Minnesota Black Muslim man Ebro Ahmed stopped a runaway school bus with nearly 20 kids aboard and says ‘even if I were to die, it would still be worth it’

Ebro Ahmed jumped into a moving school bus to pull the emergency brake after noticing the driver was having a medical emergency in St. Paul, Minnesota, on October 19, 2026. The 27-year-old acted fast to protect nearly 20 children on board as the vehicle rolled down the street with its door wide open.

As reported by ABC News, surveillance footage released by local convenience store Ya Bricks Snacks and Tobacco captured the moment Ahmed noticed the bus and sprinted toward it. He had been standing outside the store when the bus passed by, and he realized something was wrong after looking inside and seeing the driver experiencing what appeared to be a seizure.

Ahmed managed to get inside the bus and pull the emergency brake seconds before anything happened. “I really felt like it was my duty,” Ahmed told the outlet. “Also, too, it’s kids we’re talking about, you know. Even if I were to die, it would still be worth it.”

A TV medical drama helped him keep his cool

Ahmed stayed focused inside the bus thanks to a surprising source of inspiration. He credited the long-running television drama Grey’s Anatomy for helping him keep his composure in the high-pressure moment.

“[The show teaches] you about what to do in situations that you never could see yourself in,” Ahmed explained. “So it’s just something like, you know, some tips and tricks that you could use for the rest of your life.”

He also relied on the students to help manage the chaos. “Some [kids] were screaming. Some [were] calm. These two girls on the front really did help me a lot,” Ahmed recalled. He threw his phone and glasses to one of the girls and told her to hold them, keeping his hands free to stop the vehicle.

Saint Paul Public Schools confirmed to ABC News that a medical emergency occurred on board and that paramedics responded to the scene. The district said no injuries were reported. The rescue comes months after a San Diego mosque security guard was hailed for protecting children and worshippers during a shooting in May 2026.

Students on the impacted bus were transferred to another bus and sent home. Counselors checked in with the students on October 20, 2026, a day after the incident.