A Missouri police officer wounded and taken hostage when an inmate snatched her weapon was saved when an armed citizen pursued them and held the criminal at gunpoint.
Trenton, Mo. officer Jasmine Diab was transporting the inmate to a hospital for a mental evaluation. Despite his restraints, the inmate was able to grab Diab’s weapon and shoot her in the abdomen. He then forced the wounded officer to begin driving.
Five man at a nearby gas station witnessed the apparent kidnapping and began pursuing the police car, according to police and witnesses.
After a short pursuit they were able to stop the vehicle. One of the men, armed with his handgun, was able to hold the criminal at gunpoint until police arrived to arrest him and get Officer Diab to a hospital.
“In this case, they chose to intervene and come to an officers aid and subdue the suspect and possibly keeping him from escaping or doing more harm,” said Missouri Highway Patrol Trooper Jake Angle.
The inmate is charged with first degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.
“If it hadn’t been for that law abiding citizen carrying his weapon with him for defense this situation could have ended up very differently and more people could have been hurt,” witness Michelle Weller posted on Facebook. “Because he had his weapon these men were able to grab the suspect pull him out of the car and hold him down on the ground until officers arrived on the scene.”
“The media doesn’t want you to know this because it validates our second amendment right to keep and bear arms!” she wrote. “They only want you to hear about when guns are used to hurt innocent people so you will believe guns need to be outlawed to save lives but this is a lie.”
Officer Diab, a single mother to a five-year-old girl, is recovering from the serious gunshot wound. Supporters have set up a GoFundMe to help with her medical bills.