Off-Duty Del City Officers Take Down Man With Gun At State Fair

A dangerous fight erupts at the state fair and two Del City police officers are hailed as heroes for being in the right place at the right time.

Their training and quick thinking helped to take down a man pointing a gun at a fair-goer.

The pictures are a bit blurry-- but they show the crowd gathered around Del City Police Officers Storts and Ward as they hold the 19-year-old man on the ground.

Otto Reed was arrested that night for carrying a revolver he later pointed at a fair-goer.

The disturbance broke out just feet away from Nikki Schalla while she waited for her kids who were on a ride.

“We're standing in line and there was a crowd of people, I mean probably like 100 maybe more. Like a mob all recording saying 'Fight! Fight! Fight!’” she said.

Schalla took three pictures that night and Wednesday News 9 caught up with her through video chat. She recalls panicking after hearing someone scream "he's got a gun!" several times.

“I kind of stepped to the side and look around and then I just see these three guys take down the violent attacker guy,” said Schalla.

Police say that a citizen was the first to attack Otto, knocking him and the gun to the ground.

Then, the two officers stepped in to detain him and secure the gun while they were waiting for Oklahoma City Police officers to arrive.

“We're very thankful that those officers were there because we don't know what could have happened. If this guy was going to fire this gun at somebody, kill somebody, we don't even know why he pulled it,” said Capt. Paco Balderrma, OCPD.

“After that we just got out of there. My son, my little 9-year-old boy said 'mom let's go back to the country this place is crazy!’” said Schalla.

Despite this, incidents at the fair are still low according to police. This is only the second illegal weapon confiscated.

Guns are not allowed at the fair, even if you have a conceal carry permit.