# Robber gets shot with own gun during attempted hold-up **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 27, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990 "2010-05-27T20:14:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/1 "2010-05-27T20:14:43Z")
It doesn’t happen as much as the antis fear, but it does sometimes. Scary. Story: [http://arkansasmatters.com/content/news/fulltext?cid=314822](http://arkansasmatters.com/content/news/fulltext?cid=314822) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/2 "2010-05-27T20:20:36Z")
Kinda left out a few relevant details in the somewhat sparse OP…like the fact that the man was an armed robber, and his gun got grabbed when he put it down to grab the money. More of a dumb criminal story than any kind of gun issue. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/3 "2010-05-27T20:21:35Z")
So, let me get this straight. A guy tries to rob this girl. She wrestles him, gets his gun, shoots him, puts him in a headlock, and calls the cops? He messed with the wrooooong cashier! Imagine you’re the cop on the other end of the line: “Hi, I’ve got this robber in a headlock and he’ll QUIT. SQUIRMING. If he knows what’s good for him.” “Um, what’s your location?” “It’s the McDonalds at…hang on…::wham wham wham:: NOW HOLD STILL! At the corner of Chesnut and Fifth.” ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/4 "2010-05-27T20:26:05Z")
Wait… according to the article, it was a woman Burger King employee who grabbed a _robber’s gun_ when he put it down (after threatening her) and then struggled with and shot _him_. This isn’t a gun-hazard story, this is a stupid-criminal story! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/5 "2010-05-27T20:58:52Z")
If she worked in one of our stores, she’d be fired. She put herself and the other people in the restaurant in jeopardy. If someone comes in with gun and demands all the money in the register, _give it to him_. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/6 "2010-05-27T21:08:12Z")
Now if the robber didn’t have gun, he wouldn’t have got shot. Who puts the gun down? Come on! You always make them put the money in a bag. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/7 "2010-05-27T21:15:50Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > If she worked in one of our stores, she’d be fired. She put herself and the other people in the restaurant in jeopardy. > > If someone comes in with gun and demands all the money in the register, _give it to him_. Read the article. It was late at night, he had threatened to kill her, the other employees had abandoned her to hide in the bathroom. She had every right to fight back. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/8 "2010-05-27T21:30:28Z")
Good username/ post. Too bad the OP is misleading, I was going to [quote Tucco] ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUslGSoEH8I&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUslGSoEH8I&feature=related)). ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/9 "2010-05-27T21:36:57Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > If she worked in one of our stores, she’d be fired. She put herself and the other people in the restaurant in jeopardy. > > If someone comes in with gun and demands all the money in the register, _give it to him_. She _did_ give him the money, actually. Then she fought back, possibly saving herself from ending up like [John Henderson of Atlanta](http://www.wsbtv.com/news/18427457/detail.html), or [Terry Justice of Indianapolis](http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-pizza-delivery-man-robbed-shot-051210,0,6749198.story), or any of the other store and restaurant employees who have been shot or killed _after complying with robbers’ demands_. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/10 "2010-05-27T21:55:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Last edited by Spectre of Pithecanthropus; Today at 02:46 PM. Reason: More descriptive thread title Sigh! There’s a reason I posted here and not Great Debates. Can’t we have a _little_ fun? For the curious, the previous title was “Man’s gun gets grabbed and he gets shot” ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/11 "2010-05-27T22:04:13Z")
_Moderating_ Changed thread title for better accuracy with respect to the link. **Dickerman** , this action was the only possible course given the meagerness of the OP. It’s not clear if you really wanted to say something about gun control, or about stupid crooks, and these are distinct topics. Use a more descriptive thread title next time, and if you’re linking to a news item, make sure it’s on topic with respect to your post. For the Straight Dope Spectre of Pithecanthropus ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/12 "2010-05-29T04:19:25Z")
“The weapon, a **.25-caliber Sterling** semiautomatic handgun, was recovered at the scene.” Wow. What a pussy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/13 "2010-05-29T04:25:06Z")
Cheapskate, too. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/14 "2010-05-29T05:27:45Z")
Chicago - A Korean war vet fended off a robber that shot at him twice shot the robber with his own handgun and killed the robber. Handguns are illegal in Chicago. Seems that they are not going to press charges against the guy for his illegal handgun. I almost wish they would press charges and see what a political, legal and social shit storm that it would raise up. It’s not the law, it’s just ‘sometimes’. > **[Examiner is back - Examiner.com](https://examiner.com)** > > Examiner.com is the go-to source for millions of people who want to know what's happening in their city. And we're still growing! I was never ‘pro’ gun until idiots came about with silly laws. ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/15 "2010-05-29T20:50:31Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > She _did_ give him the money, actually. Then she fought back, possibly saving herself from ending up like [John Henderson of Atlanta](http://www.wsbtv.com/news/18427457/detail.html), or [Terry Justice of Indianapolis](http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-pizza-delivery-man-robbed-shot-051210,0,6749198.story), or any of the other store and restaurant employees who have been shot or killed _after complying with robbers’ demands_. > [@runner pat](#): > > Read the article. It was late at night, he had threatened to kill her, the other employees had abandoned her to hide in the bathroom. She had every right to fight back. It is pretty widely accepted (or at least I thought it was) that if you are being robbed at gunpoint, to comply with the robbers demands, then let the police deal with catching him. This woman is an idiot, and a terribly lucky one. Not only did she put her own life in danger, but also the lives of everyone else around her. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/16 "2010-05-29T20:57:57Z")
What if he was going to kill her anyway? Should she allow herself to be shot in the face and let the police catch up with him later? ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/17 "2010-05-29T21:07:44Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > What if he was going to kill her anyway? Should she allow herself to be shot in the face and let the police catch up with him later? Most robbers aren’t interested in killing people. They are interested in getting the money. What if she struggled, and the bathroom shared a wall with the office, and a stray bullet shot her coworker? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/18 "2010-05-29T21:11:21Z")
> [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](#): > > It is pretty widely accepted (or at least I thought it was) that if you are being robbed at gunpoint, to comply with the robbers demands, then let the police deal with catching him. It may be widely accepted, but it doesn’t make it smart in every situation. ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/19 "2010-05-29T21:14:42Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > It may be widely accepted, but it doesn’t make it smart in every situation. Why wouldn’t it make it smart in this situation? The robber claimed if she didn’t open the door he would shoot her. She opened the door. Even if she hadn’t opened the door I doubt he would have shot her. Instead of letting him take the money and leave, she struggled with him for the gun. I think there is a much higher likelihood of being shot after struggling for a weapon than refusing to open a door. ETA: Actually, since you may be referring to another situation, could you give me an example of when it would be a good time to struggle for a weapon, while putting your life and other’s at risk? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990/20 "2010-05-29T21:23:20Z")
Are you willing to bet your life on it? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-gets-shot-with-own-gun-during-attempted-hold-up/540990.md?page=2)