Canada’s sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers is being hailed as a hero for stopping a gunman on Parliament Hill Wednesday, potentially preventing further bloodshed in the country’s capital.

Vickers has been credited with shooting an armed suspect who stormed into the Hall of Honour around 10 a.m., shortly after a Canadian Forces reservist was killed at the nearby National War Memorial.

To Vickers’s brother, who watched the drama unfold on pins and needles from Victoria, B.C., the act of bravery was hardly a surprise.

“He’s there for the country and that’s the way he always was, and I’m just proud to have him as a big brother today,” John Vickers told CTV News.

“It doesn’t surprise me that when he was called upon by his nation this morning to respond in a time of need, that he responded.”

Seeing the man he recently shared a Thanksgiving turkey dinner with thrust into a violent encounter still came as a shock, however.

“I turned on the TV… the name Kevin Vickers came up and the first response of course was to connect with family. At the time we didn’t know what transpired,” he said.

“We’re just relieved that he’s going to be OK.”

Vickers, who previously served 29 years with the RCMP, was appointed as sergeant-at-arms in 2006.

The position makes him responsible for the “safety and security of the Parliament buildings and their occupants,” according to a government release announcing his appointment.

The 58-year-old also previously worked as an aide-de-camp for the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, and has provided personal security for high-profile visitors including Queen Elizabeth and Prince Andrew.

His actions were lauded by several Members of Parliament Wednesday, including Justice Minister Peter MacKay and Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino.

“MPs and Hill staff owe their safety, even lives, to Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers who shot attacker just outside the MPs' caucus rooms,” MP Craig Scott tweeted.

With files from CTV National News