A hero military veteran jumped into action to take down a knife-wielding man threatening to stab shoppers at a South Carolina Walmart – by smashing him over the head with a metal pole.
Video shows the unidentified man dressed in red hoodie swearing and shouting on the floor of the Walmart located in Columbia, SC demanding $20.
The man is seen waving his knife yelling, ‘I’m going to start cutting you all up,’ as horrified bystanders stand by during the incident that took place on January 4th around 2pm.
One of the store managers tried to confront the suspect, but the man grew more irate – and in a fit of rage – attempted to slash him.
Moments later a man identified as Demario Davis ambushed the suspect from behind whacking the suspect over the head with a metal pole.
BAM! Dramatic footage shows the moment as man identified as military veteran Demario Davis ambushes the suspect from behind smashing the suspect over the head with a metal pole
As the suspect falls to the floor two sheriff’s deputies rush in and place the assailant in handcuffs, as the man yells out, ‘I didn’t do anything’
As the suspect falls to the floor he drops the knife and another bystander rushed in to grab it, before two sheriff’s deputies emerge and place the assailant in handcuffs.
The man tries to struggle, before yelling out: ‘No, no, no. I didn’t do it. I didn’t do anything.’
Davis was in the Walmart shopping with his son when he saw the frenzied man act out and decided to intervene. He said he relied on his military training to beat down the suspect.
‘I was at the checkout when my son noticed the guy walk in with the knife open,’ he told Fox News. ‘He then proceeded to the service desk waving the knife at a few female employees.’
He said the man yelled ‘when the cops get here, I’m going to start cutting you all up.’
Recounting the scene, he added: ‘I casually walked over to the object not only to take him down but also protect myself in case I failed, but with my great military training, I was able to neutralize the threat until law enforcement arrived,’ he said.
The harrowing footage was recorded by Walmart employee and witness LaQuanda Eichelberger. ‘I was at the self checkout where I work and the customer came in and demanded $20,’ she told Storyful.
Eichelberger is heard narrating the scene as it unfolds ‘Ooh, he waving the knife. Oh, oh,’ as the man is heard saying ‘kill you all.’
‘Just give the man $20, y’all,’ she said. ‘Walmart, get the man $20.’
She continued: ‘Somebody give the man. Oh, this– he doing Dave Chappelle.’
Demario Davis was in the Walmart shopping with his son when he saw the frenzied man act out and decided to intervene. He said he relied on his military training to beat down the suspect
Video shows the unidentified man dressed in red hoodie swearing and shouting on the floor of the Walmart located in Columbia, SC demanding $20. The man is seen waving his knife yelling, ‘I’m going to start cutting you all up,’ as horrified bystanders stand by
One of the store managers tried to confront the suspect, but the man grew more irate – and in a fit of rage – attempted to slash him
Many people responded to Demario’s courage and quick-actions.
‘We can always count on a veteran. Thank you Demario!,’ one person wrote, Yahoo Life reported.
Another person said: ‘Mental health issues are huge now. It is also very dangerous to the public.’
The suspect was taken to a local hospital and evaluated by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s Crisis Intervention Team. Charges have not yet to been filed.
DailyMail.com has reached out the Richland County Sheriff’s Department but they were unavailable for comment.
