Dinner took an unexpected turn for an off-duty security guard who shot and killed one of two armed thugs who tried to rob him. The guard, who was on a late dinner break but was armed, was eating in the parking lot of a 24-hour Whataburger restaurant. The two criminals approached the diner. When the guard saw that at least one of the two miscreants had a gun, he pulled his own firearm and killed the armed robber. That man’s cohort fled, but was later detained. (San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio, TX, 3/18/16)
The Armed Citizen® Extra
A Springfield, Mo., family was filling up their tank at a local gas station when they were accosted by a 42-year-old man brandishing a large knife. The husband was pumping the gas while his wife and three kids (all younger than 8) were inside the vehicle. Springfield police said the suspect approached the vehicle, opened the door and threatened the mother, causing her to scream to her husband for help. Armed with a Beretta handgun, the husband intervened, prompting the assailant to say “You’re lucky he has a gun,” before slowing backing away from the vehicle. The victims called 911 and then followed the creep as he then proceeded to attempt to break into several vehicles at a nearby intersection. Police then arrived and took the man into custody. (Springfield News-Leader, Springfield, MO, 1/5/16)
From the Armed Citizen® Archives
September 1979
Ronald Bartnik had just closed his Buffalo, N.Y., tavern and was walking to his car when a young man approached him, brandished a knife and threatened to kill him. Bartnik did not flinch; he drew his licensed .38 Spl.-chambered revolver and shot his attacker dead. Police, who recovered a knife at the scene, said that the shooting appeared to be justifiable, and they turned the case over to the district attorney for routine presentation to the grand jury. (The Courier-Express, Buffalo, NY)