A routine closing shift at a Florida car wash turned into a showdown straight out of an action movie Sunday night—except the hero wasn’t a cop or a security guard. He was an 18-year-old employee preparing to serve his country.

Authorities say a 36-year-old man armed with an ax stormed toward two teenage brothers at a car wash in Ocala. What happened next is a reminder that sometimes criminals pick the wrong target.

Instead of finding easy prey, the suspect ran head-first into a young man trained in mixed martial arts who wasted no time protecting his little brother.

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, surveillance footage shows the suspect—later identified as Bryce Thayer—approaching employees Leodan Pino, 18, and his 16-year-old brother as they were closing for the evening.

Investigators say workers told the man to leave the property. Rather than comply, Thayer allegedly became “irate” and moved toward the teens “in a threatening manner” while wielding an ax.

Pino said the situation escalated fast.

“I was locking up all the doors, and I heard some screaming, someone yelling something,” Pino told FOX 35 Orlando. “He’s obviously not in the right state of mind. … He walks up to the tunnel, and that’s when I tell him, ‘You have to leave, man. You got to leave.’”

Pino said Thayer suddenly pulled an ax from his backpack and pointed it at him. That’s when the suspect’s plan unraveled.

Security video shows Pino launching into action while his younger brother grabbed the weapon away, seconds later.

The older teen—who trains in mixed martial arts—moved quickly to neutralize the threat.

“Once he lowered, that’s when I shot the take-down, and I got on top of him and I controlled the situation,” Pino explained. “Once I realized he wasn’t letting go, that’s when I threw a couple elbows until he was incapacitated. … I got him to his back, put him in a body triangle, held a rear naked choke on him and waited until the cops got there.”

When deputies arrived, the suspect was already subdued.

The aftermath tells its own story.

Thayer’s booking photo reportedly shows significant facial bruising, injuries believed to have occurred during the struggle. Authorities say a search during the arrest uncovered a glass pipe used for methamphetamine.

He now faces several charges, including:

• Two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill

• Possession of drug paraphernalia

Thayer is currently being held on $11,000 bond, according to jail records. Court documents indicate this was far from the suspect’s first run-in with the law.

Records show four arrests since May 2024, including charges tied to:

• Felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription

• Possession of a controlled substance inside a detention facility

• Property damage

• Petit theft

• Trespassing after warning

• Cannabis possession

• Two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia

Despite the frightening encounter, Pino says he’s grateful things didn’t end much worse.

“He got what he deserved,” the teen said.

The young man, who recently enlisted in the military, believes his faith and training helped him keep control in a dangerous moment.

“I’m very thankful that God gave me the opportunity and gave me the strength to be able to control that situation,” he said.

He also knows the outcome might have been very different if someone else had been there instead.

“I’m thankful that I was the one closing on my brother and no one else was because I’m not too sure if any other of my coworkers would have done the same thing as I would have,” he said. “I’m just happy that I was able to protect my brother.”

🚨 NEW: An 18-year-old car wash employee trained in jiu-jitsu tackled a man armed with an axe who was threatening people.

Florida deputies say Bryce Thayer, 36, was disarmed and now faces dr*g paraphernalia and aggravated assault charges.pic.twitter.com/A6SX3Yk3vK

— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) March 12, 2026