James Vernon: Unarmed vet, 76, saves 16 kids and their moms from knife attacker

James Vernon had combat training, but he never had to use it — until recently.

Army veteran James Vernon, 75, knew it was his duty to keep the children attending his chess class safe when 19-year-old Dustin Brown entered the Morton Public Library in Illinois wielding two knives, the Pekin Daily Times reports. Police said Brown entered the building and said he “was going to kill people.”

Vernon put himself between Brown and the door, giving the children enough time to escape, the Daily Times reports. Brown slashed at Vernon, and Vernon was able to block the blow and only suffered a few cut arteries and tendon. Vernon said he threw Brown on the table and hit him until he let go of the knife, according to ABC News.

“I should have hit his wrist. That’s how you’re trained, but it’s been half a century,” he said. “I was operating at the animal level for a few seconds there.”

Brown was awaiting trial on child pornography charges and added charges of attempted murder, armed violence, and aggravated battery after the incident on Tuesday, ABC News reports. He told police that he “failed his mission to kill everyone” and his plan was to “kill people and then himself” for the past two weeks, the Daily Times added.

Vernon underwent two surgeries on his hand, according to the Washington Post, and is set to be back for chess next week. “You only need one arm to play (chess),” he told ABC News.

Agencies/Canadajournal