Nearly used my weapon tonight.

[xdfanatic]

Earlier tonight around 8pm I was returning to my apartment complex that my fiance and I had just moved from in the 529/hwy 6 area in Houston. I had lived there while I was dating her and usually she was with me while there mainly because the neighborhood is not so great as of recently. Anyhow I had stopped by after dinner to grab a few miscellaneous items that had been left behind as we still have the apartment until the end of the month. I was returning to my truck putting a laundry basket in the back seat when I noticed a figure starting to advance in my direction rather quickly from behind a van that was parked a few spots down from me. I closed my back door quickly and began to sum up the situation, the guy had a "hoodie" on with the hood down to his eyes. I noticed that there was a long stick in his hand at which time I yell "stop" as I reach for my SA .40 Sub-compact. As he sees this he began to charge at me to probably within 6 ft at most, I drew my weapon one handed and aimed center mass with my other hand up in hopes to deflect the what I realized was a tire iron. It all seemed to happen in slow motion as combative encounters tend to do at least for me. In the split second it took me to un-holster he made a quick dive left out of my sights to the front of my truck, allowing me the time needed to get in my truck while he ran away towards the front of the complex. I think it was experience on my part that saved his life as I somehow sensed he realized it was over for him if that makes sense.

As for a little background about myself I have fired my weapon in combat over seas more than a few times, I have also trained countless hours in close quarters combat. All of that is just saying that I would not hesitate to use my weapon in a self defense situation. In any case I was pretty shaken up and honestly downright scared, something I have not felt in some time.

Well to end all of this I grabbed my cell and dialed 911. I quickly ran down the incident with the operator and got off of the phone in case the attacker came back. I was safe in my truck with the doors locked with my weapon still in my hand when the sheriffs arrived, I quickly holstered and stepped out of the truck. The sheriff hopped out of his patrol car asking me for a more detailed description while he relayed the info over the radio. After all of this he asks for ID so I hand him my DL and CHL. He asks me if I am armed and I respond with yes to which he decides to get my "story" as to how and what happened. After running down the chain of events another sheriff who pulled up while we were talking tells me "it's too bad you didn't fire your weapon." I am not knocking any LEO by saying this, it just made it all sink in. Neither officer attempted to disarm me or made any mention of my weapon other than in their report. As far as I know they have not caught anyone yet but I was given a case number and told that a detective would be calling soon.

As I got back in my truck for the short ride out to Katy I began replaying the whole scenario in my head, I think that I made the right choice in not putting my finger on the bang switch until I was committed to firing. I also feel like I would have been in serious trouble had there been another attacker approach me from the rear as I am used to someone "having my back." I believe I may have seen them in the side mirror possibly but more than likely not in time especially if I would have had to fire. My adrenaline is still running on super high and I doubt I will even be able to sleep as it took me about thirty minutes to write this because I can hardly sit still. I just wanted to share my experience as I hope someone gets something from this because I have learned a lot of lessons all at once.

[TexasGal]

I'm glad you are ok! 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.

[Fangs]

Wow, I'd be shaking too. Good SA. Good end result. Glad the responding LEOs understood who the GG was. Thanks for sharing.

[longtooth]

Glad you are all right.

[gigag04]

Most cops I know love it when citizens shoot bad guys.

Great response. Love to see training and experience come together for a great outcome.

[Excaliber]

Terrific situational awareness and reaction to a fast breaking threat with a well practiced and effective response.

Although you clearly had justification to use deadly force, I compliment you on your recognition that "it was over for him" and holding your fire because you knew it was no longer necessary.

This incident is another validation check for carrying 24/7 or guessing right.

As I'm sure you know, your after action jitters are from the so-called "adrenaline dump" which is a lot more complex than that name implies. I also suspect that at some point not long after you finished your post, your energy level crashed and you were able to sleep after all.

[terryg]

Wow! Wow! Wow! Thank you so much for sharing.

[wally775]

#1 Glad you are OK.
Glad the LEO encounter went well.
Glad you did not have to fire.
Glad you had the option and resolve if needed.

[USA1]

xdfanatic , thank you for sharing your story.

I think that some of us may become complacent while going through our everyday lives,
and by reading this, it helps to reinforce to everyone the importance of awareness.

[PRO]

Eyes in the back of your head, calm and reserved. Well done. Glad everything worked out for you.

[NTexas_V-Star]

Wow man, I'm glad things turned out okay. Thank you for sharing, as USA1 said, it helps keep awareness up.

[karl]

Well done, glad you're safe. This reminds me how much more I need to practice my draw, I would not have been quick enough. Keep practicing everybody!

[xdfanatic]

Just want to thank everyone for their insight and words of encouragement. TexasGal we are certainly lucky to have made it through un-scaved. I talked to the detective today and he advised me that I was indeed lucky as these guys have apparently been on a "jacking spree" going around strong arming people taking wallets and even vehicles. Apparently there were two subjects one attacker and a getaway driver, which I did not see as I am sure he was parked in another part of the complex. Excalibur I certainly did "crash" after the adrenaline wore off, probably around 2:30am or so.

I want to point out that as aware as I was I was still vulnerable had there been two attackers coming at me. Otherwise I am glad I handled the situation as I did. I truly feel that my training in the military did play in an important role while at the same time my practicing drawing from my IWB MTAC certainly paid off. In practice I am definitely not as fast but I think that muscle memory worked in my favor such as pulling up my shirt and clearing the holster. Also all of my time practicing keeping my finger off of the trigger while drawing was important because I feel that I may have fired prematurely. In any case I think I will be spending some more time in the classroom also taking my fiance so she can be prepared "just in case" also. Thank you again everyone and I hope everyone here can learn at least one important lesson from this and that is being proficient with their equipment.

[RHenriksen]

Congratulations on keeping your skull intact! Thank you for sharing your experience.

[terryg]

In reality, the post title could easily be 'Used my weapon tonight'. Even though it was not fired, there is no question that your weapon was successfully used to avoid injury.

Again, thank you for sharing ...