An MMA fighter turned security guard is being hailed a hero for pinning down an ‘incoherent’ gunman who tried to hold up a gentlemen’s club, a frantic encounter captured in its entirety on the club’s security cameras.
The close call happened early Sunday morning at the well-known Mons Venus Dance Club in Tampa, and saw one of its security members, 58-year-old Manuel Anthony Resto, avoid what police said could have been a mass shooting. .
A seasoned goaltender with 30 years of experience, Resto, better known as Manny, has a background in MMA and professional wrestling, and was ready at 1:15 a.m. Monday when suspect Michael Rudman, 44, suddenly appeared on the club gate.
Wearing a devil mask and too incoherent to speak, according to police, Resto knew immediately something was up, soon noticing the man had the words ‘kill’ and ‘dark’ on it.[sic] one’ scrawled on both arms.
Initially dismissing it as a joke, Resto would spring into action when he noticed the man had a gun. He proceeded to make quick work of the masked prowler, which could save over 200 people partying inside.
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An MMA fighter turned security guard is being hailed a hero for pinning down an ‘incoherent’ gunman who tried to hold up a gentlemen’s club, a frantic encounter captured in its entirety on the club’s security cameras.
An experienced bouncer with 30 years of experience, Manny Resto, seen here recounting the attack during a police press conference on Tuesday, has a background in MMA and professional wrestling, and was therefore ready when the suspect suddenly appeared on the club gate.
“I saw him raise his hand and he had a gun,” Resto explained. at a press conference on Tuesdayas the police revealed touching images of the meeting
I saw him pointing towards the door. And I decided that I was not going to walk into the club and hurt anybody.
The clip showed the brief but intense altercation in its entirety, which turned physical as Rudman, now in custody, strode off. towards the entrance with a fully loaded pistol in one hand and a flashlight in the other.
As the suspect tries to open the front door, Resto confronts him, and within seconds, he snatches his gun, which falls to the floor.
Footage shows a brief physical struggle between two men of similar size before Resto gains control of the firearm, leading to an unarmed Rudman attempting to fight the bouncer melee.
That said, Resto, despite being nearly 15 years older than the other man, remained in control, drawing on his decades of combat sports experience to fight back.
Dodging and weaving blows while delivering a few of his own, Resto finally deters his attacker enough to put some distance between them, and immediately looks down at the downed weapon.
While the suspect is out of frame, Resto rushes to pick up the firearm, pointing it at her as his assailant while berating him for the second round.
Dodging and weaving blows while delivering a few of his own, Resto was able to wrest the gun from the suspect, potentially saving more than 200 people inside.
Resto, despite being nearly 15 years older than the other man, remained in control, drawing on his decades of combat sports experience to fight back.
Suspect Michael Rudman, 44, is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and purchase, possession, or receipt of a firearm under an order for protection at risk, but not attempted to murder. He tried to enter the club with a gun, and the words ‘kill’ and ‘darkk[sic] one’ scrawled on both arms
Seemingly undeterred, Rudman, who police confirmed Tuesday has a history of domestic violence and mental health issues, continues to threaten Resto, who chooses not to fire the gun.
It is at this point that Resto uses his wrestling skills to subdue his makeshift opponent, who falls to the ground, while the guard pummels him once more with the pistol grip for good measure.
Eventually, other members of Resto’s team rushed to help, averting a crisis that might have been eerily reminiscent of the 2016 strike just 80 miles away that killed 49 people, at the now-famous Pulse nightclub.
Rudman was immediately arrested on charges of assault and battery, as well as purchasing a gun while under a hazard protection order.
Police officers said Tuesday they could not provide more information about the extent of Rudman’s criminal record, but said it was incoherent when officers got to the point where he “could not speak.”
Acting Police Chief Lee Bercaw explained how members of his department were still trying to learn why he was trying to enter the club with a loaded gun.
Acting Police Chief Lee Bercaw said Tuesday that Rudman became incoherent when officers reached the point where he could not speak. The force of him has yet to know why he was trying to enter the club with a loaded gun.
The close call occurred early Sunday morning at the well-known Mons Venus dance club in Tampa, seen here, and was eerily reminiscent of the 2016 strike just 80 miles away that killed 49 people at the now-notorious Pulse nightclub. .
With Resto and another guard helping to hold the suspect until police arrived, the chief revealed that detectives had learned that Rudman had visited the establishment the night before, possibly to review its security.
“There is no question that the security guards who disarmed this suspect saved dozens of lives through their heroics,” Acting Chief Lee Bercaw said of the scare on Sunday.
“And I am grateful that our officers were able to stop this individual before he had a chance to carry out what he had planned.”
It added: “We will continue to actively and thoroughly investigate this case to better understand what led to this botched incident.”
The officers did not reveal during the conference whether they believed Rudman was under the influence of any substance while carrying out the attack. He is being held without bail at Falkenburg Road jail but has not yet been charged with attempted murder.
“There is no question that the security guards who disarmed this suspect saved dozens of lives through their heroics,” Acting Chief Lee Bercaw said of the scare Sunday, joined by Resto and another Mons Venus security guard. .
Resto, seen here Tuesday with another guard who helped subdue the suspect, credits his experience in MMA and professional wrestling for his swift handling of the incident.
According to police, he has been slapped with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and buying, possessing, or receiving a firearm while under a risk protection order.
However, more charges could be filed as police continue to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, Resto says he’s thankful Rudman wasn’t able to hurt anyone within the club and maintains he was just doing his job.
He credits his experience in MMA and professional wrestling, as well as his three decades as a bouncer, for his quick takedown of the gunman. The City of Tampa Police Department is investigating the incident.