Sounds like your training and situational awareness saved you a severe beating and may well have saved your life too. The BG's realization he was one-upped saved his. I had a similar situation a few weeks back. You would think the BG's would realize the word is getting out that hoodies with the hood over the head is a well known crime uniform--especially when it's hot and muggy. Just like you, I later realized with a cold feeling in my gut that I was very lucky it was just one because I didn't check for others at the time either. A very valuable lesson. My mugger was coming from my blind spot directly behind me. I now swivel my head a lot more and check my 6.
Again, congratulations on surviving and having such a positive reaction from the LEOs.
