Today...Guns Flashed in Convenience Store Parking Lot....What Would Other Freepers Have Done?

self | 11-08-02 | wardaddy

[wardaddy]

This happened to me today. It rattled me, I'm not going to lie. I used to think I didn't rattle too easy but I found myself in a percieved hairy situation today and would like to know how other FReepers would have handled this.

This morning about 11 AM, I was on my way to visit my wife and our newborn son(#2) who was born last night at the hospital in midtown Nashville.

I decided to stop at a 7-11 style store near the hospital to pick up some drinks and stuff for my wife. Upon entering my parking lot, I chose to park my Suburban next to a Dark Green Yukon with "pimped-out" rims and whatnot. I didn't think a lot about it at the time except to think it was either bangers or a pro-athlete except that the car was backed in rather than the usual parking of nose first. As I got out of my car right next to the Yukon, I noticed 3 large "baggy urban clothed" young black males in the car with tinted windows in the back. It set off some mild alarms but not too much. I deal with bangers in my businesses frequently.

Anyhow, as I turned to close my door, I happen to look down right into the driver's lap where in one hand was a cell phone and the other hand cradled an open-bolt Mac-10 style machine pistol....the bolt was open and I could see by the brass that it was indeed loaded. I turned away by then very very alarmed and my thoughts racing...as I did , I noticed the passenger in front had a Sig or Glock cradled in his hand as well. I did my very best to appear that I had not noticed since I was to be sure in easy fire range thru the open window. I wasn't sure whther the Mac was selective fire or semi-auto.

I immediately made the decision to go ahead and enter the store not sure whether they were planning to hit the place or what in the hell but I sure did not want to spook them. A Yukon full of bangers sitting back asswards in front of an urban convenience store with guns in their laps in broad daylight was sort of overwhelming.....kind of like Neil Young's Powderfinger "it sure don't look like they are here to deliver the mail"....

I got in the store and immediately told the store clerk (an Indian of course who could barely understand a damn thing I said).....he stammered about a bit and I yelled at him to lock the "GD" door now damn it!...he complied and I took his phone to call the cops. I asked him if he had a gun to which he expressed befuddlement. I damn sure wished I had had one about then. I called 9-11 and told them what I'd seen. The dispatcher was quite nice and asked for a description and a tag #. I complied.

As we were waiting for the cops, another young black man in a red hooded sweatshirt came up and spoke to the driver and the driver got out with his gun under his coat and the new guy took over driving and the original driver got in and they pulled off about 10 seconds before the cops arrived. When the cops arrived, I ran out into the lot and told the cop which direction they headed and he thanked me and radioed the other units and told me he was on it and screeched off. I went back inside to try to chill out the clerk who by then had called his relatives and was sort of freaked out by me as much as anything I suppose.

Now, I've lived all over the damn world, been shot accidentally, been shot at on purpose and done a fair amount of living. The danger I immediately felt by the circumstances made me feel quite vulnerable. I simply was not sure what was going down but it sure didn't feel too good. I mean ....how many folks sit in front of 7-11s brandishing fairly serious handweapons in public in a parked car in the middle of the day?

I knew I was not about to walk past those guys again to get back in my car with the driver's window open and me a perfect target if I had spooked them if they thought I'd made them.

What kind of idiot's show their guns in public in that manner? I don't think these were CCW fellows.....

Anyhow. That's my story. Glancing down at that Cobray style pistol rattled me a bit.....It was damned surreal. I thought for a second that after all these years and rebuilding my life, I might just get clipped in some crossfire by some chickensh!t gangbangers over some bad dope deal or grudge.....it didn't seem fair. Does it ever?

The cops were pretty prompt to their credit.

I don't like calling the cops over anything to do with guns or RKBA but this situation just had a real bad feeling to it.

Any fellow FReepers care to lecture me on the right way to have handled it or just maybe I should have minded my own business ...feel free to fire away.

[RogueIsland]

You done good (although I suspect you'll get all manner of flames). Most people would have made a hasty departure and then read about the aftermath in the paper. True, these guys could have been nice decent chaps, but I'm a nice, decent chap and if I had been behaving like these guys, I think I ought to expect a visit from the police.

Sorry, but if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it's probably a duck. This wasn't a case where some guy inadvertently prints his carry piece trying to pick up some paper towels off the top shelf at the supermarket, or somebody stowing his hardware outside of the local indoor range. Context is very important. Profiling has its place, and these guys fit the profile.

[Lion Den Dan]

You survived. No one hurt. You probably did the right thing. Would the same actions be right the nextime? Who knows. For sure, you are not the white knight or the masked avenger. If you had been armed to the teeth, any action other than what you did would have been WRONG under the lawas I understand it.

[Quix]

SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE VERY:

1) Mature
2) Wise
3) Responsible
4) Quick thinking
5) Appropriately cautious
6) Quick acting
7) Careful
8) Effective.

I don't know what more one would want to expect of one's self in such a situation.

I suppose if you'd noticed their heading out instead of heading in with respect to their manner of parking AND THEN TUNED IN prayerfully about what the vibes were etc. AND THEN left for a different convenience store before getting out of your car--it MIGHT have been better. But that's a bit of a stretch.

I have a hard time imagining how you might have done better. Perhaps other more experienced or skillful or creative folk than I will come up with something but I'm impressed with exactly what you did. More power to you. Congrats. Keep up the good work. I consider you an example to us all.

[Hodar]

Wonderful job. You recognized a potential crime, saw credible evidence that something wasn't right, and reacted. The clerk may not be alive today, if you hadn't shown up and behaved the way you did. America needs more people like you in it. Grade A+

[Budge]

Man, I have no idea what I would have done. Probably had a heart attack, frozen, or been in a body bag shortly.

IMHO you done good!

[weikel]

You did right it wasn't that they were armed it was pretty obvious they were gonig to rob the place. Im happy your safe btw.

[SunnyUsa]

Wow, I think you were very brave and you handled it very well.

That sinking feeling of knowing you had to either jump in your car and try and get away from them, OR go in the store like "normal" must've been incredible!

You did a great job, keeping your cool and getting the 'indian' storekeeper to lock the door.

I don't know if I could've been as brave as you, I truly hope I would whenever I'm tested

...I know I always try to help or get involved whenever I can...

I have stopped many times to help someone as in someone broken down in a car (offer to call someone for them), elderly man collapsing on a rural road next to his mailbox (gave him aid, called 9/11), lost child - I've done that a million times, stay w/them till help/parent arrives, car accidents...etc
( lessons I try to teach my children too as they have been with me a few times when I've helped people out ).

Who knows what their intentions were, (not good I'm sure) but you could've been a victim in an awful armed robbery...

You have an amazing story to tell your new born son!
Your boys have a very brave Daddy! :)

[wardaddy]

Thanks..it scared me....I'll admit that to this forum and the world.

[weikel]

Your a hero actually they might have shot the clerk and some other people.

[TheLion]

A tough call. I think you did very well, under the circumstances. Don't see how it could have been handled any better.

[wardaddy]

I was already out of the car and I didn't want to spook them...my cell phone was in my locked car. I saw the guns as I was slamming my door shut with my arse.

[Dog]

You made the right decision.....glad you are ok.

[wardaddy]

Thanks...

[isthisnickcool]

I would have tossed a bang grenade into their ride then opened up with my MP5 as they piled out the Yukon.

Yea, in my dreams....

You handled it well.

[Billthedrill]

What you saw was "brandishing" in my state - don't know about yours. You should have marched right up to those young men and made a citizen's arrest right there.

OK, OK, I'm kidding! You did exactly the right thing. Even if you were armed there's no point in forcing a confrontation. The situation screams "drugs" and the police are the ones to handle it. Glad you're OK.

[wardaddy]

Thanks...un-nerving. I'm a middle aged family man these days...I don't go looking for trouble anymore.

[AmericaUnited]

Good, but not best. If these thugs had discovered that the door was locked after you went in, they would have figured that you tipped off the store and called the cops. Then they could have gotten your plate number and found out where you live, putting you, your wife and new baby in harms way, for no good reason.

You should have quietly driven off and then called the police.

[Dog]

Congrats on your new son ....btw.

[DugwayDuke]

Let me see. You saw some black guys sitting in a fancy car with weapons. You concluded they were up to no good and called the cops. I think you need sensitivity training. Just kidding, of course.

Seriously, you did right. I think those who said you should have gotten back in your car are wrong. The first thing to remember is that you don't want to precipitate any thing. Second, get distance from the perps. Third, call the cops. You did well. Let's cancel the sensitivity training.

[Slyfox]

While I was reading your description, I thought that I would just get back in my car and drive off. You did the right thing. That clerk is alive today because of your quick thinking, with or without a gun.