California man recounts tackling gunman on Paris-bound train

September 2, 2015 at 2:24 p.m. | Updated September 2, 2015 at 2:30 p.m.

by Associated Press

File-This Aug. 26, 2015, file photo shows Anthony Sadler, right, one of the three Americans that helped stop an alleged terrorist shooting aboard a Paris bound train, talking with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson as they leave City Hall after a a brief news conference in Sacramento,Calif. On "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015,Sadler says he initially was asleep when Ayoub El-Khazzani was spotted with an AK-47 and other weapons on Aug. 21. Sadler says his friends, U.S. Air Force Airman Spencer Stone and Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, charged the gunman and that he suddenly awoke and began grappling with him too. The audience began applauding when Fallon asked what happened next and Sadler replied they "beat him down a little bit." (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
File-This Aug. 26, 2015, file photo shows Anthony Sadler, right, one of the three Americans that helped stop an alleged terrorist shooting aboard a Paris bound train, talking with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson as they leave City Hall after a a brief news conference in Sacramento,Calif. On "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015,Sadler says he initially was asleep when Ayoub El-Khazzani was spotted with an AK-47 and other weapons on Aug. 21. Sadler says his friends, U.S. Air Force Airman Spencer Stone and Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, charged the gunman and that he suddenly awoke and began grappling with him too. The audience began applauding when Fallon asked what happened next and Sadler replied they "beat him down a little bit." (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - One of three Americans who foiled an attack on a Paris-bound train says he and his friends did whatever they could to disarm the gunman.

Anthony Sadler says in an interview airing on "NBC Nightly News" that people have a choice to act or hide in these situations, and he encourages people to act.

The interview with Lester Holt airs Wednesday night, a day after the 23-year-old senior at Sacramento State University appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

Sadler, Oregon National Guard specialist Alek Skarlatos and U.S. Airman Spencer Stone earned worldwide acclaim when they tackled a gunman carrying a handgun and assault weapon.

ABC announced Wednesday that Skarlatos has been booked as part of the 21st season cast of "Dancing With the Stars."

A U.S. military spokesman says Stone is scheduled to remain under military care in Germany this week.

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