MIDLOTHIAN, Va. (WRIC) — “He was lucky he didn’t die,” said Harry Moogalian.
Moogalian describes his cousin Mark Moogalian as quiet and courageous, someone that doesn’t like a lot of attention but has never been afraid to take on a challenge. Mark Moogalian grew up in Midlothian and went to Midlothian High School, moving to Paris years ago to pursue his dreams as a musician.
Mark Moogalian was the first person Friday to confront a gunman on a train to Paris. Investigators say the suspect Ayoub El-Khazzani walked out of a bathroom with an AK-47. Moogalian’s father says his son saw the gunman and managed to get the weapon away from him before the attacker took out a pistol and shot him in the back. Three more Americans were able to take the suspect down but not before he slashed one of them with a box cutter.
“It was very brave, not thinking of himself and he probably helped save a lot of people and i’m proud to be his cousin,” said Harry Moogalian.
Moogalian says he believes his cousin was trying to protect his wife, but would have stepped in anyway.
“There’s not a bad bone in his body, I believe he would help anybody,” said Harry Moogalian.
And while Harry Moogalian says they probably saved many lives, one of those heroes also saved his cousin Mark Moogalian.
“I’m thankful for the soldier that helped save my cousin,” he said.
Airman Spencer Stone rushed to Mark Moogalian’s aid.
“I just stuck two of my fingers down into the hole, into what I thought to be the artery and pushed down the bleeding stopped,” said Spencer Stone, an airman with the U.S. Air Force.
“There’s no words I could say to thank him enough because he saved a good person,” said Stone.
Moogalian, whose lung was punctured, is still recovering in the hospital. He’s expected to join the three other Americans in being awarded France’s highest civilian honor, the Legion of Honor Medal.
“I do consider him a hero and hope he gets a full recovery,” said Harry Moogalian.
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