being followed on foot - really happened last night

[gigag04]

A good buddy of mine works on campus. His girlfriend came to hang out with him while he was shutting down the sandwich shop. He lives about 10 min from campus on foot and regularly walks home (safe college station area).

Last night, the both of them are walking home and about 150 yards from his house. A dressed up (not for working out) hispanic male runs past them going the other direction on the other side of the street.

My buddy, being a goofy pretty boy doesn't think too much of it, but his girlfriend is on it and very situationally aware. She notices him cut across the street and start to follow them at a walk. She mentions this and my buddy dismisses it. Everytime she looks back, the "suspect" sits down and acts innocent, resumes his pursuit.

About 50 yards from the house she mentions this to my buddy again, and he says its nothing, and she tells him to look. Now he notices the suspicous behavior. He tells her, should things turn ugly to sprint to the house (very fast runner) and he will either follow or engage depending on how he feels about it.

Once they are in front of the house, the suspect breaks into a run from about 30-40 feet away. His girlfriend runs into the house, and my buddy decides to follow her. They lock all the doors and call the cops, but try not to make it too huge of a deal to my buddies roommates.

I will post the conlusion in a bit, this is a true story that happened late last night...well...at like 130 am..so today technically.

If armed what you do in the same situation?

[Piney]

That's a good plan-- no need to engage if there are other safe alternatives--in this case, a locked door, other people in the house, and a telephone.

[gigag04]

Figure I'll take first stab at it.

Once the suspect starts running towards us, my girlfriend (imaginary) would run to the house and call the cops. I would turn, put my hand on my kimber, but with my shirt covering it (it is usually at like 4 o clock behind me and thus hidden) and yell "STOP - I am feeling threatened by you, I am armed and willing to defend myself"

(my reasoning here is that regardless of what you say, words are merely words, and actions are what matter in court).

If remains running towards me, now at 20 ft or so, I would draw down, click safety off (finger off triger duh...) and yell "STOP GET ON THE GROUND NOW" at this point I'm fearing a knife or gun attack or worse.

If the assault continues, I would strongly considering stopping it with deadly force but I'm not totally sold on the legal ramifications. This may be a great time of OC (I should get some).

Maybe I'm jumping the gun so to speak but this is probably what my first reaction would be.

Critiques?

[flintknapper]

Figure I'll take first stab at it.

Once the suspect starts running towards us, my girlfriend (imaginary) would run to the house and call the cops. I would turn, put my hand on my kimber, but with my shirt covering it (it is usually at like 4 o clock behind me and thus hidden) and yell "STOP - I am feeling threatened by you, I am armed and willing to defend myself"

(my reasoning here is that regardless of what you say, words are merely words, and actions are what matter in court).

If remains running towards me, now at 20 ft or so, I would draw down, click safety off (finger off triger duh...) and yell "STOP GET ON THE GROUND NOW" at this point I'm fearing a knife or gun attack or worse.

If the assault continues, I would strongly considering stopping it with deadly force but I'm not totally sold on the legal ramifications. This may be a great time of OC (I should get some).

Maybe I'm jumping the gun so to speak but this is probably what my first reaction would be.

Critiques?

You've already answered your own question. Get some OC so you can stop looking to your pistol as the answer to every threat (perceived).

[yerasimos]

Nike defense (start running) & get the OC in hand so you can blast him chemically if he closes on you without producing a weapon of his own. In this scenario, I would not bring the handgun into play unless I see a weapon in his hand.

[gigag04]

You've already answered your own question.

My question was what you (meaning the forum audience do in the same situation if armed. I cannot speak for the forum...thus...it is impossible for me to answer my own question as it was originally asked. I offered my own take on what I would do, but I already knew that...I merely offered it as a conversation started.

-nick

[flintknapper]

You've already answered your own question.

My question was what you (meaning the forum audience do in the same situation if armed. I cannot speak for the forum...thus...it is impossible for me to answer my own question as it was originally asked. I offered my own take on what I would do, but I already knew that...I merely offered it as a conversation started.

-nick

Okie Dokie.

Let me try it this way: Quote "This may be a great time of OC (I should get some)." "Critiques?"

Get ya some, because unless you're an auctioneer... the guy running up to you is going to be on you before you complete "STOP GET ON THE GROUND NOW". Unless he has verbally threatened you, shown a weapon, or there is clear disparity of force, then deadly force is not appropriate IMO.

Thats my take on it, but your mileage may vary.

Interesting scenario.

[oilman]

Quote .. the guy running up to you is going to be on you before you complete "STOP GET ON THE GROUND NOW". [/quote]

+1

[gigag04]

Ok...so what do you guys do? That was my original question....

[OverEasy]

Here is another observation.

In the story you said 'Hispanic male'. That made me think about, Yelling anything at somebody who doesn't understand the language you speak may not cause them to stop!

The best thing is to be watchful and not get in a situation like that to start.

Move to the right or left and be drawing at the same time would be my suggestion.

Faced with the choice of needing the services of:
A) a trauma surgeon
B) a funeral director
C) a lawyer
I think 'C' looks like a good choice.

I can't think of anything good about a stranger following you slowly and then charging at you.

Unless he has a huge cardboard check that says "Publisher's Clearinghouse" on it and he's closely followed by people with balloons and a camera crew.
Personally, I would still be very careful! I'ld keep a parked car or a tree or something in between us........ But that's just me.

OE

[AV8R]

Something similar happened to me about fifteen years ago, having a bad outcome. In that case, the nature of the environment and a few street crossings clearly defined intent. Intent is hard to determine in the situation described above, however, as the behavior of the subject appears somewhat random, albeit in an opportunistic fashion. In a situation like this, you don't have time to speculate, though. You just watch, analyze, and react to the subject's actions.

The behavior of the subject who followed the two individuals walking home should immediately trigger an escalation to "orange". A 911 call should be made immediately by the woman if she suspects that she is being followed, giving the necessary details and descriptions. The observation that the subject "sat down" each time he was watched indicates that he was adapting his behavior to the actions of the couple. This is clearly stalking, possibly preparation for an attack.

From the account of distances covered during the encounter, a time frame of 45 seconds to 1 1/2 minutes probably elapsed from start of the perceived threat to finish. That's not much time to think, but your course of action is clear. First, you do not take your eyes off the subject, not for a second. If you can see his face, you have some chance of reading mental state, and perhaps his intentions. You do what you can in the time you have to prepare for an attack; cross the street, get behind a car, hope the police arrive. If someone is rushing you and enters "knife range" as you take evasive action (if you can take evasive action), that's "red", and you go on autopilot. It's split-second reactions (not "decisions" ) from there on.

I personally would not count on OC spray in an encounter with someone who is behaving irrationally, as there can be a reason for the behavior that may render chemicals ineffective. The stakes are too high.

By the way, "Granny Glock" has taught me everything I know about close-quarters combat.

[graysoncountyffl]

I am glad all is ok for you buddies.
For me, when the 'unknown' started at a dead run at me- that's move time. As mention earlier, it would be nice to put something inbetween you and him (tree, car, rail, etc.). It would even be real nice if you could move sideways from him. If he kept running straight past you- who knows what the original intent was. If he changes his direction and still is homing in on you, well, then you know. All of this is of course if he is far enough away from you- and you can move quick.

[AV8R]

For me, when the 'unknown' started at a dead run at me- that's move time. As mention earlier, it would be nice to put something inbetween you and him (tree, car, rail, etc.). It would even be real nice if you could move sideways from him. If he kept running straight past you- who knows what the original intent was. If he changes his direction and still is homing in on you, well, then you know. All of this is of course if he is far enough away from you- and you can move quick.
_________________

Right. This can happen so fast that all you really have time to do is draw, and if the guy keeps charging, well....

[Flatland2D]

Figure I'll take first stab at it.

Once the suspect starts running towards us, my girlfriend (imaginary) would run to the house and call the cops. I would turn, put my hand on my kimber, but with my shirt covering it (it is usually at like 4 o clock behind me and thus hidden) and yell "STOP - I am feeling threatened by you, I am armed and willing to defend myself"

(my reasoning here is that regardless of what you say, words are merely words, and actions are what matter in court).

If remains running towards me, now at 20 ft or so, I would draw down, click safety off (finger off triger duh...) and yell "STOP GET ON THE GROUND NOW" at this point I'm fearing a knife or gun attack or worse.

If the assault continues, I would strongly considering stopping it with deadly force but I'm not totally sold on the legal ramifications. This may be a great time of OC (I should get some).

Maybe I'm jumping the gun so to speak but this is probably what my first reaction would be.

Critiques?

Unless you are on your property your number one duty in Texas is to retreat whether you like it or not. If this guy was much faster of a runner than you retreat may not be an option, as you could only buy yourself some extra time before he caught up.

This also brings up the subject of having full knowledge of the situation. Maybe some guy is following you and starts running faster towards you as you are about to leave his sight. This would be unusual behavior, but what if they guy was trying to return your wallet you accidentally dropped and wanted to hand it over before losing sight of you. A verbal warning should clear that up pretty quick as you would have done. Just worth considering though.

Does yelling, "STOP - I am feeling threatened by you, I am armed and willing to defend myself" constitute a threat of deadly force? Instead of saying you are armed, would it be better to say you will "stop" them if they continue?

[gigag04]

Figure I'll take first stab at it.

Once the suspect starts running towards us, my girlfriend (imaginary) would run to the house and call the cops. I would turn, put my hand on my kimber, but with my shirt covering it (it is usually at like 4 o clock behind me and thus hidden) and yell "STOP - I am feeling threatened by you, I am armed and willing to defend myself"

(my reasoning here is that regardless of what you say, words are merely words, and actions are what matter in court).

If remains running towards me, now at 20 ft or so, I would draw down, click safety off (finger off triger duh...) and yell "STOP GET ON THE GROUND NOW" at this point I'm fearing a knife or gun attack or worse.

If the assault continues, I would strongly considering stopping it with deadly force but I'm not totally sold on the legal ramifications. This may be a great time of OC (I should get some).

Maybe I'm jumping the gun so to speak but this is probably what my first reaction would be.

Critiques?

Unless you are on your property your number one duty in Texas is to retreat whether you like it or not. If this guy was much faster of a runner than you retreat may not be an option, as you could only buy yourself some extra time before he caught up.

This also brings up the subject of having full knowledge of the situation. Maybe some guy is following you and starts running faster towards you as you are about to leave his sight. This would be unusual behavior, but what if they guy was trying to return your wallet you accidentally dropped and wanted to hand it over before losing sight of you. A verbal warning should clear that up pretty quick as you would have done. Just worth considering though.

Does yelling, "STOP - I am feeling threatened by you, I am armed and willing to defend myself" constitute a threat of deadly force? Instead of saying you are armed, would it be better to say you will "stop" them if they continue?

You have yet to comment on what you would do. Apparently you disagree with my prognosis so how about posting your own thoughts??? I'm curious on what the "right" course of action is.