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American Morning
Guardian Angels Pumping Gas in Alexandria, Virginia
Aired October 16, 2002 - 08:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The fear of pumping gas, it almost sounds like a phobia, but it's a very real concern around Washington, where a sniper has killed nine people this month, four of them at gas stations. Now, some Guardian Angels are pumping gas for frightened motorists in Alexandria, Virginia. The group plans to expand to more stations by this weekend.
Guardian angels John Ayala and Frank Lee join us from Alexandria this morning. Good morning, gentleman. Thank you so for being with us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning. Thanks for having us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning. Thank you.
ZAHN: So, Frank, what do folks say as they pull up for gas? How nervous are they?
FRANK LEE, THE GUARDIAN ANGELS: A lot of people are thrilled to see us. It's a sigh of relief knowing that people are out here helping the community, the citizens of this community, in this nightmare in Alexandria.
ZAHN: John, why did you decide to do this? I mean, I know you could have done any number of things to help the population there feel safer. Why this?
JOHN AYALA, THE GUARDIAN ANGELS: The reason why we picked this is because once the sniper started attacking people, our headquarters in D.C. was being flooded with phone calls and our e-mail address, asking what the Guardian Angels are going to do to help the police. We said, we couldn't really do anything, this is a police matter.
But after the fourth killing at the gas station, people were nervous and ducking behind their cars and literally riding around on E because they didn't know where to get gas. I came up with an idea and talked to my Angels. Why don't we go out there, pump the gas for the citizens. They don't have to get out of their car. We pay for it, and they'll feel a lot safer.
And I only have to say it one time. Our Guardian Angels in the D.C. area said, "When do we get started?"
ZAHN: Well, good for you. You're very courageous to do this. Have you thought about your own vulnerability there?
AYALA: Guardian Angels have been doing things, not this similar, but dangerous since we've been in existence for 24 years. When we first started patrolling the subway system, people thought we were out of our mind, back in 1979. Then in '85, when crack-cocaine exploded, we started going into communities that had open-air drug markets, cleaning up the community, turning it from a cesspool of drug dealers to a little house on the prairie. So this is just another part of our chapter, doing something good for the community. But besides this, we're also patrolling around some of this schools, because as you know, one of our youth in Bowie, Maryland was shot as well.
ZAHN: Frank, I know you say the folks pulling up for gas are appreciative of you for doing this. I wonder have you had much contact with law enforcement and what they told you about what you need to do to stay safe?
LEE: Well, the law enforcement, I commend the local, state, and federal agencies that are working on this case. They've been sweeping around the area, they know that the Guardian Angels are in the area, and they've been providing a service to us in protection. The hours from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 at night, when our operation here at the Texaco station. So I would like to thank the Fairfax County Police Department for supporting the Guardian Angels on this effort.
ZAHN: We wish you both tremendous luck. I can tell by looking at the pictures of the folks shaking your hands how highly grateful they are of you doing what you do. Stay safe, and thanks for being our eyes and ears for us.
LEE: Thank you.
AYALA: Thank you.
ZAHN: John Ayala and Frank Lee, Guardian Angels.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 16, 2002 - 08:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The fear of pumping gas, it almost sounds like a phobia, but it's a very real concern around Washington, where a sniper has killed nine people this month, four of them at gas stations. Now, some Guardian Angels are pumping gas for frightened motorists in Alexandria, Virginia. The group plans to expand to more stations by this weekend.
Guardian angels John Ayala and Frank Lee join us from Alexandria this morning. Good morning, gentleman. Thank you so for being with us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning. Thanks for having us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning. Thank you.
ZAHN: So, Frank, what do folks say as they pull up for gas? How nervous are they?
FRANK LEE, THE GUARDIAN ANGELS: A lot of people are thrilled to see us. It's a sigh of relief knowing that people are out here helping the community, the citizens of this community, in this nightmare in Alexandria.
ZAHN: John, why did you decide to do this? I mean, I know you could have done any number of things to help the population there feel safer. Why this?
JOHN AYALA, THE GUARDIAN ANGELS: The reason why we picked this is because once the sniper started attacking people, our headquarters in D.C. was being flooded with phone calls and our e-mail address, asking what the Guardian Angels are going to do to help the police. We said, we couldn't really do anything, this is a police matter.
But after the fourth killing at the gas station, people were nervous and ducking behind their cars and literally riding around on E because they didn't know where to get gas. I came up with an idea and talked to my Angels. Why don't we go out there, pump the gas for the citizens. They don't have to get out of their car. We pay for it, and they'll feel a lot safer.
And I only have to say it one time. Our Guardian Angels in the D.C. area said, "When do we get started?"
ZAHN: Well, good for you. You're very courageous to do this. Have you thought about your own vulnerability there?
AYALA: Guardian Angels have been doing things, not this similar, but dangerous since we've been in existence for 24 years. When we first started patrolling the subway system, people thought we were out of our mind, back in 1979. Then in '85, when crack-cocaine exploded, we started going into communities that had open-air drug markets, cleaning up the community, turning it from a cesspool of drug dealers to a little house on the prairie. So this is just another part of our chapter, doing something good for the community. But besides this, we're also patrolling around some of this schools, because as you know, one of our youth in Bowie, Maryland was shot as well.
ZAHN: Frank, I know you say the folks pulling up for gas are appreciative of you for doing this. I wonder have you had much contact with law enforcement and what they told you about what you need to do to stay safe?
LEE: Well, the law enforcement, I commend the local, state, and federal agencies that are working on this case. They've been sweeping around the area, they know that the Guardian Angels are in the area, and they've been providing a service to us in protection. The hours from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 at night, when our operation here at the Texaco station. So I would like to thank the Fairfax County Police Department for supporting the Guardian Angels on this effort.
ZAHN: We wish you both tremendous luck. I can tell by looking at the pictures of the folks shaking your hands how highly grateful they are of you doing what you do. Stay safe, and thanks for being our eyes and ears for us.
LEE: Thank you.
AYALA: Thank you.
ZAHN: John Ayala and Frank Lee, Guardian Angels.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
