Gym-goers at a California branch of Planet Fitness helped tackle an axe-wielding attacker holding a victim at knifepoint.
The incident, which occurred in Corona, California, east of Los Angeles earlier this week, saw gym members spring into action as they managed to force the suspect to the ground and restrain him until police arrived on the scene.
One of those who approached the suspect, John Keene, said he was quick to act and acted on instinct, long before police arrived on the scene.
‘I really didn’t hesitate. I didn’t have a game plan. The four of us, none of us even spoke as we walked there. We all did exactly the same. And I felt like Steve, the guy with the hat, was going to come in and do something. So I thought, if he leaves, I’m going to leave because I didn’t want him to get hurt too. So we didn’t actually decide to do anything. We just did it,’ said Keene Fox News.
Keene had been working out on a stair machine when she heard screaming coming from the other side of the gym. That’s when he noticed the suspect was holding a man at knife point.
A man wielding a knife and axe, seen in blue, appeared to take a man hostage in a gym.
People were working out when yelling and shouting could be heard from another area of the gym – he saw people jump off their machines and run to try and help.
“At first, I thought it was an argument, so I ignored it and after about a minute, it got louder, so I turned off the machine and went downstairs to walk over there.”
Keene approached along with three other men, intending to try to help.
“As I was getting closer, three other guys arrived at the same time, and we didn’t really have a game plan at all. We were just going to try to help, if we could,” Keene said.
Once the suspect removed his hood to reveal his face, the victim managed to twist his body and tackled the suspect while screaming gym goers in the background.
Four other men were able to help subdue the suspect, identified as Ronald Chand, 30, of Santa Ana.
Once the suspect removed his hood to reveal his face, the victim managed to twist his body and tackled the suspect as gym-goers yelled in the background.
“We all jumped on him and disarmed him and held him down for the police. It happened a little bit quickly,” John Keene explained. ‘I was not afraid at the time. I felt the adrenaline afterwards, but because the victim acted, we didn’t have time to decide or think about it.’
“We all jumped on him and disarmed him and held him down for the police. It happened a little bit quickly,” Keene explained. ‘I was not afraid at the time. I felt the adrenaline afterwards, but since the victim acted, we didn’t have time to make up our minds or think about it. I was involved before I even thought about it,’ he said.
Chand was seen to be holding a knife and hatchet, but was able to be restrained on the ground until police arrived on the scene.
“It seemed like forever for the police to show up, but it was probably two or three minutes and then a police officer on a motorcycle came in,” Keene said.
“I put him on his back and held his arm down so Steve could get the knife out of him,” Keene said. ABC7. “And then there was also an ax in there and we handed it over to someone else and they took it from the scene.”
Three men held down the suspect, who had both a knife and an axe, until police arrived.
Chand was holding a knife and hatchet but was able to be restrained until police arrived on the scene.
Once the emergency services arrived, the victim, later identified as 36-year-old Bollywood actor Aman Dhaliwal, had been stabbed multiple times and was taken to hospital. Dhaliwal is expected to make a full recovery.
Rachel Wolfe was also in the gym at the time of the incident and said she was shocked by what she witnessed.
‘I was terrified. I immediately called my husband and told him that there was a man here with an ax and another guy was bleeding, and he stopped what he was doing and ran over here,” he said. fox 11.
It was terrifying. He was afraid. He didn’t know what was going to happen. It seems like a safe place. You come, you exercise, you go, but that shows you that you are not safe anywhere.
Authorities say the altercation began in the mall parking lot when the victim encountered the suspect acting erratically, prompting the victim to begin videotaping the suspect.
Ronald Chand, 30, was transported to the Robert Presley Detention Center and charged with Intent to Murder, with bail set at $1,000,000.
The two weapons allegedly used by the suspect are shown above.
The suspect then became agitated, blocked the victim’s car with his own car, and then stabbed the victim multiple times before entering the gym.
Upon entering, the suspect could be heard yelling ‘Respect us’ and ‘Give me water!’
One of those who assisted in the restraint said he could smell methamphetamine on the suspect.
“When you pull into any parking lot, look around to see who’s around,” Keene said. Always watch. Be willing to help other people too.’
Once emergency services arrived, the victim, later identified as 36-year-old Bollywood actor Aman Dhaliwal, who had been stabbed multiple times, was taken to hospital. Dhaliwal is expected to make a full recovery.
Chand was transported to the Robert Presley Detention Center and charged with Intent to Murder, with bail set at $1,000,000.