It feels like every week we’ve seen something about a mass shooting topping the headlines… it’s devastating.
From Buffalo to Uvalde, Highland Park to the latest at Greenwood Park Mall, it’s absolutely heartbreaking that our country is constantly facing these disgusting acts of senseless violence.
However, as the media likes to focus their endless conversations around these evil gunmen, gun-control, it’s important to remember that brave men and women often times put their lives on the line to stop these psychopaths (NOT talking about you Uvalde).
An armed citizen shot and killed the Greenwood Park Mall shooter yesterday, before any more lives could be taken, and one Good Samaritan in Houston took down a potential gunman before the shooting even started.
He’s being hailed a hero… and rightfully so.
Sgt. Kendrick Simpo, an off-duty police officer, decided to take matters into his own hands, when he learned that a man was spotted with 120 rounds of ammunition in a Houston mall earlier this year.
According to ABC13, Simpo, who was working a second job at the Galleria Mall in Houston’s Uptown District on February 5th, when he and a security guard learned of the man standing near Macy’s.
Knowing that trying to stop the man could potentially risk his own life, he knew that he couldn’t let yet another horrific tragedy unfold.
He weighed in on the moment he took the man down:
“I quickly bum rushed, tackled him. And my first reaction was to make sure that I get a hold of the rifle. No matter what I grabbed, make sure I grabbed that rifle.
I had in my mind (that) I was going to get shot. I just had to bear the pain. I knew it was going to hurt, and I was like, ‘Whatever I do, I cannot let go of this rifle.’”
He knew that there was a dance competition going on at the Westin Ballroom right near Macy’s, and he knew that a ton of kids’ lives were in danger:
“I did know there was a dance competition with little kids going on at the Westin Ballroom, so I didn’t pull my weapon out because I didn’t want to be running towards the Macy’s area, which is past the ballroom area, with the gun out and startle anyone.”
That’s when he tackled the suspect, Guido Herrera, near the entrance of the Westin Ballroom.
He continued:
“I knew if a person did have a rifle, and they were inside the mall, I was pretty much outnumbered because all I had was a handgun at the time. My handgun and his rifle, I was already at a disadvantage.
I definitely know what I signed up for 20 years ago when I got into this profession.”
Simpo was able to subdue Herrera until law enforcement arrived on the scene, without a single shot being fired.
Police discovered a rifle, a Bible, 120 rounds of ammunition, and a handgun.
This is what a hero (and a police man) looks like… take notes Uvalde.
