Posted on 09/20/2005 1:14:58 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
Store Owner Says He Had Been Victimized in the Past
JONESBORO -- A robbery suspect was recovering Tuesday afternoon at a Clayton County hospital after he was shot by a store merchant during a botched hold-up attempt, police said.
Keston Scott, 22, was rushed to Southern Regional Medical Center for treatment after he sought help there for a gunshot wound. Tracye Bryant, a hospital spokeswoman, said the man's wounds were not believed to be life-threatening.
Police said they planned to charge him with armed robbery and aggravated assault in connection with the incident, which occurred shortly after 9 a.m.
John Butts, the owner of John's Discount Store, which is located in the 200 block of North Main Street, said he shot the man with his .357 magnum gun after the suspect walked into his store with a gun and demanded money.
"He tried to shoot me first but I pulled my gun and shot him," said Butts, adding that he fired three times at the suspect. "You have to work if you need money, just like me. I work 16 and 17 hours every day seven days."
Butts said after he shot the suspect the man ran out of the store and crawled into a white car, which sped away.
A short time later, a man suffering from gunshot wounds sought medical help at Southern Regional Medical Center.
It was not immediately clear if any customers were in the store at the time of the shooting, which was captured by surveillance cameras posted inside the building.
Police said the owner of the store has not been charged, although the assailant captured on the surveillance tape apparently matches the identity of the man who sought help at the hospital.
"I don't encourage anyone to confront a would-be robber," said police Sgt. Wayne Woods. "The safest thing normally is to comply with their wishes because we don't want anyone hurt."
Butts said his store has been robbed at least two times in the past. He said he would pull out his gun again if he has to.
"If you do it one time I don't think they will bother you again," he said.
Keston Scott, 22, was rushed to Southern Regional Medical Center for treatment after he sought help there for a gunshot wound.
OK, which is it guys? Did he seek help there, or was he rushed there? Looks like if anybody rushed him there it was his accomplice/getaway driver.
And as far as the police sergeant's comments -- he may not want anybody to get hurt, but it's fine with me if the perp gets ventilated whilst the citizen/proprietor escapes unharmed.
The safest for whom?
Pacifist, PC blather! Of course we want someone to get hurt... the bad guy!
Sometimes you need to do the right thing, not the safe thing.
Isn't this attitude discriminatory against those members of our society who want to simply sit on their @$$ and watch TV?
I think Mr. Butts needs shooting lessons. Why was Mr. Scott still alive?
3 shots with .357 mag and the perp lived? Lets get some practice here!
Folks, news like this brings joy to my heart.
Folks, news like this brings joy to my heart.
You're right. We need better gun control (our definition, not theirs).
Following this advice, the perp wouldn't be a "would-be" robber, and the store owner might even be dead.
"Lets get some practice here!"
Before we go casting aspersions on the marksmanship of Mr. Butts, it needs to be stated that he could be an excellent shot with poor bullet selection. There is inadequate information in the article to know for sure.
Moreover, there IS enough information to indicate that Mr. Butt's shooting was good enough.
That's right, we don't want any criminals to get hurt by armed victims.
I hate it when idiot cops spew this crap.
Even on a quick draw rapid fire at least 2 rounds should have been in the chest. Maybe he was a little nervous. At least he stopped the turd from robbing him. So I give him 3 of 5 stars.
I give him a passing grade on #14.
Three shots with a .357 and the perp lived? The store owner needs to go to the range and practive at the seven yard line.
Make that #16. I raise it to 4 of 5 stars due to my inaccuracy.
It's getting so bad that an honest thief can't make a living anymore. /sarcasm
well said.
As far as I'm concerned, it's a "Go / No-Go" kind of test. He got a "Go."
Pshaw!
I thought the last day that could be said seriously was 9/10/2001.
"Sergeant" Wayne Woods is an idiot.
He stopped the lowlife but a live perp is a suing perp. Even in Georgia the shooter faces potential crap here.
I have to give him a 4.999999999998 on the 5-star report. Only reason he didn't get a five of 5, 'cause the perp is still breathin' oxygen. I hope that crook walks with a limp the rest of his life too, trying to rob that man and get his money!! The nerve of that cretin!
if he gets sued by the perp for "career-ending injury" will you maintain that his shooting was good enough.
dead perps don't heal and perp again.
dead perps don't heal and sue.
dead perps don't cost as much to process as live ones.
dead perps take up less space in a potter's field than live ones do in jails.
dead perp is better.
Damn! My BS meter just blew up.
Government wants to be everywhere, but they can't (nor should they be) be everywhere so it is up to us to rid the gene pool of this pond scum.
Looks like the Georgia legislature has a bit of work to do.
you beat me to it, I see.
if we could export Atlanta up North where it belongs, we'd have no problem fixing the law.
The perp is alive. Meaning the guy missed?
The court business is a test for lawyers. Butts' test took place in defending his property and life which he did with a 100% score.
Give the guy some credit people! He may have been on the move, trying to get of of the perp's aim.
The problem is that by leaving the perp alive, the merchant leaves himself open to a lawsuit from that POS. Other criminals have won such suits. If the criminal is alive, it's your word against his. If he's dead, it's your word.
He was armed 1 star
He drew and fired 2 stars
He stopped the turd 3 stars
He wasn't harmed 4 stars
The 5th star requires dead perp
You're right. We need better gun control (our definition, not theirs).
both hands on gun
focus on front site
squeeze trigger, do not jerk
make sure you have clear site picture before taking second shot. it is better to hit accurately with 2 slow shots than miss or make contact with 4 poorly placed shots.
that kind of gun control, right?
Much of the old south is infested with both yankee infiltrators and southern liberals of all ilk. Look at Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, AL. Such a low life and he is not alone.
Hey CC,
The bottom line is, kill or be killed. The Police Sergeant needs a boot up his P.C. ass for making those pacifist comments.
I wish the perp had died, one less POS to house in prison and later convert to islam.
Have Glock Will Travel,
NSNR-CSAOT
Sorry. I'll go slower next time. Right now I'm having to debate.
True
I'd give him a B+ (89%)
Only "dead perp" scores an A in my classroom :)
Huh?!?!
Leapfrog logic does not apply.
Exactly but some people don't see it.
I don't grade on a curve.
I forgot to mention the police sergeant's comments. The sergeant has to be a complete buffoon, as downtown Jonesboro, Georgia is a crime scene waiting to happen, and if that idiot cop doesn't know that, then maybe he should remove his head from up in his a** and look around. The whole Clayton County area has gone to hell in the last ten years with the urban sprawl of Atlanta spilling out the crime, drugs, gang shootings,etc. to areas like Jonesboro.I'm from that area, and unfortunately, the policeman is indicitive of the stupidity the elected officials have there. Just look at the Clayton County Sheriff's office. They have a new sheriff who makes Louis Farrakan look sane! Starting to see the problems here? If I still lived there, I'd have a cannon, not a .357 Magnum!
I grade such matters on a "Pass - Fail" scale. The law suit stuff is a concern, but if not the dirt bag, his family would be coming after him...probably for funeral expenses...
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