‘I’m here to help’: Oklahoma gunman stopped
Armed men who stepped in at restaurant hailed for their bravery
Before bullets started flying at an Oklahoma City bar and grill, Bryan Whittle and Juan Carlos Nazario didn’t know each other. But they knew what to do: Stop a gunman before someone dies.
The two, police say, prevented what could have been a deadly attack Thursday night after they armed themselves and took down the shooter, Alexander Tilghman. Both say they don’t feel like heroes.
Nazario, a security guard and former small-town cop, had stopped by the pier at Louie’s Grill & Bar on Thursday after work when he heard five or six gunshots.
“I looked over, and everyone was running from the back restaurant,” he told USA TODAY.
That’s when he grabbed his gun and holster from his vehicle and ran toward the sounds.
Inside the busy lakeside restaurant, tables were knocked over, a glass door was shot out, and people were hiding in fear. Nazario scanned for the gunman.
“I saw people who were wounded and could just see the worry in their eyes,” he said. “I told them I was looking for the gunman, and I’m here to help.”
After Tilghman shot three people inside the restaurant, an attack that police so far believe was random, he walked into the parking lot. That’s where Nazario found him.
“Drop the gun!” he yelled repeatedly. Tilghman didn’t respond. He raised the gun again and fired a round in the parking lot.
Nazario fired two shots. “He just fell to the ground.” Despite a restaurant full of innocent lives potentially saved, Nazario said he doesn’t consider himself a hero.
“I just can’t understand being called a hero when someone’s life was taken,” he said. “I just did what I had to do. I’m very glad no innocent lives were taken, but ultimately, there was a life taken.
“I’m just glad I was there,” Nazario said. “I don’t know what could have happened if I hadn’t been there.”