TSgt. Ryan Tucker was at that gas station and was able to help the victim while making sure he had enough details to help law enforcement investigate.
What Tucker thought was a normal morning turned into “one of the scariest moments” of his life when he stopped at Mayberry’s Mini Mart in Clark County.
He had just opened his car door and was about to get out when he saw a vehicle speeding into the lot, almost directly at his car.
The car pulled up beside him, and a woman exited the vehicle and ran over to Tucker. Shortly after, another vehicle pulled into the lot, ramming the front of her car.
“I was nervous and scared,” recalled Tucker. “It was probably one of the scariest moments of my life.”
While Tucker didn’t know what was going on, he didn’t think the incident was a coincident.
The third vehicle, which was driven by Roberts, backed around to the other side of the gas pumps before briefly stopping.
“I didn’t know who this was,” Tucker said. “[I didn’t know] if he was going to get out of the car or if he had any weapons, a knife. So many unknowns.”
After a couple of seconds, Roberts drove off.
It was then that Tucker noticed the victim’s condition.
Tucker said he could see large lacerations across her throat.
“I looked two or three times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming,” he said.
With 12 years in the military, Tucker said he thought of his Air Force training and of its core values — service over self — and kicked into action.
“I knew at that point it didn’t matter how I was feeling,” he said. “I knew my main priority was to call 911 and to get her the proper help. I noticed she had lost a lot of blood. She was continuing to lose a lot of blood. I knew we didn’t have a lot of time.”
While on the phone with 911 dispatchers, Tucker said he tried to provide as much information as possible.
Though he didn’t get a good look at Roberts, he remembered looking at his vehicle until he could get a good description.
“It’s one of those things where I was happy to be at the right place and the right time,” Tucker said. “If I was ever in her position I would expect someone to help me.”
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