(Sutherland Springs, Texas) – On November 5, 2017, a deranged man entered First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. He shot and killed 26 congregants and injured 20 others. That day Stephen Willeford was the “Good Guy with the gun” and took his AR-15 to face the culprit's evil. Similarly, in 2019, Jack Wilson confronted and shot a bad guy who opened fire in a church in White Settlement, Texas. Together, Willeford and Wilson have joined forces to set the record straight on why America should never give up the right to bear arms in a recent video released on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. The video has garnered over 1,000,000 views on Instagram, since its launch last week, over 401,000 on Twitter, and 52,000 on YouTube.NRA Commercial Flame Featuring Stephen Willeford and Jack Wilson:
www.instagram.com/tv/CG2w_GgpW6b/ (Instagram 5:47 min.)
“I am so thankful for our NRA members who stand ready to protect their families and our communities. Mr. Willeford and Mr. Wilson are incredible examples of ‘good guys’ with guns,” said Texas-based NRA Board Member Rick Figueroa.
“We are coming up on the anniversary of the largest mass shooting in Texas history. Our story was heard about around the world,” says Stephen “My wife and I now attend First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs and love our church family. I have since made myself available to tell people what happened and share what God has done in the aftermath of that terrible day.”
In November 2017, Willeford was able to stop the assassin by shooting him six times. Stephen quickly responded to the sound of gunfire, grabbing his AR-15, running from his home to the church, and calling out to the shooter. Under fire, Willeford struck the shooter in the left side of his chest and his abdomen striking him in the body armor. Once hit, the coward began to flee to his car, while continuing to fire. As he entered his car, Willeford struck him in the leg, and his side. The fifth bullet grazed the gunman’s forehead. As the shooter fled, Willeford fired one last shot, through the back window of his vehicle, striking him to the right of his left shoulder blade.
As the suspect fled, Willeford jumped in the truck of a nearby witness, Johnny Langendorf, and began
pursuit. Together, the two citizens followed the bad guy in a high-speed chase for 11 miles.
The shooter later ran off the road. Willeford and Langendorf held the scene, waiting for the police to
arrive, 7 minutes later. Willeford was down to his last two rounds. It was not until later that Willeford
would learn that the shooter had killed himself.
Stephen Willeford is available to speak at your church, company, or event, to tell his story, and talk about church safety and preparedness. Please visit: www.StephenWilleford.com for more information.
###