Christina Hall

Detroit Free Press

Didarul Sarder has been carrying a firearm for many years.

He's never had to unholster it -- until last week.

That act, authorities said, saved a stranger's life.

Sarder, a parking valet supervisor at the GM Technical Center in Warren, was in a meeting Feb. 10 inside the building when valet drivers knocked on the door saying they needed help.

The married father of two young children ran out, not knowing the situation. When he got inside the vestibule of the lobby -- able to see outside -- he pulled out his registered handgun and ran out while others ran away. Once outside, Sarder pointed his gun at a woman stabbing another woman repeatedly with a steak knife.

The 32-year-old Warren man admits saying a vulgarity as he told the woman to drop the knife or he would fire. His act, authorities said, stopped what likely would have been a fatal attack on the other woman, an employee of the Tech Center.

Woman accused in stabbing at GM Tech Center arraigned

"It was just something to react and it was the right thing to do, I felt," Sarder said today while being honored by Warren Mayor Jim Fouts. "If I had to do it over, I'd do it all over again."

Sarder, a concealed pistol license holder, is credited with stopping the violent attack on 52-year-old Stephanie Kerr of Oak Park by her daughter, Chavonne Taylor, 32, also of Oak Park. Taylor is charged with attempted murder in the stabbing outside the tech building, which is across Van Dyke from Warren City Hall.

According to authorities, Taylor came to the Tech Center and asked to speak with her mother. Surveillance video shown today shows the mother walking out of the building first, followed by her daughter, who has her hands behind her back.

Taylor -- who authorities said has two children, ages 11 and 12, and mental health issues -- was upset about something and stabbed her mother in the back, neck and abdomen when her mother went to hug her. Sarder was there quickly, as was a Warren police officer who was a half-mile away when the first call came in.

The mother continues to recover in a hospital, investigators said. Sarder said he has been contacted by her niece on Facebook and he'd like to meet with the mother.

After the incident, there were conflicting reports about Sarder's job status and whether he lost his job for bringing a gun to work. GM's policy is that it does not permit firearms on any of its properties. The valet company Sarder works for previously told the Free Press he was suspended until an internal investigation was completed.

Sarder, who attended the ceremony with his wife; daughter, 9; son, 5, and sister-in-law from New York City, said he was reinstated at work Monday and thanked Fouts and the public for their support.

Valet with gun stopped attack on GM worker

But, Sarder said, he would have done that same thing even if his actions would have cost him his job.

"Whatever rules there are, when someone is in need of help, you do the right thing. You just don't worry about the consequences," Fouts said, later saying "When I'm in trouble, I want (Sarder) near me."

Sarder said he remembered his firearms training from a 12-year Marine, who told him that he would know when to use lethal force or neutralize without firing. Sarder said when Taylor complied after he told her to drop the knife, he re-holstered his gun and called 911.

When asked what Sarder has told his children -- today is his daughter, Imanee's 9th birthday -- he said he just wants them to do the right thing regardless of a person's race or religion.

"Everyone needs help." he said. "You help them."

Warren resident Lou Falbo, 68, heard about Sarder's actions in the media and came to city hall today to talk with him.

"He did an excellent job. He handled himself well, showed great restraint and prevented a homicide," Falbo said.

Shumon Hakim, 41, of Warren, who works in the IT department for the city of Warren, has known Sarder his whole life. He called Sarder's actions "a phenomenal selfless act." Hakim said Sarder's "always been like that."

Marty Clauw, owner of Elegant Jewelers in Shelby Township, gave Sarder a $1,000 gift certificate to his store. He, like Falbo, heard about Sarder's actions and just wanted to reward him for doing what so many others won't do.

"I wish I lived closer to you," said Clauw of Bruce Township. "There are not a lot of people out there like you. I wish there were more like you. It's just something that needs to be done more often -- people need to get involved."

Contact Christina Hall: chall99@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.