A Chick-fil-A employee is being applauded by the local sheriff's office after he tackled a would-be carjacker to the ground as onlookers watched in shock.
A video of the incident was captured in a now-viral video that has drawn more than 3 million views. Recorded from an adjacent car at a Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Chick-fil-A, it shows the Chick-fil-A employee tackling the man to the ground and then putting him in a headlock as customers watch. Eventually, the man gives up and sits upright as onlookers wait for law enforcement to arrive.
In reference to the FWB Chick-fil-A employee who ran to help a woman with a baby who was being carjacked, we want to say a sincere thank you to Ms. Kelner for providing video of a portion of the encounter. (see prior post). A major shout-out to this young man for his courage! pic.twitter.com/2Lcwe46azv
— OkaloosaSheriff (@OCSOALERTS) September 14, 2022
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office released a statement saying they charged the assailant with battery and carjacking with a weapon. The man was trying to steal a car from a woman holding a baby, the statement said.
"The victim was getting the infant out of her car … when she says [the man] approached her wielding a stick and demanding her keys," the statement said. "He then grabbed the keys from the waistband of her pants, opened her car door, and got inside."
When the woman began screaming for help, a Chick-fil-A employee ran to intervene, according to the sheriff's office. The assailant punched the employee, who then tackled the assailant to the ground, the statement said. The employee was not seriously injured, according to the statement.
In a tweet, the sheriff's office thanked the recorder of the video and the employee who thwarted the carjacking.
"A major shout-out to this young man for his courage!" it said.
The name of the heroic employee is Mykel Gordon.
"I'm grateful for my amazing Team Member, Mykel Gordon, who so selflessly jumped in to intervene and help our Guests. I couldn't be prouder of his incredible act of care," Matthew Sexton, the operator of the local Chick-fil-A, told CNN.
The restaurant's Facebook page also praised Gordon's actions.
"This is the HERO! This is Mykel Gordon!" said the post, which included a picture of Gordon. "At Chick-fil-A, our mission is to 'Serve,' and today Mykel took it further……to 'save.'"
Related:
Chick-fil-A is America's Favorite Restaurant for the 8th Straight Year: Survey
Chick-fil-A Employee Wins Car and then Gives it to Co-Worker – 'I Just Started Crying'
'Thank You': Mom Applauds Chick-fil-A for Accommodating Autistic Child's Unique Request
Chick-fil-A Worker Leaps out Drive-Thru Window, Saves Choking Boy
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Tom Pennington/Stringer
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
