Posted on 06/30/2007 3:34:20 AM PDT by goldstategop
The night started like many for John Lovell, a 71-year-old ex-Marine and helicopter pilot who served two presidents. Late dinner alone at a Plantation Subway shop -- veggie sub, soda, oatmeal cookie.
Wednesday night, though, Lovell's meal was interrupted by an armed robbery. Two gunmen stormed into the sandwich shop at about 11 p.m., robbed the cashier and tried to shove Lovell -- the lone customer -- into the bathroom. Two bullets later, one gunman was dead, another was wounded and Lovell was being hailed as a hero.
''There's no such thing as an ex-Marine, and he typifies this,'' said longtime friend Wesley White.
''What he did last night was unbelievable Samaritan spirit,'' said shop owner Khalid Malik.
Lovell already was a great customer at the Jacaranda Square Subway, Malik said: He comes by almost every night, slides into a back booth and orders the six-inch veggie sub, cookie and soft drink. But now, said Malik, ``I love him a lot more.''
No one could find Lovell on Thursday. But when he shows up again, Malik said, the hero will have free heroes at the shop for life.
The Subway video surveillance cameras, which the owner had installed only a week ago -- ''just to be on the safe side'' -- caught the whole drama.
The robbers got Lovell's money. But Lovell, who neighbors and friends say is in tiptop shape and looks years younger than he really is, pulled out his handgun and shot both in the head.
Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. Fredrick Gadson, 21, of Fort Lauderdale, was critically wounded.
The front window was blown out and cash strewn around the shop.
''There were fives and rolls of coins everywhere,'' said Detective Robert Rettig of the Plantation Police Department.
Rettig said Lovell, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, is not expected to be charged. ''He was in fear for his life,'' Rettig said.
Reporters and television crews clustered Thursday outside Lovell's two-story town house in Plantation, hoping for an interview. He didn't show.
CLEAN-LIVING
Friends said Lovell is amicable and soft-spoken, doesn't drink or smoke, and is a no-nonsense kind of guy.
''There's no BS with him,'' said White, of Yulee. 'You could compare him to Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry. But because of his lifestyle, he's like `Clean Harry.' ''
Neighbors and friends said he is unmarried, drives a Corvette and sometimes is away for long periods of time. A neighbor collected his mail Thursday.
At one point during his Marine career, the Kentucky native served as a pilot for presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. After retiring from the Corps, he became a pilot for Delta and Pan Am.
Bryan Sklar, who serves on the Townhouses at Jacaranda board with Lovell, said he is a straight-up guy.
''I've seen pictures of him with John F. Kennedy,'' Sklar said.
After the holdup Wednesday night, the suspects were transported to Broward General Medical Center, where Arrindell was later pronounced dead. Gadson, listed Thursday night in serious condition, faces armed robbery charges. And because someone was killed during the crime, he also will be charged with murder, authorities said.
BEST FRIENDS
The two young men were longtime best friends and roommates in North Lauderdale, Arrindell's grandfather, Meanwell Prince, said Thursday.
''My grandson was a good child,'' he said.
The last time he spoke to his grandson was shortly before the robbery. At 10:50 p.m. Prince called his grandson, who told him to leave the door unlocked because he would be home soon.
The next morning, Prince awoke to find police at his door.
Prince was shocked to learn what had happened.
''What could possess them to do this?'' Prince said.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
ping
Here is a better take on the story you posted a couple days ago.
Semper Fi
Well, I am going to quit making fun of vegetarians after this one.....good show by the Marine...
I don’t know, something doesn’t sound right about this story. I mean, the guy said his grandson was a “good child”. And with a name like Donicio, he sounds like a pretty nice kid.
Probable possessors
1) Satan
2)Thug Life Attitude
3) All of the above.
I missed the veggie part, more impressed by the ruthless way he dispatched the perps. Wish we all had the right to CCW
Its possible they were just collecting money for church, isn’t it?
/sarc
Shot them both in the head! Hows that for a Jared diet?
Great case for conceal carry. Which we don't have here in Wis. dangit! But we're trying.
The man is a hero in every way. Thank God for the Marines. Just wish more Americans like him were out there. Oohrah from one Marine to another. I have my permit to carry here in Pa but hope I never have to use it, but if I have I will......
Support our troops and the 2nd amendment...... God Bless
But Lovell, who neighbors and friends say is in tiptop shape and looks years younger than he really is
That’s an understatement. On the site below, they have a picture of the guy (in the video portion).
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbsubway0629nbjun29,0,1772093.story
Freedom isn't free. Heroes always pick up the tab. But not in this case.
i love a good heart warming story.
Too bad the ambulance could not of driven to the hospital any slower. Would of helped save the hospitals resources.
Depends on what state you live in...According to the government...
But as far as I can tell you have the right already...
What state do you live in BTW...
Yeah, and the other part about him being in fear for his life...
Marine...Fear...
They just don’t go together...Doesn’t compute...
IL, thanks to king Richard and his minions, impossible to get CCW.
But Gadson's grandmother, Rosa Jones, said: "He ain't no hero. He is a murderer and God will serve justice."
She and her husband, Ivory Jones, pastor of a Fort Lauderdale church, sat on their front porch in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday wondering how a man could shoot two people and not go to jail.
They said their grandson sometimes hung with the wrong crowd but never got into legal trouble. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, he has no arrest record. They said Gadson, who never finished high school, got tired of low-wage jobs and was pursuing his GED.
Yo Granny, how can two thugs go around robbing people?
They can until they meet up with an armed citizen. He put an end to his criminal career.
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