'Real Life Bruce Wayne' From Boston Disarms Gunman In Chicago

CHICAGO, IL — Chicago police have dubbed a Boston man a "real-life Bruce Wayne" after he disarmed a man accused of robbing passengers on the Blue Line on Sunday. Jean-Paul LaPierre said he was in town to run the Chicago Marathon and didn't hesitate to get involved after witnessing the robberies.

"I don't like bullies," LaPierre, 54, told the Chicago Sun-Times, saying adrenaline kicked in and he wasn't afraid as he approached the robber and demanded the gun. "When I see someone pull a gun it makes me angry — it makes me really, really angry."

Tremaine Anderson, 30, was later taken into custody on charges of robbery and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. Police said Anderson was robbing people on the train at gunpoint around 5:50 a.m. Sunday before he was disarmed and held until officers arrived.

Another passenger on the train caught video of LaPierre struggling with Anderson, grabbing the gun from his hand and pushing him against the side of the train. As the two men struggle, LaPierre shouts, "You don't move! You don't move! I'm not letting you go."

The incident alarmed some passengers on the train, including a woman who can be heard telling LaPierre, "Please don't make this any worse," to which LaPierre replies, "You get me a police officer right now," before handing the gun off to another passenger and asking that someone put its safety on.

LaPierre, who told WGN he was a Golden Gloves boxer in his youth, can also be heard telling Anderson, "I’m a boxer. I’ll break your head in one punch."

LaPierre told WGN he went on to run his 12th Chicago Marathon, but doesn't show up in the race results because he's what's known as a "bandit," someone who runs races but doesn't always register.

Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi praised LaPierre on Twitter, calling him "this real life 'Bruce Wayne' from Boston" and quipping, "Maybe our friends @bostonpolice should send him an application!"

Watch more of the video filmed by a Blue Line passenger:

Story by Shannon Antinori/Patch