TAMPA, Fla – A mass shooting may have been averted, and a security guard at Mons Venus in Tampa is to thank.
At approximately 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 19, 2023, Michael Rudman, 44, arrived in a silver pickup truck at Mons Venus at 2040 N Dale Mabry Highway.
Rudman exited his vehicle, wearing a red and black devil mask and the words “kill” and “darkk one” on his arms. He walked toward the entrance of the venue with a firearm in one hand and a flashlight in the other.
Upon seeing the firearm, a security guard at the venue engaged the suspect and knocked the weapon out of his hand.
During the incident, a single round from the suspect’s gun struck the venue’s front door. No one was injured inside the venue.
When Tampa Police officers were dispatched and arrived on the scene, they located additional ammunition, knives, and firearm accessories in Rudman’s truck. They also found two fully loaded magazines in his pocket.
He faces charges of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Battery, Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and Purchasing, Possessing, or Receiving a Firearm While Under a Risk Protection Order (RPO). Rudman was previously served with an RPO last year by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Rudman’s motive for Sunday’s incident is unknown at this time and is still under investigation. However, detectives learned that Rudman had visited the establishment the night before.
“There is no question that the security guards who disarmed this suspect saved dozens of lives through their heroic acts, and I am thankful that our officers were able to take this individual into custody before he had the chance to carry out whatever he had planned,” said Interim Chief Lee Bercaw. “We will continue to actively and thoroughly investigate this case to get a better understanding of what led up to this thwarted incident.”
One of the three security guards involved suffered minor injuries because of the altercation with Rudman.
Rudman is currently incarcerated at the Falkenburg Road Jail with no bond.
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