It is a crap shoot if he would of run or started shooting.
It only takes one unlucky round to end your life.
Throwing the desired object as a distraction is a good tactic.
Probably good TRAINING! It is one of the best SHTF plan to separate such items like a money clip and a single car key from the rest of our pocket stash. Separating a money clip from credit cards and ID saves a lot of post robbery headaches. Separating house & other keys does the same.
Throwing down these 'shiny objects' tends to distract the villains attention AWAY from YOU. You then have the choice of running or unholstering. For the ladies, this is an essential move, handing the prize allows the thug to grab and that is NEVER A GOOD THING!