Video shows the dramatic moment a bouncer disarmed and stopped a devil-masked gunman from entering a strip club in Tampa
- A gunman wearing a devil mask tried to force his way into a strip club in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday.
- A dramatic video shows a bouncer successfully disarming and apprehending the gunman.
- Tampa's police chief said the bouncer potentially stopped a massacre from taking place.
A new video shows the moment a bouncer in Tampa, Florida, stopped a gunman wearing a devil mask from forcing his way into a strip club on Sunday morning.
Tampa Police Department's interim chief Lee Bercaw said the bouncer, Manny Resto, potentially stopped a mass shooting from taking place by disarming and apprehending the man, according to The Daily Beast.
In the security video, the gunman can be seen approaching the entrance of the Mons Venus strip club at 1.11 a.m on Sunday. He is wearing a red and black devil mask and has a firearm in one hand and a flashlight in the other, the video shows.
Tampa Police Department said in a Facebook post that he had "KILL" written on his arms and two fully loaded magazines in his pockets, along with more ammunition, knives, and firearm holsters in his pickup truck.
The video shows the gunman approaching the door when Resto spots the firearm and tries to grab it from his hands. Resto eventually manages to disarm the gunman, knocking the firearm to the floor.
The gunman then falls forward while trying to rush at Resto, giving the bouncer the opportunity to pick up the gun and point it at the man, the video shows.
Resto said at a news conference that what followed was "a fight for my life," with the video showing the gunman once again rushing at him before falling near the strip club door.
A single bullet was fired into the door of the club, but no one inside was hurt, police said.
Other security guards joined Resto in subduing the gunman, with one suffering minor injuries in the altercation, Tampa Police said.
The gunman was arrested and is facing charges of aggravated assault and battery with a deadly weapon, among other charges.
Bercaw, the police chief, said the motive of the gunman was unknown, adding that an investigation is underway.
He added: "I am thankful that our officers were able to take this individual into custody before he had the chance to carry out whatever he had planned."