Teen Defends Brother from Axe-Wielding Man at Florida Car Wash
An 18-year-old boy used his mixed martial arts skills to protect his 16-year-old brother from a man armed with an axe at a car wash in Ocala, Florida, on Sunday night.
Leodan Pino and his brother were outside their workplace when a man, later identified as 36-year-old Bryce Thayer, approached them with the weapon. Local news outlets reported this incident.
Footage of the situation shows Thayer, wearing a turquoise shirt and a black backpack, unsteadily walking towards the teens while brandishing the axe.
Pino recounted that he was closing up the car wash when he heard shouting. He described Thayer as “clearly not in the right state of mind” and urged him to leave multiple times.
When Thayer continued to come closer, Pino, drawing on his mixed martial arts training, lunged at him, quickly bringing him to the ground.
“Once he went down, I got the takedown, and I got on top of him and took control of the situation,” Pino stated, explaining that he is a military recruit trained in mixed martial arts.
“When I realized he wouldn’t let go, I threw him a few elbows until he was helpless. I put him on his back, triangle-ed him, applied a rear naked choke and waited until the police arrived,” Pino added.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was so impressed with Pino’s actions that they offered him a job immediately, but he declined as he had already committed to the military.
Pino expressed that Thayer ultimately “got what he deserved,” noting that Thayer had visible bruises from their encounter.
During a search, deputies found drug paraphernalia on Thayer. Body camera footage revealed him claiming he had done nothing wrong.
Thayer was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and possession of drug paraphernalia, facing a bail set at $65,000.
Pino reflected on the incident, expressing gratitude that he was the one to close the car wash that night. “I’m really happy to be able to protect my brother,” he said.
