Daniel Gaskey is a former Marine turned firefighter who stopped into his neighborhood gas station in Midlothian, Texas, one morning to get a cup of coffee before heading to work.

He had no idea his usual morning ritual was about to take a perilous turn.

Daniel was standing at the register about to pay when a 19-year-old man shoved him out of the way.

It was only when the former Marine turned around that he noticed the man was wearing a mask and holding a hunting knife.

“This will be quick and simple. “Just give me the cash,” the masked man instructed the cashier.

The robber had no idea, but he was about to find out the hard way that Daniel was a former Marine who should not be messed with!

Daniel grabbed the youngster from behind, threw his arms around his neck, and tackled him to the ground, thinking quickly.

The experienced Marine managed to pin the robber until police arrived minutes later.

“Sometimes there’s a job that needs to get done,” Daniel explained.

“You have to be willing to stand up and help each other.”

Those who knew Daniel were not surprised by his bravery, but they were also extremely proud of him.

“When I saw the video for the first time this morning, I thought, ‘This isn’t just, ‘I’ll hang on until the cops arrive.'” “He intervened and changed someone’s life,” stated Mansfield Fire Chief Barry Bondurant.