SACRAMENTO- April 4th marked the 24th anniversary of the deadly hostage situation at "The Good Guys"--- in south Sacramento. News10 was the only station to speak with Jim Cooper -- who was formerly with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department who worked that incident.
On April 4th, 1991, four men walked into the electronics store and held 41 people hostage.
The stand-off lasted more than eight hours. It remained the largest hostage rescue operation in U.S. history.
"They wanted an additional vest delivered to the front door so I volunteered to do it. I took a bullet proof vest to the front door and put it in front of their front door. that's what the hostage came out for and the shooting started," said Cooper.
A police sniper aimed for one of the suspects -- but missed -- shattering the glass window. More shooting started. In all, six people died. Three hostages were killed along with three of the four suspects. The fourth was sentenced to life in prison.
Cooper received the Bronze Star for bravery for his heroic actions during the "Good Guys" hostage crisis. But he said that was all part of the job.
"Anyone would have done that. That's our job. When you pin the badge on, you either do it -- whether it was me or someone else -- that's the job you signed up for," said Cooper.
He said the incident is a teaching lesson throughout the country and around the world.
"You want it to turn out perfect. You want everyone to be safe. It doesn't always turn out that way," said Cooper.
The crisis was recently revisited last week on ABC in the series "In an Instant."
