Armed Bystander Guns Down Criminal Suspect Who Was Attacking Cop

by Blake Neff

A passerby carrying a concealed weapon shot and killed a criminal suspect who was attacking a sheriff’s deputy in Estero, Fla.

Deputy Dean Bardes was pursuing a fleeing suspect in a 100 mph car chase down Interstate 75 when the suspect abruptly stopped, exited his car, and attacked Bardes after he did the same, acording to local WINK News. The suspect, whom the deputy says was armed, got the better of Bardes, who began crying for help.

“The officer opened his door, and the guy got out and ran out and grabbed the officer out of his car and started beating him profusely, throwing him to the ground and punching him in all different directions,” eyewitness Shanta Holditch told local station NBC-2.

Things were looking dicey for Bardes until a bystander came to the rescue.

“My husband was honking his horn to try and stop the guy to get some attention from him, and another guy with a blue shirt came out with a gun,” Holditch said.

The bystander pointed his gun at the suspect and warned he would fire if he didn’t stop attacking the deputy. When the suspect refused, the bystander shot him three times, allowing Bardes to escape. The man later died from his injuries.

Bardes avoided being shot and was released from the hospital Monday afternoon after being treated for minor injuries.

The identity of the man who saved Bardes hasn’t been released, and it’s unclear whether the man was a civilian or another officer not in uniform. Police originally planned an afternoon press conference to release further details, but the conference was canceled.

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