Robber's body discovered under bridge at highways(MS)

vicksburgpost.com ^ | 5 March, 2010 | Steve Sanoski

[marktwain]

The body of one of two men chased after a violent robbery at a small grocery Thursday night was found this morning at the Interstate 20-U.S. 61 interchange and authorities were trying to determine whether he was shot, jumped or fell from an overpass.

A second suspect, described, like the dead man, as Hispanic, was being sought by police in the robbery and assault at La Chiquita grocery store, 4002 U.S. 61 South, which triggered the chase and shootout.

Police received a call about the armed robbery at 8:41, said Sgt. Sandra Williams. “The caller reported two Hispanic males entered the business wearing ski masks. One was carrying an SKS assault rifle, and the other had a handgun,” Williams said.

After taking an undisclosed amount of cash, CDs and jewelry from the store, as well as a wallet and cash from a customer, the two fled the scene in a vehicle and headed north on U.S. 61 South toward Interstate 20, Williams said. A woman clerk at the business was hit in the head with the butt of a rifle during the robbery, then notified the store owner who jumped in his vehicle and chased the robbers, Williams said.

“There was a chase on the highway, which resulted in the suspects crashing out on the bridge,” she said. “The suspects got out of their vehicle and started firing at the business owner. And basically, between the suspects and the owner of the business, there was a shootout.” She declined to speculate on how many shots were fired.

[marktwain]

I wonder what the store owner used to return fire. He did well, facing a rifle. I wonder if he had one of those all purpose sport utility rifles, you know, the kind that are semi-automatic, fire a moderately powered cartridge, and that take magazines with a useful capacity for self defense.

The store owner should get the keys to the city and a cash award.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Fell after being shot. Took a little time to bleed out...

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Don’t know about miss. law, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Store Owner charged with something

[bgill]

authorities were trying to determine whether he was shot

Um, is there a hole?

[Condor51]

“There was a chase on the highway, which resulted in the suspects crashing out on the bridge,” she said. “The suspects got out of their vehicle and started firing at the business owner. And basically, between the suspects and the owner of the business, there was a shootout.” She declined to speculate on how many shots were fired.

The business owner was not injured, she said, and was questioned and released by police

Now, Don't get me wrong. I'm glad the Banditos got what they deserved.
BUT - what is wrong with the above scenario?

[Poser]

SKS assault rifle?!?!

Let me fix that...

SKS curio and relic rifle.

[Condor51]

*** Don’t know about miss. law, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Store Owner charged with something ***

You type faster than I do ;-)
(see my post #5)

[Jack Hydrazine]

I bet it was the Trunk Monkey!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geynA-JYDHE

[driftdiver]

Whats wrong? You mean besides the poor writing?

The business owner chased the thieves and appears to have done so in a reckless manner. The owner pursued thieves off their property which is normally a very poor decision. At least the owner didn’t start the shooting which may be their saving grace.

The owner is lucky nobody else was hurt. I am glad the thieves didn’t make out so well.

[marktwain]

“The owner pursued thieves off their property which is normally a very poor decision.”

It may be a poor decision if you only take into account the store owner’s welfare. If you consider the society as a whole, it can have a very positive impact, which is why we should give large awards to such heros.

[driftdiver]

“If you consider the society as a whole, it can have a very positive impact, which is why we should give large awards to such heros.”

Depends on the situation. I don’t think having pissed off people who have had no training chase thieves is such a good idea. If they caused an accident and killed some child over a couple hundred bucks it would be pretty darn bad.

That happens with cops let alone some 711 clerk behind the wheel playing rambo.

Better bet is to shoot the thieves in the store and avoid the whole chase scenario.

[Condor51]

*** Whats wrong? You mean besides the poor writing? ***

LOL, yes besides the poor writing. And you hit everything on the head.

What the Store Owner did was reckless, dangerous, dumb and just plain STOO-PID^™. This is not Mexico where you go chasing Banditos into the hills. The moron is lucky he didn't kill someone a mile away. And it acts like this that give the Gun Grabbers the ammo they need (no pun) to paint 'us' as a bunch of trigger happy wackos.

If I was the local prosecutor I'd be looking at him very closely. Like for Reckless Endangerment to start with.

[Erik Latranyi]

The store owner did the right thing, trying to keep the perps in sight. He was probably on the phone with police at the time, telling them where the criminals were.

Otherwise, the police would have shown up at the store and told the clerk that they got away.

[Cvengr]

With the economy and changing social dynamic, it is prudent to encourage the public to defend themselves and their interests where closest to their domain.

There is a very large population of very criminal lower class who are also unemployed, but unlike many professionals lack virtue and character.

I suspect we are about to see violent criminal increase by an order of magnitude. Far better for victims of such criminal behavior defend themselves at the expense and risk of the criminals, than to completely overload the judicial system, which in many cases is unable to financially keep the guilty behind bars.

Imagine gang crime in the 30’s, but now with more firepower and international ties instead of interstate ties.

[Condor51]

*** The store owner did the right thing, trying to keep the perps in sight. ***

Well, keeping them is sight is one thing. Getting close enough to cause a crash, and close enough to them to engage in a gun fight was far from right.

Now. I believe that if I catch someone breaking into my detached garage and stealing my stuff (or attempting to, that gives me the right to blow their heads off, right there and then on my property.

But if I have to purse them, pulling a trigger is then is a different thing entirely. At that point I'm the cause for the gunfire, and that's irresponsible and reckless.

[Scotsman will be Free]

“SKS curio and relic rifle.”
I like my russian SKS. It’s accurate and the round is a pretty good one.
I had a chinese SKS that was given to me that hit left one foot at 50yrds. Sold that one asap.

[libertyhoundusnr]

Hey Jose! Welcome to Mississippi....

A new hero of the community emerges.

[driftdiver]

Self defense does not include reckless car chases through the streets. You are FAR more likely to hurt yourself or some other innocent.

[Ratman83]

I see nothing wrong with the scenario, except the owner needs more range time.

[Erik Latranyi]

Well, keeping them is sight is one thing. Getting close enough to cause a crash, and close enough to them to engage in a gun fight was far from right.

You ASSume that the store owner caused the crash.

These perps may have been simply fleeing the scene and never noticed the store owner, crashing due to their own recklessness.

Let's face it, without the store owner giving chase, there would very likely be two violent criminals at large. Now there is only one.