Would-be purse snatcher gets surprise from victim's husband

[Lucky45]

By Andy Cerota
(11/02/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - A suspected purse snatcher didn't know what he was in for when he picked a woman in a Home Depot parking lot for a victim. As soon as he grabbed her purse, the woman's husband grabbed a shotgun and opened fire.

It happened at the Home Depot on the Eastex Freeway near Little York. With as much activity during business hours there, you never know who may be waiting in the wings, night or day, ready to strike.

"I was just standing here and the guy just came up and pushed me real hard with a force, like it was a car that hit me. And he was just yanking my purse and my arm got twisted up in my purse and he just was just yanking it," said victim Sandra Hulsey.

Sandra may have looked like an easy target standing there as her husband, Norman, loaded wood into the couple's pickup truck. It turned out the suspect who shoved Sandra and tried to steal her purse didn't know who he was messing with.

"I had a board in my hand right here and I thought he was going to beg for money...is what I thought," said Norman. "He grabbed her and I already had that door open so I just grabbed my shotgun."

He fired a shot.

"The sound of the shotgun and that dude burning off -- it was funny," said eyewitness Freddy Butler.

Butler chased after the accused purse snatcher. who took off running and ended up asking a police officer for help.

"He displays a weapon and it scares the suspect," said a deputy on the scene. "The suspect runs up the police car and saying, 'Let me in. They are shooting at me'."

Police took the suspect into custody.

"The guy just didn't have any business doing what he was doing," said Sandra. "It's shaken me up but I'm OK."

The suspect was not injured. The Houston Police Department turned over the suspect to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Deputies say they patrol this area pretty heavily and despite what happened out there Thursday, they have not had many problems in the area.

[stevie_d_64]

Concealed shotgun, or the attack occurred at their vehicle where the husband happened to have a shotgun right there???

Interesting outcome...

"Pluueeeze Mr. Policeman, hep meh...They be shootin' at meh!"

I nominate them for stupid criminal of the week award...

Any seconds???

[Lucky45]

"I had a board in my hand right here and I thought he was going to beg for money...is what I thought," said Norman. "He grabbed her and I already had that door open so I just grabbed my shotgun."

Two things.
On the first statement, that is why I give most people like that the EVIL EYE when they start approaching me with that begging nonsense. Just a ruse to get into your personal space.

On last statement; that is why I never leave the range without first reloading all magazines and chambering before I head back to my car. I do it right there at the bench. I see so many people just grab there stuff and leave. Because you might just have to make a quick stop somewhere and then an incident like this or worse occurs.

[Charles L. Cotton]

By Andy Cerota
(11/02/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON)"The suspect runs up the police car and saying, 'Let me in. They are shooting at me'."

Oh how I wish I could have seen that!!

Chas.

[Wildscar]

By Andy Cerota
(11/02/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON)"The suspect runs up the police car and saying, 'Let me in. They are shooting at me'."

Oh how I wish I could have seen that!!

Chas.

[NcongruNt]

I wonder if the shot was simply a miss or a warning shot. If someone struck my wife with as much force as was described, I would have put a quick bead on him ready to get a shot off if he didn't quit moving immediately after I made a forceful statement of my intentions.

[Venus Pax]

"The suspect runs up the police car and saying, 'Let me in. They are shooting at me'."

People might not shoot at you if you leave them alone.
(Just my thoughts.)

[Paladin]

"He displays a weapon and it scares the suspect," said a deputy on the scene. "The suspect runs up the police car and saying, 'Let me in. They are shooting at me'."

This is proof positive that armed citizens are a crime deterrent. BG was more afraid of an armed citizen than the police.

[frankie_the_yankee]

"He displays a weapon and it scares the suspect," said a deputy on the scene. "The suspect runs up the police car and saying, 'Let me in. They are shooting at me'."

This is proof positive that armed citizens are a crime deterrent. BG was more afraid of an armed citizen than the police.

In the interest of fostering clear thinking, let me point out that while I happen to agree that armed citizens are a deterrent to criminals, this incident is only "proof positive" that this particular criminal feared this particular armed citizen more than he feared the nearby cops.

It's an anecdote. That's all.

[Photoman]

that is why I never leave the range without first reloading all magazines and chambering before I head back to my car. I do it right there at the bench. I see so many people just grab there stuff and leave. Because you might just have to make a quick stop somewhere and then an incident like this or worse occurs.

Good idea. I recommend concealed carry to the range, at the range and from the range.

[Stupid]

I just carry all the time, range or no range.

that is why I never leave the range without first reloading all magazines and chambering before I head back to my car. I do it right there at the bench. I see so many people just grab there stuff and leave. Because you might just have to make a quick stop somewhere and then an incident like this or worse occurs.

Good idea. I recommend concealed carry to the range, at the range and from the range.

[DFWCHLer]

I just carry all the time, range or no range.

As someone's sig says, carry 24/7 or guess right.

[Lucky45]

I just carry all the time, range or no range.

Just for clarification. I meant all guns when leaving the range, since in the news item, the guy grabbed a shotgun from his truck which isn't normally considered a concealed weapon.
I was highlighting for those of us, myself included that go to the range with more than one firearm. Most of the time, I have a 45ACP, 9mm, .380 and 12guage shotgun. So I load everthing before I pack up and head to vehicle. I just carry one in holster and everything else in range bag with easy access.
I got into this mindset from reports out of Florida either late last year or earlier this year, where folks were being held up and gun stolen when leaving the range. Some were even followed home.
So whoever is in my rearview mirror better be ready for fire and brimstone that will be raining down upon the evil doers by the right hand and index finger of the son of the man who was sent in his place. Can I get an AMEN?

[Photoman]

I just carry all the time, range or no range.

Why that's just Stupid.

[Stupid]

Can't help yourself, can you? *laugh. it's really funny.

I just carry all the time, range or no range.

Why that's just Stupid.