I hoped this would never happen but, today it did. A day just like any other. Nothing special. As I type this I am getting a little case of the shakes again just reliving it in my mind.
At lunch today, I went to the Sam's Club on Getwell near I-240. (Those of you familiar with Memphis Tennessee (Citizen 510) will know the area. It is not the greatest)
As I drove into the parking lot, there was a Memphis Police cruiser sitting in the lot. I found out later he was doing paper work.
I went inside and purchased 2 items. Walked out and got into my Jeep Cherokee. I drove across the lot to the Sam's gas station to fill up. As I was filling up I saw a young, thug-ish looking type of guy (puffy coat hanging below the shoulders, shaved head on the sides and back but short dread locks on top, cigarette hanging out of hius mouth, pants 3 sizes too large and a definite thug walk) walking directly toward me from the McDonalds parking lot in front of the Sam's. I looked around and behind me to make sure no one was approaching me from behind or the sides. No one was in sight and nothing that any one could hide behind was near so I felt he was probably alone.
As he got to the gas pumping area and about 4 or 5 feet from the front of my Jeep, I was at the rear where the gas tank door is, I told him to stop in a loud but not rude voice. I also stepped partly behind the rear of my vehicle just to put it more between us. I asked him what he wanted. He asked for a lite. I told him I did not smoke and had no lighter. He then asked if he could use the lighter in the car and took a step or two toward the drivers door and started to reach for the handle. (it was locked) and I again, in a louder voice told him to stop and to step back.
He then launched into a yelling tirade calling me a punk and several other more colorful names. He then said, and I quote "I got something for you!" and reached with his right hand to his 4 0'clock position under his coat.
I was already in condition red and when he reached alarm bells were going off in my head like crazy. I honestly do not remember drawing my Glock but suddenly it was in my hand and pointed at this moron. He did not wait around to find out what might happen next, he turned directly away from me and ran away back towards Getwell.
I re-holstered and dialed 911 as fast as my shaking hands could and the cruiser that had been there when I entered the lot was still there and got to me in what seemed like seconds.
The officer took a description and radioed to another unit his direction and description. He asked me where my gun was, to see my DL and carry permit. He ran me and gave me my DL and permit back.
At no time did he ask me to disarm, try to disarm me or in any way act as though he disapproved of me carrying. In fact he said it was good that I had the gun.
About 15 minutes after he got there, another cruiser showed up with the moron in the back seat. He was about 3 blocks over when the other police officer found him. He did not have a weapon on him when the officer picked him up.
But, what he did have was a bag of weed and several warrants. So, I filled out a statement about the incident I was involved in, gave then my contact info and after about an hour (and a phone call from my boss wondering if I was coming back to work that day) I was on my way back to work.
So, it was a normal day that turned into an adrenalin filled lunch hour that I could have done without and almost ended with a gun fight I am very happy did not happen.
Anyone see anything I could have done better next time? And I really, really hope there is no next time.:tired:
At lunch today, I went to the Sam's Club on Getwell near I-240. (Those of you familiar with Memphis Tennessee (Citizen 510) will know the area. It is not the greatest)
As I drove into the parking lot, there was a Memphis Police cruiser sitting in the lot. I found out later he was doing paper work.
I went inside and purchased 2 items. Walked out and got into my Jeep Cherokee. I drove across the lot to the Sam's gas station to fill up. As I was filling up I saw a young, thug-ish looking type of guy (puffy coat hanging below the shoulders, shaved head on the sides and back but short dread locks on top, cigarette hanging out of hius mouth, pants 3 sizes too large and a definite thug walk) walking directly toward me from the McDonalds parking lot in front of the Sam's. I looked around and behind me to make sure no one was approaching me from behind or the sides. No one was in sight and nothing that any one could hide behind was near so I felt he was probably alone.
As he got to the gas pumping area and about 4 or 5 feet from the front of my Jeep, I was at the rear where the gas tank door is, I told him to stop in a loud but not rude voice. I also stepped partly behind the rear of my vehicle just to put it more between us. I asked him what he wanted. He asked for a lite. I told him I did not smoke and had no lighter. He then asked if he could use the lighter in the car and took a step or two toward the drivers door and started to reach for the handle. (it was locked) and I again, in a louder voice told him to stop and to step back.
He then launched into a yelling tirade calling me a punk and several other more colorful names. He then said, and I quote "I got something for you!" and reached with his right hand to his 4 0'clock position under his coat.
I was already in condition red and when he reached alarm bells were going off in my head like crazy. I honestly do not remember drawing my Glock but suddenly it was in my hand and pointed at this moron. He did not wait around to find out what might happen next, he turned directly away from me and ran away back towards Getwell.
I re-holstered and dialed 911 as fast as my shaking hands could and the cruiser that had been there when I entered the lot was still there and got to me in what seemed like seconds.
The officer took a description and radioed to another unit his direction and description. He asked me where my gun was, to see my DL and carry permit. He ran me and gave me my DL and permit back.
At no time did he ask me to disarm, try to disarm me or in any way act as though he disapproved of me carrying. In fact he said it was good that I had the gun.
About 15 minutes after he got there, another cruiser showed up with the moron in the back seat. He was about 3 blocks over when the other police officer found him. He did not have a weapon on him when the officer picked him up.
But, what he did have was a bag of weed and several warrants. So, I filled out a statement about the incident I was involved in, gave then my contact info and after about an hour (and a phone call from my boss wondering if I was coming back to work that day) I was on my way back to work.
So, it was a normal day that turned into an adrenalin filled lunch hour that I could have done without and almost ended with a gun fight I am very happy did not happen.
Anyone see anything I could have done better next time? And I really, really hope there is no next time.:tired: