Iraq vet run over after attempting to stop woman's beating

CHANDLER, AZ (KTRK) -- An Iraq War veteran was run over in a fast food restaurant parking lot Thursday night after witnesses say he stepped in to help a woman who was being violently attacked.

Steven Richardson now has a cracked skull and severe concussion after he was mowed over by a driver in a Jack in the Box parking lot in Chandler, Arizona.

Witnesses say Richardson stepped in to help a woman who was being beaten and dragged by her hair.

Police say Cody Gibson, 18, is the woman's attacker and the driver who ran over Richardson.

Authorities say Gibson escaping with the woman, but say they know Gibson is hiding out in the same place where they found the suspect vehicle: the Gila River Indian community.

Chandler Police Department Detective Seth Tyler said, "We believe that Mr. Gibson has a number of contacts on the reservation that might be helping him."

Steven's wife Samantha Richardson is just thankful police have an idea of who did this to her husband. She said, "I'm really relieved because that means that they're that much closer to finding him."

Watch the full report by local stations KPHO and KTVK in the player above.