Man had been fleeing when escapees appeared

SHELBYVILLE, TENN. — The man credited by law enforcement with holding two Georgia prison escapees at gunpoint until police arrived rejected the “hero” label on Friday, and said credit should go to forces well beyond his control.

Patrick Hale said friends had just alerted him that the fugitives wanted in the slayings of two prison guards had been spotted in his area of rural Tennessee, so he quickly loaded his guns. Moments later, he saw them climb over his fence and approach his home, where he was alone with his little girl. He decided to flee — getting into his car with his girl — but then realized he had left a loaded shotgun at his door, possibly within reach of the escapees.

Then, just as he prepared for the worst, the inmates took off their shirts and waved them in the air in a sign of surrender. He thinks they mistook his car for a law enforcement vehicle. He never had to pull out his weapon.

“I realized I had two ex-cons wanted for murder who had just shot at law enforcement who had nothing to lose and for some reason they surrendered and laid down on the concrete in my driveway,” Hale said. “If that doesn’t make you believe in Jesus Christ, I don’t know what does.”

More than 45 police officers began showing up within three minutes, he said.

“I cannot tell you how grateful I was to see them arrive,” Hale said.