Would you drop everything to help a stranger in need? Not everyone would answer yes to this question. However, for the many good Samaritans around the world, helping is second nature.
Such was the case with this employee who was caught on camera fighting off a gunman committing a crime. He is definitely a hero!
Mykel Gordon served Chick-fil-A customers for over ten years, and it was a job he loved. The kind-hearted father of two always had a smile on his face and went out of his way to please his customers.
A witness, Molly Kelner, filmed some of what happened and described the nature of the events. What is most remarkable is the way Gordon acted. He gave all his energy and did not worry about his injuries.
In September 2022, Gordon went to work in the Fort Walton Beach, Florida area and began his shift like any other day. However, something unexpected would happen, and his quick thinking had turned out to be valuable.
The employee was placing an order when he heard screams from a woman nearby. She appeared to be panicked and was holding a baby. Unable to ignore her desperation, he then ran in her direction. Gordon shared:
“I heard a scream from the other side of the store, very close. I thought: “I have to help.”
Gordon realized something was wrong and quickly saw the alleged culprit. According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OSCO), a woman had just gotten her child out of the car when a man approached her.
He brandished a stick and demanded she hand over her car keys. As soon as Gordon realized what was going on, he bravely tackled the man to the ground.
It turns out that the suspect, identified as William Branch, allegedly tried to take the car from the mother and her baby. Branch allegedly took the woman’s keys from her waistband and was in the process of making his worst nightmare a reality.
Gordon rolled on the tar and incapacitated the man in an impressive manner. He revealed where his security knowledge and defensive skills came from:
“My stepfather is a military man, and I grew up doing what he did. When this happened, I knew exactly what to do because of him. I thank God.”
Gordon received a severe blow to the chin, but his intervention attracted the attention of others who rushed to the scene. Together, a group of people watched the suspect until the police arrived.
An unnamed woman who witnessed the scene was seen interacting with the suspect. She did not approve of his actions and made her opinion known by shouting:
“She had a baby in her hands. How dare you? How dare you scare her like that!”
The victim was in a vulnerable position holding her baby – if it weren’t for Gordon, things might have turned out differently. Fortunately, his quick thinking led to the arrest of the suspect.
The Chick-fil-A employee was hailed as a hero, and rightfully so! The OSCO honored Gordon and presented him with a community service award. They called him a “humble hero,” and Sheriff Eric Arden added:
“What we often say is that service is in our DNA, it’s our mantra, it’s our motto. You clearly have service in your DNA, from the work that you do here, but you know that you have served and protected.”
Arden also told Gordon to call him if he was interested in joining the police force.
In addition, the Chick-fil-A store congratulated Gordon on his act and noted their pride in having him on the team. Their online message said:
“Meet the HERO! It’s Mykel Gordon! At Chick-fil-A, our mission is to ‘Serve’, and today Mykel went even further… to ‘Save’.”
Gordon’s actions were selfless and courageous. Indeed, he gave and put himself at risk for others. Bravo to him!