Shot Fired
Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 1:38 am
Sorry this post is rather long winded. I have obviously left out some details etc to protect the innocent….
On March 2nd we attended a high school basketball playoff game. It was 11:00pm
before we got home. My wife was tired, so Son #2 and I dropped her off at home and we went
to IHOP for a late night snack.
Around 12 midnight we returned home. As we turned the corner we noticed the dome light
inside Son #2’s car was lit. (Son #2 had parked his car on the street). As we pulled up next to it,
we realized someone was inside the car stealing/vandalizing etc.They were kind of laid across
the front seat. We were in my truck, so I was actually looking down on the top of a blue baseball
style hat the guy was wearing.
We both exited the truck, the guy saw us and started to bolt (east) up the street. I asked him in
no uncertain terms to please stop (I'm not sure exactly what words I used but I think they might
have been not too nice). I had drawn my pistol and had it in a one handed, low-ready position while chasing him. He partially turned toward me, he had something in his hands, when he turned I couldn't tell if it was a knife, screwdriver or what and I immediately pulled my gun up and fired, from about waist high.
I was still moving when the shot was taken. I did not hit him. I believe the round landed about 1 foot to his right in the parkway grass. Needless to say, I have never seen a man run that fast before. I stopped, placed my left hand into full grip, raised the weapon and had my night sights aimed square in the middle of
the fleeing mans back. He was about 45 ft from me at this time. I did not fire the second shot. Not that it wasn’t legal, not that I didn’t have a clear shot,but in that absolute fraction of a second I decided no.
Son #2 entered our house to check on Mom and grab his car keys. I jumped into the truck and tried to catch up with the
running man. As always, whenever you pull or fire a weapon, immediately call 911 and make a report.
I did that as I was driving. I gave the operator a description of our car, location etc, a description
of the low life scum bag and the direction he was headed the last time I saw him. Plus, I have a CHL
and I did fire a shot at the man etc. The operator asked what I was wearing and to make sure my weapon
was secured before the police arrived. I had already reholstered so that was no problem.
I never found the bad guy. However, within 3-5 minutes I had about 4 black & whites racing through our neighborhood.
They caught him 1 street over. He told the police that "some guy just shot at me!” Stoooopid.
He was taken to jail. Crime scene dusted the car for prints. Detective will be calling us.
The police that came were extremely nice. They did disarm me, (After talking for 15 minutes), and got the make, model and serial # off my gun. The officer was not concerned, almost an after thought for his report.
The gun was returned and all is good. They did not freak out because I had a gun. In fact when the officer started
to reach for it I asked him (since I'm not a fan of someone else drawing a loaded 1911 out of my holster) if it was
OK if I took the whole thing out, holster and all. He was good with that and I'm thankful. When finished, the officer handed gun, magazine and holster all back to me.
I guess everything turned out good. No one was injured. Minor property damage, minor property loss. I think we
surprised him just as he was getting started on his night of crime. Maybe we stopped him from ruining someone else's property/car etc.
We found out today the BG has a lengthy record for similar crimes, has done time, violated parole
etc etc. with the priors this will be bumped up and even if plead out he will be doing real time, again.
Here’s what I have learned from this experience. Maybe it can help someone else:
1. Wearing a tuckable holster or a smart carry holster would have been completely
useless in this situation. (I am forced on occasion to use a tuckable).
2. Fear never entered into the equation. This is not a macho statement, fact. When I exited
my truck I had what best could be described as “tunnel vision” or complete concentration
on the BG. My eyes never left him. I moved across a street, up a curb and part way over
a grass parkway and never looked down for footing.
3. I would not have fired if the BG had not turned and just kept running. His mistake.
There was no hesitation when he turned and my eye caught whatever was in his hand
(reflection). There was no thought process etc, I swept the safety (1911), raised the barrel
got a shot off as fast as I could. Really, happened instantaneously.
4. If I ever am in pursuit or a similar situation again, I will have both hands in correct
shooting position and the weapon will be in a ready position. Not low ready. Not
carried with one hand.
5. There was no shaking, no inability to operate controls ie safety etc. Sight picture was steady.
6. After I re-entered the truck to give chase and call 911….. I realized I was breathing
like I had just run a 100 yd dash! Made it a bit difficult to talk but the operator was calm
and I was able to give her everything she asked for, info. By the time I made the block
my breathing was normal.
7. I had re-engaged the safety and re-holstered without thinking. I honestly do not remember
doing either.
Here is what Son #2 and I, through discussion and partial re-enactment realized.
From the time I exited the truck: the entire episode lasted probably 3 SECONDS, maybe 4
at the most. (excluding the call to 911 and driving around the block).
On March 2nd we attended a high school basketball playoff game. It was 11:00pm
before we got home. My wife was tired, so Son #2 and I dropped her off at home and we went
to IHOP for a late night snack.
Around 12 midnight we returned home. As we turned the corner we noticed the dome light
inside Son #2’s car was lit. (Son #2 had parked his car on the street). As we pulled up next to it,
we realized someone was inside the car stealing/vandalizing etc.They were kind of laid across
the front seat. We were in my truck, so I was actually looking down on the top of a blue baseball
style hat the guy was wearing.
We both exited the truck, the guy saw us and started to bolt (east) up the street. I asked him in
no uncertain terms to please stop (I'm not sure exactly what words I used but I think they might
have been not too nice). I had drawn my pistol and had it in a one handed, low-ready position while chasing him. He partially turned toward me, he had something in his hands, when he turned I couldn't tell if it was a knife, screwdriver or what and I immediately pulled my gun up and fired, from about waist high.
I was still moving when the shot was taken. I did not hit him. I believe the round landed about 1 foot to his right in the parkway grass. Needless to say, I have never seen a man run that fast before. I stopped, placed my left hand into full grip, raised the weapon and had my night sights aimed square in the middle of
the fleeing mans back. He was about 45 ft from me at this time. I did not fire the second shot. Not that it wasn’t legal, not that I didn’t have a clear shot,but in that absolute fraction of a second I decided no.
Son #2 entered our house to check on Mom and grab his car keys. I jumped into the truck and tried to catch up with the
running man. As always, whenever you pull or fire a weapon, immediately call 911 and make a report.
I did that as I was driving. I gave the operator a description of our car, location etc, a description
of the low life scum bag and the direction he was headed the last time I saw him. Plus, I have a CHL
and I did fire a shot at the man etc. The operator asked what I was wearing and to make sure my weapon
was secured before the police arrived. I had already reholstered so that was no problem.
I never found the bad guy. However, within 3-5 minutes I had about 4 black & whites racing through our neighborhood.
They caught him 1 street over. He told the police that "some guy just shot at me!” Stoooopid.
He was taken to jail. Crime scene dusted the car for prints. Detective will be calling us.
The police that came were extremely nice. They did disarm me, (After talking for 15 minutes), and got the make, model and serial # off my gun. The officer was not concerned, almost an after thought for his report.
The gun was returned and all is good. They did not freak out because I had a gun. In fact when the officer started
to reach for it I asked him (since I'm not a fan of someone else drawing a loaded 1911 out of my holster) if it was
OK if I took the whole thing out, holster and all. He was good with that and I'm thankful. When finished, the officer handed gun, magazine and holster all back to me.
I guess everything turned out good. No one was injured. Minor property damage, minor property loss. I think we
surprised him just as he was getting started on his night of crime. Maybe we stopped him from ruining someone else's property/car etc.
We found out today the BG has a lengthy record for similar crimes, has done time, violated parole
etc etc. with the priors this will be bumped up and even if plead out he will be doing real time, again.
Here’s what I have learned from this experience. Maybe it can help someone else:
1. Wearing a tuckable holster or a smart carry holster would have been completely
useless in this situation. (I am forced on occasion to use a tuckable).
2. Fear never entered into the equation. This is not a macho statement, fact. When I exited
my truck I had what best could be described as “tunnel vision” or complete concentration
on the BG. My eyes never left him. I moved across a street, up a curb and part way over
a grass parkway and never looked down for footing.
3. I would not have fired if the BG had not turned and just kept running. His mistake.
There was no hesitation when he turned and my eye caught whatever was in his hand
(reflection). There was no thought process etc, I swept the safety (1911), raised the barrel
got a shot off as fast as I could. Really, happened instantaneously.
4. If I ever am in pursuit or a similar situation again, I will have both hands in correct
shooting position and the weapon will be in a ready position. Not low ready. Not
carried with one hand.
5. There was no shaking, no inability to operate controls ie safety etc. Sight picture was steady.
6. After I re-entered the truck to give chase and call 911….. I realized I was breathing
like I had just run a 100 yd dash! Made it a bit difficult to talk but the operator was calm
and I was able to give her everything she asked for, info. By the time I made the block
my breathing was normal.
7. I had re-engaged the safety and re-holstered without thinking. I honestly do not remember
doing either.
Here is what Son #2 and I, through discussion and partial re-enactment realized.
From the time I exited the truck: the entire episode lasted probably 3 SECONDS, maybe 4
at the most. (excluding the call to 911 and driving around the block).
