A military veteran is being hailed as a hero after he bravely subdued a man threatening employees with a knife at a South Carolina Walmart.
Demario Davis was shopping at a Richland County store in early January when he encountered a man threatening employees and other shoppers near the self-checkout area of the Walmart, Fox News reported.
“I was at the checkout when my son noticed the guy walk in with the knife open. He then proceeded to the service desk waving the knife at a few female employees,” Davis told the outlet. “They took off running from the guy. I then asked a female employee where is security and she stated she was security. As I’m walking towards the area where the gentleman waving the knife is terrorizing other customers and employees, he yelled out, ‘When the cops get here, I’m going to start cutting you all up.'”
After another person tried, but failed to subdue the man, and Davis said that’s when his “military training kicked in,” according to Fox. Davis approached the man, grabbing the first object he could find — which appeared to be a barrier stanchion — to help neutralize the situation. Video taken by another shopper captured the moment when Davis struck the suspect over the head and sent him sprawling to the ground.
A heroic military veteran took down knife-wielding man in South Carolina Walmart 🙏 pic.twitter.com/CypoLU0ykE
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) January 13, 2023
After striking the man in the head, Davis and others seized the opportunity, holding the man down until law enforcement arrived.
“I’m a community person, so if I see something in the community that’s not right, with all the violence and things and attacks going on, gun violence you know, you want your people in the community to step up as well. The cops can’t do it all by themselves,” Davis said, according to Fox. (RELATED: Police In Mississippi Kill Woman Holding Walmart Employee Hostage)
Authorities took the suspect to a local hospital for an evaluation and have not yet filed any charges in the incident, according to WSAZ.
Davis said his act of heroism has earned him lots of praise. “I have received so many heartfelt comments and compliments from civilians and veterans all over for my brave act and quick response,” he told Fox News.