Posted on 08/10/2009 10:26:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
An empty chamber in a loaded gun saved the life of a Toledo police officer.
This, after a man wanted for murder took police on a high-speed chase and an intense shoot-out.
"Officer Board came very close to losing his life last night, that's fair to say," said Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre.
Navarre says Sunday night's shoot-out at Dorr and Westwood could have been a lot worse.
Four officers walked away from the incident unharmed: Eric Board, Diana Trevino, Charles Leroux and Lieutenant Mark Collins. The suspect, 21-year-old Devon Tyrone Woods, was not so lucky.
A three mile high-speed pursuit initially triggered from a disturbance call at Southgate Circle ended when Woods' vehicle hit one car, causing it to hit another.
When Officer Eric Board approached the suspect vehicle, police say, Board's life almost ended at point blank.
"(The suspect) pointed it at the officer, pulled the trigger, the gun did not fire, and the reason it did not fire because apparently he didn't have a round in that chamber," said Navarre.
Officer Board hit the ground and the three other officers began firing.
Police say Woods fired two rounds and took off running.
The shootout ensued and Woods fired off one more round while falling to the ground.
In all, 34 rounds were fired from police -- and three are believed to come from Woods.
Woods was shot five times, he died from his wounds.
"Officers are trained to fire and continue firing until the job is complete," said Navarre.
In studying the suspect, police discovered that Woods had a dangerous secret.
"We also learned last night that he has a warrant for his arrest for the crime of murder," said Navarre.
Not only was Woods wanted for murder, but police say the 21-year-old's rap sheet was extensive.
They say he had committed several armed robberies in the Detroit area and NBC24 discovered that he had just been let out of prison in February of this year after serving two years on a felony weapons conviction out of Wayne County.
You can view Woods' criminal past for yourself by clicking here.
All four officers involved the shootout are on paid administrative leave.
Navarre says this will help them cope with the trauma and emotional stress of being involved in such a violent incident.
... AND for someone to say that everyone that carries a weapon "condition one" is dangerous, is also as you say; asinine... Just saying. ;-)
An unloaded weapon IS a paperweight in a close quarters encounter, just replace the scenario with a citizen being carjacked or robbed, he pulls his weapon without a round in the chamber... "click" = dead.
Most people carry semi-autos and if you think the "average joe" can cycle the slide that quickly under stress... just look at the results in the story, most people train very little with their weapons and most would do the same thing... WTF! it didn't fire... a few seconds go by before the mind re-engages and attempts to correct the situation, and if the bad guy is right there with a knife or gun... you can see the outcome.
Hey Spktyr... here we are again, still advocating carrying paperweights I see... because really, just how many people carry revolvers these days ;-) Post #21 would be my counter.
Um, what? I’m not advocating carrying with an empty chamber on a semiauto.
I also don’t advocate carrying a revolver.
So I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was pointing out to another poster (who had never seen someone foolishly advocating carrying with an empty chamber here on FR) that there was an example of someone advocating that position right here on this very thread (and it wasn’t me.)
“AND for someone to say that everyone that carries a weapon “condition one” is dangerous,”
It IS more dangerous than not having a round in the chamber. Isn’t that your point? My point is that level of readiness is not always required.
“Most people carry semi-autos and if you think the “average joe” can cycle the slide that quickly under stress.”
Yes it would take a couple of extra seconds that you may not have. Then again, you may have plenty of time. Depends on the situation and the person. Your generic answer is hogwash and your judgement on who should be able to carry is also hogwash.
If you’re going to talk about someone its polite to copy them.
You two are a piece of work, pretty typical of the ignorance seen on here lately.
Carrying with an empty chamber on a semiauto is assuming a lot of things.
1. That you’ll have time to rack the slide.
2. That you’ll be able to use both hands to operate the weapon and that your off hand won’t be slick with sweat, blood or some other friction reducing subtance.
3. That in the stress of the moment you will remember to rack your slide.
4. That in the stress of the moment you will retain the dexterity to rack the slide.
That’s assuming an awful lot.
“Carrying with an empty chamber on a semiauto is assuming a lot of things.”
Yes, those are true.
So you’re saying a person should not have the right to make those decisions for themselves?? Or if they do that they are stupid and shouldn’t be allowed to have a firearm?
You are the one assuming an awful lot.
It's not clear to me from your post what you mean? Are you advocating keeping the hammer down on an empty chamber of a revolvers cylinder or, not chambering a round in a semiauto until you need to use it?
No, you have the right to make that decision for yourself.
However, I have the right to ridicule you for your decisions.
That's exactly what my husband has been telling me. Problem was....the gun was new and I was having a hard time with the manual "slingshot" action needed to get a round in the chamber. Carried it a long time that way, but we went to a firing range the other night, and after firing the gun has loosened up a bit.
Never draw with a semi-auto on a person with a revolver or a round in the chamber. They have a time advantage you do not want to deal with. Love you dear.
(snip)
3. That in the stress of the moment you will remember to rack your slide.
(snip)
This one right here is the primary problem. Heavy training is needed to overcome this; far more so than most people who carry concealed are going to bother with. The same thing applies to disengaging manual safeties, but I think that is more easily learned. If you blank out on the need to rack the slide, it won't matter if you had enough time to do so.
This is, BTW, why my carry choice is an H&K P7M8. I'd like a heavier caliber, but the design is not only familiar to me - it's very unfamiliar to most everyone else. I know that if someone manages to wrestle it away from me, I have a few seconds before they figure it out.
“However, I have the right to ridicule you for your decisions.”
And I have the right to point out your lack of class. Your in LE I bet.
I don’t understand why the Cops didn’t have their Guns drawn
when they approached the Car after their chase, doesn’t make sense.
Well Geee.... guess that makes new regs for police .. the polieceman lived because of not having one in the chamber .. therefore ...police should never have a round in the chamber. Well damn .. that is just simple logic. (Sarcasm) why carry at all.
I’ve carried 1911’s Conditon 1, locked cocked and ready to rock for years. A round NOT in hole is a round that will never get fired. Accidents don’t happen, they are caused.
Why do I carry Semiauto? Because I can have 45 stopping power in a compact easy to carry package. A 38 in a revolver is easy to carry, but the stopping power is nowhere near a 45.
I keep a gun under my bed. It's a Walther P99, and does not have a safety. I am afraid I will somehow kick it in the middle of the night as I come and go from the bathroom, and we have cats/kittens that get into everything. Thus, I leave the mag un-engaged (it will fall out if you pick it up) and no round in the chamber. I always assumed that the night I needed it I'd just engage the mag and rack it. Simple, huh?
The night I had to utilize it (Our front door went BOOM as if someone had kicked it in) I went through that process as I began to clear my house room by room, and lemme tell ya, it was the loudest noise on the planet. Any crack head would have known my location, it was so loud.
Anyway, the door blew open from the wind, because I neglected to lock it that night. There was no home invader, just me, in my underwear, full of adrenaline at 11 at night.
And yes, I was raised in an anti-gun household. I'm still kinda fearful of my gun, and afraid of inadvertantly shooting my neighbor through the walls. I'm working on that.
A cup of coffee and happy ending story this morning. Well done.
Sorry but I never saw in the article where it said what type gun the shooter had. If you know something more about the story perhaps from another news source, please let us know. Otherwise, anything beyond that is assumption
Never say never. It all depends on circumstances. You always have an option to do what you think is best under that situation. The person who never practices has to realize their limitations. The person who practices all the time has to consider if drawing possibly losing is worth it.
The people who advocate an unchambered semiautomatic have to realize there are those who are very comfortable with a ready to go firearm. Those that advocate a chambered round have to understand not everyone is at their skill level.
My carry guns are all chambered. My house shotguns have a shell half in the chamber in case a visiting child gets curious.
My only thought is someone threatening (that includes name-calling) my family or me individually really doesn't want to do that. Other than that, no further comment.
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