CONFLICTS: The Hero of Seattle

A veteran of the U.S. Marines who worked as a personal security guard in Seattle is somehow world-famous today: If you have seen the video, you know what we are talking about. If not, HERE is the link. It is also included at the top of the cover image and in the text. The video surfaced after this man disarmed rioters who had stolen police assault rifles from destroyed patrol cars at a protest last Saturday.

The American site Coffee or Die had the opportunity to talk to the man. The video shows him disarming a man. Why was there a second gun on his back? Why did he even participate in the protests that broke out after the death of George Floyd in police custody? For security reasons, the man has no name in the story from Coffee or Die, he is simply referred to as "the Security."

"The Security" tells Coffee or Die that he served for four years as an infantryman in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, Alpha Company of the U.S. Marine Corps. After leaving, he became a contractor specializing in firearms training and security. He has founded a community group on Instagram called Firewatch Official. His own company is still in the start-up phase, facing all the difficulties that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the USA.

Working with firearms: the Security on the range.

During the protests and unrest on the streets of Seattle, the man, it seems, was simply in the right place at the right time. The Security was hired to accompany and protect a group of reporters from a local Fox News affiliate as they covered the protests in the city. "I was working and doing my job to pay my bills," he tells Coffee or Die. "I would have rather been at home playing with my dog ... " So he did not participate armed in the protests, as initial reports had suggested ...

When planning his assignment, however, he decided to carry his gun concealed. But he wanted to be able to blend in with the crowd. He was concerned that he might be bumped into and someone might try to steal his gun from the holster or spare magazines from his belt. He dressed thoughtfully in multiple layers, in case he was "marked" by the rioters and needed to change his outfit to conceal his identity.

The Security was an infantryman in the Marine Corps for four years.

At around 3 p.m., the Security meets the news team to take them to the area they want to report from. Upon arrival, complete chaos prevailed and continued throughout the day. He immediately worked to protect his journalists, especially the Fox News cameraman, who was completely blind on the right side due to the camera on his shoulder. "I became his eyes," says the Security.

The news team wanted to set up in a specific area to document what was happening to two police vehicles parked on the street. Rioters quickly destroy both patrol cars, and the Security immediately suspects that there are firearms in the cars. He sees the vandals search the first patrol car and immediately takes the news team around a corner to safety. "Stay here, I'll be right back," he calls out to them.

"The first one was trigger-happy. I can tell that about people. He took the AR-15 out of the patrol car, held it in the good old Rambo-style at his hip, and fired four shots into the police vehicle and on the wall of the building," he tells Coffee or Die. The troublemaker doesn't see the Security coming, but retreats into a store. The Security can partially see the guy with the assault rifle hidden in the door opening. Once he turns the corner, the Security aggressively orders him to immediately put the weapon down.

The Security describes the rioter's reaction to this confrontation as "deer in the headlights, stunned - you know, big eyes and all, his hands somehow opened. And he still holds the rifle. He didn't drop it. So I take the weapon from him." After confiscating and slinging the gun, the Security retreats, goes back to his news team. At the same time, he removes the bolt and charging handle from the rifle and stuffs them in his pocket. He regroups with the news team to continue their work.

Shortly after, the Security observes a second troublemaker doing the same thing to the other patrol car as the previous guy. "Rinse and repeat," he says to himself and heads over. The second incident recorded on video is almost identical to the first disarmament, according to the Security. Although he had successfully prevented two different potential threats, he himself now faced a much greater danger.

"I had just taken a firearm from a man who was essentially connected to hundreds, if not thousands of people in this area," he tells Coffee or Die.

"And I made it very clear: 'I don't belong to any of you here.' Besides having to ensure the safety of a news team, he now had to worry about rioters turning against him after thwarting their plans. The Security quickly calls the police station to report the two confiscated AR-15s.

A large group of protesters rounds the corner, passing by the Security and the news team. He also turns the corner, expecting the police to be approaching, but no officers are in sight. He knows he must get rid of the two assault rifles because of the increasing threat.

"Until I was about three and a half blocks away, where I got closer to the police, I had people around me, a horde, shouting all kinds of things you can imagine, with phones in hand and all that," he recalls to Coffee or Die. "There was definitely increased interest in me. And that quickly grew because people were looking at me and probably thinking: 'Why does he have these guns?' (...) That quickly makes you feel like: Everyone is after me."

With a member of the news team, the Security sets off to return the guns to the police. Two men follow him. He turns around to confront them. It turns out they are following him to make sure he arrives safely. One of them wears a bandana with the American flag ...

The protester with the second seized assault rifle next to a burned out police car, just before the Security disarms him.

"[He tells me] that you are here to protest, and that you are trying to uphold American values, which I thought was an excellent thing," the Security recalls in conversation with Coffee or Die. The flag-wearing man accompanies him all the way, while the second man jumps off before the actual police line. The protester jogs ahead to gather information on whether the police are actually there and confirms their position.

As the trio approaches the police line, the next danger: "They are just as on high alert as I am […] I had to make it very clear what my intentions are. I had to listen to what they were saying and approach them in a way that I can show them exactly what I am doing." The pistol had disappeared back into the holster. The AR-15 is slung around the Security's forearms and raised, making it clear that he is not threatening the police.

The Security and his team initially encounter skepticism from the police and are instructed not to approach. He explains to the officer speaking with him that the guns belong to the police and they should take them. "I took the bolts and charging handles out of my back pocket. I pressed them into his hand, and as his Lieutenant approached him, his eyes were just like: 'What the hell ...'." The Security explains the situation, hands over the two guns that belong to the police, and walks back to find the rest of the news crew who had stayed at his location.

After demonstrators and rioters had clearly seen him during the previous events, the Security changed his appearance. He exchanged the outer layer of clothing, and for the rest of the night, he also wore a mask. And he continued to ensure the safety of his news team.

We are moved by his brave and determined intervention in the midst of an escalating demonstration: by skillfully and courageously removing two dangerous weapons from circulation - without anyone getting hurt - this man prevented the potential death of people - whether police officers or protesters - with full personal commitment.

After an article first published in the Coffee or Die Magazine.

COFFEE OR DIE Magazine online: coffeeordie.com