Ex-Marine, 71, shoots robbers, kills 1

MiamiHerald.com ^ | Jun 28, 2007 | ERIKA BERAS

[Boston Blackie]

A 71-year-old former Marine opened fire on two robbers at a Subway Sandwich Shop in Plantation late Wednesday night, killing one and critically wounding the other.

According to Plantation police, two masked gunmen came into the shop at 1949 N. Pine Rd. just after 11 p.m.

There was a lone diner -- retired Marine John Lovell, who was finishing his meal.

After robbing the cashier, the two men attempted to shove the ex-Marine into a bathroom and rob him as well.

They got his money.

But then the ex-Marine ........

[Boston Blackie]

A lot of good news today!

[Doogle]

READY ON THE RIGHT...READY ON THE LEFT..READY ON THE FIRING LINE...GENTLEMAN COMMINCE FIRING

[rabscuttle385]

If not for U.S. Marines, I would have completely lost hope in America a long time ago.

[L98Fiero]

Why did they shove him into a bathroom? I’m thinking if he hadn’t been packing, he would be dead.

[AU72]

That’ll teach them to get between a marine and his meal.

[SevenofNine]

Rack this US Marine

[absolootezer0]

usually in a restaurant robbery, bathroom is for leaving captives alive, cooler is for killing them.

[skimask]

Don’t you just love a story with a happy ending?

Semper Fi

[SWAMPSNIPER]

No such thing as a “former” or “ex” Marine.

[jazusamo]

Good job, Marine!

Semper Fi!

[jerri]

If not for U.S. Marines, I would have completely lost hope in America a long time ago.

These criminals ought to realize that most men in their 70's have military backgrounds and aren't intimidated by idiots.

[BearCub]

Why did they shove him into a bathroom? I’m thinking if he hadn’t been packing, he would be dead.

I was robbed at gunpoint when I was 20. They herded my coworker and me into the bathroom and I thought for sure we were dead. Thankfully it ended well.

[Boston Blackie]

No such thing as a “former” or “ex” Marine.

I once received detention for changing the title of an article.

Ex-Marine, 71, shoots robbers, kills 1

[Red6]

1. Marine gets sued.
2. Poor inner city minority youth get compensatory payments.
3. Anti-gun activists rally
4. Democrats use this as an example for more gun laws
5. Where they black? If so, Jesse Jackson will be there tomorrow!
6. The media will talk about the “Brief lives of these poor kids”
7. Michael Moore will make a movie: “Old Marines that kill poor inner city minority youths”. The movie will open at the Havana Film Festivals.
8. Rosie will mock the Marine and blame him for the shooting. She will state that none of this would have happened if he simply had not had a gun!

What did I miss?

[fatnotlazy]

Well, he got one. That’ll save the taxpayers a few dollars.

Semper Fi

Good job!

[Boston Blackie]

What did I miss?

The moonbats have suffered a couple of big defeats today....hopefully they'll be too busy licking their wounds to start another fight they won't win.

[Frank_2001]

Well, one of ‘em is alive, with a bullet in the head. That’s gonna cost money.

[mad puppy]

‘He was in fear for his life,’’ Rettig said.

Something tells me this old Marine wasn’t “in fear” even though his life was definitely at risk. Just waiting. And he better not be charged! More like rewarded.

[A.A. Cunningham]

No such thing as a “former” or “ex” Marine.

Incorrect. Once you leave active duty or the reserves you are a former Marine. No shame in that.

Ritter, Garwood, Lonetree, Dellums, Carville, Murtha, Glenn, Dennehy, Oswald, McFarlane, et al, are all proof that there are indeed ex-Marines.

[jazusamo]

What did I miss?

"He is not expected to be charged, authorities said.

''He was in fear for his life,'' Rettig said."

If they do sue it'll just make them look like the fools they are.

[gunnyg]

BTW...

Who sez there are NO EX-MARINES!
THE HELL THERE AIN’T NO EX-MARINES! I SERVED W/MANY PRE-WWII, WWII, KOREAN WAR, ETC. MARINES WHO PROUDLY REFER TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AS “EX-MARINES”!!!!!

BIGMOUTH BOOT JARHEADS CLAIMING OTHERWISE DON’T MEAN ****!

Semper Fidelis
GyG

[Boston Blackie]

The only thing he could be charged with .... is partaking in an unfair fight. One 71 yr young marine against two punks.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Good. Self-preservation wins. Loser liberals lose again!

[Frank_2001]

“What did I miss?”

Well, he’s Vietnam-era, so they’ll be moaning about gun-toting Yankee imperialists;)

[rabscuttle385]

These criminals ought to realize that most men in their 70's have military backgrounds and aren't intimidated by idiots.

Unfortunately, most criminals are actually stupid enough to try and rob a Marine.

I received security training several years ago when I worked for a small regional bank here in Virginia and Maryland. The bank's security officer told us that almost all criminals are "not the sharpest knives in the drawer."

Sound like Democrats and globalist RINOs, eh?

[Grizzled Bear]

Ex-Marine, 71, shoots robbers, kills 1

---

Is there a better term for a 71 year old inactive member of the USMC who did not necessarily retire?

Ex-Marine is simply wrong.

[Kolb]

Two heads and one center body mass shot- good shooting! Even better would have been to double tap them both. Let’s hope the scumbag in critical condition kicks.

[BFM]

But then Lovell pulled his handgun, opened fire, shooting one of the thieves in the head and chest and the other in the head.

Old Sarge must be a bit of a show off... trying for head shots.[/kidding]

Good show...

[DocH]

I like his friend's comment, "He'd give you the shirt off his back and he'd be mad if someone tried to take the shirt off your back,".

As a former Marine myself, I think most of us will either be your best friend, or your worst enemy. Your choice.

The scumbags chose the wrong man to f**k with.

[Clam Digger]

Is there a better term for a 71 year old inactive member of the USMC who did not necessarily retire? Ex-Marine is simply wrong.

Marine. That's it.

[CT]

One of the last WWII Marine aviators still out here, and someone who flew off Guadalcanal with Pappy Boyington (Pop was in VMSB-241), I'd give odds on my dad to 'hit the mark' even at 85.

He was my inspiration to join, and the inspiration to his Marine Recon grandson. Because some things are always worth doing right.

[Free ThinkerNY]

"That's nice shooting, soldier!"

[fatnotlazy]

“Well, one of ‘em is alive, with a bullet in the head. That’s gonna cost money.”

***

Yes, but not as much as two of them would. :)

[10mm]

"If they do sue it'll just make them look like the fools they are."

They can't even sue. Florida's "Make My Day" law bans lawsuits from the perp's "peeps" if the shooting is ruled self-defense.

Also, the surviving perp gets charged with his homies' murder.

Florida does some things right.

[U S Army EOD]

“He was in fear for his life”.

Sure he was, he was thinking, as soon as I get a chance I am going to kill these two SOB’s. And good on him for having clear thoughts.

[Sender]

The Preacher's Son

One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table four objects: a Bible, a silver dollar,a bottle of whisky and a Playboy magazine.

"I'll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself, "and when he comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see which object he picks up."

"If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing that would be!"

"If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a businessman, and that would be OK, but if picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunkard, and, Lord, what a shame that would be."

"And worst of all, if he picks up that magazine he's gonna be a skirt-chasin' bum."

The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his room.

The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them. Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm.

He picked up the silver dollar and dropped it into his pocket.

He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink while he admired this month's Centerfold.

"Lord have mercy," the old preacher whispered, "He's gonna be a MARINE!"

[jazusamo]

Thanks for that, it’s good to hear.

[goldfinch]

No such thing as a “former” or “ex” Marine.

I win! When I read the headline, I bet that it 'ex-marine' error would be corrected within the first ten posts. Freepers did not disappoint.

[Law is not justice but process]

Kind of a sad story when you read it. The two perps got what they had coming, but it does not sound like they were typical thugs. One had a job in data entry, or so says his next of kin. I would have to guess crack cocaine comes into the equation somewhere.

Anyway, nice shooting, Marine.

[jaydubya2]

"White said Lovell worked as a pilot for the Marines, flying former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson."

Marine One pilot??

[TennTuxedo]

I can hear the robbers now,....”this job is driving me to me grave!”

[woollyone]

Your numbers 1 &2...will NOT get sued...FL law specifically protects him from civil damages for turning criminal melons into bird houses when justifiably using deadly force.

the "stand your ground law"...or, as some affectionately refer to it, the..."Make My Day" law.

i prefer the latter

...just saying...

[Kimmers]

I love Marines.....the actions of this man just proves “Once a Marine always a Marine”....no matter the age that “OORAH” attitude sticks with you the rest of your life.

God Bless the USMC

Semper Fi

[Joan Kerrey]

I’ll betcha anything he was having SOS, the meal that makes Marines fearless.

[Do Be]

Thanks for the laugh.

[gunnyg]

Ah, yes...OohRah...but that’s yet another story—along with ega now replacing the Globe and Anchor of old; Tun Tavern and no mention of the Conestoga Wagon, the (so-called) bloodstripe in reference to Chapultapec, on and on the myths and legends go...

[Kimmers]

As of 7/2/07 my boy will be done with TBS in Quantico and then it will be a matter of time and an open slot for him to get into flight.....

Semper Fi you Devil Dog

[Red6]

VIETNAM ERA!!!!???? Well that expalins it. Iraq is causing him to have PTSD flashbacks! It’s all Bush’s fault! :)

[Dick Vomer]

no better friend

no worse enemy....

I bet he qualified "expert".

[Dick Vomer]

holy cr#p....You remember sh#t on a shingle....bwahahahahahahahahaha...

cover it with pepper and tobasco sauce...

that will get you through to lunch for sure!!!

thanks for the memory...