The military medic who helped save 12-year-old Molly Bennett after she was hit by a stray bullet at the Riverchase Galleria on Thursday night is sharing his testimony, saying, “I believe God put me there for a reason.”
Rashad Billingsley, an 18-year-old Alabama Army National Guard medic, has been praised as a “hero” by Bennett’s mother for his efforts, but he believes the true credit goes to God and the people who trained him.
In an appearance on WBRC’s “Good Day Alabama,” Billingsley told the story of what happened that night.
Billingsley explained that he was in the Footaction at the Galleria when he heard rounds of shots ring out. As people began to chaotically flee the area, he encountered Molly, who at the time was just saying that her back hurt.
It would not be until later, when her grandmother called her mother to say she had been shot, that Molly even realized what happened.
“She didn’t know what was going on, so I told her to lay down for me, and that’s when I saw the blood on her shirt,” Billingsley advised.
His training and instincts kicked in, Billingsley then found the bullet wound in her back and used a shirt to apply pressure and stem the bleeding until paramedics could arrive.
“I was shocked, because she herself didn’t even know she had gotten shot, and she was holding up very well,” he outlined.
Throughout it all, the medic told “Good Day Alabama” that the girl was not crying, but “was just kind of scared.”
Billingsley then said he himself did not have time to be scared in the situation.
“As soon as I heard the gunshots, that’s when my military training kicked in,” he explained. “And I just followed protocol and did everything I was taught.”
He later talked about how his faith factored in.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I was raised in a church. I go to two churches every Sunday, and for me, I always put God first in everything I do. And I believe that God put me there for a reason, and that was to save little Molly that night,” Billingsley emphasized.
He added, “I appreciate all of the credit and everything, but I owe all the credit to God for putting me in that place and also to my sergeants that gave me the training.”
Earlier this week, he detailed his thoughts even more on Facebook.
Billingsley wrote, “Let me just say first say all thanks to God for me being in that store. I’m a STRONG believer and believe everything happens for a reason… and my reason for being there was to help little Molly. Under no circumstances, did I do anything for recognition. I was at the right place at the right time and saw that she had been wounded so I followed protocol. But I wouldn’t have been able to help her if it wasn’t for my training. Blake Maske which is the combat medic whom trained me plays a big role in this. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t know what to do in that kind of situation. Julie Moore Bennett I’m glad that I could be a help with [M]olly and your family. Molly is the true hero and warrior here.”
He said that he and Molly’s family are making plans to meet in the future.
In a Facebook post the night of the shooting, Molly’s mother concluded, “I am so thankful for everyone who helped us, for those who were at the hospital with us, and for all the messages and prayers. Yeah, bad guys are out there. What I learned from this is that there are so many more good guys and girls who are willing to go above and beyond to help a stranger in need.”
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
