Officers secure the scene of a shooting Saturday outside a Safeway store in Tucson. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a third-term Democrat, was critically wounded.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D- Ariz.)

Handout via AFP/Getty Images

CRITICAL INJURY

By Brennan Smith, The Arizona Republic

TUCSON  A 74-year-old retired Army colonel who helped disarm and subdue the gunman who went on the shooting rampage here credits his military training for his ability to respond quickly.

Bill Badger said in an interview at University Medical Center that he was wounded and disoriented in Saturday's shooting but still managed to assist three others in holding the suspect down until police arrived.

Badger said that when he first heard shots ring out, he thought he was hearing the pop of firecrackers meant to harass Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, whom he had hoped to meet. He said he saw no gun but could see the gunman's hand extended as he began firing on the crowd.

"By the time I looked over there and saw him, he'd already shot the congresswoman, the 9-year-old girl and the judge," Badger said, referring to Christina-Taylor Green and U.S. District Judge John Roll, who were among six killed. Giffords, Badger and 11 others were wounded by gunfire.

Badger said the gunman then took aim at people sitting in a line of chairs waiting to see the congresswoman. Badger said he dropped to the ground to avoid the fire but felt something graze the back of his head.

"I dropped down all the way to the ground, and I lowered my head about 6 inches. I felt this burning, stinging sensation right in the back of my head," he said.

Then the shooting stopped. The gunman had run out of ammunition. Badger said he was disoriented but saw another man hit the gunman over the head with a chair. Badger said he then grabbed the shooter's left wrist and forced him to the ground with the help of several others.

Meanwhile, a woman knocked a second clip of ammunition out of the gunman's hand. Badger said he got the shooter in a choke hold while another man forced his knee into the suspect's neck.

"The guy's face was in the cement, and every time he would move, I would tighten my grip on his throat and this individual would push harder with his knee and all he (the gunman) said was, 'Ow, ow, ow, ow,' " Badger said.

Badger, a military pilot for 26 years, said they held the suspect down for around five minutes until help arrived.

Badger said he had no idea how badly his head was bleeding.

"I didn't know the blood was coming from me because I saw all the blood on the sidewalk, the walkway from the store, on him (the gunman) and all over the back of my hand and my arm," Badger said.

After the shooter was handcuffed, Badger called his wife.

"I said 'I've been shot, but I'm OK, and I took the guy down, but I want you to come over right away,' " Badger said. He was taken to a local hospital where tests showed no brain damage.

Badger said he gives more credit to the people who helped him Saturday than to himself: "No, I don't consider myself a hero. I did what anybody would do. I think my military background made me react, and the timing was essential."

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