Daniel Gaskey, a former Marine who transitioned into a firefighter, followed his usual morning routine one day by stopping at his local gas station in Midlothian, Texas, to grab a cup of coffee before heading to work. Little did he know that his routine would soon take a perilous turn.

Daniel Gaskey stood at the register, preparing to pay, when he was abruptly shoved aside by a 19-year-old man. As he turned around, Gaskey noticed something alarming—the man was wearing a mask and brandishing a hunting knife.

“This is going to be quick and easy. Just give me the money,” the masked man demanded of the cashier.

Unbeknownst to the robber, he was about to encounter Daniel Gaskey, a former Marine who was not one to be trifled with.

Reacting swiftly, Daniel seized the opportunity, grabbing the assailant from behind, wrapping his arms around his neck, and swiftly tackling him to the ground.

Maintaining his composure, the seasoned Marine kept the robber subdued until the police arrived mere minutes later.

Reflecting on the incident, Daniel remarked, “Sometimes there’s a job that needs to get done. You have to be willing to stand up and help each other.”

While those who knew Daniel were not surprised by his courageous intervention, they couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride in his actions.

“I saw the video for the first time this morning and I went, ‘This wasn’t just, ‘I’ll hang on until the police get here.’ He intervened and made a difference in someone’s life,” commented Mansfield fire chief Barry Bondurant.