During the recent tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas, in which 59 people died and more than 500 were injured, Ocean Beach resident, and former Marine, Taylor Winston did what he was trained to do: He took action.
Noticing a parked truck with the keys still inside, Winston commandeered it and began shuttling injured shooting victims, along with other volunteers, to local hospitals. Winston reportedly dropped off one load of victims, then went back for more.
The truck he was using was filled to overflowing with more bodies, some barely breathing. While Winston drove, helpers in the truck bed applied pressure to victim’s wounds, attempting to keep them alive to until they made it to the hospital.
Afterwards, when asked by a local TV station if his military training had helped during the unanticipated crisis, Taylor agreed it had, adding it became his “mission to try and save as many people as possible.”
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Shane Beus, the owner of B5 Motors, a car dealership in Gilbert, Ariz., was so impressed by what Winston had done, that he promptly contacted him and gave him a 2013 Ford F-150 ruck worth about $20,000.
“My daughter and I were going to go to that concert, then decided not to,” said Beus, noting he actually did know two people who were there who suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds. “Early the next morning, I saw a news feed from a local station about how Winston reacted under fire. I thought, ‘This guy’s a great example to everybody of how the world should be, more selflessness and people helping other people instead of running.'”
Later, after meeting Winston face-to-face to give him the truck, Beus said of him, “He is a humble dude. He did what most would not do.”
As of Oct. 10, Winston was back in Vegas checking on the progress of several of the victims he’d helped transport during the shooting.
Beus said Winston told him he was going to sell his old vehicle and give those proceeds to the Vegas shooting victims.
“He’s also a woodworker who makes key chains, and he told me he would donate 100 percent of those proceeds to the Vegas shooting victims as well,” Beus said, adding he intends to visit his new friend soon when he visits family in the San Diego area.
Winston could not be reached by the Peninsula Beacon by press time for further comment.
The Las Vegas shooting by 64-year-old Stephen Paddock of Mesquite, Nev., turned out to be the deadliest mass shooting committed by an individual in the United States.