Citizen with gun stops murder attempt

[tpeichel]

http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/...RhrWCM9dQ.cspx

A citizen with a gun stopped a knife wielding man as he began stabbing people Thursday evening at the downtown Salt Lake City Smith's store.

Police say the suspect purchased a knife inside the store and then turned it into a weapon. Smith's employee Dorothy Espinoza says, "He pulled it out and stood outside the Smiths in the foyer. And just started stabbing people and yelling you killed my people. You killed my people."

Espinoza says, the knife wielding man seriously injured two people. "There is blood all over. One got stabbed in the stomach and got stabbed in the head and held his hands and got stabbed all over the arms."

Then, before the suspect could find another victim - a citizen with a gun stopped the madness. "A guy pulled gun on him and told him to drop his weapon or he would shoot him. So, he dropped his weapon and the people from Smith's grabbed him."

By the time officers arrived the suspect had been subdued by employees and shoppers. Police had high praise for gun carrying man who ended the hysteria. Lt. Brian Purvis said, "This was a volatile situation that could have gotten worse. We can only assume from what we saw it could have gotten worse. He was definitely in the right place at the right time."

Dozens of other shoppers, who too could have become victims, are also thankful for the gun carrying man. And many, like Danylle Julian, are still in shock from the experience. "Scary actually. Really scary. Five minutes before I walk out to my car. It could have been me."

Police say right now they have no idea what caused the suspect to go on the dangerous rampage. (We will update as soon as we learn new information.)

So far, police have not released the names of the suspect, the victims or the man who pulled the gun.

[mrveggieman]

Good story. I don't have any problems whatsoever with the way it was resolved. The guy with the gun is a hero.

[habsheaven]

http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/...RhrWCM9dQ.cspx

A citizen with a bat stopped a knife wielding man as he began stabbing people Thursday evening at the downtown Salt Lake City Smith's store.

Police say the suspect purchased a knife inside the store and then turned it into a weapon. Smith's employee Dorothy Espinoza says, "He pulled it out and stood outside the Smiths in the foyer. And just started stabbing people and yelling you killed my people. You killed my people."

Espinoza says, the knife wielding man seriously injured two people. "There is blood all over. One got stabbed in the stomach and got stabbed in the head and held his hands and got stabbed all over the arms."

Then, before the suspect could find another victim - a citizen with a bat stopped the madness. "A guy pulled a bat on him and told him to drop his weapon or he would strike him. So, he dropped his weapon and the people from Smith's grabbed him."

By the time officers arrived the suspect had been subdued by employees and shoppers. Police had high praise for the bat carrying man who ended the hysteria. Lt. Brian Purvis said, "This was a volatile situation that could have gotten worse. We can only assume from what we saw it could have gotten worse. He was definitely in the right place at the right time."

Dozens of other shoppers, who too could have become victims, are also thankful for the bat carrying man. And many, like Danylle Julian, are still in shock from the experience. "Scary actually. Really scary. Five minutes before I walk out to my car. It could have been me."

Police say right now they have no idea what caused the suspect to go on the dangerous rampage. (We will update as soon as we learn new information.)

So far, police have not released the names of the suspect, the victims or the man who pulled the bat.

Fixed it for you.

[duane1969]

That story must be wrong. Citizens with guns are dangerous people. Only law enforcement and the military are capable of safely and properly operating a firearm in a stressful situation.

[tpeichel]

Fixed it for you.

That's funny, the media does usually try and hide it when a gun is successfully used defensively by a citizen. I must say I'm pleasantly surprised.

[habsheaven]

I think it has a lot to do with the current events going on. Normally "good news" stories get very little coverage; because this is in a sense an advocation for a gun-toting public, it is newsworthy. There's no denying that occasionally a good samaritan with a gun is a good thing. It just as often can escalate a situation and end in greater tragedy.

[pghin08]

That story must be wrong. Citizens with guns are dangerous people. Only law enforcement and the military are capable of safely and properly operating a firearm in a stressful situation.

Dude, come on, very few US citizens are against all forms of gun ownership. Nobody is saying that everybody with a gun is instantly dangerous, but rather that when unstable people have guns, then we have danger. That's why we have things like background checks. The guy with the gun in this situation used it in the best manner possible, as a threat to someone about to cause bodily harm to another.

[duwal]

That story must be wrong. Citizens with guns are dangerous people. Only law enforcement and the military are capable of safely and properly operating a firearm in a stressful situation.

without proper training and firearm practice that is true

[tpeichel]

I think it has a lot to do with the current events going on. Normally "good news" stories get very little coverage; because this is in a sense an advocation for a gun-toting public, it is newsworthy. There's no denying that occasionally a good samaritan with a gun is a good thing. It just as often can escalate a situation and end in greater tragedy.

Do you have any examples of defensive gun use causing collateral damage?

[pghin08]

Do you have any examples of defensive gun use causing collateral damage?

Uh...Trayvon Martin?