Marine veteran Taylor Winston of San Diego didn’t think twice about stealing a truck during the recent Las Vegas shooting massacre to transport the wounded to the hospital.
Neither did Gilbert, Ariz.-based B5 Motors owner Shane Beus, who felt compelled to reward him with a 2013 Ford F150, valued at $20,000, for his heroism.
For his part, Winston, 29, is paying it forward — he plans to sell his own car and donate the proceeds to those affected by the shooting.
Ever since Beus’ gesture, the phones have been ringing off the hook at the used car dealership and the company’s Facebook account has been flooded with compliments from people around the world — dozens promising to purchase their next truck from him.
“Gentlemen, you people went above and beyond. You are the most loved and respected car dealership in America for how you treated that fine soldier who saved so many lives. I live in Boca Raton, Florida, but when I get my next Ford Fusion, I will be coming to Gilbert, Arizona, to make my purchase. You can bank on it,” wrote Jerry Diamond.
“Class act — I’ve never been there, but I would almost drive the 800 miles to do business with a selfless company like this,” wrote Mike Tisevich from Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi.
Some called the company and offered to make donations to Winston as well.
“We did take a couple of credit cards from people who insisted that we did, and we gave him the money in gas cards, and things like that, to get home,” said Monique Hebert, general manager. “It’s just gone crazy.”
Winston, a soft-spoken Marine who served in Iraq from 2006 to 2011, said at the presentation: “I feel great. It’s been really hard to even get myself to come out here and accept a gift of this caliber. It’ll turn around to do a lot of good things.”
Beus, who lives in Ahwatukee Foothills, hadn’t met or spoken to Winston until the presentation.
“It’s a great thing for me to do; it’s a great thing for him to do,” Beus said minutes before Winston walked in through the doors leading to his showroom full of gleaming, reconditioned trucks. “He’s a hero. He’s a good example to my kids, myself, to my family, friends, America. He’s a true hero.”
Hebert said Beus is “a religious man, but what it came down to is the fact that he had friends and family that were there and it hit him close. It hit him personally; it just hit home for him.”
Two of Beus’ friends were injured in the attack and two others escaped without injuries, Hebert said.
On Oct. 1, Winston, who designs woodwork and builds stages for a living, was listening to Jason Aldean with his girlfriend, Jenn Lewis, and several friends at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas when gunshots were fired.
Like most everyone, Lewis thought the noise was from firecrackers. But then she noted people were screaming.
“Taylor wasn’t next to me at the moment, and I ran over to him immediately. I’m pretty calm and collected for the most part, and I think that kind of startled him,” she said. “And he went into action right away …”
Then, the third group of shots were fired and she noted the look of terror on his face.
“It truly was a life-and-death situation. Never in my life have I ever imagined myself running for my life. In that moment, you just have to do exactly that. Whatever’s going on, small injuries or not, you just have to push through as much as you can,” said Lewis, who has a back injury and was wearing a brace that night.
Taylor scouted around for a service vehicle with a key in the ignition and found a truck. They helped wounded people into the vehicle and began driving to Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center.
“As soon as we commandeered the truck and slowly put it into the street, people were bringing other injured people into the street,” Lewis said, adding “Everything was moving so fast. I don’t think we honestly had a second to think about anything. It was just ‘do.’
“Both of us luckily had the natural reaction to do and help. Taylor was grabbing people. I was on the other side grabbing people,” she recalled.
The couple went to the hospital twice, transporting “a load of people,” according to Winston.
“There were dozens of people helping put victims into the truck and, when we got to the hospital, taking the victims out,” Winston said, adding that Lewis was putting pressure on wounds during the drive.
They even had chosen the correct hospital.
“The hospital administrator told us that we helped with the surge of victims. That was very big news to me that we just lucked out,” Winston said.
The next morning, Winston tried to locate the truck, which he had parked in the lot of a restaurant, but it had been towed.
“The truck was towed because it had blood all over it and looked very suspicious. I was able to meet with (the owner) and give his keys back, and we were able to talk and share our experiences. We gave each other a hug, and he’s just happy that his truck was able to help in this tragedy,” Winston said, adding, “It’s unofficial, but his truck will be very well taken care of.”
A few days later, Winston was able to visit the hospital to find out that most of the injured pulled through, although a few didn’t.
“We’re trying to coordinate with the hospital to find all that out, and hopefully get everyone back together and do what we can just to help their families. It’s been amazing but also horrible. I’m at a loss as to how I feel at the moment,” he said.
During the past few days, Winston and Lewis also have been bombarded with emails and social media messages from people around the country and beyond.
“Honestly, the world comes together. People I’ve never even heard of from the U.K., Canada, Australia, are reaching out and asking how we are doing and if they can help. It’s incredible,” Lewis said.
Meanwhile, Winston has a truck with all the bells and whistles and a customized wheel tire package.
“I’ve been given a lot more credit than I deserve,” he said.