American Heroes

No. 1 - Brian Fentiman

There a number of newspaper and television items dedicated to highlighting the acts of heroism by our soldiers in Iraq. I think it's about time to acknowledge our American Heroes here at home, in civilian attire.

We Americans usually pride ourselves on our compassion for others. Be it helping survivors of a hurricane, flood or earthquake or those who take hot food to elderly neighbors in the midst of a harsh Minnesota winter. Others put their lives on the line to defend a total stranger from criminal violence. They do it freely, without reward or compensation. These are all heroes.

Mr. Fentiman's actions helped save the lives of two women, an infant, himself and his fiancée. By involving himself in a situation where others were at apparent risk, Mr. Fentiman showed the true American spirit.

It was June 28, 2008, a Saturday, just two days after the Supreme Court announced its 5-4 ruling that Washington, D.C., citizens have the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. Mr. Fentiman, who buys and renovates inner-city homes, along with his fiancée Maria, had spent the day showing real estate investors their investment properties in York.

They were on their way to Hanover, Pennsylvania to visit Mr. Fentiman's mother around 8 p.m. when they came upon what looked like a rear-end traffic accident. However, what Mr. Fentiman and his fiancée had come across was a case of out-of-control road rage.

Douglas Allen Need, along with his passenger Fred William Minnich, were driving recklessly when Need swerved in front of another car on east Philadelphia Street and was hit from behind. In a fit of road rage, he stormed out of his car, went back to two young women and a baby in the car that hit his, reached through the driver's window and started beating the driver violently.

She was able to break free and drive her car to the only place she could go -- the parking lot of a local beer distributorship next to the street. Need ran back to his car, squealed his tires into the parking lot and looked as though he was going to broadside the women's car with them still inside. At the last moment, he swerved his car around and blocked her from escaping.

Fentiman, seeing all this, pulled into the parking lot, got out of the car and yelled at Need to leave the women alone while Need's passenger, Minnich, was in the parking lot. The woman got out of her car and escaped into the store. Need followed but only moments later exited the store back into the parking lot.

Both Need and Minnich were uncontrollably enraged and seemed deranged past the point of caring who they hurt. They threatened that they had guns and were going to kill people. At one point, Minnich, armed with a box-cutter, entered the store and chased Evan Rineer of Columbia. During this chase, Minnich yelled, "You are here now, but you'll be dead by tomorrow" as he chased Rineer in the beer distributorship.

During this time, Need ran to the driver's side door of Fentiman's car and started pounding on the window, shouting at Fentiman's fiancée who was inside the car with the engine running. Fearing is fiancée's life was in danger because of the previous death threats, Fentiman drew his .45 caliber pistol, chambered a round and ordered Need to step away from the car. Need angrily complied.

Need then returned to the center of the parking lot, according to witnesses, and continued with threats and deranged behavior. After Fentiman went to the driver's door of his car, Need turned back and came at him, waving his arms and shouting, "just shoot me".

Fentiman ordered him to stay back, but Need closed the distance. At approximately five feet, Need put his hand into his pocket and Fentiman fired a round into Need's left thigh. Apparently unfazed, Need reached out and grabbed Fentiman by the shirt, ripping the top button and grabbed his right arm.

A second shot rang out at point-blank range into Need's thigh. The .45 caliber slug ripped through Need's femoral artery. Need went down and Fentiman nervously stepped back from his assailant.

York City Police Officer Kenneth Fogleman responded to the area after hearing shots. He had drawn his weapon and ordered Fentiman to drop his firearm, when Minnich came running out of the beer distributor door screaming and striking his chest. Fogleman had to take his attention off Fentiman to focus on Minnich, who charged at him and repeatedly asked to be shot.

Fogleman subdued and handcuffed Minnich. He then turned his attention to the now disarmed Fentiman who surrendered without incident. As he was being led, handcuffed, to a police car, one of the women he had defended thanked Fentiman for saving her life.

Douglas Allen Need died at York hospital. Fred William Minnich was charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct by engaging in a fight and public drunkenness. Minnich remains free on his own recognizance pending his Sept. 5 arraignment in York County Court.

Three weeks after the incident, the York District Attorney ruled that Fentiman's actions were justifiable and no charges would be brought.

Fentiman doesn't see himself as a "hero" and he says it is still hard to come to terms with taking another man's life. He's gone to a psychiatrist to help him deal with the emotions that come with taking a life. "He was a human being, he had a life and it was my actions that stopped him."

Fentiman's fiancée, Maria, says, though traumatic, this has brought them closer. Maria paid for Fentiman's concealed carry permit as a gift because he worked in such run-down parts of the city.

Mr. Fentiman tells his own story in The York Daily Record and how he copes with the aftermath. It is worth reading for his insights.

Know someone who's an American Hero for defending others? Tell us about it by writing to: blogeditor@handgunclub.com