Blake Hall
An Arlington, Texas gym owner who tried to be a good samaritan and save a woman he witnessed getting shot at by a man outside an area Walgreens pharmacy was shot and killed himself on Monday morning, according to area police.
The man who shot the brave bystander? Authorities say it was a United States Army soldier — Private Ricci Chambles Bradden, 22, of Dallas, Texas. According to them, he turned himself in after being told to do so by his Army superiors at nearby Fort Hood. He’s been charged with murder and a bail has been set at $500,000.
The dead man has been identified as Anthony Lee Antell, Jr., 35, who was the owner of CrossFit Abattoir, a fitness locale. His wife was present at the time and witnessed the shooting.
This is the story the soldier told at Fort Hood via the Star-Telegram:
Bradden told the Army officers that as he ran to his truck after shooting at his wife’s feet, a man appeared with a gun and told Bradden to drop his, Arlington police said.
Bradden said he slapped the stranger’s gun out of his hands and then shot him, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Bradden’s wife, Quinisha Johnson, who worked at the aforementioned Walgreens, said her husband showed up at the pharmacy to talk. When they stepped outside to do so he got angry and fired a shot near her feet. A second shot caught her ankle. That’s when the showdown with Antell ensued.
She claims that the argument between her and Bradden was over the following photo she posted on Facebook, which the soldier told drew too much attention (via ABC affiliate WFAA):
According to local reports, her wound wasn’t life-threatening.
Bradden is an active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Hood. He’s assigned to the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and serves as a petroleum supply specialist.
Stay tuned to the blog for more on this developing story.