GASTONIA, N.C. — A veteran disarmed a woman who waved a gun at protesters outside Tony's Ice Cream last week in Gastonia.
Another veteran who was there said he wants to meet and thank him.
There have been several protests outside the Gastonia ice cream shop over the last week.
[Arrest at Gastonia ice cream shop leads to days of racially-charged protests]
Steven Davidson said he only spoke to his mystery hero for a few seconds, which was long enough to learn that both men were U.S. Army veterans.
“Right there, he made a lifelong decision to be my brother, and I appreciate him for it every day,” Davidson said.
Davidson went to Tony's Ice Cream Tuesday night during a protest over the arrest of a Black woman there the day before.
Lines were drawn, and there was suddenly a fight between protesters and counter protesters. A woman then grabbed her gun.
Davidson was a few feet away in the middle, trying to keep the two sides apart when the woman lowered the revolver.
Davidson reached out to grab her and hold her arm.
He looked back as another man stepped in.
"When he got there he said, 'I got you,'" Davidson said.
The other man took the gun from the woman and removed the bullets.
"Without him, it could have got worse," Davidson said.
"I think he is selfless, and I think he is a hero," Davidson said.
Davidson said after that, he, the other veteran and several other people started separating the crowd and keep the peace until police arrived.
Davidson, a seven-year Army veteran, never got a chance to talk to the other veteran, but he wants the man to know one thing.
"Regardless of the division that's going on right now, I love him, and I thank him," Davidson said.
He hopes someone recognizes the man captured on camera and helps to connect them.
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