Lessons from gunfight on video

[Tom Givens]

I am often told that people “cannot” do certain things under the stress of a real life armed threat. Usually, the people trying to tell me this are using it as an excuse not to train.

Here is a video of a surprise gunfight, with 2 armed robbers initiating a sudden armed robbery against a single armed security officer. There are three different surveillance cameras involved, so we get a good idea of what transpired. Please watch a couple of times, then see my comments below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MPMG3hWmMk&feature=youtu.be

First, the robbers run into the building. Both have guns already in hand, plus one has a bag for the loot they anticipate getting. As they burst through the inner door, they have the advantage of already having their guns out, plus surprise.
The security officer does NOT exhibit any so-called “startle response”, such as throwing his hands up. His hands go DIRECTLY to his holstered pistol, which he presents immediately.

The officer goes to two hands, at eye level, and shoots carefully, getting hits. Oops, I forgot… we can’t teach people to do that.

The two armed offenders are thoroughly disconcerted and demoralized by this immediate, violent and resolute response from the officer. They are rendered completely ineffective and flee clumsily. One drops his gun on the way out the door as he frantically tries to escape. I’d say their OODA cycle was disrupted a bit.

The officer used simple lateral movement (side-steps) to accomplish several things:
1. He used his security station as a visual barrier, allowing him to engage one offender at a time while blocking the other’s view.
2. He kept moving, further confusing and confounding the bad guys.
3. By moving, he was able to keep the offenders in his sight.

As soon as he was able, he moved to a corridor opening, giving him a somewhat concealed position as he covered the door, in case they came back in. This shows he kept his wits about him and continued to think tactically, despite having been attacked completely by surprise.

This is how it’s done.

[Kyle Reese]

That's some nice shooting.

[ford.304]

Tom, if you made a blog of after action reviews for shootings caught on surveillance, I'd read them every week from here until doomsday.

[Bigguy]

Tom, if you made a blog of after action reviews for shootings caught on surveillance, I'd read them every week from here until doomsday.

Me too.

[Chuck Haggard]

Well stated Tom.

[Casual Friday]

Wow! So much for the stigma that security officers are nothing more than window dressing. First question though, and not to sound all Ed Schultz and having never been to an internet cafe, why was there an armed guard? Or I guess a better question would be why would someone rob one? Are they a cash heavy business?

[GK17]

Wow! So much for the stigma that security officers are nothing more than window dressing. First question though, and not to sound all Ed Schultz and having never been to an internet cafe, why was there an armed guard? Or I guess a better question would be why would someone rob one? Are they a cash heavy business?

The shooting went down in 2012. I live about 10 miles from the place. "Internet Cafe" seems to be a term of flexible meaning. Here's a link that explains much.

http://spacecoastdaily.com/2013/03/brevard-internet-cafe-managers-face-felony-charges/

Palm Bay, Florida runs a higher than average Dirtbag/sq. mile which may be a factor in the guard's outstanding situational awareness.

[Casual Friday]

Well "illegal gambling joint" just doesn't roll smoothly off the tongue or sound very Disney channel like internet cafe does.

[Zhurdan]

First clue... Nobody needs to check their Facespace THAT bad! �� running in gave him a pretty clear indicator.

I take that back, some people really do get that caught up in Facespace. Hehe.

[TCinVA]

To quote Clint Eastwood "Ever notice how every now and then you come across somebody you shouldn't have fucked with?"

Somebody with a reasonable defensive tool and the apparent skill and resolve to use it seems to be a sight bad guys recognize instantaneously and almost always want absolutely no part of.

[SeriousStudent]

Thanks for the info, this is very useful stuff.

And quite good work by the guard.

[Hambo]

Well "illegal gambling joint" just doesn't roll smoothly off the tongue or sound very Disney channel like internet cafe does.

The lottery commission and the tribes are tough on competition, but that's another story. ;)

Down here we had a crew of 2-3 doing armed robberies and I heard people say, "you don't have a chance against three guys." The security guard proved that superior numbers alone are not a deciding factor. It seems that they expected one reaction and got something quite different.

[Chuck Haggard]

The lottery commission and the tribes are tough on competition, but that's another story. ;)

Down here we had a crew of 2-3 doing armed robberies and I heard people say, "you don't have a chance against three guys." The security guard proved that superior numbers alone are not a deciding factor. It seems that they expected one reaction and got something quite different.

"Alvin York" is often my reply to such statements.

[Kevin B.]

"Alvin York" is often my reply to such statements.

Awesome.

[Jeep]

This guy was pretty awesome as well. Excellent reactions on his part. Either he was very well trained or, like York, he is a natural.

[breakingtime91]

The York story is awesome. I think it's also pretty telling how his up bringing played a role in his ability to make those shots. Many don't know that he was actually against war and struggled for a long time before he decided to actually serve his country..

[Hambo]

"Alvin York" is often my reply to such statements.

Great example, but then I'd have to tell them who he was.

[Casual Friday]

Wasn't he that character in Sgt. York played by Gary Cooper?



:p


Sorry couldn't help myself.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

The security guard proved that superior numbers alone are not a deciding factor. It seems that they expected one reaction and got something quite different.

Taffy 3 - as a counter to the big caliber gun always wins.

[mc1911]

The shooting went down in 2012. I live about 10 miles from the place. "Internet Cafe" seems to be a term of flexible meaning. Here's a link that explains much.

http://spacecoastdaily.com/2013/03/brevard-internet-cafe-managers-face-felony-charges/

Palm Bay, Florida runs a higher than average Dirtbag/sq. mile which may be a factor in the guard's outstanding situational awareness.

GK, whereabouts are you located? I'm from the Space Coast, just moved to TN a couple years ago.

[Jeep]

Taffy 3 - as a counter to the big caliber gun always wins.

And as a reminder to ask yourself whether you might be taking the bait when you find yourself chasing an enemy that is inexplicably fleeing.

[Drang]

Taffy 3 - as a counter to the big caliber gun always wins.

In case anyone was wondering: Battle off Samar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_off_Samar)

Related: Be careful when decrypting code: The world wonders. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_world_wonders)

[Kyle Reese]

This guy was pretty awesome as well. Excellent reactions on his part. Either he was very well trained or, like York, he is a natural.

Was he carrying C1 or C3?


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[Clobbersaurus]

Was he carrying C1 or C3?


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Boom! :D

[Force Majeure]

Tom, I got on for you. Just happened:

http://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153173905312845.

Pharmacist, quickly and lethally dispatches armed robber, happened near Charleston, WV.

[Hambo]

Tom, I got on for you. Just happened:

http://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153173905312845.

Pharmacist, quickly and lethally dispatches armed robber, happened near Charleston, WV.

With two co-workers/employees in the line of fire.

[Casual Friday]

This was one of my favorite comments from some lady on FB.


This is 25 yr old tj gillenwater and his family...drugs got the better of him...likely he wasnt going to hurt anyone, he just was desperate for drugs...this is a grieving family...there is no heroism in ending a man's life...please give these people a chance to heal...including the pharmacist...this is a tragedy all around

[Peally]

Some people would forgive Hitler himself if he said sorry

[Casual Friday]

Some people would forgive Hitler himself if he said sorry

I'm not sure the sorry would even be necessary.

[Tom Givens]

Tom, I got on for you. Just happened:

http://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153173905312845.

Pharmacist, quickly and lethally dispatches armed robber, happened near Charleston, WV.

I love happy endings!