Oscar Stewart, who chased off the gunman inside the synagogue, speaks with members of the media in front of the Chabad of Poway Synagogue on Sunday, April 28, 2019 in Poway, California, one day after a teenage gunman opened fire, killing one person and injuring three others. Image by SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images

By Aiden Pink April 30, 2019

Chabad of Poway member Oscar Stewart, one of two congregants who took action to chase away the shooter during the deadly attack on Saturday, was praised by San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore for his “act of courage,” the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Sunday.

Stewart, a Navy veteran who served in the Iraq War and now works in construction, told The Daily Caller on Sunday that his military training kicked in when he saw the shooter opening fire. “I knew I had to be within five feet of this guy so his rifle couldn’t get to me,” he said. “So I ran immediately toward him, and I yelled as loud as I could. And he was scared. I scared the hell out of him.”

The shooter ran away to his car, chased by Stewart. Then Oscar Morales, an off-duty Border Patrol agent, told Stewart to get down while he fired on the vehicle using his own weapon – which the congregation’s rabbi had urged him to bring to services. Morales was able to hit the car, but the shooter was able to drive away. The two then called 911 and reported the vehicle’s license plates. The shooter himself called authorities to reveal his location and surrender a short time later.

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Stewart then attempted to administer CPR to victim Lori Kaye Gilbert, but was unsuccessful. “She had different political views, so we had interesting discussions when we talked,” Stewart told the Daily Caller. “We didn’t just talk about the weather. It was kind of cool. She was a very loving woman.”

“Mr. Stewart risked his life to stop the shooter and saved lives in the process,” Gore said.

Aiden Pink is the deputy news editor for the Forward. You can reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter, @aidenpink

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