As Master Sergeant David Royer, an active-duty soldier at Fort Leavenworth, was leaving the fort and heading back to his home in Platte City on Wednesday, May 27 he was anticipating a little delay due to road work on the Centennial Bridge.
He had no inkling of how much his life would change and how many others would be granted the opportunity to live because of his quick thinking.
He slowed down on the bridge and saw the car in front of him come to a stop. He then watched as a man got out of his vehicle, opened his trunk, pulled out a rifle and started shooting into the east-bound lane.
“I was shocked because it caught me off guard,” Royer said. “I immediately began assessing my surroundings to see if he was trying to defend himself from something or someone, in a ‘shoot-out’ with another person or if this incident was an actual active shooter situation.
David Royer and his fiancee Haley Siela
“Once I realized that it appeared he was only trying to harm people or randomly shoot off his gun, that’s when I began to take action.”
Royer said from what he observed the shooter didn’t realize he was pulling up behind him.
When the shooter began firing at other vehicles on the bridge Royer felt he was in a fight or flight situation and he did the only thing he felt that he could, which was to use his vehicle to eliminate the threat.
He had intended to strike the suspect, but due to the angle between where the shooter was standing and the positions of the vehicles he struck the shooter and his vehicle, trapping the shooter under his car until police arrived.
One person, a Fort Leavenworth soldier, was shot and seriously injured in the attack.
Two other vehicles also were reported to have been fired upon during the shooting.
Jason R. Westrem, 37, Houston Lake, has been charged in Leavenworth with attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated endangering a child and four counts of discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle.
Westrem was hospitalized with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.
Leavenworth police said Westram had multiple weapons and fired randomly at vehicles. Police received a call about 11 a.m. of shots fired on the bridge and initially believed the cause was road rage.
Westrem’s motive is still unclear.
Westrem
Royer feels the training and situations he has experienced in his military career helped him to remain calm and focused throughout the threat.
Because so many active shooter events result in scores of people dead or injured, Royer has been described as a true hero for the lives he saved.
“I feel that due to the circumstances, I was incredibly lucky that the situation ended without the loss of a life,” Royer said. “I still do not feel as if I am a hero due to that incident and that most people would have taken similar actions to eliminate such a threat. A hero to me is when someone can change a person’s life, for the better, by applying dedication and commitment to that person selflessly (i.e. good teachers, doctors, police officers, guardians, etc.). I was merely in the right place at almost the right time to prevent many people from being seriously injured or killed.”
Royer said that due to the tremendous support he has received from his family, friends and the community it feels satisfying that he was able to make them all proud by doing the right thing when faced with a dangerous situation.
“I have always strived to be the best role model for my children since they were born,” Royer said. “My fiancée was full of mixed emotions but was just relieved that I was able to make it home safely after hearing the incident unfold.
“At first, my children did not believe me until they had seen me and my truck on the news when it was initially reported. All three of my children had different types of reactions but collectively, they were all happy I was able to make it home okay.”
Royer has received thanks from not only Platte County and Leavenworth County residents, but also from people as far away as the United Kingdom. He said it has been a surreal few days and almost feels like it’s a strange dream, but he’s thankful so many amazing people are willing to take the time out of their day to give thanks for what they feel is right.
He is originally from Mount Vernon, Ohio and joined the Army in 2005. He was assigned to Fort Leavenworth from 2009 to 2012 and then again from 2014 to the present.
Fond of living in Platte City, he said it would be difficult to name the many great things the city offers.
“Most of all my favorite is the school district,” Royer said. “My children have thrived so much since they started attending the Platte County R-3 school district. They have worked their tails off to be successful in school and other activities due to the motivation, respect, and guidance they have received from the teaching and administrative staff of the Platte City Middle School and the Compass Elementary School.
“From the many experiences my children and I have faced throughout all the different schools they have attended, Platte County R-3 schools should be emulated by all. I could not ask for a better experience or more dedication to all of the children attending these schools from all of their staff.”
For Royer, the most important thing he took from the shooting event is that people are going to be people regardless of what you do, but to never give up on someone.
Though it’s hard to give good advice because every situation is based off its own merits he said if others are involved in a dangerous situation, he can only say that if someone decides to intervene, do not do it to be a “hero,” and to be safe and smart because based on the scenario, intervening may only aggravate a situation into something even worse.
He urges people to ensure that if the perfect opportunity to eliminate a threat, without causing more harm to others, presents itself, to act swiftly and remember that there are emergency services that train to respond within moments to stop such a dangerous situation.
“When you are trying to do something good, in a selfless manner, for 100 people but 99 of them ignore you and you only affect one person in a positive manner, your efforts are completely successful,” Royer said. The good things that a person takes away from a situation does not only affect that one person, but it will also positively affect almost everyone that they encounter.
“Just about everyone has witnessed or has encountered scary situations, in one way or another, in this world. For those that stand up for what is right, remember that someone is always watching, and it creates a contagious reaction. Your actions will be imitated, and it will indirectly spread, making a community, the country or even the world a better place.
“Listen to those that try to be harmful with their words or actions and do not be offended, but smile and show them happiness does exist and they can too be happy and do good in the world.”
He hopes that his actions, and the actions of everyone involved, will instill confidence that people can stand up for the good and innocent to preserve the lives of others.
“Especially with the world we live in today, I feel that it is very important for the ‘good guys’ to stand up and protect the innocent of such violent crimes and show that America has not lost that bravery to do what is right regardless of the things they may face,” Royer said. “To be able to put their phones down and make a difference, not a scene.”