Ashad Russell is shown on video firing three bullets into armed suspect Edward Strother while he attacks officer Dean Bardes.
Bardes, who was on patrol himself, had pursued Strother for many miles near Estero, Florida, before colliding in the middle of a road.
Witnesses captured footage of Good Samaritan Russell approaching the duo with his revolver pulled.
As Strother had him down to the ground, Barde allegedly said, “Shoot him, shoot him!”
Russell, who had a concealed firearms licence, fired three rounds, all of which struck the attacker.
After being taken to the hospital, Strother was declared deceased.
The death was justifiable, according to the state attorney’s office, since the officer’s life was in danger.
Russell was hailed as a “hero” by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for his actions.
Officer Mike Scott wrote on Facebook that earlier this week, two heroes met on I-75 and while they had previously never met, one would save the other’s life.
Amusingly, this was Deputy Bardes’ first day on patrol alone in a while because, as a Field Training Officer, he usually rode with a recruit to learn the business.
He praised Russell even further, saying he congratulated the hero who saw the immediate threat, went to Deputy Bardes’ help, and eventually prevented that threat. In an age when race is a near-instant emphasis for media and other commentators in police encounters, the truth is that this hero is a guy of color who prevented another man of color from further injuring or murdering a white policeman.
Reminding one that black lives matter, blue lives matter, and every life matters.
Scott said that when Russell’s gun was seized as proof, it was promptly replaced by gun retailer Shooting Straight.
During the incredible occurrence, no 911 calls were apparently made.
