stewart and Border Patrol agent Jonathan Morales,” Trump said.
“This is incredible. I want to say everything that the president has said I echo,” Stewart said. “We need to be strong as a group of people that love God, whether you call him Muhammad, whether you call him Shiva, whatever you call him we need to be strong to defeat evil and do not be afraid to be who you are. Be proud and lift yourself up. That’s all I can say. Thank you, Mr. President.”
“We were attacked with our backs turned, but brave people stood up and confronted this person and we ended the situation the best we could with the resources we had,” Morales said.
Stewart charged the shooter without regard for his own safety, shouting “You motherfucker! I’m going to kill you!”
The gunman, whose rifle appeared to have malfunctioned, fled from the synagogue and into his car. Stewart continued to chase him, where at that point, Morales arrived outside with a gun and told Stewart to get out of the way. Morales fired at the suspect’s car as he drove away, who later called police and turned himself in.
