An attempted armed robbery in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on a recent Wednesday afternoon was thwarted when a United States Marine Corps veteran disarmed one of four teenage assailants. Jheyco Borda, 35, was working on his truck outside his home around 4:30 p.m. when he noticed a group of teenagers approaching, an encounter that quickly escalated.
"I gave [my phone] to him. When he got distracted looking at my phone, that was the split second when I grabbed the gun out of his hand." — Jheyco Borda, Marine Veteran
Borda recounted to Telemundo44 that his military training immediately alerted him to a potential threat. "I saw six kids come by playing around… and out of my corner of my eye, they stepped in front of my car," he stated. His instincts heightened further when he observed the group putting on face masks. "I saw them put on a face mask. As soon as I figured that one out, I was like, something’s about to go down," Borda recalled.
Moments later, one of the teenagers produced a firearm and aimed it directly at Borda. The group demanded his vehicle and his phone. Rather than succumbing to panic, Borda maintained his composure, informing the assailants that his truck was already running with the keys inside. He then surrendered his phone without resistance, carefully waiting for an opportune moment to act.
That moment arrived swiftly. As the armed teenager shifted his attention to the newly acquired phone, Borda initiated his move. "I gave [my phone] to him. When he got distracted looking at my phone, that was the split second when I grabbed the gun out of his hand," he told Telemundo44. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the rapid, decisive action, showing Borda transition from a target to an active defender in an instant.
The confrontation intensified, and chaos erupted on the street. Borda's brother, who is currently preparing to join the United States Air Force, rushed out of the house to assist, joining the struggle to secure the weapon. The combined efforts of the brothers altered the dynamic of the encounter. Two of the four teenagers retreated from the fight, but a third moved around the truck to rejoin the struggle. Despite the continued resistance, the brothers held their ground, maintaining control of the situation.
During the struggle, the firearm discharged. The round struck the side of Borda’s truck, leaving a visible bullet hole. Fortunately, no one involved in the incident sustained any injuries from the gunshot. Borda later explained to WUSA 9 that his response was not a conscious decision but rather an ingrained reflex developed through his military service. "We are trained to fight or flight and it was my instinct in a split second," he elaborated, crediting the Marine Corps for instilling a crucial mindset. "Every split second counts a lot, and they teach us that in there," Borda added.
With the struggle concluded and the weapon secured, both brothers successfully pinned the teenagers until law enforcement arrived. Officers from the Prince George’s County Police Department quickly reached the scene and took all four suspects into custody. According to Fox 5, the arrests were made without further incident. The Daily Mail reported that it had contacted the Prince George’s County Police Department for additional details regarding the arrests and the ongoing investigation. This incident underscores the critical role of self-defense and preparedness in unexpected situations.
