As sergeant-at-arms of Canada's House of Commons, Kevin Vickers is accustomed to being in the middle of big things.

But never before like this.

Members of parliament, the press and the public hailed the 58-year-old Vickers on Wednesday after he reportedly shot dead a gunman who'd gotten into the Canadian legislature. This came minutes after a Canadian soldier was killed not far away, and perhaps before there might have been more bloodshed had not Vickers stepped up.

"Kevin is definitely a hero," said Matt Miller, the Vancouver Observer's parliamentary bureau chief, who was in his office just above Vickers and the shooting.

Miller recalled hearing one shot, followed quickly by about three dozen rounds before the gunfire ceased.

Authorities haven't officially confirmed Vickers' actions in stopping the shooting. But, according to parliamentarian Craig Scott, it was the sergeant-at-arms who ended the ordeal outside the building's caucus rooms.

Scott tweeted, "MPs and Hill staff owe their safety, even lives, to Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers."

Vickers isn't a stranger to the spotlight, although he's typically on the edge of it.

When a world leader comes through Ottawa, Vickers is often right beside them at the House of Commons. Photo after photo from the past few years shows him, a handful of Canadian politicians and the international figures -- from Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to German Chancellor Angela Merkel to South Korean President Park Geun-Hye -- on hand.

This is all part of the ceremonial duties of sergeant-at-arms, a position that's been occupied only by ten people since its inception in 1867. Vickers, for instance, is sometimes charged with carrying a special sword in the commission of his duties.

Yet, for all the pomp and circumstance, Vickers is above all a man of the law. That speaks to his bigger role at the House of Commons as its top law enforcement officer, charged with overseeing security on the grounds and safeguarding various officials.

To put what he did Wednesday in perspective, consider this: He was like a police chief or sheriff who takes out his weapon and ends a violent attack.

On the one hand, Vickers isn't new to law enforcement, having spent 28 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Yet despite all that time, his brother believes that Wednesday was the first time Vickers ever exchanged gunfire with anyone.

"For it now to happen at Parliament ... is unbelievable," John Vickers told CNN. "We're just relieved he's OK."

(CNN)