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Hero!
By Greg L | 23 May 2008 | Crime, Prince William County | 24 Comments
With more citizens like this, the crime rate in the area would plummet to the point of being negligible. I’m so impressed that there are other citizens out there who simply won’t tolerate this kind of behavior in their presence and will take immediate action to put a quick end to a crime in the county. Nothing scares criminals as much as citizens that will not act like sheep, but defend themselves and their community.
The gunman pointed the pistol at the customer when he walked in to the store, then grabbed him and tried to force him behind the counter, Neumann said.
But the customer punched his assailant in the face, knocked him to the ground and wrestled the gun away, Neumann said.
Bereft of his weapon, the gun man ran away toward Rolling Road, Neumann said.
Looks like we got a live one here:
Police charged Aguilar with robbery, abduction, wearing mask in a public place, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and brandishing, Neumann said.
Further investigation led police to believe that Aguilar was also responsible for armed robberies at the CITCO gas station at 8536 Sudley Road on May 7 and on Saturday.
Now don’t take this to mean that everyone should just rush in and put a stop to a crime they observe. Some citizens are, by training, experience or simple physical ability able to do this. Many are not, and should shy away from this kind of response. But to see someone take personal responsibility for their community, as I’ve done a few times in the past, is enormously heartening. With a few more potential heroes like this, criminals might think twice (or more) about preying on our residents and businesses, and figure out something more productive to do with their lives.
The undisclosed hero in this case might think of getting himself a concealed carry permit however, in case something like this ever crops up again. He’d be a lot safer simply holding this “suspect” at gunpoint until police arrive, rather that try to bring fists to a gunfight and try to subdue an armed criminal. That’s a pretty risky decision, and having something as an equalizer here would have dramatically improved the safety factor.
For the rest of you, if you don’t have a concealed carry permit or regularly avail yourself of your rights to openly carry in Virginia, just think of how vulnerable you would have felt if confronted with this situation. Would you have been relegated to “pretty please, take my money but don’t shoot me”, or would you have had the option to choose a different strategy to ensure your survival in this type of encounter? Being “pro-choice” here, having the option to defend your life if necessary, might make a huge difference.
UPDATE: The Washington Post has more on this story.
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24 Comments
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The customer took a hell of a risk, but in this day and time it seems that a hell of a risk brings better odds of survival than doing nothing. I guess there’s a lawn service company looking for a replacement worker today……….. at the same 7-11.
I’m not a big gun fan, or any weapon fan really, when I think about how you could be the one having it wrestled away.
I should think, though, some kind of self-defense training could benefit all of us.
“I should think, though, some kind of self-defense training could benefit all of us.”
And isn’t that really a shame.
I feel as though this hero got lucky. I think about these kinds of scenarios quite a bit these days as I await the arrival of my CHL. Best I can tell, our laws in VA are way too slanted toward the criminal in a gun-related situation. I see the Castle Doctrine got killed again this legislative session. This is always a tough call. Drawing your gun might cause a shooting that might otherwise not have happened, and you risk complete legal ruin ANY time you defend yourself with lethal force. I know, move to Florida, right?
Awesome Job dude!!
Whoever you are.
I think I know who the hero was: THE LONE RANGER!
Very nice job by the customer, I applaud. Very nice beat-down
We need more citizens like this.
It’s never too late to learn self-defense. I’m 39 and have been taking taekwondo for two years now; I absolutely love it. We have a grandmother taking classes with her grandkids. Many families are taking it as a group. And there are many kids & adults of all ages and sizes.
The school not only teaches the physical portion of the Martial Arts, but cover lifeskills and teaches values such as Courtesy, Loyalty, Self-Control, Perseverance, Honor, and Integrity. A lot more people would do well to learn these values.
I have concealed carry permits in Virginia and in Utah which gives me carry rights in I think 32 states. I carry a lot!
The thing I thought of when I read the post about acquiring a ccw permit is that even if I were presented with the situation described, the best defense still may very well have been a hands on approach. If I took time to draw my weapon I may have very well been shot dead while doing so.
Anyone who considers getting a ccw permit, please take time to get some reasonable level of training beyond what is required by law.
Just because you have a pistol on you does not mean you should go for it immediately (or at all) when you see something going down.
With your size, Greg, I’m not surprised that you’ve succeeded in doing so.
The customer made good decisions. Why would the robber point the gun at the customer? He was going to rob/kill him. At that point, the customer was fighting for his life. The customer responded appropriately and fought with everything he had. The robber fled, because without his gun, he was only a cowardly bully. When violence is offered, it must be answered with violence, TENFOLD. Dan Cooper is absolutely right. Sometimes you have to respond so quickly that drawing your own weapon is not a viable option. The Secret Service recognizes this. There are several simple weapon takeaway techniques that require very little strength and are very effective. Overall, mindset is the key. Refuse to be a victim.
Man, I woudda swung my frying pan at the crumb in a second!
You go, Krutis!
G Man said on 23 May 2008 at 9:24 am:
I think I know who the hero was: THE LONE RANGER!
No, the criminal had on the mask!
Sometimes you just get p.o.ed and you don’t give a hoot. As I teach in my handgun classes, surprise is one of the best weapons you have very closely followed by and in conjunction with a crisp attitude of “not today (butt)hole!”. Most crooks are used to control. TruTV shows alot of crooks running for their lives when faced with a person who just doesn’t like to run anymore.
Right decision? Who am I to say but standing up for yourself may mean no trip to the back room and a bullet in the head. Fighting crime means just saying “NO!”
Now where are those flag burners. Hmmm.
Did you see the picture of the criminal on the channel 4 website, he’s got a nice welt on the right side right above his eye, unless that was already there from an earlier “accident”.
James,
How do you know about Gregs size?
Johnson said on 23 May 2008 at 10:30 am:
Why would the robber point the gun at the customer? He was going to rob/kill him. At that point, the customer was fighting for his life. The customer responded appropriately and fought with everything he had.
As they say in poker, the customer was “all in”. An understatement, but I don’t think the customer was thinking of his response. The primordial urge to live kicked in at that point.
Kudos to the customer. He’s got some brass clackers.
I hope he shows up at the perp’s trial and stares him down .
Peter G. said on 23 May 2008 at 9:13 pm:
James, How do you know about Gregs size?
You didn’t catch Greg’s centerfold in Hog Hunter magazine?
My son took taekwondo for many years, and one lesson he learned was to how to extricate himself from certain situations. Self defense was a part of his class, and I learned along with him. He learned what to do if he was grabbed from behind, how to confront a hand over his mouth, what points to hit, and how to hit hard and then run. If you are a minor and can’t carry a gun these lessons may end up helping you.
From the article: “Police charged Aguilar with robbery, abduction, wearing mask in a public place, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and brandishing, Neumann said.”
So on e CAN be charged for wearing a mask. Interesting.
es_la_ley said on 25 May 2008 at 2:07 pm:
“on e” = one
Well, it’s just an estimate, “Peter G.,” but Greg goes about 6′4″. In any case, he towers over me.
About anything else, you’ll just have to let us know.