New England Patriots defensive end Justin Herron is a hero.
His act of heroism took back in March, while Herron was in Arizona, getting an early start on training for his 2021 sophomore campaign. During a Saturday morning in Tempe’s Kiwanis Park, the 2020 sixth-round pick saw a 71-year-old woman being attacked by a homeless man. Herron saw the sexual assault taking place in broad daylight, so he quickly jumped into action, taking down the perpetrator and pinning him to the ground before others came in to help.
Herron reportedly stayed on the scene to detain the suspect and comfort the woman until police arrived. He received a medal for his actions, and ESPN recently caught up with Justin to ask him about the entire ordeal, although you can tell he clearly doesn’t enjoy talking about it:
“There was a moment that I don’t really want to get into,” he says. “There was just one moment when I realized how bad it was, but I don’t want to talk about it. It’s private.”
He did have this to say, though:
“I saw her,” Herron says, and his words slow down. “And she saw me. And… I think… I felt like when I got there… we had a moment of eye contact. And then… the situation did de-escalate quickly and then it stopped, right there and then…”
The victim, who’s a retired school teacher, wasn’t as shy about discussing Herron’s bravery:
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“People need to know what an amazing person Justin is,” says the woman, who wanted to remain anonymous but agreed to an interview with ESPN to describe Herron’s involvement. “He couldn’t have known if that man had a weapon. He just did it spontaneously. Justin has given me hope for the rest of my life. I love him for it.”
Herron isn’t done helping either. He has apparently told the woman and another man who came to the rescue that he intends to get them to a Patriots game in Foxborough this season.
To read all about Herron’s heroic act, you can check out ESPN’s article here.
