Two teenage brothers who were closing an Ocala car wash were confronted by an axe-wielding man. Fortunately, the older brother, who was a mixed martial arts-trained military recruit, overpowered the suspect and held him in that position until the police arrived.
Leodan Pino, 18, and his 16-year-old brother were ending their day at the car spa when they were suddenly approached by Florida-based Bryce Thayer. FOX News reported the incident and shared a video released by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers stated after an investigation that when Thayer was asked to leave the property by the two brothers, he took his axe out and pointed it at Pino. That was when Pino realized that he had to defend himself and his younger brother. He said:
“I was locking up all the doors, and I heard some screaming, someone yelling something. He’s obviously not in the right state of mind. … He walks up to the tunnel, and that’s when I tell him, ‘You have to leave, man. You got to leave.’”
When Thayer got his axe out and pointed it at Pino, it prompted an MMA-style reaction. Pino immediately charged at him and put him to the ground while keeping the axe at bay. When Thayer dropped the axe, Pino’s brother immediately snatched it away. Pino then took complete control of the situation. He added:
“Once he lowered [the axe], that’s when I shot the take-down, and I got on top of him and I controlled the situation. Once I realized he wasn’t letting go, that’s when I threw a couple elbows until he was incapacitated. … I got him to his back, put him in a body triangle, held a rear naked choke on him and waited until the cops got there.”
Pino added that Thayer “got what he deserved.” The sheriff’s office found a glass pipe used to consume methamphetamine after arresting Thayer. He was charged with “two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and possession of drug paraphernalia.”
Expressing gratitude, Pino said, “Very thankful that God gave me the opportunity and gave me the strength to be able to control that situation.”
“I’m thankful that I was the one closing on my brother and no one else was because I’m not too sure if any other of my coworkers would have done the same thing as I would have. I’m just happy that I was able to protect my brother.”
