An ax-wielding Florida man allegedly stormed toward two teen brothers closing an Ocala car wash Sunday night before being quickly overpowered by the older brother, an 18-year-old MMA-trained military recruit.
Video released by the Marion County Sheriff's Office allegedly showed the suspect, later identified as Bryce Thayer, 36, approaching car wash workers Leodan Pino, 18, and his 16-year-old brother as they were closing for the night.
Officials said when Thayer was told to leave the property, he became "irate" and approached the brothers "in a threatening manner" while wielding an ax.
"I was locking up all the doors, and I heard some screaming, someone yelling something," Pino told enlisted in the military, said Thayer "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 was 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 $11,000 bond.
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:
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."