Posted on 07/12/2007 4:43:20 PM PDT by originalbuckeye
Victim tackles shooting suspect Chatsworth man dodges bullets in chase BY RICK COCA, Staff Writer Article Last Updated: 07/11/2007 10:08:27 PM PD
TARZANA - A Chatsworth man turned the tables on a gunman who fired at him outside a Ventura Boulevard cafe last month, dodging bullets as he chased down and tackled the startled shooter, authorities said.
The 25-year-old Chatsworth man chased down Robert Hudson, 20, of Porter Ranch, accused of turning violent after a road-rage incident June 1.
Hudson faces multiple felony counts and is expected to enter a plea in a July 20 arraignment hearing at the Van Nuys Courthouse, police said Wednesday.
Police said that at about 10 p.m. June 1, Hudson and two friends got into a car-to-car confrontation with the Chatsworth man, whose name was not released. They allegedly followed him to the 19300 block of Ventura Boulevard, where the man was about to walk into Ramzey's Cafe, a restaurant and hookah bar, to meet his girlfriend.
Police said Hudson got out of his vehicle and opened fire with a semiautomatic pistol.
"All of sudden, the guy just starts shooting at him," said Los Angeles Police Department Detective Scott Crowe. "Unfortunately, one of the rounds went into the hookah bar, ricocheted and struck a guy in the face."
The wounds were not life-threatening, Crowe said.
Meanwhile, as glass shattered in the cafe behind him, the Chatsworth man heard people screaming inside the cafe and feared that his girlfriend might have been shot, Crowe said. He quickly decided he didn't want the shooter to get away, Crowe said. "He didn't even think twice," Crowe said. "He just took off after him."
After the initial barrage of gunfire, Hudson began running down Ventura Boulevard, but opened fire again when he saw the man chasing him, Crowe said.
"At some point (Hudson) runs out of bullets, and our victim catches him and tackles him, and they have a little fight on the ground," Crowe said.
In the brief struggle, the gun was knocked away, but Hudson bit the man on the face and back, Crowe said. Police soon arrived and arrested Hudson. Hudson's companions were initially arrested, but have not yet been charged in the case.
Police said the confrontation started earlier after the Chatsworth man dropped his girlfriend off at the cafe and drove to a nearby supermarket. He was driving back to the cafe when he was reportedly cut off by Hudson and his friends in another vehicle.
The Chatsworth man "flashed his lights and tooted his horn," said LAPD Detective Joel Price. That enraged Hudson and his two friends, Price said, and they challenged the man to pull over.
The man drove on, thought he had eluded them, and parked on a side street near the cafe. But the other vehicle had made a U-turn, and Hudson and his companions were waiting for the man as he approached the cafe, police said.
Deputy District Attorney Jane Creighton said because a firearm was used in the attack and a man inside the cafe was struck in the jaw, Hudson could spend decades in prison if convicted.
Creighton said the Chatsworth man's adrenaline was probably a factor in his decision to run after the shooting suspect.
"It might be hard for people to grasp," Creighton said. "You don't have time to think. If you did, you probably wouldn't do it."
rick.coca@dailynews.com
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If he’d bitten me after I brought him down he would be in need of the emergency room before the police got him.
Wonder if the man will be inclined to get his CCW so he can protect himself even better next time?
I find it amazing that the Chadsworth man could run the perp down at all packing those big stainless steel ones. Hat’s off!
hookah bar?
Turkish water pipes. Someplaces refer to them as “shessha” pipes
A Chatsworth man turned the tables on a gunman who fired at him outside a Ventura Boulevard cafe last month, dodging bullets AND DEAFENING BYSTANDERS WITH THE CLANKING OF HIS ENORMOUS STEEL BALLS as he chased down and tackled the startled shooter
We went to a Lebanese restaurant a year or so ago, that had hookahs as an after-dinner thing, with flavored tobacco (apple IIRC). I must say, it was pretty civilized.
Virtually impossible in California.
They're popping up everywhere. I love Middle Eastern cuisine and the hookah is relaxing after a meal.
One question though. How do these places get past the smoking laws?
I don’t think there was a smoking law, where we were at. Can’t speak for other places.
If that doesn’t impress his girlfriend nothing will.
Here in California?! Good freakin' LUCK!
Didn’t notice it was California. Glad he was able to keep from becomming a statistic.
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