Man heading to the gym heard a scream — he knew what to do when he saw a 76-year-old woman being attacked
Trigger warning: This story contains themes of assault that some readers may find distressing.
Elderly people need to be looked after and supported in society. Unfortunately, many of these people are abused and mistreated on the assumption that they are vulnerable and helpless. Something similar happened to a 76-year-old woman named Rosemary Carelton when a robber attacked her outdoors, per WTVR News. Luckily, a stranger, Navy veteran Kendrick Taylor, heard her cry for help and immediately rushed to save the day.
According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 6 people who are 60 years and above suffer from elder abuse. This is in various forms, including physical and psychological abuse. Many elderly people in communities and institutions face these problems, and it’s upsetting how they have to deal with such injustice, especially at their advanced ages. It leaves a negative impact on them. In the case of Carelton, she was attacked in broad daylight, just outside a grocery store. The Navy veteran was headed to the gym when he spotted her being attacked by the robber. He did not think twice and rushed to help Carelton.
It seemed a rough event for the 76-year-old, and Taylor knew how hard it was on her. He prioritized his duty as a human being and came to help. "When I looked down, I didn't know if he had a knife or a gun. But I just saw the lady. She was so old. And when he threw her down, she was so fragile and I knew she needed help,” he recalled. Footage shared from WESH2News captured the veteran in a struggle with the attacker. Two men joined the veteran in saving the woman and calling the cops while the attacker was trying to escape. However, Taylor used all his strength to catch and hold the suspect down.
"When I finally got my hands on him, I told some local people to call the police and they got here and I kept him down," Taylor explained. The attacker was identified as a 23-year-old John Desjardin. "He definitely should face some type of jail time. He has to know what he did was very wrong,” Taylor noted. The suspect was already on probation and was charged with attempted robbery and battery on a person over 65, per the publication. Carelton had a few cuts and bruises but no serious injuries. The family thanked Taylor for his astute action and for being kind enough to rush to Carelton’s rescue and save her life.
However, Taylor had the most humane mindset when he rushed to help. "What if that was my grandmother?” Taylor asked himself. "She was screaming for help and that's when I went over to help her,” he mentioned. The man was admired for his courage. His compassionate mindset is inspiring and an example to be followed.