Elderly Florida man who shot cafe robbers ulikely to face charges: prosecutors

nydailynews.com ^ | 17 July, 2012 | Victoria Cavaliere

[marktwain]

A Florida man who shot and wounded two people as they tried to rob an Internet café was not likely to face criminal charges because his actions appear to fall within the state's "Stand Your Ground” law, according to prosecutors.

Under the law, a person who fears imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or others can use deadly force without first attempting to retreat.

Prosecutors said they had reviewed surveillance video from the Palms Internet Café in Ocala, Fla. and believe patron Samuel Williams, 71, was acting lawfully when he shot two men during an attempted robbery July 13. The video shows two masked men, one of them armed with a gun, storming the café. Less than a minute later they were chased from the establishment by an older man firing a handgun. The robbery suspects appear to have escaped on foot.

"Based on what I have seen and what I know at this time, I don't anticipate filing any charges (against Williams)," Assistant State Attorney Bill Gladson told The Gainesville Sun. Gladson said the Marion County Sheriff's Office will issue a final report after reviewing the surveillance video, but he indicated the shooting appears justified.

Williams had a concealed weapons permit, the sheriff's office said.

Williams was unavailable for comment, but The Sun said one of his fellow patron's at the Internet café was grateful for his quick actions.

[marktwain]

This news will help put a damper on armed robberies.

[Salgak]

Sorry, but Williams screwed up. He failed to double-tap either perp, center body-mass, and he used an insufficient caliber round.

After all, both perps lived AND left under their own power. . .

(evil grin)

[lightman]

Still, don’t you just love Community Policing!

[doc1019]

Only in states were the second amendment is still accepted as part of our constitution.

[doc1019]

Old man with gun humiliates young punks. LOVE IT! Great story that will be circulated in the cell block these idiots will occupy.

[mort56]

I believe Mr. Williams could use more range time. Other than that...good job, sir.

[RetiredTexasVet]

Just think of the hesitation that would be caused to robbers if they weren’t quite sure their victims weren’t armed.

[TheDon]

No charges....really?

[cableguymn]

Don’t worry George.. You where released at first too.

[isthisnickcool]

I believe Mr. Williams could use more range time. Other than that...good job, sir.

He did a good job. Note that he fired only when the punk had brought his weapon around and pointed at Williams. Pretty hard core if you ask me and he moved at them in step to keep them in close range while he fired.

[dragnet2]

"Based on what I have seen I don't anticipate filing any charges (against Williams)," Assistant State Attorney Bill Gladson

Charges?

I guess everyone in Florida should thank Mr. Gladson...Gak.

How about giving the old guy a freaking key to the city, an award for bravery, citizen of the year certificate and $5,000 cash?

[dragnet2]

I understand the government down in Florida already released one of the violent armed robbers.

[dragnet2]

Dawkins was released Sunday after posting an $11,000 bond.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120716/ARTICLES/120719707/1109/sports?p=2&tc=pg

[doc1019]

I guess the shooter should spend a little more time on the shooting range. Then again, at 70 years of age ... he did good.

[centermass_socrates]

Sadly, here in Oklahoma City we just had a similar situation involving an older gentleman in his pharmacy. He foiled the plans of two armed scumbags when he returned fire from both robbers. He was able to kill one of them inside his drugstore. The other, he chased outside and down the street. He wasn't able to catch robber number 2. He ran back to his business, where robber number 1 was still laying inside. The Korean war vet retrieved another handgun from behind the counter and shot robber number 2 another 4 or 5 times. When he did this, he was partially out of camera view. He was charged and convicted of murder, even though has was still fearing for his life because he didn't know whether robber number 1 was playing possum or actually dead on the floor. His business had been robbed several times within the period of a year. The D.A. said it was overkill because robber number 1 could not have protected himself from the pharmacist's last few rounds. It was shown by autopsy that the first round that robber number one was hit with was the fatal wound. He was already dead when the pharmacist shot into him with the last few rounds. I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that you cant kill a body once its already dead. desecration of a corpse would have been a more appropriate charge, not murder.

[ConservativeMan55]

Yep!!! I thought that was terrible he was blamed for that..

[dragnet2]

More range time?

Relaxing and shooting at targets at a range and being very suddenly involved in a real life and death shootout, with armed people, are two very different things.

You bet, the old guy did good, and is a real gutsy hero in my book.

[dragnet2]

I understand the government down in Florida already released one of the violent armed robbers.

Dawkins was released Sunday after posting an $11,000 bond.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120716/ARTICLES/120719707/1109/sports?p=2&tc=pg

[centermass_socrates]

Auuugh “and shot robber number 2 another 4 or 5 times” should’ve read “and shot robber number 1 another 4 0r 5 times”
Sorry

[anglian]

I don’t see any reason for some posters to compare or think the outcome would have been the same given Captain Wannabee Zimmerman’s daily dosage. Zithromax 250 mg (am)
Tylenol 1000 mg (twice a day)
Celexa 20 mg (am)
Bentyl 10 mg (once a day)
Remeron 30 mg (pm)
Adderyl 20 mg (8 am, 2 pm)