As with any tragic story, focus in the media will remain strongly skewed towards the attacker, understandably so.
We’d like to introduce you, however, to the man who shot and apprehended Sayfullo Saipov, the New York City terrorist, before he could cause any further carnage yesterday.
Officer Ryan Nash was called to Stuyvesant High School for reports of a suicidal teenager roughly half-an-hour before Saipoz used a Home Depot truck to run down scores of people on a Manhattan bike path, killing eight.
In the area, Nash confronted the terrorist and was able to take him into custody after the truck deliberately struck a school bus.
Our hats off 2 Officer Ryan Nash & @NYPD1Pct who were 1st on scene, didnt waiver, apprehended the suspct, & saved lives. God bless the #NYPD pic.twitter.com/T7puGR9Rde
— NYPD 911 Dispatch (@NYPD911Dispatch) November 1, 2017
Saipoz was brandishing realistic looking weapons and refused to drop them. As a result, Nash shot him in the stomach and arrested him.
NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill commended the officer for his efforts.
“I want to commend the response of our NYPD officer that was on post near the location who stopped the carnage moments after it began,” O’Neill said at a press conference.
God Bless Ryan Nash the 28 year old assigned to Lower Manhattan’s 1st Precinct who rushed to the scene and shot the suspect in the stomach. https://t.co/OOmwSAiwEY
— SalenaZito (@SalenaZito) November 1, 2017
Nash’s quick actions likely prevented the terrorist from claiming any more victims – especially school children. Eyewitnesses said that after crashing his truck, Saipov then sprinted toward a group of children.
Eyewitness to NYC truck attack says alleged suspect “sprinted toward the group of kids” after crashing onto bike path and hitting school bus pic.twitter.com/Sbqt4h7OYS
— ABC News (@ABC) October 31, 2017
City Councilman Joe Borelli lauded Nash as a hero and said “the world should be talking about him” today.
Here’s the hero cop the world should be talking about. Police Officer Ryan Nash risked his life to save others. Thank u Ryan, thank u #NYPD pic.twitter.com/TqT0inXq7K
— Joe Borelli (@JoeBorelliNYC) November 1, 2017
ABC News reports that Nash was treated at a local hospital for ringing in his ears but was otherwise unscathed in the altercation with Saipov.
Mayor Bill de Blasio expressed thanks for “All our first responders for their extraordinary efforts in the midst of this tragedy, starting with the officer who stopped this tragedy from continuing.”
Thank you, Officer Nash.
Drop a note of thanks for this hero cop in the comments section below!
