Eagle River Man Speaks Out After Disarming Gunman During Alaska State Fair Brawl (VIDEO)
A man from Eagle River is being hailed as a hero after he stepped in to disarm a gunman during a chaotic brawl at the Alaska State Fair on Labor Day. The incident, which was captured on multiple viral cellphone videos, shows a flurry of physical altercations erupting near vendor booths as families and children looked on in shock.
Jaden Perry, 24, said he didn’t hesitate when he saw a gun drawn during the fight, which broke out shortly after 8 p.m. Monday evening.
“The first thought that went through my head is there are kids everywhere,” Perry told reporters. “I didn’t think much during it, but afterwards I’m glad I did. I would do it again every time.”
Perry said he had been helping a friend tear down a booth when he saw two young men fighting — one of whom pulled a firearm. Without thinking, he jumped in to de-escalate the situation and successfully disarmed one of the men. He says he ensured the gun was pointed toward the ground while attempting to remove a second weapon.
“Last thing anybody needs to do is bury their child, take their kid to the hospital, or even a parent — they were everywhere,” Perry said.
According to Perry, the brawl appeared to involve at least eight people in different altercations happening simultaneously.
The viral footage — shared widely across platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) — shows Perry and others rushing in amid screams and panic. While some bystanders fled, others froze in place, visibly stunned by the sudden outbreak of violence.
Perry, a former military trainee with no formal law enforcement background, says he didn’t act for recognition.
“People need to be aware that things can go wrong at any moment, no matter where you are,” he said. “That should not have happened in the first place.”
No major injuries have been reported, and fair organizers say they are reviewing the incident to determine whether additional security measures are needed in the future.
