# Teen Thugs take on the wrong 65 year old man. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 26, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736 "2012-01-26T15:33:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/1 "2012-01-26T15:33:12Z")
Crime is really getting bad when its not even safe to ride a bicycle on a trail. :dubious: Three teen punks ambush a bicycle rider and got him to the ground. I’m assuming they would have beaten him senseless or maybe killed him.. 65 year old man managed to shoot two of them and the third was arrested at the scene. I ride my bicycle a lot for exercise. Its not hard to imagine the terror of seeing three punks coming for you. :eek: Glad the old guy was armed and able to defend himself. I carry pepper spray on my belt. > [@](#): > > A 65-year-old man shot two teens, one fatally, as they tried to rob him Wednesday morning on a trail near the Schuylkill River, police said. > \ > The man was riding his bicycle on the trail near the Bertolet Fishing Dock at South First Avenue and Chestnut Street in West Reading. > > The teens knocked the man off his bicycle, and two of them assaulted him. > > The man pulled out a handgun and shot them both. [http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=361536](http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=361536) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/2 "2012-01-26T15:39:28Z")
1. Good for him! 2. Chick Corea is looking old. 3. If more people shot more muggers, the world would be a better place. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/3 "2012-01-26T16:00:37Z")
I love being able to legally shoot violent criminals. It’s so much…faster. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/4 "2012-01-26T16:07:00Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I love being able to legally shoot violent criminals. It’s so much…faster. 1. Me too (yes, I know you were being sarcastic). 2. Chick Corea _is_ old. 3. I hope the two that lived spend a long time in jail regretting what they’ve done. Fuck them. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Elk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Anne\_Elk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Elk)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/5 "2012-01-26T16:09:17Z")
I have been through that area many times bike commuting. It’s pretty much a permanent crime scene. It’s thick with brush and forces trail users to slow down to negotiate some tight turns, great for ambushing. I’ve never been hassled there, but I do ride with a can of bear spray and an “attitude”. I’m scared every-time. I would be with a gun too. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/6 "2012-01-26T16:12:20Z")
Good for him. I have to wonder, how long until the poor bastard is sued for shooting youths who came to his aid when he fell off his bicycle? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/7 "2012-01-26T16:13:43Z")
I agree, I hope they rot in jail. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/8 "2012-01-26T16:14:59Z")
To quote [Rex Applegate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Applegate): " An acute failure of the victim selection process." ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/9 "2012-01-26T16:15:19Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > I have to wonder, how long until the poor bastard is sued for shooting youths who came to his aid when he fell off his bicycle? Does that sort of thing happen often? If so, it’s news to me. I see it as tragedy all around. The man is probably going to be haunted by what he had to do for the rest of his life. And the teenagers – how did they manage to screw up their lives so soon? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/10 "2012-01-26T16:36:12Z")
When the made for TV movie comes out I hope he shoots them while riding a wheelie. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/11 "2012-01-26T16:52:09Z")
IIRC Reading is the poorest city in America at the moment. Poor people get desperate and desparate people do desperate things. I’m not surprised that this happened but am saddened by it nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/12 "2012-01-26T16:57:51Z")
Walt Kowalski: “Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn’t have fucked with? That’s me.” ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Elk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Anne\_Elk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Elk)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/13 "2012-01-26T17:03:58Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > IIRC Reading is the poorest city in America at the moment. Poor people get desperate and desparate people do desperate things. I’m not surprised that this happened but am saddened by it nonetheless. Folks move to Reading from NYC and Philly to cherry-pick welfare. These fine “yuts” were not in school. It’s a shame they weren’t desperate for an education. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/14 "2012-01-26T17:15:02Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > IIRC Reading is the poorest city in America at the moment. **Poor people get desperate and desparate people do desperate things.** I’m not surprised that this happened but am saddened by it nonetheless. Bullshit, they were predators looking for what they thought was an easy target. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/15 "2012-01-26T17:15:30Z")
> [@Anne\_Elk](#): > > Folks move to Reading from NYC and Philly to cherry-pick welfare. Really? What does Reading offer that they can’t get in Philly? > [@](#): > > These fine “yuts” were not in school. It’s a shame they weren’t desperate for an education. I’m not excusing their behavior by any means. The vast majority of poor people manage to avoid committing assault and robbery. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/16 "2012-01-26T17:17:06Z")
> [@Anne\_Elk](#): > > I have been through that area many times bike commuting. It’s pretty much a permanent crime scene. It’s thick with brush and forces trail users to slow down to negotiate some tight turns, great for ambushing. I’ve never been hassled there, but I do ride with a can of bear spray and an “attitude”. I’m scared every-time. I would be with a gun too. I love the idea of an elk on a bicycle armed with a can of bear spray 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/17 "2012-01-26T17:21:01Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Bullshit, they were predators looking for what they thought was an easy target. How are those two statements incompatible. What do you think turned them into predators in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/18 "2012-01-26T17:39:10Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > How are those two statements incompatible. What do you think turned them into predators in the first place? A complete lack of empathy with another human being. Saying that poverty turns people into monsters is deeply insulting to poor people, the majority of whom are average decent human beings. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/19 "2012-01-26T17:45:52Z")
Will the old man lose his life savings, be hounded, etc.? Bernie Goetz was. Wait till the surving punks get a high profile lawyer-this guy is toast. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736/20 "2012-01-26T17:59:39Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > 1. I hope the two that lived spend a long time in jail regretting what they’ve done. Fuck them. I doubt it. More likely, they’ll spend a few years in jail - lifting weights, drinking “pruno”, sodomizing “punks”, hanging with their homeboys who are already in jail, swapping criminal strategies, earning “cred” - and then they’ll get out and do the same thing again. Nobody ever “rots in jail.” If they get a life sentence, then they spend it doing the same shit they did before, only in jail, to other prisoners. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-thugs-take-on-the-wrong-65-year-old-man/610736.md?page=2)