Woman fends off attackers at gym, telling others to ‘always be careful’ and ‘always fight back’

A woman speaks up and shares a powerful message after fighting off a man who allegedly tried to rape her.

Nashali Alma, 24, was working out alone at her Inwood Park apartment complex in Tampa, Florida on January 22 when she noticed a man she saw at the gym before waiting outside the door. She let him in, but moments later he tried to grab her.

“Whenever it happened, I wasn’t scared at all. I just had to fight him. I had to do something, you know, and he was my equal. He was taller than me. He was no more than my size. And I kind of used that to my advantage, to my own head. And I fought him,” Alma said on Thursday’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”

Surveillance video shows suspect Xavier Thomas-Jones approaching Nashali Alma at the apartment complex’s gym. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)

Suspect Xavier Thomas-Jones, 25, grabbed her, pinned her to the ground and then told MPs he intended to rape her. Alma is seen on video struggling as she tries to dial 911.

She was able to get away from Jones after repeatedly hitting him and “pulling out his whiskers” before escaping and running outside to a nearby apartment.

Carlson asked Alma how she knew what the man’s intentions were when he approached her, because she could be seen backing away almost immediately as he approached her.

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Suspect Xavier Thomas-Jones, 25, faces charges of sexual harassment, false detention and kidnapping. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)

“That’s because my mother always told me, ‘Never let anyone approach you or touch you if you don’t know him/her.’ And as soon as he came towards me, I knew I had to push him away or do something,” she explained.

She added that when other women find themselves in a similar situation, they should always “fight back.”

“Always be careful. Always watch your back. And if you’re ever in this situation, fight back.”

Thomas-Jones was arrested and faces charges of sexual molestation, false imprisonment and kidnapping, according to a press release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

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Sheriff Chad Chronister said he was “disgusted by the suspect’s actions and the way he exploited the young woman.” “The strength, courage and determination of this woman is inspiring. I know her courage in sharing this story will impact the lives of many other women.”