TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man accused of trying to bring a gun into a Tampa gentlemen’s club is scheduled to appear in court on Monday morning.
Michael Rudman is facing several charges related to guns and battery after what happened on March 19, 2023.
Surveillance video from that night shows a masked-up Michael Rudman just outside Tampa’s Mons Venus nightclub.
Rudman had a clear struggle trying to get into the club that night.
“I decided that he was not going to enter the club and hurt anybody,” said the club’s security guard Manuel “Manny” Resto.
Resto was guarding the club’s door when he said he saw Rudman walk up in a devil mask and holding a gun. Resto said his focus went straight to the weapon.
“I grabbed his gun hand and his wrist with both hands and I turned it towards him,” Resto said. “Then we started banging.”
A couple of other guards ran in to help hold Rudman down until police arrived.
Joe Redner, the club’s owner, said he believes Rudman’s intent was to kill as many people as possible.
He said there were a lot of people packed in the club that night.
“If he would have gone in there and just shot that gun, it would have hit somebody,” Redner said.
“I wasn’t going to let this happen,” Resto said. “I was not going to let him win.”
“Manny is a hero,” Redner said. “Manny did what all of us would like to think what we would do, but we don’t know.”
Police said they found additional ammunition, knives, and firearm accessories inside Rudman’s truck, which was parked at the club. They said they also found two full magazines in his pocket.
Manny Resto has since been recognized by the Tampa Police Department for his act of heroism.
Rudman’s disposition hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court.
