Retiree responsible for tackling gunman: 'I just snapped'

NORTH FAYETTE, Pa. — Police say a retired steelworker with a bad heart is responsible for subduing and disarming a man jailed on charges he shot three people -- one fatally -- at a North Fayette bar.

Allegheny County police Lt. Andrew Schurman says 60-year-old Jerry Maroni was courageous in his efforts to stop the shooting suspect, 25-year-old David Mazzocco, at the Fort Pitt Inn in North Fayette Township early Monday.

Police believe Mazzocco became upset while text messaging his girlfriend when he began shooting about 12:45 a.m.

Authorities say Mazzocco shot James Adams in the head, killing him, and wounded another in the neck before Maroni -- who was also shot in the arm -- subdued the suspect.

“I heard a crack and I turned around and one guy hit the floor. Then the other guy hit the floor. There was blood coming out of his head and then he was pointing at me,” Maroni said. “I grabbed his wrist, punched him in the face and then he got me in the arm. When I got him down, I just took the gun off of him and started beating him in the head with it.”

Investigators said the shooting could have been a lot worse if it weren’t for Maroni and the other man who tackled and disarmed Mazzocco.

"He was ready to kill everybody. I just snapped ... and I ran toward him," Maroni said.

Maroni talked to Channel 11’s Brittny McGraw from his room inside Allegheny General Hospital, where he continues to recover.

“I was just thinking, ‘This isn’t good. It’s do or die time,’” Maroni said. “In that situation, you know you have to do something or he’s going to kill everybody.”

Maroni said he’s a regular at the Fort Pitt Inn, but he usually goes in the afternoon.

“It’s not a troublesome bar. There’s usually a good crowd of people in there,” Maroni said. “I usually don’t go that late, though.”

Maroni’s neighbor, Bonnie Jenkins, told Channel 11’s Vince Sims that she’s known Maroni for about two years, and she’s not surprised that he jumped in to help.

“He is protective of anybody. He is real protective of me and my kids. It makes sense that he would do this,” Jenkins said. “He’s a great guy, and has been a great neighbor. We always try to help him out because he just had heart surgery.”

Police said Mazzocco was having relationship problems and was in the middle of an argument when he began shooting.

In addition to the three guns, police said he brought into the bar, an AR-15 assault-style weapon was found in Mazzocco's truck.

Investigators also said that Mazzocco is not permitted to own or carry firearms.  None of the firearms he used in the shooting were registered to him, police said.  Investigators said they are actively looking for the owners of the guns and are working to determine how Mazzocco obtained them.

Police said Joseph Quick, who was shot in the head, is in critical but stable condition.

"I just thank God that he didn't get anybody else. It's bad enough what it was and what has happened, but just thank God it didn't get any further," Maroni said.

Mazzocco will be charged with homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering other people and weapons violations.

WPXI