By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
The now-famous shooting last month at the Greenwood Mall in Indiana, during which 22-year-old legally-armed Elisjsha Dicken fatally shot a gunman who had opened fire on shoppers in a food court, gained immediate notoriety, it is just one recent example of Americans fighting back and being their own first responders.
Increasingly, armed private citizens, acting within the parameters of self-defense laws, are putting criminals on notice their chosen profession has deadly risks.
For example, Monday night in Norco, Calif., a would-be armed robber is seen on store security video walking into a market and liquor store with a semi-auto rifle. It was his bad luck the store owner had seen the suspect getting out of a vehicle, pulling down a mask and arming himself via the store’s security cameras, so when the bad guy came in, the owner already had a shotgun in hand.
The video is already streaking across the Internet and has been seen across the country during news broadcasts. The store owner did not hesitate, shooting the wannabe bandit, apparently in the arm, at very close range. On the video, the suspect can be heard screaming “He shot my arm off!”
Police later arrested the wounded man and apparent accomplices at a local hospital. They are being held for investigation of robbery and conspiracy. Bail was set at $500,000.
August also started with a bang in Auburn, Wash., where a gas station clerk fatally shot a would-be robber. According to KOMO news, the local ABC affiliate, “When police arrived they found the body of man who had been shot at least one, according to police. The man, who was not identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.” There was a single bullet hole through the glass front door.
Rival KING5 News, the local NBC affiliate, put the time of the incident at 11:45 p.m. Monday night. It was not clear whether the dead suspect brandished any kind of weapon, and detectives were still investigating.
Last month, KMOV/Gray News reported the shooting death of an armed robber at the end of “a violent crime spree” in St. Charles. The suspect started his “spree” at a convenience store, by robbing a female clerk and holding a knife to her throat during the robbery. He then went to a gas station where he committed another robbery, but his career was interrupted by an armed customer at a third location as police were responding to the second robbery.
The suspect’s night of crime ended when the armed customer at the third location shot the knife-wielding suspect, who was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died.
In Houston, Texas, a robbery suspect was shot and killed by his intended victim, according to Fox News. The report said the suspect approached his victim at an ATM machine, but instead of handing over the cash, the victim drew his own gun. Both men fired, the suspect missed while the armed citizen didn’t. When police arrived, they found the suspect dead and the armed citizen cooperated with investigators.
Some years ago in their first of seven collaborations, gun rights advocate Alan Gottlieb and journalist Dave Workman authored “America Fights back—Armed Self-Defense in a Violent Age.” The book turned out to be a forward look at the role of private citizens in the fight against violent crime. Today, there are millions of legally-armed citizens and 25 states have adopted “Constitutional Carry,” meaning no permit or license is required to carry firearms for personal protection.
