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.
LOL! Jared should have him in a commercial immediately. Subway, shoot fresh!
What is the sob story crap at the end of the article? Is this a new twist now that people no longer care about the poverty angle to diminish criminal acts? It’s like this final segment was part of a formula to introduce us all to the families, fun and future promise of young Mssr’s. Donicio and Fredrick.
Barf.
Yet another fine Marine one must stand at attention and smartly salute.
Castle Doctrine in most places applies to a place you control by ownership, rent, agreement, or employment. Stand Your Ground applies anywhere you go. It’s a minor distinction, but if you get mugged on a city street, Castle Doctrine doesn’t apply because you do not have control over the area. Stand Your Ground changed it so that a person can use deadly force for defense anywhere that they have a legal right to be. Like I said, it’s a minor distinction, but it’s still important because some RTC states also have duty to retreat laws still in place.
In some states, if a mugger pulls a knife, you have a legal duty to attempt to escape before you can use force. In Stand Your Ground states, you can use deadly force as soon as you believe that your are in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm.
It also makes a difference on private property. New Jersey has a fairly decent Castle Doctrine, but it only applies to, “lands controlled by you.” Suppose you’re friends with your neighbor, Farmer Joe. Farmer Joe gives you permission to walk your dog in his fields. While there, you see your other neighbor, Drunken Trailer - Trash (a hyphenated American) stealing the parts from Farmer Joe’s tractor. You confront him and he threatens you, raising his wrench above his head to make it clear that he will use it as a weapon.
In New Jersey, you are not protected by the Castle Doctrine. You do not control the land. Stand Your Ground protects you from prosecution because you have a legal right to be there, and therefore you can answer his threat with deadly force.
Not in Florida, brother. He is absolutely immune.
Absolutely immune is only true if the judge looks at the plaintiff's papers, says "NO!", shreds them and then has the bailiff give the plaintiff's lawyer a wedgie. Anything else means that the defendant will have to come up with cash and a lawyer to defend himself.
Well said, ma'am.
"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway." John Wayne
I'm a former Marine, and I can tell you without hesitation or equivocation that I do indeed feel fear.
Anyone who says they don't is either lying or insane. You don't want to work with that person in either case.
Stay safe.
L
Can the hospital lust leave the IV attached to Gadson? Hopefully the Florida's justice system will find a use for it soon.
Under the Florida Stand Your Ground law, the judge has no choice but to do that. It won’t get past the depositions, if it even gets that far. The judge could toss it when it is filed. The police and prosecutor have decided that the case was self defense. Any lawyer that tries to bring such a case here will be laughed out of court.
Thanks, and can’t help but notice you saved yourself the trouble of going to spellchecker.com. Ciao.
Anyone who says they don't is either lying or insane. You don't want to work with that person in either case.
I've been genuinely, heart-in-the-throat frightened three times since I've been here and was never ashamed to admit it. A former SF guy told me one evening after our camp had been shelled pretty good, "Anyone who says they weren't scared today is either lying or needs to be on the next plane out of here."
I wholeheartedly thank you for your service to our nation.
Semper Fi
Your grandson is was thief and a scumbag. The world is a better place with out him.
I’ve asked this question before and have been chastised for it. What if, instead of saying “I was afraid for my life” he said “I honestly and sincerely believed my life was in danger”? It removes the “fear” part but (I think) still leaves in the necessary elements for self-defense (?)
I would not knowing screw with a retired Marine under any circumstances.
As I do you.
On rereading this story I didn't realize that this hero got off two rounds against armed assailants and hit them both in the head. That's simply amazing.
Now I shoot pretty often. At least once and sometimes twice a month. I do IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Assoc) and Three Gun shoots. That's rifle, pistol, and shotgun. So I'm a pretty fair shot with a handgun. I'm wicked with a rifle, but just pretty good with a handgun.
To hit both these perps in the head is simply amazing. One head shot could be chalked up to luck, or fate, or whatever. But two, that's some shooting.
Incredible. Simply incredible.
You watch your a** over there young lady.
L
These “nice boys” got exactly what they deserved. There’s no doubt what they were hauling him into the bathroom for. It does not mention the subway employee. I assume he was being hauled into the bathroom also.
However, I only needed to read the results of the story to know that the man was a former Marine. Why? Because the results were two shots fired and two head shots. The Marine Corps preaches fire discipline. One shot, one kill.
This is another reason why I conceal carry a snub nosed revolver most of the time. I don’t ever anticipate having to confront more than five armed perps at any one time. In the winter time I conceal carry a 1911 A1 so I can confront up to 8 perps. Like I said, one shot, one kill.... : )
Incidentally, I was taught to shoot center mass. Apparently in the old corps they must have been better shots and taught to shoot for the head.... : )
Semper Fi
Here's hoping the retired Marine can return to the peaceful life he prefers,without penalty.
So kudos to the sandwich store owner as well.
Lothrop.
The other rendition of this story (see link in comments section) says 7 shots were fired at the first perp and that the second perp was hit in the chest and fled to the bushes.
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