Trouble can come quickly.

Given the video, I think most legally armed citizens would have gotten a pass on being charged with a crime. Of course, in Chicago, there's basically no such thing as legally armed, so the victim would at best be minus his stuff and at worst dead.

The officer obviously was prepared, but he was lucky too. What might have happened if the other two thugs had been armed -- or if the armed thug had just decided to shoot him and rob his body? I don't agree with the negatives on reaching into his pocket; misdirection is a great way to prevail. As several have said, action is always faster than reaction; if you can, get in the first shot and make it count.
 
Reporting the shooting

In response to posts 5 & 6, this will be statistically reported as another death by handgun in Chicago.
 
I noticed that too. Kraigwy has posted something similar where a person can act faster than a person can react.
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The person acting has the initiative, they have already thought out their next steps and mentally prepared for the next series events, wheras the reacting person has to perform an OODA loop in fractions of a second. In short, the person with the initiative already has the Observing, Orienting, and Deciding parts of the process out of the way wheras the reacting person must perform all four while their opponent is only doing the Act part.

In this case the thugs were initially inside the officer's OODA loop, but when he appeared the comply they gave up the initiative and allowed him to come up with a plan and gain the initiative.
 
It appears having his passenger door open kept one of the perps occupied and away from him long enough for him to react to the other Two. A blessing in disguise! Glad he is OK.
 
I find it hard to believe that the Chicago Tribune resisted titling the article "Police shoot child during fundraising effort" or somesuch.

Glad the officer is ok, and very sorry that he was forced to have to take that action. That's not something I'd wish on anyone.
 
I have watched this video several times, amazed.

I think the cop showed incredible expertise and coolness under pressure, not to mention cojones. We see fancy gunfights in movies, and I think we lose track of how difficult it is in the real world.

The cop chose his moment to act perfectly, and acted with lighting speed. He then covered the area, assessed that the threat was neutralized, removed the weapon from the crook's reach, and continued to stay alert. It looked more like a training video.

I have owned guns for many years, am a very good pistol shot, am big and strong, tend to be aware of my surroundings, and have a somewhat aggressive nature. But there is no way I could have come close to performing anywhere near as well as he did. (This may be motivation to get some intensive training.)

I was cheering the cop on. When he shot the guy, I was saying, "Yeah!" But when I saw the perp crawling on the ground, struggling for his last breaths, it got real serious, and a bit awful. Even when it's someone who deserves it, watching someone die is shocking, and harsh. I hear new or wanna-be gun owners talk about shooting a bad guy like it's an opportunity they are craving. I don't think they realize what a grave and terrible thing it is.

FWIW

David
 
Does chicago have lockable pumps? I know I have been to some stations that do not. I usually stuff my gas cap into them someway. I also lock the pump on and am constantly looking around.

The cop turned into the person with the plan after pulling his gun. All 3 BG were then in that OODA loop coming up with a new plan. Even if they were armed, were not making an aimed shot on the officer. They are likely cowards (why they were not holding the gun) and would have done the same thing even with a gun in hand. If they had him in aim while he pulled his gun and shot #1, they still would have had a very small chance of hitting him once he started moving even at that distance.

If that was his service weapon I would assume its a .40. He must have had a glancing blow because that BG was alive for quite a while after point blank shot to the head. Too bad the video is mostly blurred in the above view for the whole confrontation and is edited from the building view.

I do not want to shoot anyone dead, and having a wounded BG die slowly would be worse, but I definitely want the near future of my life to be able to reflect on what happened, not only my family reflecting.
 
I think it highlights the big difference in distances when using LEO vs. CCW shooting stats.

I may be wrong about this, but if I was a BG, I want to get as close to you as quick as possible. I'm less likely to play wild west, gun you down from the magical "7 yards" and then walk over and rifle through your pockets.

As a BG, my OTJ training teaches me to exploit what appears to be an opportunity and getting within bad breath distances helps me get the "tactical" advantage...especially if my target is unaware or pre-occupied with another task (pumping gas, texting, talking, etc.)
 
I admire his mindset. He was facing a drawn pistol. He chose to fight & took the shot that gave him the best chance of no return fire. Making decisions that fast in that bad of a situation is tough. He did well.
 
The only chance one of us would have in that gas station (Illinois) hand over cash with left hand, power gasoline in his face with the right!

I lock Jeep as I exit, in Florida I would have been armed, I always am!

"I only got $20.00 in my wallet" reaching for it. BANG!

The reason he started to get up, and moved around? Not a shot that took out the brain stem, or the spine. But that would have been a .40 caliber!
Could have hit all kinds of good stuff, he was dead at the scene.

The dump the gas pump was the natural reaction to go hands free.
 
This occurred around 10 pm last night. He has the pump nozzle in his hand and he is approached by thug #....
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I don't know if this was already mentioned, but anytime I'm pumping gas and its dark out, I have my 9mm in my pocket and my hand on the grip. I've been approached several times while pumping gas - so far, only by bums begging for money. Still, gas stations and ATM's after dark are target rich environments for criminals. I guess what I'm saying is that he could have anticipated this a bit better.

Another tactic I use when I'm at a gas station is to wash my windows - this lets me look around quite a bit and keeps me moving - not just wedged between my car, a gas hose and the gas pump. When I see a bum approach, I keep moving. They typically want you to stop in your tracks and pay attention to them - that's the last thing I do.
 
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I've noticed that a lot of new automobiles are programmed to unlock both front doors or all doors automatically when the shifter is put into park. My truck, a 2013 Toyota Tundra, does it. I've trained myself to instantly re-lock the doors until I can get a competent dealer to reprogram it differently. It really isn't necessary for it to be programmed this way since when the truck is in park or turned off a simple pull of the handle will open the door from the inside whether locked or not.

Anyway I remember mentioning this to persons, mostly females. in the dealers that I've taken it to for routine service. Most of them don't see a problem with it and prefer that the doors unlock automatically. Some begin to think otherwise when I point out to them the danger of criminals opening the door to access their vehicle when stopped. Other dummies simply respond with the typical "I don't live in or frequent bad neighborhoods so I'm not worried".

It's frustrating how many people have their heads up their butts when it comes to basic personal security. :confused:
 
I've noticed that a lot of new automobiles are programmed to unlock both front doors or all doors automatically when the shifter is put into park.
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Wow - My Mercury ( 2010 ) does the opposite. It locks the doors 30 seconds after the car is put in gear. It does not unlock when put in park.
Surprising Toyota would do that.
 
My 2008, Jeep, at 15 MPH, all lock, can not find my Jeep, press lock, BEEP! so I can find it, unlock! Does not beep.

I have to press unlock, so they can get out! No it is not a Police Car!

To open rear doors from the inside, I press unlock, then they can unlock their door, to exit.
 
I find it somewhat ironic that the LEO's motor was running while he was refueling. Don't know about Illinois, but I know that's illegal (and highly dangerous) in some, if not many places.
 
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I've noticed that a lot of new automobiles are programmed to unlock both front doors or all doors automatically when the shifter is put into park.
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In virtually all these vehicles, these functions are programmable. Learn how to program yours; it could save you a lot of hassle, if not your life.

I have programmed mine to lock the doors when the ignition key is turned on and to unlock only the driver's side door when the ignition key is removed.

Best,

W.
 
I know this is quite the old thread, but, I was thinking about it when I filled up yesterday.

How I filled up, first, never wait till I NEED! gas, yesterday, fraction under half full, look at mileage (needed for gas card) open door, lock it, close it behind me, key fob on D ring.

Unlock Gas cap (stops drama when parked on plazas) place on roof, start the auto run gas pump, clean bugs off glass. Full, gas cap locked on, beep, step in, door close, lock, start and go.

Same little routine always. Seems like Visitors to Crime Town (Chicago) can now carry on their home State Permit.
 
Kind of strange but I was reading this thread a couple days ago, and the idea of trouble sneaking up on you stuck with me more than dissecting the gas station incident. I normally leave my 'big' pistol at home unless I'm on the road for an extended period. I usually just keep a NAA mini revolver in my pocket. Long story short, my wife and I were headed home yesterday from a family event with our 4 month old and we pulled in to the far end of a large shopping center parking lot to feed and change the baby. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary except it was a beautiful chilly day and there was a small carnival going on a few blocks over. My wife got out of the truck and just as she opened the back door to take care baby 2 cars suddenly pulled up right behind us, passenger side. Again this was in the far end of an otherwise empty shopping center lot. What quickly added up in my mind was 'Oh ___, were about to be robbed or worse!' and all I remember is the look on my wife's face, my one hand grabbing my locked & loaded HK USP 45, and my other hand on the door handle. My eyes never left those two cars. I got about half way out the door before I realized they were just kids meeting up, probably to go to the carnival. Years ago I probably wouldn't have reacted as such but today people are becoming victims of violence for no apparent reason and us being off in an empty corner of the lot probably made a seemingly easy target.
Anyway, I'm glad nothing happened but it was a wake up at how fast the situation changed from routine to possibly serious in about .5 seconds. Maybe this thread was on my mind, and maybe it's because I'm a new dad. Either way, I definitely appreciate the 'nudge' to take my pistol with me (I have a CCW btw) that I got from reading this post!
 
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