Usually, it’s the person wearing the military uniform who’s playing the hero. At the Maryland School in Phoenix, Arizona on Monday, however, roles were reversed.

An entire community, as well as the Phoenix Police Department, are thanking their lucky stars and in particular Nick Gupton — the principal at the K-8 campus. Because it was Gupton who had the gumption to step up when the children and faculty of the school needed it most.

There was an intruder in their midst, and he was threatening to “kill people if his children were not returned to him” — according to authorities.

Tong Akot, 36, entered the school near 6500 N. 21st Avenue around 12:40 p.m. Monday and claimed he was “with the CIA and Marines”. Apparently his children had once attended the school, but don’t anymore.

He was dressed in “military attire”.

Soon after, his angry presence was acknowledged, Gupton stepped up and into action. This from KPHO out of Arizona:

“He was very irate,” Gupton said. “Screaming and yelling and pounding his fist on the desk.

Gupton was inside the office when Akot came in, and motioned to his school security officer to escort parents, staff members and kids out of the room.

“As soon as the mom and dads and kids were out, [school security officer] Tim locked the door to the interior of the campus, and I had the other door locked. We then called for the lockdown drill,” he said.

After more screaming and yelling, Akot eventually left through the only unlocked door, the exit to the parking lot. He was arrested by Phoenix officers near the campus.

“This is a case where they did everything that we ask them to do, everything that they’ve trained to do, and we couldn’t ask them to do any more,” said Sgt. Trent Crump of the Phoenix Police Department.

Thankfully, Akot wasn’t carrying a gun or a weapon of any kind. He’s currently being held by authorities on a $25,000 bond.