A heroic Houston police officer is finally speaking out about a horrific incident that was prevented earlier this year.

AN ALARMING CALL COMES IN

attachment-WFAA Youtube (7)
loading...

Sgt. Kendrick Simpo was working a side gig at the Galleria Mall when he received a radio call alerting him a man was spotted near Macy's store with a rifle.

Calmly, Sgt Simpo and a mall security guard began to swiftly make their way toward the identified man. However, Simpo noted that he kept his gun in his holster because he did not want to alarm a large children's event nearby.

NEARBY CHILDREN

"I did know there was a dance competition with little kids going on at the Westin Ballroom, so I didn't pull my weapon out because I didn't want to be running towards the Macy's area, which is past the ballroom area, with the gun out and startle anyone," Simpo said

A DISADVANTAGE

attachment-WFAA Youtube (8)
loading...

Although Simpo was only equipt with a soft vest and handgun, however, that did not stop him from taking action against someone with a rifle. Simpo quickly spotted the suspect who was identified as Guido Herrera.

Herrera was just only feet away from hundreds of children. Herrera was wearing a leather spiked mask and gloves with a rifle in one hand and a bible in the other.

Sgt. Simpo knew he had to act quickly before the situation escalates. Knowing he was at a disadvantage, his handgun was no comparision to the suspect's rifle, Simpo recalls, "I had in my mind (that) I was going to get shot. I just had to bear the pain, I knew it was going to hurt."

SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS

attachment-WFAA Youtube (4)
loading...

In a split second Sgt. Simpo 'bum-rushed' the man and pin him to the wall. "My first reaction was to make sure that I get a hold of the rifle. No matter what I grabbed, make sure I grabbed that rifle," Simpo said. Simpo immediately redirects the man's rifle upwards toward the ceiling.

Without a single shot fired, Simpo was able to disarm the man and arrest him.

ALARMING ITEMS ON THE SUSPECT

attachment-WFAA Youtube (6)
loading...

Aside from the rifle and Bible, police found 120 rounds of ammunition and a handgun on Herrera. However, since Herrera didn't shoot anyone, he did not commit a felony offense under Texas law and was simply charged with a misdemeanor.

ONLY A MONTH LATER

Terrifyingly, about a month later, Herrera showed up at the Houston FBI headquarters, where he walked in and requested a direct meeting with the director of the agency.

A gun was found in Herrera's car but because no shots were fired and his weapon wasn't pointed at anyone, he was again just charged with a misdemeanor.

22 Texas Words That Don't Exist But Just Make Sense

More From Q92