This afternoon I stopped to fill the truck and while I was doing that three youths 15-18years old aproached and demanded money, asked first, then produced a knife, screw driver and a mini bat and demanded the second time.
I was on the far side of the truck with a locked passenger door. So I backed up out into a more open area behind the truck. The three did not back down even after I told them no, and my 1911 was clear on my hip. I was fully aware that I might be able to hit one of the three before the others got to me in a charge, but that if I drew it would escalate the situation to violence for sure. They just kept demanding and making threats about how if I didn't give um money they'd burn me down. About that time I saw two black males clearly gang members with the Crips blue flags flying (we know them as bandannas sticking out of pockets) came towards the altercation from the resturant across the lot, yelling at the teens.
These two black males were the ideal model of gang bangers, every social fear you have these two men set off. These were the guys you crossed the street to step away from because they just exude "danger" "Don't **** with us" I honestly would never have made eye contact in another situation with these guys. They were the epitome of Dangerous Gang Bangers
Upon reaching me they stated "if you gonna throw down with him you little bleeps, you is throwing down with us too" The game had changed. Instead of a easy 3 on 1 intimidation scheme now it was 3 on 3, and two of the opposition were flying colors.
The three teens backed down, and left... fast.
I turned and thanked them for their intervention and even offered to by their lunch since it had clearly gotten cold sitting on their Explorer. "Nah man, we gots to take off, we ain't spose to be dis far north, them N'S gonna run get thems some burners or a slug a D-Dubs and be back here, so we gonna take off. Been enough lights in this hood dis week. You Ok? You need direction outta here? Not gonna be a place to stay round in a few minutes so you gonna want to be on your way"
I thanked them again. "No problem man, we figged you was 5-0 til you didn't burn um down on the spot, then Big E here noticed you ain't carrying a cop burner and you ain't trying to kill um, so we figured you was cool. Have a good day man, and make sure you clear out, cause they gonna be back and this be D-Dub turf right here"
I got in my truck, and left, cleared outta the valley and called 911. They would send a patrol car through the area, and have an officer contact me if they found them.
LESSONS.
1. I almost got trapped between the pump and truck.
2. If I had drawn it would have escalated to a bloody fight.
3. with 3 on 1 odds, I am not even 50% sure I would have won.
4. With how close they were to me, I would have only hit one on the draw. If the others charged they'd have had me.
5. The firearm even holstered kept them from attacking outright. Unarmed I would have been beaten, stabbed and possibly killed.
6. I would have NEVER expected my help to come from 2 very obviously gang affiliated men. I might have expected to be robbed by um, or offered drugs, but NOT backed up by um.
7. If I had done anything else such as reach for my phone, it would have escalated the situation to violence.
8. Because the attendant is locked in a booth that only looks forward he didn't see the confrontation unless he was watching the CCTV monitor.
9. I should have had my door unlocked.
10. My Kimber made the difference between a delayed stand-off and an outright mugging. But had I employed it I would have sparked to match to the situation.
Again, I was astonished where my help came from. There was nothing in it for these guys other then the possibility of getting hurt on my behalf. This wasn't their turf so they didn't have claim over it. They just helped because I was there and in need of help. And they were about as unexpected a source of help as if batman swooped it I wouldn't have been more surprised.
I was on the far side of the truck with a locked passenger door. So I backed up out into a more open area behind the truck. The three did not back down even after I told them no, and my 1911 was clear on my hip. I was fully aware that I might be able to hit one of the three before the others got to me in a charge, but that if I drew it would escalate the situation to violence for sure. They just kept demanding and making threats about how if I didn't give um money they'd burn me down. About that time I saw two black males clearly gang members with the Crips blue flags flying (we know them as bandannas sticking out of pockets) came towards the altercation from the resturant across the lot, yelling at the teens.
These two black males were the ideal model of gang bangers, every social fear you have these two men set off. These were the guys you crossed the street to step away from because they just exude "danger" "Don't **** with us" I honestly would never have made eye contact in another situation with these guys. They were the epitome of Dangerous Gang Bangers
Upon reaching me they stated "if you gonna throw down with him you little bleeps, you is throwing down with us too" The game had changed. Instead of a easy 3 on 1 intimidation scheme now it was 3 on 3, and two of the opposition were flying colors.
The three teens backed down, and left... fast.
I turned and thanked them for their intervention and even offered to by their lunch since it had clearly gotten cold sitting on their Explorer. "Nah man, we gots to take off, we ain't spose to be dis far north, them N'S gonna run get thems some burners or a slug a D-Dubs and be back here, so we gonna take off. Been enough lights in this hood dis week. You Ok? You need direction outta here? Not gonna be a place to stay round in a few minutes so you gonna want to be on your way"
I thanked them again. "No problem man, we figged you was 5-0 til you didn't burn um down on the spot, then Big E here noticed you ain't carrying a cop burner and you ain't trying to kill um, so we figured you was cool. Have a good day man, and make sure you clear out, cause they gonna be back and this be D-Dub turf right here"
I got in my truck, and left, cleared outta the valley and called 911. They would send a patrol car through the area, and have an officer contact me if they found them.
LESSONS.
1. I almost got trapped between the pump and truck.
2. If I had drawn it would have escalated to a bloody fight.
3. with 3 on 1 odds, I am not even 50% sure I would have won.
4. With how close they were to me, I would have only hit one on the draw. If the others charged they'd have had me.
5. The firearm even holstered kept them from attacking outright. Unarmed I would have been beaten, stabbed and possibly killed.
6. I would have NEVER expected my help to come from 2 very obviously gang affiliated men. I might have expected to be robbed by um, or offered drugs, but NOT backed up by um.
7. If I had done anything else such as reach for my phone, it would have escalated the situation to violence.
8. Because the attendant is locked in a booth that only looks forward he didn't see the confrontation unless he was watching the CCTV monitor.
9. I should have had my door unlocked.
10. My Kimber made the difference between a delayed stand-off and an outright mugging. But had I employed it I would have sparked to match to the situation.
Again, I was astonished where my help came from. There was nothing in it for these guys other then the possibility of getting hurt on my behalf. This wasn't their turf so they didn't have claim over it. They just helped because I was there and in need of help. And they were about as unexpected a source of help as if batman swooped it I wouldn't have been more surprised.
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