Image Credit: Security footage obtained by Local 3 News
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
In the early morning hours outside the Dream nightclub in Chattanooga on January 26, a gunman started firing at a group of clubgoers but was stopped by a security guard who calmly returned fire, all captured in explosive video footage.
According to reporting by the Daily Mail, the body armor-wearing guard was armed with what appears to be an AR15 and fired approximately two dozen rounds in a matter of moments, injuring the assailant’s hand. The suspect was determined to be a 24-year-old male who was arrested after he turned up in a hospital.
The club’s head of security, Joe Reed, believes this was a planned attack, stating, “You could tell it was plotted,” referencing surveillance footage that showed the attacker parking his car down the street from the club then ducking behind cars in the club’s parking lot before open firing into the crowd.
Reed commended the security staff and the unnamed guard for his professional and rapid response. “It was quick action by our licensed security guard who did what he had to do to protect innocent lives,” he said. “If anyone comes down here with that foolishness, they know now that Dream security has zero tolerance.”
One of the club’s owners also told LocalNews3 after the incident that he believes his security guard, “did what he was supposed to do to ensure customers’ safety.”
An armed guard may seem to be an unusual presence at a nightclub, but the Dream “upped” its security presence and protocols after a previous near-fatal shooting inside the bar where a 22-year-old man was injured. They retain 10 security personnel, upgraded metal detectors, and have cameras set to record all possible angles, according to Reed.
As a result of that previous shooting, the Chattanooga Beer Bar recommended a five-day alcohol service suspension for the Dream which was issued just a few days ago. Reed admitted to “security lapses” that night in the form of a broken metal detector, and police officers claimed the staff was uncooperative as they worked to get information, according to a WDEF report.
The city of Chattanooga has reportedly seen an uptick in overall nighttime violence and shootings over the past couple of years.
In 2022, the Daily Mail reported that six teenagers, all between the ages of 13-15, were the victims of a downtown shooting, and days later three people were killed with 14 others injured during a shooting near a nightclub, according to an article by Knox News. Another man was killed in 2023 in an attack outside a bar.
With the security camera footage circulating, the incident has also gone viral on X and made national headlines, and many are praising the guard for his brave and measured response in saving lives.
One X user commented, “Well done! 2a is for Everyone,” while another wrote, “Hero Security Guard saves countless lives. Please praise this man.”
This classic example of a bad guy with a gun being stopped by a good guy with a bigger gun serves as yet another reminder of the importance of the 2nd Amendment in preserving life, liberty, and property.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
