Food store robbery in progress - you're there.

A

andyb

New member
Near noon today two BG's entered a Food Lion in Virginia Beach and tried a robbery, firing one shot into the ceiling. Somebody called 911 "in progress" and the troops moved quickly. After several hours of locking up the neighborhood LEOs came up with one suspect from a different but nearby location, so either one or two BGs are at large tonight (at least at the 11PM news slot).

Generally I've been an off/on carry person; lately though I've been regular in carry when leaving the nest area. Since the kids live near that store, I sometimes visit it rather than the one nearest me. Now the question(s): Assuming you were in that store today during the robbery attempt, what if anything, would you have done? Just curious.
 
andyb, I ALWAYS carry, because I can't presume to know the time and place where I will need my firearm. If I knew, I'd make it a point NOT to be there. That said:

In your scenario, IF I'm in a store where someone has already fired a shot, albeit into the ceiling (am I sure of that or can I presume a person already down??), then I assume that for the slightest non-reason, the suspect will shoot me or anyone else. I will do my best to get behind cover and use my firearm to shoot to STOP the criminal.

No, I will never shout any of that movie or teeeeeeveeee crap dialogue of "Drop the gun," "Freeze, motherhumper," or anything else. I will not give him that one and one half seconds of lag time to drill me, while I'm shouting cute dialogue at him.

I'll put two or three .45 H.Ps. in his chest, and if his partner is holding any kind of weapon whatsoever, he'll get the next two or three.

That's the way I'd react to it. J.B.
 
As amazing as it sounds, things like that happen over here in Japan. Just a couple of months ago a robbery was captured on video and broadcast all over the place.

A BG walks into the local corner shop, draws a sawed off from under his fatiguge jacket, and points it at the victim. Well, I think this guy must have been second or third generation Korean because he refused to be a victim: he quickly blocked/deflected the shotgun away from him with his left forearm, grabbed the BG's arm with his right andtried to take it out of his hands. In the process the assailant discharged both barrels into the wall behind the counter, and they started to have one hell of a fight. The BG had a partner outside, who came in at the sound of the shots, and punched the victim a couple of times, long enough for both of them to make their getaway.
 
Happens in Japan? You've got to be kidding. Aren't guns illegal in Japan? This couldn't have happened, you're making it all up. Geez, don't you know Japan, Britain and Austria are the most safe places on earth now? If you don't believe me, just listen to your politicians for crying out loud.

USP45usp

*Where sarcasim is the only thing to believe.
 
#1: Be a good witness.
Unless my life or that of another is in IMINENT DANGER, I do NOTHING!
Money can be replaced, I ain't sworn LEO, and have no desire to be anybody's hero.

Once shots are fired at innocents,or customers & clerks are being herded to the back, or made to lie or kneel on the floor, then all bets are off...backshooting's allowed!
 
jensenfarm....almost exactly what I was gonna say. Bullet thru the roof? Get some Black Bull and patch it. bullet towards people or in people. Well...bring in the black bags...

Oh, BTW...I never use the checkouts right in front of the door...don't care if the line is empty or not. Too much 'in the line of fire' if some scumbag comes in with a gun and a mental malfunction.

[This message has been edited by Satanta (edited July 14, 2000).]
 
I'd grab some twinkies and a copy of Guns & Ammo (pay for 'em later) and wait it out behind the dog food endbase on aisle seven. I'm not going to risk my life for a ceiling tile and a few hundred dollars of someone elses money.

Unless...

The guys hurt somebody or try to take a hostage out of the store. Or, naturally, they invade my little "thug free zone". At that point there might be a blue light special on hydrashocks.

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NRA/GOA/SAF/USMC

Oregon residents please support the Oregon Firearms Federation, our only "No compromise" gun lobby. http://www.oregonfirearms.org
 
I concur with the major point here, which is that I'm not going to start a firefight over Food Lion's cash. They're insured. The shot into the ceiling is an intimidation thing. If it looks like they're going to shoot innocents or (maybe more likely) take a hostage with them), remember your sight picture, breathing and squeeze with the index finger.

The biggest danger in such a scenario is that you're with someone who knows you carry.

Bad Guys: "This is a stick-up!"

Girlfriend, loudly: "Oh, sweetie, you've got a gun! Shoot those bad bad men and be my hero!"

You: "Aaaaauugh!" as the bad guys swiss-cheese you with the 12 gauge.

Moral: Tell all of your family & SO's who know you carry that they are NEVER NEVER NEVER to refer to your weapon in public, or they will get you killed.
 
It's funny: The local news aren't focusing on the original crime (you almost can't get any info on that subject), but on the apprehension of the suspect in a townhouse by a swat team. Why?

Because they finally got to the scene and have pictures of the suspect attempting to escape the SWAT team. Because they were able to get the suspect's mother on tape saying they didn't have to use SWAT, just send HER in for her boy. Pictures and controversy.
 
Jensen/Satanta,

You know it. Unless they start threatening to kill people, you don't turn the heat up on the situation by pulling your own gun in a store with other people around.

I think I would take advantage of the confusion and take a look at the magazines that I'm always too embarassed to look at...

Easy Rider, Gear, Metal... :D

(Sorry, S, couldn't resist!)
 
I think I would take Longshots approach ;)

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We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous
 
I guess it would matter where you were. If I was at the front of the store and this happened, I'd be pretty concerned for my life. If I were in the meat section at the back, I think I'd just wait it out back there, while keeping an eye on the back doors for additional assailants.
 
Take cover/conceilment.....analyze the situation at least twice. Too many things that could go wrong because you don't understand the situation.

Example, you don't know ALL the staff in that store. You hear shot, look and see person holding a firearm and tap him/her. Might have been an armed clerk pullin down on the bad guy. Or plain clothes LEO....or another custommer etc etc etc.

You might draw and get tapped by another person who thinks you are an additional goblin.

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Sam I am, grn egs n packin

Nikita Khrushchev predicted confidently in a speech in Bucharest, Rumania on June 19, 1962 that: " The United States will eventually fly the Communist Red Flag...the American people will hoist it themselves."
 
Well, this kicked up the dust, huh? Thanks for these replies ... and I'll tell you that almost all of them flitted through this old head - so many choices. Maybe that's it - when there are fewer choices - or no choice. Maybe that's the time; but then, time is in milli-seconds by then, no?

Bobbalouie: Maybe so, but there has been no clear cut accusal of this guy yet (but I haven't seen news today due to rabid honey-do pursuits). Are they looking for one or two now?
 
Take a FOF course and try it sometimes with Simunitions. It's loads of fun and sobering at the same time.

Nothing like being full of Internet Piss and Vinegar, Southern Honor, the Red, White and Blue in a fake store when a couple who has done Gunsite Team Tactics busts in the door and has the drop on you. Eek!

I've robbed the store also to get the other perspective.
 
A King Sooper's here was robbed in exactly this manner late last year. My best friend was there.

I asked him if he was carrying; he said no. I asked what he would have done had he been armed... he looked at me like I was on crack and said "Dude, f*** the store. They're insured, I'm not. What do you think would happen if I dropped the BG? I'd go to jail, he'd be a martyr. F*** that."
 
This same senario happened at the Albertsons across the street from where I live. So having thought it over I've come to the conclusion that:
A)I'm a coward
B) I am NOT getting into a gun fight in a crowded store to save Albertson's money.
C) I will draw and fire as soon as I beleave to the best of my abilities, and with the information avalable at the time, that a persons life (not just my own)is in immediate danger.
D) and until that time, I'll be the Sheep in the corner Pi$$ing himself.


Baaaaaaa.
 
Food Lion, eh? Just offer the BGs some "fresh" fish - they'll be on the ground within seconds. I know, bad, old joke...
 
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