Would you shoot?

[Bgriff1974]

No I would shoot. If they were fleeing and no one was in immediate danger I would not fire my weapon. Be a good witness and contact law enforcement.

[goose]

My first thought is that outside of feeling immediately in peril, I would have big reservations about where my rounds were going down range. If the BG is running creating distance and a moving target, could I track him/her and track any innocents behind them? With the limited info, I'd probably not shoot. I consider myself relatively decent with my firearm, lots of range time, some IDPA time. The scenario of a fleeing BG leaves a LOT of data to try and process in the heat of the moment.

I also agree that it wasn't my wife. I am glad the BGs got caught. I hope the CHL gets no billed.

[gthaustex]

Based on the information presented...no. Of course, it wasn't my family involved and I wasn't there. It is always easier to Monday morning quarterback a scenario when not in the heat of the moment. That said....no. Not without a clear and present danger to myself or my loved ones. As others have said, clear, concise observation and notation of clothes, car, direction of travel, tattoos, etc. Be a good witness.

[SRH78]

Based solely on the information available, I would say definitely no.

[Ericstac]

Not sure..

I mean, I wouldn't shoot a badguy running off if he didnt harm anyone and wasnt going to but then again,

it wasn't my wife workplace. I guess its possible if I was sitting outside of a shop where my wife worked and this happened it might be possible my response could be:

a. they just hurt or killed someone, potentially my wife, and are escaping.. they must be stopped at all costs.
b. they just attempted to kill my wife and she has a semi-good description of them so they will be back to finish her off... they must be stopped at all costs.
c. they will try to attempt to rob the place again and might end up hurting or killing my wife.. they must be stopped at all costs.


I could see it and I guess, surprisingly, the HPD sees it too.

whatever the case, that badguy won't try that again.

[bdickens]

Not enough information.

[Jumping Frog]

Some additional science for your consideration. Force Science Institute published a study a couple of months ago looking at action versus reaction, with one specific scenario being an officer pointing a firearm at the back of a fleeing armed BG. The BG was consistently able to turn and fire back at the officer faster than the officer could react and shoot back.

There can be an argument made that shooting at a fleeing violent armed felon may help him reach the conclusion it is better to keep running like heck.

[Scott in Houston]

Not enough information.

This...

Entirely possible the BG had a weapon and pointed it back at him... or something along those lines.
Way too many details to say for sure, but assuming all details are here in the article, I would not have shot.

[locke_n_load]

The video said they were armed, dressed in black and wearing bandana over their faces, so "empty-handed" was with respect to not getting any cash, I don't think it meant that they were unarmed or not a threat.

Yeah, the article written does not have as many details as the video... Video says that the suspects were armed, definitely changes things a little bit.

[tobasco]

Probably not if the bad guys were fleeing and had no hostage. The BG got shot in the arm, does anyone know where the bullet went after that? (rhetorical question)

[TexasCajun]

Assuming I wouldn't have been able to see the BGs enter, and presumably wouldn't have heard shots fired; no I would not have used my weapon. I would have called 911, been a good witness, checked on my wife & the others.

[kg5ie]

Too many unknown facts for me to say I would or would not. If it were my wife in the store, and I realized there was a robbery going down, AND I didn't know the condition of my wife in the store...I can say I might have if I were in his shoes. For all he knew they could have just assaulted or even killed her.

I would like to know the rest of the story.

[Zoo]

I'm glad someone did.

Based on the article, I can't find a single reason to criticize anything except maybe his aim.