Potential Shooting Stopped By Civilians At Iconic Tampa Strip Club
This could have been a devastating story if it wasn’t for two brave security guards. A potential mass shooting was prevented at iconic Tampa strip club, Mom’s Venus early Sunday morning. The suspect, who was wearing a devil mask, was taken down by security guard named Manuel “Manny” Resto.
In a press conference about the event, Resto explains his side of the story. He was standing outside the club when he noticed a truck blocking parked cars. Originally, he was going to ask the person in the car to move, but decided to wait. The suspect eventually got out of the car in his devil mask, which set off even more alarms for Resto. In fact, at first he thought it was another one of his bouncer friends playing a trick on him. He watched the suspect in the mask walk up to him and as he got closer, Resto noticed he had a gun. The suspect aimed the gun at the door of the Tampa strip club, that’s when our hero Manny stepped in. Click here to watch the full press conference.
Resto reached and grabbed the suspects wrist and hand with the gun. There was some struggle to fight for control. Thankfully, Resto has a background in professional wrestling and was able to wrestle the suspect to the floor and obtained his gun. Resto even recalls getting hit in the head several times with the suspect’s gun and flashlight. In the press conference, Resto stated “I was not going to let this happen, I was not going to let him get this gun.” Fox 13 News has video surveillance of the confrontation, click here to watch.
Two other security guards rushed to help Manny. According to TPD, during the confrontation, one round was fired and hit the front door of the venue. No one inside the venue was harmed. The suspect in the devil mask is named Michael Rudman. The 44 year-old from Pinellas County has never had a run in with Tampa police before, but has been detained multiple times in Pinellas. According to Fox 13 News, TPD learned that Rudman had visited the club the night before. He is now facing charges for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and purchasing, possessing or receiving a firearm while under a risk protection order. He is also being held without bond.
