The popular comedian, podcaster, actor, and UFC commentator Joe Rogan can now add ‘hero’ to his long list of job descriptions after effectively putting a would-be gunman into a submission hold at the Comedy Store located in Los Angeles California.



The incident occurred while Rogan was performing on stage last night at approximately 8:07 PM. Sources inside the comedy club indicated that Rogan had been on stage for around 15 minutes when the incident occurred.



Sources inside the venue indicated that around 15 minutes into Rogan’s set a middle aged man in the audience, later identified as Derek Withers, transformed from comedy fan to a disgruntled heckler and brandished a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun.



According to The Comedy Store management, Withers became disgruntled after the crowd turned on him when his heckling of Rogan became a distraction and took away from the overall enjoyment of the show.



As the crowd of comedy fans began to boo the heckler and chant for him to “go home”, Withers became upset and pulled a semi-automatic handgun from his waistline. As he turned the weapon towards the audience, he yelled “I don’t have to take explicit from you!”



According to witnesses, as Withers was focused on the audience, Rogan immediately ran behind the gunman and placed him in a wrestling submission known as an arm-triangle choke which instantly caused the would-be shooter to lose consciousness. As the gunman fell to the floor, Rogan kicked away the firearm (which was later identified as a .45 caliber Kimber 1911).



Once Withers regained consciousness, several members of the audience restrained him on the floor of the Comedy Store until the Los Angles arrived and arrested him. Withers has been booked and has yet to post his $75,000 bail.



Rogan who is being hailed a hero says he doesn’t see it that way, he says that he only did what anybody in his position would do, however those in attendance last night would respectfully disagree.