Bank robbers are never usually that lucky to begin with. But for a failed criminal in Sarasota, Florida, it was an especially unlucky day when one of the patrons of the branch he was holding up gave him more trouble than he expected after he left the premises. Army Staff Sergeant Eddie Peoples, an Iraq War veteran, turned into a hero for his actions in the incident, but for Peoples, all he was really doing was protecting his kids.
Peoples’ military skills came in handy in a number of ways, as this clip shows. This is just one instance of many where off-duty or retired military personnel have thwarted crimes before, during or after they happened.
Some readers may remember an episode in France in 2015 when off-duty Air Force Serviceman Spencer Stone and National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos disarmed a would-be Islamic terrorist. The Moroccan man, who’d pulled out an automatic rifle while aboard a French high-speed train traveling to Paris, shot one person with his handgun and tried to fire the rifle at bystanders. Fortunately for civilians aboard the train, the quick-thinking American duo sprang into action and likely saved the lives of dozens, if not hundreds, of passengers. Stone and Skarlatos were hailed as heroes and awarded medals by then-President Obama.
Sergeant Peoples is an everyday hero too, although it’s not recommended that viewers follow his example — especially if they don’t have the same training. Watch as CBS’ Erica Hill talks with the brave officer and his sons Ikaika and Kioni about the amazing turn of events.