Saturday, October 22, 2011

DGC... Or Not?

A couple folks sent me this story. It's a little less cut-and-dry than a typical DGC addition.

Mugging Suspect Chased, Shot by Witness Outside Minnneapolis Chinese Buffet

MINNEAPOLIS - A Good Samaritan shot and killed a mugging suspect in the parking lot of a south Minneapolis Chinese buffet after the man robbed and pistol-whipped an elderly woman on the same block.

According to Minneapolis police, two 911 calls came in around 9:45 p.m. Thursday. The first call indicated that an elderly woman had been robbed of her purse and attacked in the parking lot of a Cub Foods on the 2800 block of 26th Avenue S. The second 911 indicated that a man had been shot behind the Super Grand Buffet on the same block. Police and paramedics found the body of a man in his 20s who had suffered an apparent gunshot wound.

There's not enough evidence to say definitively if this was a "good" shoot or not - as much as this goblin needed killin', running after him and gunning him down isn't the way to do it. HOWEVER... There's nothing in the article that contradicts the idea that the MN CCW holder didn't run after the guy hoping to get a better description or get the purse back (often they'll discard the purse quickly after taking whatever money they can grab - a male running down the street with a purse in his hand attracts unwanted attention...). If he ran after the goblin and the goblin pointed his gun at the CCW holder, then this is absolutely a good shoot.


Since it's my count, and I like hearing about folks getting shot dead while committing crimes, I'll allow it.


Dead Goblin Count: 206

That is all.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Absolutely. Close enough.

Atom Smasher said...

Mmmm, could be dicey for the guy regardless. Read Mitch Berg's (big MN CCW supporter) thoughts here: http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=23900

Under MN self defense law, this could be trouble - WAS he an "unwilling participant"? The image of a "chase" may lead a prosecutor to say "no". PERSONALLY I think it's cut & dry - but I'm no lawyer.

Anonymous said...

I'm with AS:

I fully support what the "good Samaritan" did (as reported), but from a strictly legal standpoint, he could be in trouble under MN law.

That's why "stand your ground" laws are important.

This outdated and strongly European attitude of "if the bad guy is not a danger and is getting away, let him go and let the police (not) handle it" needs to be given the old heave-ho.

Part of the enticement to a life of crime is that the criminals know we've been taught not to intervene and to "just give them what they want" almost since birth. Knowing that, their chances of getting away with it seem pretty good.

If it went down the way it was reported: the good Samaritan was just following the bad guy to report his location to police, and the bad guy, not liking this idea, confronted the good Samaritan, necessitating the defensive act, then I'd say the good Samaritan did exactly the right thing.

If we had more of that in society, I'd bet we'd have a lot less crime.

We need to get these stupid laws that criminalize victims for standing up for themselves off the books.

Old NFO said...

Close enough is right...

Butch Cassidy said...

I have no qualms about the guy who pistol-whipped a lady for her purse being chased down and shot like a nuisance fox.

Skip said...

Works for me.
Police your brass and go have a beer.

Skip said...

PS: When I reload, I wear surgeons gloves on the components.
Nothing on the bullet or brass.

Atom Smasher said...

Butch and Skip-

Sure sure, glad a scumbag is now pining for the fjords, but "was it legal?" is still a valid question, especially for the guy who did the deed.

aczarnowski said...

I'm a mile away from that location and shop there. In Minneapolis? $deity help the permit holder.

Anonymous said...

Just an update on this story. The permit holder was cleared in this case and the County Attorney said he acted in self-defense: http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/132807258.html. Sounds from the article and other sources I've read like crime is a family business.

Atom Smasher said...

Worked out well. One more for the Good Guys.

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/10/29/hennepin-county-makes-the-right-choice-in-good-samaritan-shooting/

fast richard said...

Update,

Mitch Berg has an interesting post about the slanted local media coverage of the incident.

Matt McKinney’s Whitewash Job

The Star-Tribune made a great effort to make the family smash and grab gang, of whom the deceased was one member, look like victims.

(incidentally: The late Joel Rosenberg mentioned in the post was the guy who taught Oleg Volk to shoot.)