Manny Resto’s act of heroism was a realized promise to the entertainers and staff at Mons Venus in Tampa. The following story is our exclusive interview with Manny just days after he prevented a mass shooting at the club.
Early Sunday morning, March 19, Manny Resto, head of security at Mons Venus, fought for his life and for the lives of the more than 200 people inside the adult nightclub when a masked gunman abruptly approached the door, fully loaded with murderous intent. And Resto won the fight — not the first or the last of his life — with the help of his crew and the Tampa PD, which responded shortly after Resto’s fantastic wrestling act.
In an exclusive interview with the hero of the Mons Venus would-be mass shooting, Resto, who is a previous nominee for ED’s Employee of the Year Award, details what exactly took place in that single minute. Resto shares how his 30 years of experience as a bouncer, and his whole life as a fighter, prepared him to respond so effectively that not a life was lost, not even the gunman’s. Resto also relates some of the aftermath of the event: how he’s recovering and what tips he has for club security across the country, so that, with his example, more lives can be saved in the future.
ED: Could you just walk me through your recounting of what happened at approximately 1 am on Sunday, March 19?
Resto: I was right outside of the Mons Venus entrance door, surveying the parking lot. We have three security guys on Saturday, and we all purposely stay apart, so we cover all areas of the property. I was outside, and the other two guys were inside. I noticed there was a truck parked in the middle of the Mons Venus parking lot, blocking all the parked cars, so that, of course, attracted my attention. I intended to ask the driver to find a parking space or move, but I like to make people do it themselves. I don’t want to boss people around or intimidate them.
So I was staring at the vehicle and it was still running when out of the car came a large figure wearing a devil mask with horns, like one of those expensive Halloween costumes that covered the whole face. Now, I understand people coming to Tampa like to party, and sometimes they dress up in costumes. But also, I was expecting it to be a joke. I thought it would be one of my friends trying to be funny. In my past, I’ve also been a professional wrestler, plus I’ve worked security for 30 years, so I’ve known a lot of large guys in costume.
As he walked up to the club, he appeared bigger and bigger. I keep thinking, I wonder who this is. But he did not utter a word. I automatically knew what he was going to do. It was in complete silence that we started wrestling with each other, like two bulls in an arena. So it was me and him, life or death. – Manny Resto
Editor’s Note: As a pro wrestler, Resto was known as “The Puerto Rican Punisher.”
So I thought it was one of my old wrestling buddies or guys that I bounced with, you know? And I was waiting for the punch line, and not literally.
The masked man walked towards the club. I thought it was in slow motion, but the police said everything happened very quickly. As he walked up to the club, he appeared bigger and bigger. I keep thinking, I wonder who this is. But he did not utter a word. He came right up to me: I was on the left side, he was on the right, and we were about three inches apart when I saw his right hand raise up, holding a handgun. I automatically knew what he was going to do. He raised the gun and pointed it inside, as he attempted to enter the club door. This must have happened in milliseconds, but I kept my eyes poised on that gun hand and I immediately grabbed it. I tried to turn the gun into him and to pull him back out to the front patio, away from the club, because I knew instinctively that as soon as he entered, he would start shooting, and people would die.
It was in complete silence that we started wrestling with each other, like two bulls in an arena. I saw from the videos that everybody ran, which was good because if more people were involved, he might have shot sooner. So it was me and him, life or death. I was always thinking I needed to get him to the ground and get the gun away from him. That was my constant goal. He started hitting me on the head and the video showed that he was hitting me with both the gun and a metal flashlight, which was in his other hand. It felt like bricks were smashing on my head. I started losing consciousness, getting punch drunk and woozy. And all the while, I was saying to myself, ‘Nope, you’re not going down. You’re not giving up. He’s not going to win.’
I gripped him somehow and he fell to the ground, which was when I managed to rip the gun from his grasp. The gun fell towards the door. He slipped and fell on the opposite side. I kept thinking, ‘I have to run and get the gun. I have to get the gun. I have to get the gun.’ So I ran to the gun, I picked it up, and I was going to give him an easy way out. I tried to use the police procedure of ‘Freeze! Don’t move. Hit the ground.’ I pointed the gun at him. Usually, people will obey and surrender to the ground. He did not. He charged right at me and grabbed my wrist to get the gun back. We were tussling and I caused him to go to the ground again where I tried to keep him. By then, the other two bouncers came. I told them to jump on him, and they did. We need to keep him on the floor, because big guys need to be kept down low. And he was a big guy: he was a 400lb, six-foot-plus monster. And I was not going to let him inside to murder everyone or to hurt any of my bouncers. A single accidental shot fired from the gun during the melee while he was grabbing it, but luckily nobody was struck by the stray bullet. Then the police came and I gave them the gun, and it was over. We won.
And all this was done in complete silence. The gunman didn’t utter a word. It was like a scene in a movie, like some type of Michael Myers Halloween thing. He wanted to murder or be murdered. And the reason why I did not shoot him was because I am not a killer. I’m not a murderer. I believe every life is precious, so I gave him mercy.
ED: In the video of the security footage, it looks like you had the opportunity to shoot him. Legally, you likely would have had every right to do so.
Resto: Yes, I know, but I am not a killer. I am a fighter, but I am not a killer. And I did not want to have that on my mind for the rest of my life. But he was not going to turn the Mons Venus into a mass killing burial ground. I refused to allow that to happen.
ED: That’s amazing that all of that took place in less than a minute. Was there ever a second in which you thought to yourself that you could die?
Resto: No, I’m prepared to die, but I have such confidence in myself and my abilities that I was going to get the job done no matter what, and no one was going to get hurt. I have little injuries — I have a broken toe, a broken brain maybe, some lumps on my head — but I don’t have brain damage. And the lumps have subsided. I’m already feeling better.
ED: So you saw a doctor after the event?
Resto: No, I don’t like hospitals, and I just wanted to go home and to get away from the event as soon as all of it was settled. After the police arrived, the paramedics came and checked me out. They said I was good. I just asked for an ice pack, and that was it. I said, ‘I just want to go home. Can I go home please, can I go home? I just want to be home with my fur babies.’ And they said I could go.
ED: You must have known you were risking your life?
Resto: I don’t think of it that way. I would rather myself have injuries than people dying. And I’ve had plenty of injuries in the past: I’ve had 20 broken bones, I’ve got a rod and two pins in my leg, I’ve got torn rotator cuffs, I’ve got broken knuckles, I’ve been hit with a crowbar in the head, hit with a rock in the head. So I have a hard head, which is a good thing.
ED: And you’ve taken worse, it sounds like.
Resto: Yes, and I’ve healed. You know, I can honestly say in my 30 years of working security, no one has ever died or gotten raped on my watch. And I’ve done it without a gun. My point of view is that there doesn’t have to be human casualties. Because honestly, if I or another security guy would have had a gun, it would have been a gunfight, and people would have died.
ED: And you described him as rather large…
Resto: Oh, yeah, he was a big man, much larger than me.
ED: But you’re pretty large yourself, right?
Resto: Yeah. I’m six feet, 250 pounds. But he was 400 pounds and many inches taller than me. And younger than me. I’m old, going on 55. He’s like 40.
ED: Why do you think that he targeted a strip club?
Resto: Because (Mons Venus) is a famous place. He must have seen that there were a lot of people in one dark, entrance-only place, and perhaps he believed that he could have a high body count with minimal resistance. Maybe he thought no one was going to touch him, and then I was there.
ED: You and the other guard, Danny Baham, and another gentleman piled on top of him. At the Tampa police press conference, Baham said that there was over 500 pounds on top of this man, and he was still pushing up.
Resto: Yes, he was still wriggling free. And you never know what these guys have. Usually, they have another weapon, concealed, something to stab with. I was pretty winded, and I started fearing for my bouncers’ lives. I didn’t want anyone to suffer. No one. I even gave the gunman chances not to suffer, but he didn’t take them. I just hope he realizes that I gave him his life.
ED: You said that the man didn’t speak during the incident. Did he say anything after?
Resto: Not to us. But he started talking to the police, saying he heard voices that told him to go there and to punish everyone. And he had hand-carved writings across both of his arms, which read “kill” and “darkk one.”
The police found that he had multiple clips on him, so he could have intended to shoot 60 to 70 times. He also had multiple clips and weapons in his truck, and, at his house, they allegedly found another arsenal of weapons.
ED: Why do you think that he targeted a strip club?
Resto: Because (Mons Venus) is a famous place. He must have seen that there were a lot of people in one dark, entrance-only place, and perhaps he believed that he could have a high body count with minimal resistance. Maybe he thought no one was going to touch him, and then I was there.
ED: How do you think that you were prepared for this? What kind of training have you undergone for this sort of scenario?
Resto: Actually, my whole life’s experience prepared me for this moment. Only now I know that. I’ve had martial arts training, and I’ve always been an athlete: college football player, college wrestler, MMA fighter, professional wrestler and bouncer. So I’ve learned how to use my hands, my feet and my balance to control people of all sizes. And I have learned over the years how to control my emotions in a situation like this, so that I don’t kill anyone.
But also, I was just at the right place at the right time, and he approached me in the right way that I knew I had to go all the way, with everything I had, because he was not going to murder anybody. I love everybody in there. And that’s why I did that.
I made a promise to everyone in the club a few years ago when more Florida residents were starting to carry guns on them. See, there are a lot of women that work there. The only men are security. And I made a promise to the women that, as long as I’m around, I will never ever allow a shooter to take lives at Mons Venus. If I have to die or go to jail or if I lose my job, I won’t care. – Resto
ED: How long have you worked at Mons Venus?
Resto: 27 years there and I’ve been doing this for 30 years.
ED: And prior to this, were there any other incidents in the past that helped you to prepare for this moment?
Resto: Yeah, hundreds of street fights. And a few club incidents, but nothing to this level. And like I said, I’ve never killed anyone. I survived, and they did, too.
In fact, I still have people come to me from all over the world, saying, ‘Thanks, man. You saved my life. You didn’t kill me.’
I’m like, ‘Okay, I don’t remember, but okay.’
And on the other end, I have people say, ‘Thanks, you saved my life. You protected me.’
And again, I’m like, ‘I don’t remember, but, you’re welcome.’
ED: And you’ve never received any specific training for what to do with a mass shooter or shooter situation?
Resto: No, not specifically, but I made a promise to everyone in the club a few years ago when more Florida residents were starting to carry guns on them. See, there are a lot of women that work there. The only men are security. And I made a promise to the women that, as long as I’m around, I will never ever allow a shooter to take lives at Mons Venus. If I have to die or go to jail or if I lose my job, I won’t care.
ED: You certainly followed through on that. Do you feel that this event has changed your life?
Resto: Yes, because I’ve gotten a lot of attention since the incident, and I want to give positive feedback to the world. I want to spread positive light to everybody because we live in dark times.
I would like to be a role model now, whereas before I did not, because I felt like I was not worthy. That’s why when people tell me I’m a ‘hero,’ I don’t think so, because I’ve done good and bad things in the past.
ED: So you don’t feel like a hero now? A lot of people are saying you’re a hero.
Resto: And I’m accepting it and thanking them to make them feel good. If it makes people happy, fine.
ED: In general, how would you say that you’re doing now? Are you shaken up at all?
Resto: The last week was a rough time for me, even at the press conference. I had headaches. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep for a few days, because of the event. But it’s getting a little better. And, like I said, I would rather have that than the alternative.
ED: And are you taking any time off from Mons Venus?
Resto: Nope, I have three days off normally anyway, and that’s plenty. I went back to work last night, and I’m fine.
I don’t like to vacation. I have a nice, quiet home. I like peace and quiet and just to hang around with my fur babies while my daughters are off doing their own thing. I have three daughters and two of them work in the medical field, while the youngest is a freshman at University of Florida on a full academic scholarship. I’m very proud of them, because I raised them to be strong, self-sufficient, independent women. I gave them choices in life, and they’re utilizing those choices.
Everyone at the club on the night of the would-be shooting contributed to its safety. Everyone’s a survivor, and we all did it together. – Resto
ED: I bet they’re very proud of you, too. Have you raised your daughters to protect themselves?
Resto: Well, they will. But I’ve always told them, ‘Your daddy will always be there for you. Your daddy will always love you.” And I will always protect them, but like I said, they are all strong, independent, self-sufficient women.
ED: So what have the people at Mons Venus said to you in the aftermath of this event?
Resto: Everyone’s saying, ‘Thank you for saving my life.’ They’re hugging and kissing me and telling me that they can’t believe that I’m ‘real’ like that. And I just tell them that I love all of them, and that’s why I did that. I love all of the employees, and the customers as well.
ED: And has anyone from the city reached out to you, like the mayor?
Resto: No, but I got to meet the Chief of Police and the whole Tampa PD, and they were so warm and genuine with me. That was really special.
ED: At our ED EXPO, we have had seminars about security; specifically, about how to prevent and/or stop a mass shooting. Is there something you think that clubs can learn from this experience or any way that clubs can be better prepared to prevent something like this in the future?
Resto: Try to be more aware of your surroundings. Don’t always talk. Listen and observe first, because if I would have approached that gunman and told him that I was security, or if I would have tried to boss him around, like told him to move his car, he likely would have blown me away and started blowing everyone else away, too.
ED: What about like metal detectors or any kind of that technology?
Resto: No, we don’t have that. And in the past year there have been more people carrying because of the concealed weapons permit. I just take those people out of the club so that they don’t have an audience, so that they don’t feel like they have to perform and get outrageous. And I just kind of let them know that I will handle all problems and they don’t need to have a weapon inside. It might accidentally go off, and we don’t need it. I always stay close to them, too, while we’re walking out to their car, so that if anything happens, I can react like I did last week. I can grab the wrist and the neck and then I have a fighting chance.
ED: You seem like a very calm person.
Resto: Oh, yeah, I’m calm. I’ve seen so much, done so much. I don’t get scared. It’s not about my ego. It’s not about who’s more macho. You have to explain to people the pros and cons of everything. And I believe the most important firearm is your mind. The most important weapon is your instincts. Nowadays, a lot of people are not paying attention because they’re on their phones and they’re worried about this or that. They take offense to when people say things and look at them weird. And, you know, that’s what also adds fuel to the fire. People don’t know how to understand one another or even how to communicate. If you can talk in a calm, slow voice and you can explain why you’re doing what you’re doing — if you don’t yell, you don’t curse, you don’t try to control that person, you just try to make them see that there are errors in their ways — people usually will listen.
I have a popular saying, when I get asked if I’m the bouncer, I say, ‘No, I’m just a problem-solver.’ Or, ‘I’m a customer service relations professional.’
And I try to help everyone out and to share my 30 years of experience, so that they have a good time and they don’t do anything bad.
ED: We are confident in stating that Mons Venus is lucky to have you.
Resto: Oh, thank you. And, like I said, these type of people can be stopped without murdering anybody. Everyone should help in public situations. If there’s ever an outburst in public, everyone should pay attention. Don’t turn a blind eye. Don’t mind your own business. Everyone should help in their own way and be alert, because we can’t allow these type of people to scare, intimidate or hurt us.
ED: And how do you think that an average could help in that situation?
Resto: Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, but also, everyone has something to share. Most simply, if you see something, say something. Like when someone lets me know that they think someone in the club has a concealed weapon, they’re doing their part by letting someone know who can handle it. But if you turn a blind eye, lives will be taken. If you’re not vigilant, lives will be taken.
ED: I personally would say that you’re a hero. You’ve saved a lot of lives, at least just in this last week, so thank you.
Resto: Well, I would say, ‘you’re welcome,’ but honestly, everyone at the club on the night of the would-be shooting contributed to its safety. Everyone’s a survivor, and we all did it together.
