HankT
State Researcher
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HardChrome wrote:
Guy was right there, packing. On the spot.
He (Lambert)even talked to the shooter after he had shot the store clerk. The story is a little hazy as to why he didn't do anything else. Looks like he elected to not draw but serve as a good witness instead. That may have been a very good choice, it's hard to tell from the report, although Lambert's comment indicates he believed he wasnot the right man for the job.
Certainly, for a LAC who is packing, it's not always a good thing to pull out the ole pistola and start pointing it and/or shooting it. Sometimes, it is best to just keep it in the holster and stay out of the way. Let the pros handle it.
Actually, the gun carrying community looks good on this one. Lambert used his judgment to avoid armed engagement even though his gun was instantly available to him.
Of course, sometimes it is quite appropriate for the CC/OCer to deploy a firearm. Even mandatory. Alas, this Tennessee case wasn't one of them.
Lambert says he spoke to suspect in shooting
Commissioner had gun during visit to Knoxville Center
By Matt Lakin (Contact)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Knox County Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert
Police came running to the scene of the shots, but Lumpy says he got there first.
Knox County Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert said he'd gone to Knoxville Center mall on Wednesday to see the dentist then heard the commotion and shouts that someone had been shot. He says he got to the Reno Mens Wear store just in time to talk face to face with the man accused of gunning down a clerk.
"I did speak with the suspect," Lambert said Thursday. "He was still in the store. He didn't say anything about the shooting, but I observed he was armed.
"It appeared to be a medium-sized handgun, probably a 9 mm or a .40-caliber. He didn't point it at me, so I didn't draw down on him."
Lambert represents Northwest Knox County's 6th District and carries a special deputy card issued by the Knox County Sheriff's Office. The commissioner, who says he always carries a gun, had brought his Kel-Tec .380-caliber pistol to the mall with him.
It's the same gun Lambert used two years ago to chase off a would-be robber from his car dealership in Powell. Authorities later charged the suspect in that incident with murder in the death of a Knoxville truck driver.
Lambert said he didn't have glory on his mind as he bounded down the mall corridor.
"I went running to see what I could do," he said. "I saw the mall security guards were unarmed."
Lambert said he followed the guards to the store and got there about a minute before Knoxville Police Department officers arrived. Police say William Norman Johnson, 42, had just shot Ahmed Nahl, a 29-year-old clerk, after an argument over clothes Johnson bought there.
"I could see part of the guy's body," Lambert said. "He was near the front of the store. I saw the guy was armed with a handgun. I asked him to put it down."
The commissioner won't say exactly what Johnson said but says it was enough to make him realize the situation needed a delicate hand.
"He didn't comply," Lambert said. "He was very agitated, and I backed out. I'm not a policeman, and I'm not a psychiatrist. I decided the best thing to do was to watch and report to law enforcement."
Lambert said he tried to dial E-911 from his cell phone, couldn't get through, and ended up calling Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones on speed-dial. He said he heard but didn't watch the gun battle with police.
"I didn't see who shot first," Lambert said. "But I think the officers acted very professionally and quickly. I believe they did what they had to do. I drove myself to police headquarters afterward to be interviewed."
Police didn't confirm Lambert's account but said he's given a statement and cooperated with investigators.
"Mr. Lambert was there during a portion of this incident," KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk said.
Lambert said Johnson never showed any sign of trying to leave the store for a mall-wide rampage. He said he's glad he could offer his help.
"It looked like an isolated incident to me," the commissioner said. "Whatever the situation was, I think it was just one guy.
"Just because you have a carry permit, you're not going to stop a homicidal person from committing a violent act. But carry permits ensure there are more armed good guys in the vicinity."
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/10/lambert-says-he-spoke-to-suspect-in-shooting/
HardChrome wrote:
Guy was right there, packing. On the spot.
He (Lambert)even talked to the shooter after he had shot the store clerk. The story is a little hazy as to why he didn't do anything else. Looks like he elected to not draw but serve as a good witness instead. That may have been a very good choice, it's hard to tell from the report, although Lambert's comment indicates he believed he wasnot the right man for the job.
Certainly, for a LAC who is packing, it's not always a good thing to pull out the ole pistola and start pointing it and/or shooting it. Sometimes, it is best to just keep it in the holster and stay out of the way. Let the pros handle it.
Actually, the gun carrying community looks good on this one. Lambert used his judgment to avoid armed engagement even though his gun was instantly available to him.
Of course, sometimes it is quite appropriate for the CC/OCer to deploy a firearm. Even mandatory. Alas, this Tennessee case wasn't one of them.
Lambert says he spoke to suspect in shooting
Commissioner had gun during visit to Knoxville Center
By Matt Lakin (Contact)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Knox County Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert
Police came running to the scene of the shots, but Lumpy says he got there first.
Knox County Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert said he'd gone to Knoxville Center mall on Wednesday to see the dentist then heard the commotion and shouts that someone had been shot. He says he got to the Reno Mens Wear store just in time to talk face to face with the man accused of gunning down a clerk.
"I did speak with the suspect," Lambert said Thursday. "He was still in the store. He didn't say anything about the shooting, but I observed he was armed.
"It appeared to be a medium-sized handgun, probably a 9 mm or a .40-caliber. He didn't point it at me, so I didn't draw down on him."
Lambert represents Northwest Knox County's 6th District and carries a special deputy card issued by the Knox County Sheriff's Office. The commissioner, who says he always carries a gun, had brought his Kel-Tec .380-caliber pistol to the mall with him.
It's the same gun Lambert used two years ago to chase off a would-be robber from his car dealership in Powell. Authorities later charged the suspect in that incident with murder in the death of a Knoxville truck driver.
Lambert said he didn't have glory on his mind as he bounded down the mall corridor.
"I went running to see what I could do," he said. "I saw the mall security guards were unarmed."
Lambert said he followed the guards to the store and got there about a minute before Knoxville Police Department officers arrived. Police say William Norman Johnson, 42, had just shot Ahmed Nahl, a 29-year-old clerk, after an argument over clothes Johnson bought there.
"I could see part of the guy's body," Lambert said. "He was near the front of the store. I saw the guy was armed with a handgun. I asked him to put it down."
The commissioner won't say exactly what Johnson said but says it was enough to make him realize the situation needed a delicate hand.
"He didn't comply," Lambert said. "He was very agitated, and I backed out. I'm not a policeman, and I'm not a psychiatrist. I decided the best thing to do was to watch and report to law enforcement."
Lambert said he tried to dial E-911 from his cell phone, couldn't get through, and ended up calling Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones on speed-dial. He said he heard but didn't watch the gun battle with police.
"I didn't see who shot first," Lambert said. "But I think the officers acted very professionally and quickly. I believe they did what they had to do. I drove myself to police headquarters afterward to be interviewed."
Police didn't confirm Lambert's account but said he's given a statement and cooperated with investigators.
"Mr. Lambert was there during a portion of this incident," KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk said.
Lambert said Johnson never showed any sign of trying to leave the store for a mall-wide rampage. He said he's glad he could offer his help.
"It looked like an isolated incident to me," the commissioner said. "Whatever the situation was, I think it was just one guy.
"Just because you have a carry permit, you're not going to stop a homicidal person from committing a violent act. But carry permits ensure there are more armed good guys in the vicinity."
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/10/lambert-says-he-spoke-to-suspect-in-shooting/
