22-year-old hero proves the value of armed and trained citizens.
By 
Eli Dicken — 15 seconds, 400 Uvalde cops — 77 minutes By: Lee Williams
If the Uvalde 400 need a lesson on how to respond decisively to an active shooter — and they certainly do — they need to look at the heroic actions of 22-year-old Eli Dicken in the Greenwood Mall.
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Eli accomplished more in 15 seconds than 400 Texas cops did in 77 minutes.
In just 15 seconds, Eli recognized the threat, pushed his girlfriend behind cover and engaged the shooter. He fired 10 rounds at a distance of 40 yards. Eight rounds hit and killed the shooter.
Eli didn’t have a plate carrier or a ballistic helmet. He wasn’t covered in MultiCam. He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. He didn’t have an M4 with advanced optics. He carried a Glock 9mm. He didn’t have a Body Bunker or a cover team. He didn’t play games on his phone or apply hand sanitizer, as some of the Uvalde officers were caught doing. He didn’t need to be told what to do. He didn’t wait for backup. He acted immediately with precise violence of action, and he acted on his own.
Eli took care of business, and at 40 yards. Most police qualification courses don’t require shots beyond 25 yards. Eighty-percent at 40 yards at a target that’s shooting back is legendary.
Greenwood Police Chief James Ison said, “I am 100% certain that many more people would have died last night if it wasn’t for his heroism.”
“I will say his actions were nothing short of heroic. He engaged the gunman from quite a distance with a handgun,” Ison said. “He was very tactically sound as he moved to close in on the suspect, he was also motioning for people to exit behind him. He has no police training and no military background.”
Eli didn’t need police or military training. His grandpa taught him how to shoot, and apparently pretty well. The media is calling Eli a “Good Samaritan.” In my humble opinion, he’s a natural born gunfighter.
Eli’s heroic actions reinforce that we are our own First Responders. We cannot rely upon anyone else to guarantee our safety. As he proved, armed and trained citizens are invaluable. Besides, when seconds count, police will be there in minutes – sometimes 77 minutes to be precise.
