Boy Scout Helps Save Houston Shooting Victim’s Life

  by Hayley Cordaro
Boy Scout Nicholas L., braved gunfire to help save a man’s life after suffering gunshot wounds Sunday afternoon. (Photo credit: ABC 13 Eyewitness News)

A mass shooting erupted in a Houston, Texas neighborhood on Sunday, leaving one man killed and six others injured. Fortunately for one gunshot victim, a Boy Scout was at the scene and helped saved his life.

Unaware of the terror and gunfire that had just been unleashed moments before, 17-year-old Boy Scout Nicholas L., rushed to the aid of a man he found crying in pain and bleeding in the street of his neighborhood. It wasn’t until he asked the victim what happened that he discovered the man had been shot – and the shooter was still at large.

“I thought it was just a car accident,” Nicholas shared with The Daily Beast. “There were three other people on the scene. They were just looking down on the man while he was screaming, ‘help me, help me’ and grabbing his leg.”

Nicholas wasted no time before he sprang into action, employing the techniques he learned in Scouting to help the gunshot victim before an ambulance arrived.

“That’s when I realized there were actually two wounds, one where the bullet entered his thigh, and one where it exited,” Nicholas explained.

The Scout asked bystanders to call 9-1-1 and then requested that the victim remove his suit vest. Using the vest, the Scout quickly crafted a tourniquet to tie off the wound and prevent further blood loss. The Scout understood the importance of keeping calm under pressure so he spoke to the victim the entire time, ensuring he was at ease while tending to his wounds. Nicholas’ high school history teacher happened to be nearby and assisted the Scout.

The police arrived shortly thereafter and secured the perimeter. First responders then loaded up the victim in the ambulance and overtook treatment.

“In Boy Scouts they always talk about helping others and serving the community just because that’s what you’re supposed to do as a citizen,” he said. “I just knew that I could help him so I did.”

Read the full story on how this Scout used the skills he learned in Scouting to save a man’s life by visiting The Daily Beast and watch what the Scout had to say about his life-saving feat in the video by ABC 13 Eyewitness News.