A dramatic incident unfolded in Ocala, Florida, when a man brandishing an ax reportedly charged at two teenage brothers as they were finishing their shift at a local car wash on Sunday night. The swift reaction of the older brother, a military recruit with MMA training, quickly subdued the attacker.
Footage released by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office captured the tense moment when 36-year-old Bryce Thayer allegedly approached the young car wash employees, Leodan Pino, 18, and his 16-year-old sibling, as they were wrapping up their day.
Authorities recounted that after Thayer was asked to vacate the premises, his demeanor turned aggressive. He allegedly advanced toward the brothers while threateningly brandishing an ax.
“I was locking up all the doors when I heard shouting,” Pino shared with FOX 35 Orlando. “It was clear he wasn’t thinking straight. He approached the tunnel, and I told him, ‘You need to leave, man. You have to go.'”
The suspect, Bryce Thayer, was accused of menacing the employees with an ax. (Marion County Sheriff’s Office)
Pino explained that Thayer allegedly retrieved an ax from his backpack and aimed it menacingly at him.
Footage showed Pino lunging at Thayer, as his younger brother yanked the ax away from him.
“Once he lowered, that’s when I shot the take-down, and I got on top of him and I controlled the situation,” said Pino, who is trained in mixed martial arts (MMA). “Once I realized he wasn’t letting go, that’s when I threw a couple elbows, until he was incapacitated. … I got him to his back, put him in a body triangle, held a rear naked choke on him and waited until the cops got there.”
Thayer’s mugshot showed heavy bruising to the face, supposedly incurred during the struggle.
Pino, who recently enlisted in the military, said “he got what he deserved.”
During Thayer’s subsequent arrest, a search revealed he had a glass pipe used for methamphetamine, according to the sheriff’s office.
He is charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to jail records. He is being held on an $11,000 bond.
Video released by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office allegedly showed the suspect approaching two car wash workers. (Marion County Sheriff’s Office)
Jail records reviewed by Fox News Digital show Thayer was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office four times since May 2024, on charges including:
- Felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription
- Felony possession of a controlled substance in a detention facility
- Damage to property
- Petit theft
- Trespassing after warning
- Possession of cannabis
- Two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia
Pino said he is “very thankful that God gave me the opportunity and gave me the strength to be able to control that situation.”
“I’m thankful that I was the one closing on my brother and no one else was because I’m not too sure if any other of my coworkers would have done the same thing as I would have,” he said. “… I’m just happy that I was able to protect my brother.”
