A courageous Navy veteran credits his military training for aiding in the capture of suspects at the tragic Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting. Tony Janssens, a lifelong Chiefs fan, recounted the chaotic scene to Fox News Digital, where gunfire initially mistaken for fireworks quickly escalated into a life-threatening situation.
“It didn’t sound like fireworks to me,” Janssens recalled. “And then I heard another couple of rounds go off, and then that’s when I dropped to the ground again. I looked over to my right where the shots were coming from, and I see a guy lying on the ground with a couple of bullet holes at his side, and he’s already kind of lying down — I kind of understand the severity of the situation.”
Disturbed by bystanders attempting to record the unfolding tragedy, Janssens urged them to flee, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. As he navigated the chaos, Janssens inadvertently encountered the suspects, one of whom bore a gruesome facial injury.
“He’s basically missing his jaw, and he’s freaking out,” Janssens recounted. “He doesn’t know what to do. And then his buddies are kind of scrambling. They’re all like, don’t know if they should keep running or help his buddy, since he’s bleeding now.”
Drawing upon his military instincts, Janssens observed the wounded suspect’s actions and alerted law enforcement. “I saw him hand over a bag to the other two individuals that he was with,” he said. “And I see them kind of run — trying to take off and try to escape.”
As the suspects attempted to flee, Janssens and law enforcement pursued them, ultimately apprehending one of the individuals. “I’m yelling as I’m chasing after him, ‘Get this guy! Get this guy!’” Janssens recounted. “Luckily, these four other guys heard me. And they turn around and said they could hear me yelling to tackle this guy.”
Janssens’ swift action and collaboration with fellow civilians and law enforcement played a crucial role in managing the crisis. “As they were tackling him, I think I saw another guy was running away as well,” he said. “So I kept chasing that guy and then it was just a dead pursuit. So I hurried back and helped these guys try to sustain the situation until cops arrived.”
Amidst the chaos, Janssens’ bravery and quick thinking exemplify the unwavering spirit of resilience and community solidarity in the face of adversity.