One of the Sacramento men who has been credited with stopping a gunman on a French train, is back in Sacramento. Anthony Sadler spoke briefly at an event in his honor at City Hall Wednesday afternoon.
He thanked Sacramento and said "it's been a crazy few days" and called the last five days "overwhelming."
He thanked the crowd of about 200 for its support and promised to speak more about what happened at a later date.
His father, Pastor Anthony Sadler answered questions from media and recalled hearing the news.
"I didn't recognize the number so I ignored the call. Then I got two text messages saying, 'Dad, pick up the phone! Pick up the Phone!' So when I did pick up the phone, he began telling me what happened with the words any parent would want to hear, 'Dad, I'm all right. We're all right. But, something happened.'"
The elder Sadler thanked all of the law enforcement involved in the gunman's arrest and in helping his son get home. He also thanked the man who lent the family the use of his private jet, and a couple who gave up their seats to Paris so the Sadlers could reunite with their son.
The younger Sadler was with childhood friends Alec Skarlatos and Spencer Stone when the gunman began shooting inside a crowded train.
On Monday, the three Sacramento men received the Legion of Honor -the highest award given by the French government.
Mayor Kevin Johnson says Sadler's actions "exemplifies the best of Sacramento" and then kidded him about wearing a Los Angeles Lakers jersey on international television. Johnson then gave Sadler a Sacramento Kings jersey.
Sadler is a student at Sacramento State.
His father says he will not have to return to France to testify in the gunman's trial.
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