Sixteen children and a handful of their mothers found the only door to their library room blocked by a man who held hunting knives in each hand as he screamed, “I’m going to kill some people!”
Dustin Brown, 19, specifically wanted to kill children Tuesday at Morton Public Library, he said after the would-be victims escaped safely.
Sixteen children were getting a chess lesson from James Vernon in a room at the library when 19-year-old Dustin Brown allegedly came in with a hunting knife in each hand screaming that he was going to kill people. Police say Brown, who was out on bail in connection with child pornography charges, admitted to specifically targeting the children. He reportedly told police he had been planning to kill people and then himself for weeks. Vernon got in front of Brown while the kids hid under tables. “I tried to settle him down,” Vernon tells the Daily Times. “I didn’t, but I did deflect his attention." The kids were able to get out of the room to safety, and Vernon learned Brown was right-handed by observing the way Brown handled his knives. Brown allegedly slashed at Vernon, but—knowing which hand the attack was coming from—Vernon blocked the knife, suffering cut arteries and a tendon in the process. “I should have hit his wrist," Vernon tells the Daily Times. "That’s how you’re trained, but it’s been half a century." Vernon threw Brown onto a table, hit him until he released the knives, and held him down until library staff and police arrived.
Dustin Brown, 19, specifically wanted to kill children Tuesday at Morton Public Library, he said after the would-be victims escaped safely.
Sixteen children were getting a chess lesson from James Vernon in a room at the library when 19-year-old Dustin Brown allegedly came in with a hunting knife in each hand screaming that he was going to kill people. Police say Brown, who was out on bail in connection with child pornography charges, admitted to specifically targeting the children. He reportedly told police he had been planning to kill people and then himself for weeks. Vernon got in front of Brown while the kids hid under tables. “I tried to settle him down,” Vernon tells the Daily Times. “I didn’t, but I did deflect his attention." The kids were able to get out of the room to safety, and Vernon learned Brown was right-handed by observing the way Brown handled his knives. Brown allegedly slashed at Vernon, but—knowing which hand the attack was coming from—Vernon blocked the knife, suffering cut arteries and a tendon in the process. “I should have hit his wrist," Vernon tells the Daily Times. "That’s how you’re trained, but it’s been half a century." Vernon threw Brown onto a table, hit him until he released the knives, and held him down until library staff and police arrived.