Tampa Police, Reuters
A bouncer standing guard outdoors a widely known Tampa strip membership stopped an armed-to-the-teeth gunman in a satan masks from barging inside—fairly probably stopping a bloodbath, police mentioned.
Manny Resto, a former mixed-martial arts fighter and professional wrestler, advised reporters that initially, he wasn’t positive what to make of the burly man marching towards the Mons Venus door with a flashlight in his hand.
Then he noticed the pistol in his different hand.
“I noticed him level it towards the door and I made a decision he was not going to enter the membership and damage anyone,” Resto, who used to carry out underneath the nickname “Puerto Rican Punisher” mentioned at a press convention.
Resto disarmed the suspect, recognized as Michael Rudman, 44, after which picked up his gun to carry him at bay. Safety video reveals Rudman attempt to rush Resto, who knocked him down. A second guard, James Baham, ran over to assist him subdue Rudman till police arrived.
Police mentioned that within the Sunday early-morning fracas—which Resto referred to as “a struggle for my life”—a single bullet was fired into the door of Mons Venus however nobody inside was damage.
“There is no such thing as a doubt in my thoughts that had it not been for the courageous males you see standing subsequent to me, we might have been right here discussing a mass capturing,” Interim Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw mentioned.
Bercaw didn't say what Rudman’s motive may need been, however he had visited the membership the night time earlier than. He had the phrases “KILL” and “DARKK ONE” scrawled on his arms, and he had two absolutely loaded magazines in his pockets, together with extra ammunition and knives in his truck, cops mentioned.
Tampa police mentioned Rudman was served with a threat safety order, stopping him from possessing a gun, in Pinellas County final yr. He's now charged with aggravated assault with a lethal weapon amongst different crimes.