Actor James Woods took to Twitter Monday night to reach out to a military veteran seemingly contemplating suicide.
Woods attempted to help the man, identified as Andrew McMasters, after he came across a since-deleted tweet in which the Marine veteran revealed he was planning to kill himself because he “lost everything” and has “nobody.”
Hello, @OrlandoPolice. A man named Andrew MacMasters just said on @Twitter that he is sitting in a parking lot and is going to kill himself. He’s sitting with his dog, a black lab, possibly in a WalMart parking lot. Can you do a #WelfareCheck? He is a Marine Vet. His tweet: pic.twitter.com/8DwqWVVkhC
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 20, 2018
In addition to asking for his location, the 71-year-old conservative actor offered to talk privately — or publicly — with McMasters.
I’m following you now, so you can DM me. We can talk privately. Or we can talk openly right here. Lot of people worried about you right now. https://t.co/LVnLT5DeEB
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 20, 2018
So think about this. A lot of vets, I understand, have come to where you are tonight. If you could just push this decision off tonight, at least, maybe you would also inspire another vet to seek help. You could save another man, too. By waiting to do this. https://t.co/L5NiEbQv5j
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 20, 2018
I’m driving cross country. Sitting in a motel room. I have all night. I know that sounds dorky, but here I am! I would love to talk. Just talk. I won’t push you into anything. https://t.co/LVnLT5DeEB
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 20, 2018
Woods, after seeing McMasters’ tweet had been deleted, encouraged the veteran to not “feel embarrassed that you reached out in the darkness.”
“Nobody thinks you’re foolish for that,” he continued. “You know every one of us reaching out to you right now has some depression, too. I’ll say it. I do.”
The actor continued to reach out to McMasters late into the night, tweeting he wished the veteran could see the number of people on social media rooting for him.
If only Andrew could see the THOUSANDS of fellow Americans who are pulling for him. It’s like he’s lost behind enemy lines and we are cheering him home, willing him to survive. Andrew, do this for the “other 21” vets a day who don’t make it home from the darkness. Stay alive!
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 20, 2018
Radio host Jesse Kelly, who had also been reaching out to McMasters, tweeted just after midnight he heard the former Marine was “home safe and sound asleep.” Law enforcement officers, though, have not yet confirmed McMasters’ whereabouts.
“I’m hoping this is true. I think now he probably needs less focus on him from all of us, while his loved ones give him the solace he needs,” Woods wrote in response to Kelly’s update. “Thanks to all of you who worked to save a valuable life. My heart breaks for the other 21 vets and others who didn’t make it tonight.”
Please continue to pray for McMasters, his family and his friends.