Saddle Up Saloon security guard, shot 6 times, hailed as hero during fatal shooting
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. August 18 2021Â NBC 15 spoke to employees who were inside Saddle Up Saloon in downtown Mobile when gunshots erupted at the bar Saturday morning. They’re crediting the brave actions of a security guard for saving multiple lives when a gunman entered the business.
Sarah Brooks, Saddle Up Saloon’s manager, and bartender Daven Dahl were inside the bar around 2 a.m. Saturday.
They said that’s when an altercation escalated between the suspect, identified by Mobile Police as Freddy Escobar Diaz, 39, and Andrew Sims, a regular customer and friend.
“Everyone’s just devastated. It’s a devastating thing,” said Brooks.
According to Brooks and Dahl, Diaz went out to his car and came back with a handgun. However, 27-year-old security guard Damon Givens was standing in his way.
“Damon was trying to keep him out and protect everybody,” Brooks said.
“He shot at Damon 6 times and got him out of his way. He came in and released multiple more rounds at the customers, but he was going for Drew,” said Dahl.
Brooks and Dahl scrambled for safety as the shooting continued.
“We crawled in the back room, and I was on the phone with 9-11. I had locked the door back there, but it would’ve been so easy for him to jump over the bar. We were terrified,” Brooks said.
Brooks and Dahl said other security guards were able to stop Diaz and hold him until police arrived minutes later.
According to police, Sims was killed, and Givens was transported to the hospital.
“What he did at the door gave everyone time to duck and run. That’s probably why there weren’t many more casualties,” said Dahl.
Authorities said Diaz is charged with murder and two counts of second-degree assault.
Brooks said Givens is recovering after being shot 6 times. She said he has wounds to his abdomen and leg, and 2 bullets lodged close to his spine.
“He’s definitely a hero. He’s not supposed to take a bullet for anyone, and he did- 6 of them. Just the fact that he’s alive is a miracle,” said Brooks.
Brooks and Dahl said they’re also devastated by the death of Andrew Sims, and their hearts go out to his family.
If you’d like to donate toward Givens’ recovery, a GoFundMe page has been set up in his name.
WPMI
