Joseph Wilcox of Las Vegas

From Heavy:

Joseph Robert Wilcox was in the checkout line at a Las Vegas Walmart Sunday when cops say Jerad Miller entered the store, fired a single shot and yelled for everyone to get out of the store.

Wilcox, carrying a concealed handgun, decided to act. Fearing the worst about Wilcox’s intentions, Wilcox walked toward Miller, prepared to shoot him and potentially save a number of lives.

Miller’s wife, Amanda, who was nearby pushing a shopping cart after she and Jerad had ambushed two police officers in a nearby pizza place, shot Wilcox dead before he could act. Cops soon arrived and cornered the Millers, and Amanda Miller shot her husband before killing herself.

It’s not clear what would have happened had Wilcox not approached Jerad Miller, but Wilcox, 31, is being hailed as a hero who acted selflessly to save others.

He acted bravely, but tragically made an error that most would make.  The media has programmed us to accept a spree killer as a white or asian male working alone.  He expected just to be dealing with Jerad:

Wilcox, who was legally carrying a concealed weapon, told his friends he was going to confront the gunman – not realizing that he had an accomplice.

Wilcox went from the checkout area to Jerad Miller and pulled his concealed firearm. But before he could fire, Amanda Miller shot him in the ribs and Wilcox collapsed.

He was the last person killed before the murderers took themselves out.  He confronted the killers, and by that action, saved others lives.

He was someone who would lay down his life, and did so.

“He was very protective of other people. The reason he got that gun was because he got tired of people like that,” people who would pick on others, Debra Wilcox said.

Joseph Wilcox’s uncle John Wilson, during a phone interview, described his nephew as someone who wasn’t political. “But he definitely believed in the right to bear arms and the right to defend yourself and others,” Wilson said.

Wilson choked back tears and emotion — “It comes and goes,” he said — while speaking about his nephew.

“He basically… he heard the threat to everyone and he was trying to stop it,” Wilson said. “He wasn’t trying to be a hero. He was trying to do what he thought should be done. “

Ultimately his actions did stop the threat.

FOX 5 KVVU in Las Vegas indicates that a memorial fund has been set up for his family:

An account has been set up at Wells Fargo bank for those wishing to donate money to Joseph Wilcox’s family. It is:

Joseph R. Wilcox Memorial Fund

Account number: 8485852688

He did what he could and stood up against a pair of lunatics who’d already ambush-murdered police officers Igor Soldo and Alyn Beck.

Joseph Wilcox stood up against a pair of murderers to protect people he didn’t even know.

Greater love hath no man than this.