InDaShop
Dont Tread On Me
"We must never allow the theoretical, sanitized world of our imagination to replace the dangerous and complex world that policeman face everyday. What constitutes "reasonable" action may seem quite different to someone facing a possible assailant then to someone analyzing the question at leisure." (5th Circuit Court of Appeals)
Keep that in mind as you read below.
I initially hesitated to post this on a public forum. But I think the lessons learned here have a magnitude that should affect all-CHL's.
Yesterday (Oct 23rd)
My family and I, were at my wife brothers house (BIL) (Houston, Tx) for the afternoon to carve and paint pumpkins, and have a late lunch.
It got to be 3pm and we had to be somewhere by 3:45 to meet some friends.
As we left, I was driving my wifes Tahoe, we got a few blocks away sitting southbound at a stoplight. As I rolled up, I was one car back in the middle lane (left was a turn lane, center and right were straight lanes). As I rolled to a stop I noticed a Hispanic man on the curb of the Turn lane waiting on traffic so he could cross. Also noticed a group of black males further to my left across the median & northbound lanes. We were talking, and I was watching the lights. Then all of a sudden I saw something fly behind the Tahoe via my driverside rearview mirror, but it doesnt come out the passenger mirror and I dont see it in my center rearview. I'm like "What was that???" Then I see a foot on the ground in the drivers mirror, just past my back tire. When two of the black males run and dive down behind my vehicle.
In a split second, I wasnt sure if the Hispanic had tripped and fallen, and the black guys where there to help, or one had tackled the Hispanic. I actually exited the vehicle, with my hand on my firearm, and recognized it was the latter. I went to draw my firearm, but instead dove back in the Tahoe vs. shooting. My family was in the Tahoe, and I had and recall clear conscience decision to not shoot
They beat the man and robbed him of everything in his pockets, and his shoes.
They then ran back across the street, then south across the intersection, I'm yelling for my kids to get down in the car, and my wife was already dialing 911. The lights change, and I basically end up in pursuit of these guys down the street. Trying to take pics with one hand, firearm in the other, and steering with my knee.
We stopped following once they ran into an apt complex, one block south of the incident. Completed the 911 call, then I circled back to render aid, and people were helping the guy. The pool of blood in the street was very large. They smashed this dudes face & skull in.
The cops were there pretty quick. No they did not catch anyone.
So here is my internal struggle since the incident:
As I stepped from the drivers door, they were all on top of this guy on the ground directly off my back bumper. Clean as day shots at all three. One was ripping his shoes off, the other on his pockets and the 3rd pummeling the guys head into the asphalt.
I had perfect flank shot on all 3, but crazy, I remember what my head did and I grabbed my firearm, but spun and jumped back in because of wife and kids. Now I have that burned in my head, but had to ask my wife did I really get out, immediately after it happened.
But no kidding I had doubts that happened, it was so quick, insane, not real, surreal...
Had I been solo, and not had thoughts of my wife and kids in the car, would I have intervened? I think so, but now I dont know. I would have gunned them down, and thats so scary.
It wasnt until waiting for the police, I thought about, that I only have 6 rounds, and there were 3 of them. And I didnt know if they were armed or not.
Im glad I didnt shoot them, but Im destroyed on how I could have stopped them nearly killing this guy.
Now for the "WHAT-IF":
They coulda easily smashed a window and robbed someone sitting at the light. I was alert, actually identified them on the curb across the street, but I looked away for mere seconds and they easily crossed 2 lanes of street, and a fairly large median, and I didnt see any of that. What if that'd been my wife, or son, or friend...
Keep that in mind as you read below.
I initially hesitated to post this on a public forum. But I think the lessons learned here have a magnitude that should affect all-CHL's.
Yesterday (Oct 23rd)
My family and I, were at my wife brothers house (BIL) (Houston, Tx) for the afternoon to carve and paint pumpkins, and have a late lunch.
It got to be 3pm and we had to be somewhere by 3:45 to meet some friends.
As we left, I was driving my wifes Tahoe, we got a few blocks away sitting southbound at a stoplight. As I rolled up, I was one car back in the middle lane (left was a turn lane, center and right were straight lanes). As I rolled to a stop I noticed a Hispanic man on the curb of the Turn lane waiting on traffic so he could cross. Also noticed a group of black males further to my left across the median & northbound lanes. We were talking, and I was watching the lights. Then all of a sudden I saw something fly behind the Tahoe via my driverside rearview mirror, but it doesnt come out the passenger mirror and I dont see it in my center rearview. I'm like "What was that???" Then I see a foot on the ground in the drivers mirror, just past my back tire. When two of the black males run and dive down behind my vehicle.
In a split second, I wasnt sure if the Hispanic had tripped and fallen, and the black guys where there to help, or one had tackled the Hispanic. I actually exited the vehicle, with my hand on my firearm, and recognized it was the latter. I went to draw my firearm, but instead dove back in the Tahoe vs. shooting. My family was in the Tahoe, and I had and recall clear conscience decision to not shoot
They beat the man and robbed him of everything in his pockets, and his shoes.
They then ran back across the street, then south across the intersection, I'm yelling for my kids to get down in the car, and my wife was already dialing 911. The lights change, and I basically end up in pursuit of these guys down the street. Trying to take pics with one hand, firearm in the other, and steering with my knee.
We stopped following once they ran into an apt complex, one block south of the incident. Completed the 911 call, then I circled back to render aid, and people were helping the guy. The pool of blood in the street was very large. They smashed this dudes face & skull in.
The cops were there pretty quick. No they did not catch anyone.
So here is my internal struggle since the incident:
As I stepped from the drivers door, they were all on top of this guy on the ground directly off my back bumper. Clean as day shots at all three. One was ripping his shoes off, the other on his pockets and the 3rd pummeling the guys head into the asphalt.
I had perfect flank shot on all 3, but crazy, I remember what my head did and I grabbed my firearm, but spun and jumped back in because of wife and kids. Now I have that burned in my head, but had to ask my wife did I really get out, immediately after it happened.
But no kidding I had doubts that happened, it was so quick, insane, not real, surreal...
Had I been solo, and not had thoughts of my wife and kids in the car, would I have intervened? I think so, but now I dont know. I would have gunned them down, and thats so scary.
It wasnt until waiting for the police, I thought about, that I only have 6 rounds, and there were 3 of them. And I didnt know if they were armed or not.
Im glad I didnt shoot them, but Im destroyed on how I could have stopped them nearly killing this guy.
Now for the "WHAT-IF":
They coulda easily smashed a window and robbed someone sitting at the light. I was alert, actually identified them on the curb across the street, but I looked away for mere seconds and they easily crossed 2 lanes of street, and a fairly large median, and I didnt see any of that. What if that'd been my wife, or son, or friend...
