Posted on 06/30/2007 3:34:20 AM PDT by goldstategop
The night started like many for John Lovell, a 71-year-old ex-Marine and helicopter pilot who served two presidents. Late dinner alone at a Plantation Subway shop -- veggie sub, soda, oatmeal cookie.
Wednesday night, though, Lovell's meal was interrupted by an armed robbery. Two gunmen stormed into the sandwich shop at about 11 p.m., robbed the cashier and tried to shove Lovell -- the lone customer -- into the bathroom. Two bullets later, one gunman was dead, another was wounded and Lovell was being hailed as a hero.
''There's no such thing as an ex-Marine, and he typifies this,'' said longtime friend Wesley White.
''What he did last night was unbelievable Samaritan spirit,'' said shop owner Khalid Malik.
Lovell already was a great customer at the Jacaranda Square Subway, Malik said: He comes by almost every night, slides into a back booth and orders the six-inch veggie sub, cookie and soft drink. But now, said Malik, ``I love him a lot more.''
No one could find Lovell on Thursday. But when he shows up again, Malik said, the hero will have free heroes at the shop for life.
The Subway video surveillance cameras, which the owner had installed only a week ago -- ''just to be on the safe side'' -- caught the whole drama.
The robbers got Lovell's money. But Lovell, who neighbors and friends say is in tiptop shape and looks years younger than he really is, pulled out his handgun and shot both in the head.
Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. Fredrick Gadson, 21, of Fort Lauderdale, was critically wounded.
The front window was blown out and cash strewn around the shop.
''There were fives and rolls of coins everywhere,'' said Detective Robert Rettig of the Plantation Police Department.
Rettig said Lovell, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, is not expected to be charged. ''He was in fear for his life,'' Rettig said.
Reporters and television crews clustered Thursday outside Lovell's two-story town house in Plantation, hoping for an interview. He didn't show.
CLEAN-LIVING
Friends said Lovell is amicable and soft-spoken, doesn't drink or smoke, and is a no-nonsense kind of guy.
''There's no BS with him,'' said White, of Yulee. 'You could compare him to Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry. But because of his lifestyle, he's like `Clean Harry.' ''
Neighbors and friends said he is unmarried, drives a Corvette and sometimes is away for long periods of time. A neighbor collected his mail Thursday.
At one point during his Marine career, the Kentucky native served as a pilot for presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. After retiring from the Corps, he became a pilot for Delta and Pan Am.
Bryan Sklar, who serves on the Townhouses at Jacaranda board with Lovell, said he is a straight-up guy.
''I've seen pictures of him with John F. Kennedy,'' Sklar said.
After the holdup Wednesday night, the suspects were transported to Broward General Medical Center, where Arrindell was later pronounced dead. Gadson, listed Thursday night in serious condition, faces armed robbery charges. And because someone was killed during the crime, he also will be charged with murder, authorities said.
BEST FRIENDS
The two young men were longtime best friends and roommates in North Lauderdale, Arrindell's grandfather, Meanwell Prince, said Thursday.
''My grandson was a good child,'' he said.
The last time he spoke to his grandson was shortly before the robbery. At 10:50 p.m. Prince called his grandson, who told him to leave the door unlocked because he would be home soon.
The next morning, Prince awoke to find police at his door.
Prince was shocked to learn what had happened.
''What could possess them to do this?'' Prince said.
The one problem I have is they refer to the dead and injured as suspects. IMO, they are thieves and not suspects.
Yeah, if there’s a video of the perps robbing the place, how can they claim they’re “ suspects” ?
I agrre we have the right, but has been superceded by gun grabbers in state govt.
King richie has never met a gun restriction law he did not like.
“The robbers got Lovell’s money. But Lovell, who neighbors and friends say is in tiptop shape and looks years younger than he really is, pulled out his handgun and shot both in the head.”
Outstanding performance under pressure.
He was being led into a bathroom. If you read any stories of armed robberies, that’s a sure sign bad things are in store for the victim.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Another “good kid” who was “getting his life together” and who was “well liked in school” is dead, and another
‘aspiring Rap singer” who like cars is near death do a incident of an error in young live cut short. Both shot by guns. Guns that roam the streets. Killed by a anti-social misfit who only knows a life of robotic killing under the orders of our sick, warped military/industrial war machine. One would of lived if we had good, Swedish health car. And nice, 2 weeks post birth to graduate school free education. Oh and free mental health care. And only PBS on television, radio and the Internet. I’m sure there is a violent male in these kids immediate family.
...........................................
(Just thought I’d save anybody the trouble of going to DU, Salon, ect and reading their posts.)
Marine...Fear...
They just don’t go together...Doesn’t compute...
Everybody experiences fear from time to time in one's life.
It's how a person reacts to the fear that defines him/her.
This man reacted like a true Marine. Heroically.
“Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. Fredrick Gadson, 21, of Fort Lauderdale, was critically wounded.”
It would NOT offend me if gadson dies a slow, painful and miserable death. If he survives his wounds, perhaps a drooling diaper-wearing “stump-head” would serve the publics best interest... supported 100% of course by the slime that brought this demon into the world!
LLS
Wow........looks MUCH younger than his years. Kudos to him for his quick action.
grampa and grandma need “burnin’ out! ENABLERS OF EVIL!!!
LLS
Yeah, so is every other perp. Don't let reality slap you upside the head or anything...
Get real granny, the punk met an armed citizen who wasn't cowered by a two bit punk.
The look on the punk's face when he realized that his potential victim had drawn a .45 .... Priceless.
Technically, it is a Stand Your Ground bump, since Lovell didn’t own the place or work there.
4) Stupid parents who let their kids get sucked into the thug life and wonder why he got shot when he was hanging around a guy with multiple arrests, including illegal carriage of concealed wepons.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Just ONCE, I wish one of the relations of the thug would say, “Yeah, he was a bad kid. His mamma couldn’t do a thing with him. Everybody TOLD him he was gonna get into trouble runnin’ with those street thugs, but would he listen?”
"But Gadson's [the surviving perp's] grandmother, Rosa Jones, said: "He ain't no hero. He is a murderer and God will serve justice."
She and her husband, Ivory Jones, pastor of a Fort Lauderdale church, sat on their front porch in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday wondering how a man could shoot two people and not go to jail."
Unfortunately, this true hero could be facing a lawsuit. But at least he's getting a little top cover with the surviving perp being charged with murder - good law!! That should keep these scumbags busy for a while.
**chuckle**
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