The extraordinary feats of ordinary men are the things of heroes. This was on full display this week in Las Vegas.
Merconie Clark, a Southern California truck driver, had gone into the Smith’s at Maryland Parkway and East Silverado Ranch Boulevard on Tuesday late morning to pick up a few things before hauling a load back to the Los Angeles area. When he heard gunshots, he headed to the pharmacy section to seek cover. Then a store worker yelled, “There’s the shooter!” The 49-year-old Mr. Clark didn’t hesitate.
“I don’t know what happened,” he said later. “I just walked over towards him, and he pulls out his gun, and we start wrestling for the gun.” During the struggle, Mr. Clark called for help.
Darius Alston, 28, works at a nearby barbershop. But on that day he went to Smith’s to help the mother of his children grocery shop for their two young toddlers. When Mr. Clark found himself fighting for his life, Mr. Alston jumped in.
“That’s when Darius hit” the gunman, Mr. Clark recalled, “keeps striking him and keeps him on the ground.” He said Mr. Alston saved his life. “If Darius hadn’t come to help me, I would have been gone. When that employee said that was the guy, I knew I wasn’t letting him leave. That’s not what we do.”
The accused gunman, who was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive, was later identified as 43-year-old Alejandro Estrada. Before being subdued, he is suspected of gunning down his ex-wife, Amanda Frias Rosas, and her new husband, Victor Frias Rosas, while they shopped at the supermarket, where both worked. He faces two counts of murder, one count each of burglary and aggravated stalking and a handful of related charges. Police believe Estrada was worried about doing potential jail time over back child support. He will be held without bail once he is released from the hospital.
The stark contrast between the evil that some men do and the courage and valor of bright lights such as Mr. Clark and Mr. Alston could not be more clear. The pair may have saved many more lives that fateful day. Estrada was armed to the teeth, carrying a .45-caliber handgun, a 9 mm semi-automatic and several loaded magazines, according to police. Who knows how much more damage the deranged culprit was prepared to do.
“When I called out for help, (Darius) came,” Mr. Clark told reporters. “He didn’t even think. I feel like we were just doing what we’re supposed to do.”
Las Vegans mourn these two senseless and tragic deaths. But they also celebrate the heroic actions of two men, Merconie Clark and Darius Alston, who selflessly risked their own lives to save those around them.
