One of two United States servicemen killed while trying to help a woman being attacked in a South Carolina bar Sunday morning had attended West Johnston High School.
Sgt. Jonathan Prins, 29, and Staff Sgt. Charles Allen Judge Jr., 40, were gunned down at the Frayed Knot Bar & Grill in Lexington County, S.C.
Mr. Prins was a native of the Cleveland community in Johnston County.
Justin Brooks, the owner of the Frayed Knot, said the men were trying to help a woman being attacked by her boyfriend. Police said Joseph Mills was chasing his girlfriend with a gun and started beating her before opening fire on the crowd. Media reports indicated many of those inside fled, but Prins and Judge stayed inside.
Mr. Brooks told WLTX 19 in South Carolina, “When (Judge and Prins) get in within two feet of him — they both have their hands up trying to talk to him — and he just shoots them in cold blood. And then just walks off like nothing happened. Walked off like he was shopping at Walmart, right down the aisle. Put a shirt over his head so people couldn’t see him and just walked right off.”
Police later arrested Mr. Mills who is being held without bond.
The two soldiers are being called heroes.
Mr. Prins is survived by a wife and three children ages 3, 6, and 9. A Go Fund Me page has been established for the family. Story courtesy The Daily Record. Photo courtesy GoFundMe.com
