David Ghiloni: Florida bartender receives Lifesaving Award for tackling armed attacker amid gunfire
PALM COAST, FLORIDA: On November 20, a Florida bartender named David Ghiloni jumped over the bar to tackle a man for restraining a woman in a headlock. Ghiloni, an employee at the Smiles Nite Club in Palm Coast, was not aware that the man he was fighting had a gun pointed at the woman.
On the security video, Ghiloni can be seen leaping over the bar to shield the victim from the culprit, Connor Anderson, who had her in a headlock with a gun to her head. Anderson started to carelessly fire the gun inside the pub despite Ghiloni and the other bar customers' best efforts to stop him from doing so. Fortunately, Ghiloni and the other patrons took the appropriate action to prevent injuries to the victim and the bar's customers. Anderson, the gunman, was arrested by FCSO deputies shortly after in a nearby parking lot.
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On December 19, Ghiloni received a Lifesaving Award for his bravery from Sheriff Rick Staly. "This courageous act of protecting the female and fighting off this shooter without a doubt saved lives that night," said Staly, according to FoxNews. "I'm honored to be able to recognize David who so selflessly helped those in need and put his own life in harm's way to protect others."
Anderson allegedly carried a gun into the pub, attacked the woman, and fired six shots while being put down because he was furious about not being able to find his keys. He is charged with many offenses, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, firing into a building, and operating a handgun while intoxicated.
Ghiloni described his feelings over the incident and emphasized his amazement at receiving the award, saying, "Being a nobody and then all of a sudden being recognized by the sheriff, the chief, and really the whole Palm Coast community. Now that I see the video and I slow it down, I can see how bad it could have turned out."
Ghiloni was leaving Florida to move to New York, so Staly gave him the FCSO Lifesaving Award before he departed, according to PalmCoastObserver. The FCSO's upcoming Awards Ceremony, set for January 26, 2023, will present more Lifesaving Awards associated with this case.