Navy Veteran Went From Working Out In Gym To Hero in Action

Tragedy’s effects: After taking the rifle from Jody Herring
Barre Montpelier Times Argus
By Eric Blaisdell
August 23,2015

If the shooting wasn’t tragic enough, Williams knew both the alleged shooter and the victim well.

File Photo by Toby Talbot

Washington County State’s Attorney Scott Williams talks to the media

after the arraignment of Jody Herring on a first-degree murder charge.

BARRE — Scott Williams seemingly has a knack for being in the wrong place at the right time.

The Washington County state’s attorney recalled an incident a few years ago when he was on a passenger jet to Florida and a 15-year-old girl went into cardiac arrest. Williams said he performed CPR on the girl and saved her life.

Then there was another time when he was driving with one of his children and a friend in Texas when he happened upon a head-on car crash. Williams said it was a drunk driving incident and the drunk driver was Mexican. He said everyone was attending to the other car and the victims and no one went to help the man.

Williams went to the man who had very serious injuries but was still conscious and tried to comfort or help in any way he could.

On Aug. 7 the former Navy man again found himself in a life-or-death situation.

Police say Jody Herring, 40, of South Barre, fatally shot Department for Children and Families worker Lara Sobel outside Barre City Place as Sobel was leaving work. The shooting is alleged to be connected to Herring losing custody of her 9-year-old daughter. Herring has since pleaded innocent to first-degree murder and is being held without bail.

Williams was working out in the gym at City Place and heard the two gunshots. He rushed outside, got the rifle away from Herring and disabled it, as his mind essentially worked on autopilot.


If the shooting wasn’t tragic enough, Williams knew both the alleged shooter and the victim well. read more here