Police claim a female partygoer halted a potential mass massacre in the United States when she drew her firearm and fatally shot a man who had begun fire with a semi-automatic weapon on a crowd.

Shortly before returning to Charleston, West Virginia, and targeting a group of 30 to 40 people, the gunman was requested to slow down.

The woman’s prompt reaction, according to police spokesman Tony Hazelett, saved lives.

It comes after a school massacre in Texas sparked a national debate about guns.

The suspect had passed through the neighborhood earlier in the evening on Wednesday when he was told to slow down because children were playing.

He returned, armed with an AR-15-style weapon, and started a fire on the birthday-graduation party outside the city apartment complex from the safety of his truck.

Mr. Hazelett said during a press conference that the woman who retaliated lacked any law enforcement experience. Her identity has not been revealed.

He explained, “She’s just a member of the community who was lawfully carrying her weapon. And instead of running from the threat she engaged with the threat and saved several lives.”

After the incident, the woman stayed at the site and is cooperating with investigators.

According to authorities, no charges will be made against her.

Dennis Butler, a 37-year-old with a long criminal past, was found dead from numerous gunshot wounds at the scene, according to authorities.

Butler obtained the handgun, which he was not legally allowed to carry as a convicted criminal, according to Mr. Hazelett.

It comes after a young gunman massacred 21 people at a Texas elementary school with a lawfully purchased AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

The shooting, which was the deadliest school shooting in the United States in a decade, revived the debate over private gun ownership, which is protected by the US Constitution.

Image Credit: Getty

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