Retired DPS trooper fatally shoots drugstore robber

chron.com ^ | 16 April 2012 | Mike Glenn and Erin Mulvaney

[freeangel]

“The masked robber jumped the unarmed security guard about 2:15 p.m.”

Geez, isn’t wearing a mask like wearing a hoodie? Are we sure the poor “victim” wasn’t profiled? /s

[A. Patriot]

Could “skittles” be a street name for drugs?

---

Could be since the police didn’t find any at the scene. It was the family lawyer who brought that up.

[GOPJ]

I’ll bet his mother doesn’t even mourn the ‘loss’...

[Larry Lucido]

One robbery, one Ranger.

[humblegunner]

Economical.
No incarceration costs, no legal costs, minimal investigation.

I like it fine.

Somebody buy that DPS guy a beer.

[T-Bird45]

Unarmed security is about as useful as tits on a boar.

An excellent simile. I wonder if the retired trooper will now re-evaluate the usefulness of unarmed security at his employer's drug stores.

[T-Bird45]

Unarmed security is about as useful as tits on a boar.

I also like to go for the twofer and use alliteration along with the simile: "as worthless as tits on a tomcat".

[lormand]

I never accept the story line. What really happened is probably not what the reporter wrote. Most likely, the retired police officer fired at a time that was safer for him, such as when the robber turned or shifted his eyes somewhere else.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I wonder if the retired DPS officer had been a Texas Ranger?

Be that as it may, it sounds like this robber was a bit more orderly than most that pull drugstore heists.

[Squantos]

If we had a nickle ....

[TexanByBirth]

Attempting to pull a gun on somebody holding a gun on you is usually suicidal.

I don't know how proficient State Troopers are in Washington state, but here in Texas you do not jack with Department of Public Safety troopers. DPS officers are the best of the best. I have no doubt even a retired trooper could react faster than some stupid criminal. Where do you think Texas Rangers come from?

As was stated in this thread: One robbery, One Ranger, Adios One dead criminal!

[MHGinTN]

AND if you were carrying and saw a robbery in progress, you would be inclined to retrive your weapon and wait for the right opportunity, which killing the perp without anyone else being harmed proves was the ‘right moment’ to shoot. I practice tat a lot and I find it comforting to know that the reaction time of someone holding a weapon in the open but not in the act of shooting is longer than someone intent to shoot and shoot decisively.

[smokingfrog]

Hatcher drew his weapon and made himself known. Detectives say the robber pointed his gun at him so he fired three rounds. One went through the front window.

[oneolcop]

That’s a more likely version.