KY3 out of Springfield, Missouri, reports that former McHenry County Undersheriff Andy Zinke, now an officer in that town’s police department, escaped being shot when a private citizen with a gun intervened.

Here’s part of the story:

Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams congratulates new hire Andrew Zinke.

Then another officer, Officer Andy Zinke found himself face to face – and seemingly alone – with a man who had already tried to kill an officer.

“After I shot this guy I went to re-load and my gun jammed, and I looked down at my gun and I turned and there’s Jerry standing there with his gun. It bought me that second,” said Officer Zinke.

That second was all it took for the armed suspect to draw his weapon again and point it right at Zinke. But Jerry’s gun was not jammed.

“That guy sat back up on his knees and looked directly at me and that’s when I was telling him hey stop, hey stop– you can live. I mean it doesn’t have to end here. You can live,” [Jerry] Pendergrass yelled.

“There is an ambulance in front of the house that can get you help right now. He looked at me, looked at his gun and I said no don’t look at the gun. With me saying that, Zinke was able to stop moving around and bring his attention back and it was at the same time that he brought his attention back that we both ended up–the man reached for the gun and we shot him.”