How this story flew under the radar for so long is one of the great mysteries of the world, but a 2021 clip of a U.S. Marine veteran thwarting a robbery is making the rounds online this week.
It’s not just that James Kilcer stopped the armed robbery of a Yuma, Arizona, convenience store in progress and held one of the suspects until police arrived, but that he also showed up for an award event rocking a MAGA cap and a “Let’s Go Brandon” t-shirt.
“Sh*t needed to be done,” Kilcer said, according to Military Times. “I kind of saw what was coming my way and just, you know, I wasn’t gonna sit around and cry about it. And I just waited until he took that one extra step and — boom! — f*cking hit him and just instinct kicked in.”
Spoken like a true Marine.
Arizona Marine stops armed robbery. Shows up to receive an award for his courage wearing a MAGA hat and Let’s Go Brandon tshirt!
Nicely done Marine! pic.twitter.com/RjVDB47PPm
— Croxxed Out (@FLCons) April 1, 2024
In addition to hitting the suspect, who turned out to be just 14 years old, the Marine grabbed his firearm and wrestled the juvenile to the ground while the would-be robber’s two accomplices, who entered the store with him, skedaddled.
As seen in the footage, which took place on Oct. 20, 2021, Kilcer calmly accessed the situation unfolding right before him and wasted no time leaping into action.
According to the Times, Kilcer served in the Corps from July 2007 to August 2011 as a tactical air operations technician and deployed to Afghanistan from March to October 2010.
“It was definitely not what I was expecting, but you always have to be ready for that kind of stuff,” Kilcer told the Yuma Sun.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
way to go marine semper fi
— john eggett (@john_eggett) April 2, 2024
I’m so glad he was recognized for his heroism
— JL (@Fiji1963) April 2, 2024
Way to go! We need more just like him!
— Steve Pontiac (@steve_pontiac) April 2, 2024
Hero!!
— The_Curious_Grasshopper (@Curious__Hopper) April 1, 2024
American Badass, especially in that hat AND that shirt.
— Celeste Granillo (@Cel2828) April 2, 2024
If he was in New York, he’d be in prison.
— Isaac (@Isaac29663055) April 1, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
- Trump: Maduro will take back Tren de Aragua gang members AND even supply transportation - February 1, 2025
- FBI Academy photo perfectly captures Trump’s war on DEI - February 1, 2025
- Mel Gibson speculates on whether there’s a ‘purpose’ behind devastating LA fires - January 11, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.