Dana Walling; former Marine saving the world

ABC5 in Cleveland, Ohio tells the story of Dana Walling, a former Marine who happened to be at local car dealership when a gun fight broke out between two police officers and a wanted criminal;

After the responding officers learned the man had multiple warrants out for his arrest, he tried to run away.

“He pulled his gun out, he fired and he hit both cops,” said Walling.

One of the bullets whizzed past the former Marine’s head.

“I could have been hurt or I could have died,” said Walling.

In video from the scene, you can see that bullet hit the windshield of the suspect’s car.

“I saw the cops return fire,” said Walling.

That’s when Walling’s military training kicked in – to support the wounded officers.

“The cop that was laying on the ground was like help me, so I ran over to him and I asked him what he wanted me to do and he said handcuff the guy,” said Walling.

After handcuffing the suspect, an employee, who we’ve learned is a former paramedic, ran up to Walling.

“He was like, ‘anybody have a knife?’ I always carry and knife and I had a knife,” said Walling.

That knife was used to cut away the officer’s clothes in order to start first aid immediately.

The police and the crook are recovering. The car dealer gave Walling two tickets for the Indians playoff game against the Yankees to thank him for his bravery that day;

“People call me a hero and I just think I’m not a hero, just a man I believe did the right thing. It’s fight or flight. I chose to help instead of run away,” said Walling.

Category: Crime