BUTLER, Pa. — A man brought a rifle to a Butler County bus stop and Channel 11 has learned nine elementary school kids were there as a father tackled the suspect to get it away from him.
It happened Friday afternoon in the city of Butler as the kids were getting off the bus.
According to police, Timothy Krick lives at the corner where the kids catch the bus. Krick was screaming at the children, and then allegedly came out of his house with the rifle, according to police paperwork.
The father of two kids who were there decided to rush Krick. He gained possession of the gun and held him until police arrived.
“I was just thinking about the kids,” said Pete Schmitt, whose sons are nine and 10 years old. “I ran right at him tackled him, got the gun away from him.”
“My only concern was my kids and the other kids. Not me – they have their whole lives ahead of them.”
TRENDING NOW:
- At least 10 injured when huge tree falls into middle school softball game
- Working meth lab found at apartment building, 1 arrested
- 8-year-old boy dies at soccer practice
- VIDEO: SUV Destroyed by Bear Trapped Inside
Schmitt says the two were just 6 feet away from each other. Schmitt was looking at pictures on his phone when he saw Krick and the gun, and took a photo before he took his shot at Krick.
“I’m no hero. I’m just doing what any dad would do to protect their children,” he said.
Pete’s wife Krisit disagrees.
“He is a hero in my eyes,” she said. “He put himself in harm’s way to protect our kids and other people‘s kids.”
Krick has no criminal record. He’s in jail on assault and terroristic threat charges.