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Good Samaritan Hailed A Hero After Disarming Suspect At Gas Station

Posted at 8:26 PM, Feb 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-21 23:58:56-05
A man has been hailed a hero after disarming a suspect who was threatening Exxon customers with a knife.
 
"I literally just left work and stopped at the store to get gas," said Ray Goodman.
 
Goodman spends most of his days fixing problems as a maintenance supervisor, but he never knew he would be fixing a much bigger problem later that day.
 
Ray said he got off work about an hour late that day, and when he went into the store to pay for his gas that's when he saw William Lampley wielding the knife.
 
"The store clerk came out and I kind of passed him and he told the guy to leave and the guy got aggravated with him and started yelling and saying stuff to him," said Goodman.
 
In the store's surveillance video, you can see the knife in the suspect's right hand and according to witnesses, Lampley was threatening everyone at the store after he was denied a cigarette.
 
"One of them started yelling and screaming on the phone and started crying saying get in the truck he's got a knife," said Goodman.
 
Ray knew he had to do something, but he left his gun in his truck.
 
That's when Ray made a spilt second decision to run outside to get it.
 
"Once he saw me draw on him and he lowered his hand, I just reached over real fast and grabbed him and kid of slung him, he fell and I fell down on top of him," said Goodman.
 
Ray was able to pin the suspect's arm behind his back and hold him there until officers arrived on the scene.
 
"I don't know why I did it, it was just instinctual," said Goodman.
 
Though Ray has had a handgun carry permit for nearly 10 years, that was the first time he had to use it.
 
"Hopefully it'll be the last I don't ever want to have to use it again that's for sure," said Goodman.
 
It was a problem that needed to be fixed, and the off clock maintenance supervisor made the quick decision to protect others.
 
"There was a reason why I got the permit there's a reason why I carry a pistol it's a responsibility that I don't take very lightly," said Goodman.