During his lunch break, a former high school wrestler found himself in a situation where a man was verbally and physically abusing a Subway employee in Indianapolis. Without hesitation, he immediately sprang into action to intervene and put an end to the altercation.
Gabriel Pitzulo witnessed a disturbing incident at the E. Hanna Ave location on March 22. As he entered the restaurant for lunch, he was shocked to see a man hurling objects at the employee behind the counter and even spitting on her.
In an interview with WRTV, he shared, “Growing up, it was ingrained in me not to engage in such activities. From that moment, I knew it was time to take action.”
Daniel Saunders, 31, tried to exit the store, but Pitzulo, a former high school wrestler and football player, utilized his sports background to apprehend the suspect.
Pitzulo, an experienced combat sports athlete, shared that his background in the sport made him highly skilled in controlling his opponents. He mentioned that during his encounter with his opponent, he was mindful not to cause excessive harm.
Pitzulo successfully restrained Saunders on the floor until law enforcement arrived and took the suspect into custody. The entire incident was captured on surveillance cameras.
According to police records, Saunders faced charges for battery causing injury, battery resulting in bodily harm, and disorderly conduct related to fighting or tumultuous behavior.
The suspect’s attorney information was not immediately available. According to police records, Saunders’ next court date is Thursday.
Aara Khan, the district manager for the Subway location, expressed gratitude for Pitzulo’s actions, according to WRTV.
Khan expressed his relief, stating, “The situation could have been extremely dangerous. Fortunately, he happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
