Father: 'Destiny' That Childhood Friends Stopped France Train Gunman
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Three childhood friends are being awarded the Legion of Honor from the French president after tackling a gunman on a Paris-bound train.
Spencer Stone saved another passenger's life on that train, even after was badly injured in the fight with the gunman.
But Spencer's father explains how close his son's triumph could have turned tragic.
Brian Stone says his son and his friends started their trip on a different rail car, but ended up sitting closer to the gunman. He thinks it was part of a bigger plan.
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"You know, we couldn't be happier and that's the key," Brian said.
This relieved, proud father realized something new about his youngest son, Spencer.
"I think he's not dead [because] he took immediate action to take action to protect himself and everyone else there," Brian said. "Plus there was an angel in the room. I mean, there had to be to help him achieve what happen."
Stone says his son is alive today not only thanks to his military training or courage, but because of what he calls destiny. He says the three were sitting somewhere else on the train when it left the station because they couldn't find their first class seats.
Then they settled into three open seats – which happened to be closer to the gunman.
"It was like there was an opening made for them to be in those seats at that time for this event," Brian said.
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Stone says he raised his kids to stand up for themselves, but Spencer just took "proud" to another level.
"Not a lot of 22 year olds have the wherewithal to take action, and I'm glad that spencer did," Brian said.
As a child, Spencer was in karate. After high school, he was all about the U.S. Air Force.
He was based in Portugal as a paramedic and even tried becoming a para-rescuer. But dad says don't see Spencer as that tough six-foot-four, 220-pound serviceman.
"If you met him, you'd realize oh he's a shy kid, which I think is a great positive thing here that this happened because it's going to make him blossom into a different person," Brian said.
For now, his son Spencer is doing better. He's out of the hospital after a doctor reattached his finger.
