A security guard is being hailed as a hero after he thwarted a potential shooting at the Mons Venus strip club in Tampa, Florida. The suspect, Michael Rudman, was apprehended by the security guard, Manny Resto, after attempting to enter the establishment wearing a red devil’s mask and holding a raised, fully-loaded firearm.
Upon spotting the firearm, Resto immediately engaged Rudman in a fight in the entryway. The gun was dropped during the struggle, and Resto picked it up, pointing it at Rudman. Despite being charged by Rudman, Resto managed to hold him down along with two other security guards, Danny Baham, and another unnamed guard, until the police arrived.
Fortunately, no one was injured by the single bullet that was fired from the gun during the altercation. Rudman was found to have “KILL” and “DARKK ONE” tattoos on his arms. The police later found additional fully loaded magazines, ammunition, knives, and firearm holsters in Rudman’s truck.
Resto, who was a former wrestler known as the “Puerto Rican Punisher,” stated that he knew he was “in a fight for my life” during the incident. He added that he “was not going to let him [Rudman] win” and was determined to prevent the suspect from entering the club and hurting anyone.
The police have not been able to determine Rudman’s motive for attempting the shooting, but they discovered that he had visited the club the previous night. Interim Police Chief Lee Bercaw praised the security guards for their heroic acts, stating that they saved “dozens of lives” by disarming Rudman.
Rudman is facing multiple charges, including Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Battery, Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and Purchasing, Possessing, or Receiving a Firearm While Under a Risk Protection Order. Rudman had been served an RPO, which is a court order temporarily restricting a person’s access to firearms for up to one year when they pose a significant danger of harming themselves or others by possessing a firearm.
