For The First Time Ever...

[Braden]

...I thought I might have to draw my gun in self defense.

I posted this on GlockTalk so I thought I'd post it here too.

Yesterday on the way home from work I had to stop to fill my truck up with diesel. I stopped at a large Texaco station on I-35 in North Austin / Pflugerville (the one at Grand Avenue Drive if you're familiar with it). The station is situated with about 8-10 vehicle pumps on the west side, 8-10 truck pumps on the south side and a large what I will call a "turn-around" area on the north side. I was filling up at the far north vehicle pump near the turn-around area when this occurred.

A late model white Ford F-150 pulled into the station at about 5:30 PM as I was filling up. There were two men in it. The truck drove through the lane opposite the pump I was at and proceeded to drive out into the turn-around area, where it stopped in the middle (where he stopped was about 30 yards from the store itself and about the same distance from me). When it stopped, a tall thin man about 6'-5" and weighing I'd guess 200 pounds stepped out of the passenger side of the truck. He had long dirty grayish colored hair and a very dark tan. Honestly, he looked like some of the homeless we have in the area.

I thought it was odd that the truck would stop there and even more so that the passenger would get out right there since there were parking spaces open immediately adjacent to the store entrance. When he got out he looked in my direction and begin walking towards the tailgate of my truck. I immediately became more alert because this man had no good reason to be walking towards my truck (which was between us at the time). I slipped my hand in my front pocket and gripped the grip of my P3AT (wishing I had my G22 but thankful I had the P3AT).

When he got within about 6 feet from the tailgate of my truck, he turned and went towards the trash can that was located about 6 feet from me. It appeared that he put something in the trash can, although I never saw anything in his hands. He then stood there, about 6 feet away from me, with his back towards me and facing the truck that he just got out of...his right hand holding the cigarette in his mouth and the left hanging at his side. I looked towards the guy driving the truck, who was looking at the man standing near me and the trash can. Not doing anything...just looking at each other.

Both pumps in the lane adjacent to mine were empty, so they were not waiting on me to finish fueling up. He stood there, facing the truck he got out of, appearing to be waiting for something. I was waiting too...although I didn't know what exactly I was waiting for. Just waiting...and ready.

Sensing something was up, I tightened my grip on the P3AT and on the pump handle that was filling my truck (the pump handle and hose was between me and him and I had already decided that if he made a rushing movement toward me I was going to douse his face with diesel fuel while drawing my P3AT and trying to put some space between us).

After standing there for approximately one minute, he did another peculiar thing. He turned around, grabbed the trashcan and moved it into the lane opposite the pump I was on...as if he didn't want any cars to pull up to that pump...almost like he was reserving it for his friend in the truck. Shortly after that, the truck pulled over into the lane NEXT to the lane he had just blocked and began filling up. The tall guy looked in my direction and then walked into the store.

About this time I finished filling up, got in my truck and left.

I really don't have a clue what this guy was up to. It was strange to me that he got out of the truck sort of out in the middle of "nowhere". It was strange that he immediately began walking towards me. It was strange that he pretended to throw something away (or maybe he actually did but I didn't see anything in his hand). It was strange that he stood there next to the trash can (6 ft. away from me) looking at the guy in the truck (who was looking back at him) for as long as he did. It was strange that he moved the trash can into the pumping lane, and then that his friend pulled into a different lane to fill up. Finally it was strange the way he looked at me and then just turned and walked in the store.

Maybe it was something, maybe it was nothing, but for the first time in my life I felt the need to actually prepare to draw if I needed to. Luckily I didn't.

[txinvestigator]

You were unusually alert, bravo.

You noticed what, IMO, was a drug or money drop off.

I am not so sure that going for your gun should have been your first and only option.

I think too many of us (CHL holders) see the gun as our only means of defense to ANY situation.

But I wasn't there, so who knows.


PS my curiosity would have gotten the best of me, and I would have waited until they left and looked in that trash can. lol

[Braden]

I am not so sure that going for your gun should have been your first and only option.

I think too many of us (CHL holders) see the gun as our only means of defense to ANY situation.

Just to clarify, I did NOT draw the gun, but I did slip my hand in my pocket and grip it. My instincts were telling me something was up and I trust my instincts.

As I said, my plan if he had tried anything was to douse him with diesel fuel (that was my non-lethal option at the time) while drawing the P3AT (and firing if necessary but hoping it never came to that).

Anyway, it was all very strange to me. I'm glad nothing happened.

[Greybeard]

Not sure if it will "take" or not, but here is a link to video recently sent to me by an older CHL student who now resides in NM.

http://www.sheriff.org/videos/psa_cartheft.html

Notice the crook makes his move while driver's vision is limited by being "boxed in" by vehicle and gas pumps. Braden, ya reckon he may have been walking by initially to check out any "grabable" valuables in the back of your truck?

[anygunanywhere]

Feng shui.

The can was messing with their yin and yang.

Seriously scary when you have the chance to think about it.

Anygun

[9mmGuy]

Braden, ya reckon he may have been walking by initially to check out any "grabable" valuables in the back of your truck?

Maybe he was waiting for you to go inside and pay but cause your diesel fuel tank is so large it was prob. taking to long. he got tired of waiting.

I would of locked every thing up and went inside to report suspicious behavior to the counter clerk. Maybe of even called the police. in any case, Way to be alert man!!

[O6nop]

You noticed what, IMO, was a drug or money drop off.

Sounds right to me. They don't want to attract too much attention but aren't afraid of much. (not an expert)

On top of everything else, I noticed you stated that he was smoking around the fuel dispensers.

[casselthief]

I noticed you stated that he was smoking around the fuel dispensers.

that's okay, as long as you're trying to keep people away from you.

[austin]

It is what it is - You were going to be robbed.

When he turned away from you by the trashcan he was thinking if he was man enough to go through with it.

The fact that you stared at him and the driver in the truck and showed no fear meant he backed off.

The only thing you did wrong was not to call 911 with the License Plate and description.

If this had occurred to me, when he turned away, I would have turned drawn, then left my hand with the pistol behind my leg. If he had chose poorly and come towards me, I could have pulled the pistol forward but left it down to show him the pistol without having to get a sight picture and possibly alarming anyone else.

[fm2]

They sure didn't show up to give you the winning lotto #'s.

Way to be alert, the habit of awareness will keep you from getting too far behind the power curve.

[Will938]

If this had occurred to me, when he turned away, I would have turned drawn, then left my hand with the pistol behind my leg. If he had chose poorly and come towards me, I could have pulled the pistol forward but left it down to show him the pistol without having to get a sight picture and possibly alarming anyone else.

That might not of turned out so well in court, I could see them asking if a reasonable person would of drawn a firearm before the person had made any threats and you hadn't told them to stay back. Maybe the guy was about to ask for another cigarette? I think the hand in the pocket was the way to go.

[txinvestigator]

It is what it is - You were going to be robbed.

When he turned away from you by the trashcan he was thinking if he was man enough to go through with it.

The fact that you stared at him and the driver in the truck and showed no fear meant he backed off.

The only thing you did wrong was not to call 911 with the License Plate and description.

If this had occurred to me, when he turned away, I would have turned drawn, then left my hand with the pistol behind my leg. If he had chose poorly and come towards me, I could have pulled the pistol forward but left it down to show him the pistol without having to get a sight picture and possibly alarming anyone else.

Wow. I disgaree with pretty much ALL of that. But what do I know, I'm just a dumb old ex-cop.

[Venus Pax]

These guys were sizing you up. You were too alert for them; therefore, you were a bad victim.
Good for you for staying alert. I've found being aware of my surroundings and using my thinker has gotten me out of a lot of situations.

[G.C.Montgomery]

Braden, great job looking out. I think you saw a drug deal...Nevermind, I see TXI already posted the same thing.

Austin, you are headed for trouble with your current way of thinking.

[jbirds1210]

...I slipped my hand in my front pocket and gripped the grip of my P3AT (wishing I had my G22 but thankful I had the P3AT.

Sounds like it is time for some holster shopping.....if you wished you had the G22...you should carry one! I have been in your shoes and it changed my way of thinking.

If this had occurred to me, when he turned away, I would have turned drawn, then left my hand with the pistol behind my leg. If he had chose poorly and come towards me, I could have pulled the pistol forward but left it down to show him the pistol without having to get a sight picture and possibly alarming anyone else.

It could have been an undercover officer asking you for a light I agree that drawing your weapon for the above reasons is a good way to find trouble.