It’s all too easy for older generations to complain about the youth of today. Lazy, disrespectful, lacking morals… the list of negative notions goes on and on.
Which is why we think it particularly important to highlight examples of youngsters doing good things and making a positive difference.
Take young hero Canaan Bower, a student at Mayfield High School in New Mexico a few years ago. His quick-thinking and undeniable act of bravery may have saved the lives of three small children… and though his courageous act played out in the past, we think he’s well due some recognition again.
It was in March, 2020 that Canaan Bower’s name made its way into the papers.
As per reports, the teenager was filling up his truck with gas in Las Cruces, New Mexico when he heard commotion from across the street. By Canaan’s own admission, he felt compelled to drive over and see if he could help.
When he arrived at Chucky’s Gas Station, he encountered a truly startling scene. Several people were involved in what seemed to be a brawl, so the teen, who had recently won his district’s wrestling championship, jumped into action.
As Canaan’s father, Troy Bower, told the Sun-News at the time: “So my son — who just won the wrestling district championship weeks ago — just came up behind this guy and body-slammed him and got him in a chokehold and waited for the police to show up.”
But it turned out Canaan’s actions were even more pivotal than first believed.
Reports state that on the same day, a mother had just gotten off a Greyhound bus with her three children – aged 9, 2, and 1 – and was waiting for an Uber when 22-year-old Daniel Beltran Arroyo took interest in her family.
Police reports claim that Arroyo approached the woman and demanded she hand over her children. A scuffle broke out and bystanders intervened while the mother fled into the gas station’s convenience store.
While the mom and her children hid in an employees-only room, bystanders attempted to fend off the suspect, who continued to put up a fight.
That’s when Canaan stepped in.
“Punches were being thrown and (he could hear) screams of terror, so he jumped in his truck and went across the street,” Canaan’s dad Troy said.
“By the time he got there, they had gone inside and so he got out of his truck and went inside — and there was a whole bunch of blood all over the floor.”
Canaan body-slammed Arroyo and held him until police arrived. Arroyo, meanwhile, was arrested and charged with battery, assault, child abuse and kidnapping.
I think we can all agree Canaan was a hero that day, and his selfless actions will be remembered by all who hear his story.
Tragically, Canaan died in a motorcycle accident two years later, in March, 2022. Rest in peace, young man. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
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