Robber Killed by Store Owner; Grocer Suffers Wound During Shootout

The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) ^ | April 18, 2003 | Leslie Williams

[Ebenezer]

A Lakeview grocer thwarted a robbery of his store on West Harrison Avenue near Fleur de Lis Drive on Thursday morning by shooting the gunman, who later died at Charity Hospital, police said.

Police said Ambrose Plakotaris, the owner of Harrison Grocery, exchanged gunfire with the man shortly after 8:15 a.m.

[Ebenezer]

A fitting example of the Second Amendment at work.

Why is it that, as a local television station's coverage of the incident mentioned, police advise against confronting armed criminals? If a person has lawful ownership of a weapon and has trained to use it properly, why not let him exercise his right to self-defense? It sometimes feels like law enforcement is the worst enemy of our right to bear arms.

Law-abiding gun owners like our Greek grocer provide a good deterrent to crime. Let someone else try to rob his store!

[jjm2111]

But...but...but...he's should have done what the robber demanded.

[freedomcrusader]

The statistics also argue for resistance to crime with a firearm. Those who resist with a firearm have better outcomes (morbidity and mortality) on average than even those who comply.

[Ebenezer]

"Those who resist with a firearm have better outcomes (morbidity and mortality) on average than even those who comply."

You make a very good point there. I still have to hear a story about someone who died shooting back at a criminal. On the other hand, how many times do you hear about unarmed victims being killed even after complying with a criminal's demands?

[isthisnickcool]

The story does not say but possibly the moral to this story is don't bring a revolver to a gunfight when the other shooter has an automatic with a full clip?

[duzystopa]

The grocery owner did the right thing. Remember the rule of nines: In 99.9% of all felonies the police arrive AFTER the crimes have been committed.

[A2J]

The man, whose identity had not been released by authorities late Thursday, died a short time later at Charity Hospital.

"I'm deeply saddened."

NOT!

[chuknospam]

A D.O.J. report stated the obvious, in virtually every case where the citizen was armed, the outcome was in favor of the armed citizen and in most cases a shot wasn't fired. Whereas, in cases where the victim had no means of defense, the victim had approximately a 50-50 chance of being killed.

[MileHi]

"The perpetrator suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body."

Gun control is hitting your target...

[Tacis]

It may be that the media preaches that business owners should not defend themselves with firearms because doing so has a disproportionate effect on the minority community.

[China Clipper]

The story does not say but possibly the moral to this story is don't bring a revolver to a gunfight when the other shooter has an automatic with a full clip?

This is probably NOT correct "gunspeak". I would be willing to bet he was using a "semi-automatic pistol" with a "fully loaded magazine".

Don't make the same sophomoric and idiotic mistakes the uninformed media seem to make almost on pupose to make firearms sound so "menacing" and "deadly", and obviously "worthy of banning completely".... /off sarcasm...

JMHO !! :)

[isthisnickcool]

Good points. But you should not have to correct me. Everyone should be able to have their own HK MP5/10. Too bad that's not the case. Cuz they are way fun to shoot. I hear.

[Shooter 2.5]

Shot placement has more to do with a winning gunfight than whether it's an semi-auto or revolver.

[arthurus]

There was a storeowner in, I believe Texas, in the last year or so who was killed in his third shơotout with robbers. All thrêe robbers also died.

[Gritty]

I always love a story with a happy ending!

[rogue yam]

The perpetrator suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.

And he does it the old-fashioned way, some of his patrons said.

Sometimes the old ways are best.

[MileHi]

Sometimes the old ways are best.

{:0)

[Bogey78O]

What good would a full clip be? It'd do more good in the magazine ;)

[enemy of the people]

Good job Mr.Plakotaris! The next time that I'm in New Orleans I am going to try to visit Harrison Grocery, get something to eat there, and meet Mr. Platkoris in person. May his business be better than ever.

[enemy of the people]

Name spelling correction: "meet Mr. Plakotaris in person".