The hero that has yet to be named is the receptionist who survived the initial attack. One of the first to become a victim of this rampage, with wounds in her stomach she pretended to be dead. Then she made the critical 911 call that brought police and SWAT teams. Without that call, and her efforts to identify the killer, and other information about the event and location, it is unimaginable what could have happened.
There are other people that I think need to be celebrated as well. People who stepped up to help others, just because there was a need. I noticed one of those good samaritans, Mr. Nadil Noouh, at around 12:45. I was able to speak with him last night about the deadly rampage.
Mr. Nadil Noouh is a 26 year old naturalized citizen of the U.S. He lives in the Binghamton area since 2002, used to go to the Civic Association before he passed his tests, and is familiar with the immigrant community in the city. Mr. Noouh also volunteers his time to help translate for immigrants that have trouble with english at the Civic Association.
In the middle of the confusion and horror of the shooting rampage Mr. Noouh, who speaks multiple languages, volunteered to help where he could. His desire to help ensure that communication between those surviving the shooting and police seeking to help them overrode his desire to remain safe. Few of us might have that same thought given the situation.
In speaking with Mr. Noouh about the day, I learned that the police were appreciative of his efforts. They directed him to a nearby firestation where he could be in contact with the hostages. A staging area where critical facts of the what and how could be determined.
I was told how the greatest fear Mr. Noouh had for the survivors was that the lack of understanding english might cause confusion and potential injury; if commands from police like "put your hands up" could not be understood. I learned that Mr. Noouh did this at the risk of his job potentially. Though once he contacted his manager at a nearby large computer technology company he was given all the time he needed to help out.
As it turned out Mr. Noouh was not used. There were many translators gathered with speed by the police from the local community. Still I believe that the effort being made, at a time when so little was known or clear, makes a major statement. And Mr. Noouh was not the only one to do this, though he was one that I did observe personally.
Mr. Noouh mentioned to me in my interview last night that it turned out he did have 1 associate that was in the building during this horrendous crime. Luckily that associate was one of the 37 people that survived the ordeal. I also asked if he knew the attacker, or if there was any clue in the immigrant community beforehand that this was possible. So far, Mr. Noouh has not seen a picture of the man responsible for this cowardly act and thus is unsure if he knows him. And to his best knowledge, of the immigrants and community within Binghamton, there was no warning signs, no indication of the potential for what occured.
Mr. Noouh stated,
"We lost a lot of people, all of us. It's a sad day. I wish I could have helped more. Hopefully people will show up tomorrow and in the future to move forward in time."
I concur. It will take time. And the heartache, the pain, of this event is still just being understood by all of Binghamton. But I believe that this city will overcome this pain, and become a stronger and better city. Because, at the heart of it all, there are heroes and good samaritians in this city. We will never know all their names, or everythig they each did or tried to do. But the fact they exist is a credit to the city and it's people.
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