Bartholomew Roberts
Moderator
Source: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/feb/08/sandy-thalheimer-jeweler-armed-robbery-shot-back/
Apparently, the owner of a defensive shooting school and a Grandmaster IPSC shooter, Sandy Thalheimer, happened upon a robbery outside his jewelry store. 4 robbers had just robbed the man delivering jewelry to his jewelry store and were escaping in a black Ford Taurus.
Thalheimer was already in his truck, heading out to 7-11, and saw them speeding off in the Taurus. He rammed the Taurus with his truck, causing the airbags to deploy and disabling their vehicle. He then exited his vehicle and proceed to get in a gunfight with a 5-shot pocket pistol.
As it turned out, there were more than 4 robbers. Apparently there were some additional lookouts with vehicles who also opened fire on Thalheimer and collected the bad guys. Bad guys escaped with no reports of injuries on either side.
I thought this would be an interesting discussion for Tactics because several of the decisions Mr. Thalheimer made, while undoubtedly brave, are controversial:
1. Engage in pursuit after the robbery had happened to retrieve property?
2. Start a gunfight at car-length distances with a pokcet-pistol that holds 5 shots when the other car had four men in it?
I think it also highlights the importance of not getting tunnel vision as well. I don't think it would have occured to me, had I been in a gunfight with FOUR men, that there might actually be even more bad guys nearby.
Glad to read that Mr. Thalheimer survived the incident without injury and hopefully will be able to incorporate some of this experience into his future training.
Apparently, the owner of a defensive shooting school and a Grandmaster IPSC shooter, Sandy Thalheimer, happened upon a robbery outside his jewelry store. 4 robbers had just robbed the man delivering jewelry to his jewelry store and were escaping in a black Ford Taurus.
Thalheimer was already in his truck, heading out to 7-11, and saw them speeding off in the Taurus. He rammed the Taurus with his truck, causing the airbags to deploy and disabling their vehicle. He then exited his vehicle and proceed to get in a gunfight with a 5-shot pocket pistol.
As it turned out, there were more than 4 robbers. Apparently there were some additional lookouts with vehicles who also opened fire on Thalheimer and collected the bad guys. Bad guys escaped with no reports of injuries on either side.
I thought this would be an interesting discussion for Tactics because several of the decisions Mr. Thalheimer made, while undoubtedly brave, are controversial:
1. Engage in pursuit after the robbery had happened to retrieve property?
2. Start a gunfight at car-length distances with a pokcet-pistol that holds 5 shots when the other car had four men in it?
I think it also highlights the importance of not getting tunnel vision as well. I don't think it would have occured to me, had I been in a gunfight with FOUR men, that there might actually be even more bad guys nearby.
Glad to read that Mr. Thalheimer survived the incident without injury and hopefully will be able to incorporate some of this experience into his future training.