The actions some shoppers drew praise from authorities. Overnight, the strangers became online celebrities for their heroics as a video showing the confrontation spread swiftly on social media.

One of the men who authorities say helped take down a suspect who stabbed eleven people at a Walmart told NBC News about how he sprung into action. Marine veteran Matthew Kolakowski says he took off running after the suspect and rammed him with a grocery cart to prevent him from hurting more people.