70 year old man robbed at Walmart

[Songbird]

The robber lifted his shirt to display what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon. I was at this same Walmart today. Scary.
http://amarillo.com/news/crime-and-cour ... arking-lot" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AEA]

link no good

Access Denied.

Generated Wed, 05 Sep 2012 01:53:22 GMT by sms3.cac003.groupz.net (squid)

[Keith B]

Woks fine for me

[AEA]

Strange ..... I cannot even access http://amarillo.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

UPDATE: I normally run Firefox and could not reach that site (BLOCKED). I tried the link in Internet Explorer and was able to load read the site, but even IE blocked a popup on that site.

[baldeagle]

The robber asked the man to use his phone, but the victim said he didn’t have one, police said.

The robber then raised his shirt to reveal what looked like a semi-
automatic pistol in his waistband and demanded money from the man, police said. The victim handed over an undisclosed amount of cash and drove home, authorities said.

So what would you do? If it was me, when he showed me the pistol but kept it in his waistband, I'd show him my muzzle, order him to get down on the ground and then call 911 while holding him at gunpoint. If he ran, I'd let him go but keep my weapon trained on him in case he turned to face me.

[Oldgringo]

A 25 year old man with dark hair, eh? That certainly narrows the field.

As has been said many times, we are never so vulnerable as when our back is turned and we're loading our vehicle.

[Jumping Frog]

The robber then raised his shirt to reveal what looked like a semi-
automatic pistol in his waistband and demanded money from the man, police said. The victim handed over an undisclosed amount of cash and drove home, authorities said.

So what would you do?

I draw and shoot him.

Aggressiveness and surprise wins the day.

[RPB]

The robber then raised his shirt to reveal what looked like a semi-
automatic pistol in his waistband and demanded money from the man, police said. The victim handed over an undisclosed amount of cash and drove home, authorities said.

So what would you do?

I draw and shoot him.

Aggressiveness and surprise wins the day.

In an ideal world, I'd prefer to put him on the ground and call/wait for Police, but I think I'd handle his partner, whereabouts currently unknown to me, better this way. I'm guessing partner making tracks from surprise gunfire attention to the situation, is probably better for my safety than partner coming to his rescue from behind me. He/They made the choice to start the chess game, I'm just thinking strategy at that point. And I might try to see which car close by had squealing tires to describe it to police, but mostly I'[d be attempting to stop that guy from reaching his weapon and drawing it, even if later it was determined to be an airsoft or plastic toy.; he should have not played that hand; I believe bluffs sometimes.

Note: I have only 1 hand, I will not set down/re holster my gun to call 911 while he still has a gun in his waistband on the ground and is not disabled/cuffed/disarmed/unless some other CHL is covering him or something....I might ask someone else to call 911, I'm not getting up close and personal reaching down to disarm the guy whether I shoot him or not ... I'
ll let police disarm him; if the guy starts to reach for it for any reason, how do I know if he's trying to show me it's a toy, disarm himself, or shoot me ... he started the game by showing me a gun and threatening to take my life, I'm trying to survive..

Also, I say this, I've actually been robbed at gunpoint and didn't have a gun but could have taken the robber's gun, didn't because I didn't want to endanger others; his buddy was holding others at gunpoint; so ... essentially; I can't say what I'd do but I'd play to survive, like I have before. I might toss my wallet across the aisle, and head another direction/duck for cover while unholstering and let him make the next move; no telling ... I"d have to be in the situation and assess what's around me etc, to know what I'd do but I'd 1) leave or if I couldn't leave 2) end the threat/if necessary cover him until police arrive to disarm him

[Songbird]

I would have drawn and fired, had I been armed. Unfortunately, now that school has started, my employer has taken away my right to protect myself unless I want to make the 45 minute round trip home to get my gun after work.

[Ed4032]

They should have put up a sign that declared the area a Gun Free Zone. That way the shoppers would never have to worry about being held up at gun point.

[baldeagle]

Very good point, RPB. I hadn't thought of the possibility of a partner. That definitely changes the scenario.

[philip964]

Robbers seem to use any number of ways to get closer to you. "Do you have the time" "Can I make a call on your cell phone" "How do I get to I-10" etc, etc.

I have noticed I have become quite defensive when asked in a parking lot or pumping gas when this happens. Not on the outside but on the inside. I doubt the person realizes what I am thinking.

What I realize is these robbers are making us, not the friendly open people we are normally. They prey on our natural kindness and good samaritan nature.

Doubt this man will allow strangers to approach him in a parking lot again.

[RPB]

Very good point, RPB. I hadn't thought of the possibility of a partner. That definitely changes the scenario.

Having been robbed twice ... once by two guys with revolvers covering different parts of a store, and 5 guys with an assortment of guns "clearing" a store rounding people up to put in a back room, I may be more thinking about looking for the "other partner" because oftentimes wild animals are braver when traveling in packs. Parking lot situations, I'd expect a partner in a car motor running probably door part way open (maybe not) probably an aisle or two away so a victim couldn't drive "around" fast enough to block their exit, but straight across as the crow flies/ on foot.. so he could cut between cars, jump in and they'd drive off out of the lot ...

but

not all are smart, so the partner may be closer... and possibly armed, and if more stupid than the other, might try to rescue his brother... but I'd expect him to bail and run probably after seeing his brother wasn't going to join him today and hearing gunfire.

Parking lot; I doubt a guy would act alone and jump on a bicycle, or into a car, try to back out of a space, and drive off. A lone actor might park behind you, block you in a space, rob you then jump in his car while you pull on his coat tails to prevent his escape to drive off with you following him in your car... doubt it.

The robber wore a white T-shirt and blue jeans and might have been a passenger in a white or silver 1990s Toyota with a sunroof, police said.

In the 1980s, I witnessed a robbery downtown Houston in front of a bank. Stop n go traffic at the stoplights, 2 guys exit the rear doors of a car, walk to the sidewalk, an elderly guy walking out of a bank putting his money in his wallet gets his wallet grabbed and he gets pushed to the ground, guys run off; around the corner, driver picks them up I assume. I was on passenger side of a car, HIGH curb kept my door from opening so I tried but couldn't get out to chase or help; which might have been a blessing.

[E.Marquez]

What would I do.... as best i can tell from the setup provided...
Hand shopping bag to robber with left hand, draw and engage the robber with right hand until the threat is stopped while moving to a strong point where I can secure my backside. call 911, call wife and ask her to call lawyer, wait and hope the responding LEO sees it the same way I did.

[johncanfield]

I would have drawn and fired, had I been armed. Unfortunately, now that school has started, my employer has taken away my right to protect myself unless I want to make the 45 minute round trip home to get my gun after work.

I thought you could leave the gun in your car - what am I missing here?