Posted on 04/17/2012 5:54:34 AM PDT by smokingfrog
An armed robber who took a drugstore guard hostage Monday was shot and killed when he confronted a retired Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, now a security official for the north Harris County business, authorities said.
The masked robber jumped the unarmed security guard about 2:15 p.m. inside the QVL Pharmacy at 850 FM 1960 near the North Freeway.
"At gunpoint, he forced (the guard) to open the security door going to the back of the pharmacy," said Sgt. Ben Beall with the Harris County Sheriff's Department's homicide squad.
The robber passed several customers in the front of the store. He also pointed his pistol at the pharmacist and told him to open the safe where the drugs were being stored, authorities said.
"He ordered them to load the narcotics into his backpack," Beall said.
The robber demanded hydrocodone and other pain medication, detectives said.
"It looked like he was prepared to take a pretty good haul out of the business," Beall said.
Also inside the store, however, was a plainclothes retired DPS trooper, now working for the Dallas-based company's corporate security department. He was making a check at the store when the robbery happened.
"He wasn't even aware that there was a robbery going on until they were already in the back," Beall said.
The robber pointed his gun at the retired trooper, who pulled out his own weapon and began shooting.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Body armor might have been a better choice.
Whoa. It can take one to three seconds to draw and fire your weapon. And to do that when your opponent already has their weapon pointed at you is either suicidal or really gutsy.
With the record numbers of gun sales and CCW permit applications, being a criminal is likely to become an increasingly hazardous activity.
Maybe the bad guy, a drug addict possibly, thought that he had all the power in the situation. I’m guessing he was too messed up to think clearly or react to things well enough to survive. Obviously the retired cop made that guess too and acted on it.
I would not advise playing cards with this guy for money.
Depends on how far away the bad guy is.
Keep in mind that most bad guys don't spend much time at the range. If the bad guy is more than 10 feet away, it's unlikely he'll actually be able to hit his target, while somebody who practices can hit HIM from across the store.
Also keep in mind the element of surprise. The bad guy was probably frozen in shock that somebody drew on him.
Actually there are plenty of people who can draw and fire under a second. It was proved by demonstration back in the 1960s that some people could draw and fire, while facing an armed perp with hammer cocked and gun pointed, before the perp could fire his/her weapon. Saw it done more than once back in the day.
Good job, troop.
Notice in the story that “the robber” is not identified in any way. No name, age, race, etc. I wonder why? Was “the robber” really just trying to obtain some Skittles?
You are correct. Attempting to pull a gun on somebody holding a gun on you is usually suicidal.
The masked robber jumped the unarmed security guard about 2:15 p.m. inside the QVL Pharmacy at 850 FM 1960 near the North Freeway
Unarmed security is about as useful as tits on a boar.
Watch their eyes, they’ll tell you what they’ll do next.
Watch their eyes, they’ll tell you what they’ll do next.
Perhaps it's no longer necessary just like they discontinued reporting that a victim was dead upon his death. I mean, some things are a given ;-)
Good shooting, Citizen. Civilization thanks you.
Worlds Fastest Shooter — 8 rounds in 1 second
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DpCellB_UQ
if it takes someone three seconds to draw and get off a round a little range time would be recommended
Don't believe everything you read.
Could “skittles” be a street name for drugs?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.