7-Eleven employee noticed customer making signs while passing aisles—what he did next saved a life
Trigger warning: This story contains themes of domestic abuse that some readers may find distressing.
Whatever our line of work may be, it is crucial to be attentive and alert while on duty. The work itself might not require much vigilance but being cautious about surroundings, people and other factors can be life-saving. A report from The Daily Mail revealed that a 7-Eleven employee saved a customer after exercising keen observation and astute action. He simply noticed the woman making signals while she was passing aisles and quickly assessed the situation to intervene in time. Another report from NBC revealed that the scenario took place at the 7-Eleven on Fremont and Montezuma avenues in Alhambra, California.
The woman was walking with a man and as she passed through aisles, she started making hand gestures discreetly. The employee observed the woman making the universal sign for help — A thumb tucked under four fingers, with the fist partly closed. This sign was created by the Canadian Women’s Foundation to help victims of abuse seek help from abuse. The organization noted that the gesture is a discreet safety signal or emergency signal that calls for intervention. The organization also urges individuals to check in with a person if they see such a sign. Being supportive, offering help or resources, or even calling emergency services after spotting the sign can avert major danger.
There were no other signs of worry or danger, but that simple gesture probed the employee to act. He quickly called 911 and reported the scene, after which the authorities arrived and took control. The Alhambra Police Department shared a video of the duo after they arrived on the scene. They can be seen questioning the duo, who were standing side by side. It was later revealed that the woman was facing domestic abuse by the man, identified as John Palombi. In an interview with USA Today, Crystal Justice, the chief external affairs officer for the National Domestic Abuse Hotline, explained, “Domestic violence is a very complex issue and there are many barriers to victims and survivors in accessing help." The sign has been created to overcome these barriers and seek help as quickly as possible.
The man reportedly attempted to flee during questioning, but was immediately caught and arrested. He also had an active arrest warrant and was found carrying a stun gun, per NBC Los Angeles. He is now in a central jail in Los Angeles with no bail. Carmen McDonald with the Survivor Justice Center in Los Angeles praised the employee for their sharp vigilance. “The fact that someone understood what the message was is amazing to me,” she remarked.
Cristina Cortez with the Downtown Women’s Center added, “It’s really cool that somebody took the initiative to be like, ‘Okay, something’s off here. Let me see if I can help.'" She added that if we could only be more prompt in acting when we see unusual events, it could make a significant difference. Shamsher Singh, another employee at 7-Eleven, applauded his colleague for his accurate response. “He did a great job because she needed help and that was a good time he did it,” Singh said. “He made a good call,” he added. In California, the number of reported domestic violence cases has declined since 2001, as per a report by the Public Policy Institute of California, but the type of incidents has become more severe. While the number of domestic violence calls police fielded each hour was 23 in 2001, it dropped to 18-19 calls in 2017 and remained at 18 by 2023.
If you are being subjected to domestic abuse or know of anyone else who is, please visit The National Domestic Violence Hotline website or call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
More on Amplify
Pitbull saw owner and her friend being attacked—her quick action saved them from domestic abuser