Kansas soldier saved ‘countless lives’ by Bridge Gunman

A Fort Leavenworth soldier may have saved “countless lives” by slamming his car into an active shooter, police said, who fired randomly at a bridge.

An active military soldier waited in traffic early Wednesday morning at the Centennial Bridge connecting Kansas and Missouri, when a man saw at least two gunshots fired from the gap. Kansas City Star reports.

Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens said the 34-year-old soldier from a nearby military installation had “stopped the shooter by hitting him with his vehicle.”

“The most dangerous scenario is that luckily ended very quickly,” Kitchen told reporters. “Again, countless lives were saved by the person who intervened.”

It is not clear why the suspect from Flat County, Missouri, began firing, but when he began shooting randomly at cars on the bridge after getting out of his vehicle, the kitchen said he was armed with at least one handgun and a semi-automatic firearm. KSHB reports.

“I heard like nine or 10 shots there and it was quick inside,” witness Charlie Jordan told the station. “That’s it, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam. Like a firecracker. ”

One was shot during the incident – another active-duty soldier from Fort Leavenworth, who appeared to be an unexpected target. He was taken to a hospital where he was listed in serious but stable condition Wednesday, according to the Kansas City Star.

The unidentified soldier who blocked the suspect was not injured, but the gunman was hospitalized with serious injuries from the crash, Kitchen said.

One witness said that at one point the suspect was inside his vehicle as officers began to move inside.

Austin Menzel said, “I’m glad he was sacked, you know Told KSHB. “I’m glad someone did something about this. However, an active-duty fixer. So congratulations to that hero … he did good.”