Did you ever notice this in news stories? What's with "tried"? He "tried" to intervene--literally to "go between" two parties? He in fact did. That's why the future inmate punched him. (Or perhaps "tried" to punch him?)
The newsette was "trying" to explain that the fireman was "trying" to stop the felons from harassing the couple. Except, it sounds as if he succeeded in doing so. I mean, they had to turn their attention to him, right? And did the police report say the future college valedictorians stuck around and harassed the couple some more? I don't know, but I'd guess they didn't, and cut and run instead, to avoid arrest--wouldn't you? That's what valedictorians do.
So, at the cost of his safety and some injuries, it sounds as if this heroic fireman succeeded in stopping a crime. Right?
I know why Leftist thought organs (which often includes Fox) always say "tried"--because they have no concept of personal sacrifice that achieves a goal. To them, it only succeeded if the dude swooped in like Superman and everything the bad guys tried bounced off him. Never mind that he saved the people from harm.
And a fireman who dies in the line of duty who stops a fire in a burning building, saving 80 lives or so? I guess the J-school zombies would say he "tried." Because . . . they hate real-world heroes, who make them feel irrelevant.
The fireman may have well considered he was going to get his ass beat before he intervened but did so anyway to protect the elderly couple.