There's no question that his life was being threatened. He should have just shot him, then the would be robber couldn't try this on someone else. Now who knows where this guy is?
That seems to be in the NMJM (not my job, man) catagory.
Shooting a fleeing BG in the back after the threat had clearly stopped would likely have been a bad call and certainly would have had a different report from Mark (Fulgum). Although it would have been cool to get him down on a citizen arrest until the LEO's showed, he did exactly the right thing....if nothing else, the cockroach went back to the hive and is telling all is BG pals what went down. That alone may make them think twice about armed citizens and if the juice is worth the squeeze the next time the try to pull a stunt like this.
Once the criminal is in the flight-mode, and the danger has passed, to re-engage/chase/shoot at/etc... the suspect may turn the tables of who is in the position of attacker/attackee. At that point, should you be presenting deadly force towards him, the attacker may well be justified in using the same against you.
Once it's over, it's OVER... Don't do anything stupid to make it last any longer than it needs to. You could try yelling "Stay on the ground!" while alerting police, and if he sticks around and lets you hold him at gunpoint, good. But don't be surprised if he doesn't listen to you. Get a good description, license plate numbers, etc... and report the incident to the authorities.
And hopefully the idiot will spread the word that people are getting more difficult to jump. "Some people even got GUNS!"
-G20
PS: Anyone else notice that this OCer did not have his gun taken, as so many anti-OC people suggest happens during a crime?
G20, I agree with your post, except I have a problem with your PS.
Where does the story say he was OC?:question:
It didn't. I could be wrong, but I would be surprised because....
Armored vehicle technicians open-carry their weapons when in uniform. I'd be surprised to find out that the guy was not in uniform, as that would seem a reasonable requirement to show up to the job (in uniform) as to prevent people from trying to sneak in to the building under the pretense of being an employee.
I work armed patrol security. I'm in uniform with a full duty belt including my Glock. I know that I am, by definition, open carrying, but I don't really see it being the same as when I OC in street clothes.
As much as I wish that it was legal to shoot someone who threatens your life, regardless of whether they are in the act or fleeing, it is not a good idea to shoot someone when they are fleeing. My argument for shooting them while they are fleeing is for public safety, but like I said, that would be hard to justify under the current RCW.
The employee turned as if to hand the robber his keys. Instead he drew his own gun and pointed it at the robber, who ran off on Yakima Avenue.
I would disagree that if his back is to you he is no longer a threat. It depends on the situation. If the would be robber had used a firearm instead of a knife I would certainly see him as a threat no matter what direction he was facing. He could just be running for cover only to turn and shoot once it was reached. To use a blanket statement that once an attacker's back is to you you are SOL is completely incorrect. It's easy to sit here and critique the situation but each and every one is different.
Shooting a fleeing BG in the back after the threat had clearly stopped would likely have been a bad call
If the employee had "pointed it at the robber, and fired, there would be no issue of "bad call" would there?The employee turned as if to hand the robber his keys. Instead he drew his own gun and pointed it at the robber,