Vigilante?

Utah Bob · 08-15-2009, 06:28

According to USA today that's what you are if you defend yourself!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32426383...ime_and_courts

Quote:

NEW YORK - The sidewalk outside the Harlem store still was smeared with blood Friday, and the glass on the door still was blown out.

Above the entrance, someone had scribbled the words, "Abandon hope all ye who enter here."

Less than 24 hours after a deadly showdown at the shop worthy of a Clint Eastwood script, Charles "Gus" Augusto Jr. entered his store — oblivious of the inscription taken from Dante's "Inferno."

The 72-year-old wholesaler of commercial restaurant equipment had been up all night, questioned by police about how he'd drawn a shotgun and killed two of four armed robbery suspects who entered his Kaplan Brothers Blue Flame store Thursday afternoon.

Two of the young men died on the street. Two remained hospitalized in stable condition with gunshot wounds.

'Where's the money?'
When they walked in at about 3 p.m. and confronted Augusto with guns, "I didn't want to shoot them," he said, sitting bleary-eyed in his dusty, windowless warehouse, with a fly swatter hanging above his head.

He said the bandits drew their handguns, yelling, "Where's the money? Where's the money?"

They pistol-whipped a worker and waved a weapon at a cashier's face, he said.

"There is no money," Augusto said he told them. "Go home."

Stashed away nearby was the 12-gauge shotgun he bought decades ago and said he had never used since a test-fire. He reached for it when he sensed one of the men was about to shoot, and pulled the trigger once.

"I hoped after the first shot they would go away," he said.

When they didn't, continuing to menace his employees, he fired again, and again.

Police said one of the men collapsed and died outside the door, just feet from a Baptist church.

"He died in the hands of God," said a neighborhood resident, Vincent Gayle, pointing to the blood-spattered pavement by the church. "But what goes around comes around."

Trail of blood
Another fatally wounded suspect managed to cross the street, leaving a trail of blood before he collapsed. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

More blood led police to the other two suspects, who were arrested and taken to the hospital. Charges against them were pending.

Police said Augusto didn't have a required permit for the weapon used in the headline-grabbing shooting the Daily News called a "Pump-Action Ending."

But he was a victim, police said, and no charges had been filed on Friday.

"I'd rather not have done it," Augusto said, "and I'm sad for those mothers who have no sons."

On Friday, pedestrians were still sidestepping pools of blood along Augusto's block on West 125th Street, a short walk from Bill Clinton's Harlem office.

Reactions to the shooting were mixed.

Frida Rodriguez called it "a sad day" for the neighborhood.

Augusto "was defending his work, his business, so you could perceive that as being heroic," she said. "But on the other hand, these kids died."

The shopkeeper was coy when asked whether, with his shotgun confiscated, he had a backup.

"I'm not going to tell you that," he said.

**Pete** · 08-15-2009, 06:49

Nope - good citizen.

Too bad they took his shotgun - but it is NY.

abc_123 · 08-15-2009, 07:17

unbelieveable that anyone feels any sympathy for the scum that tried to rob that old man.

That man did a public service.-

**Bill Harsey** · 08-15-2009, 07:35

If the armed robbers/thugs had killed the shop owner or employees, it probably wouldn't even be news.

The "kids" died because they made a series of very poor decisions.

I suppose society forced them to hold up the shop and the owner failed by not playing the correct submissive role.

longrange1947 · 08-15-2009, 07:43

MSNBC, what do you expect, they will always put an anti gun spin on everything.

More Shit Never Balanced Corporation.

Five-O · 08-15-2009, 08:20

Mr Augusto Jr.....kudos. Another happy ending for an armed citizen. Think less about the animals that tried to rob and you terrorize your employee and more about how you get to go home that day.

Nothing says get the f#%& out of my store like a 12 guage.

**Team Sergeant** · 08-15-2009, 09:14

Only the left-wing media could make the gun toting thugs look like the victims and the victim look like the criminal.

Mr Augusto, fine job and thank you for standing up for what is right.

Team Sergeant

TOMAHAWK9521 · 08-15-2009, 09:49

Police said one of the men collapsed and died outside the door, just feet from a Baptist church.

"He died in the hands of God," said a neighborhood resident"

I almost got choked-up when I read that part. Okay, not really. As for having died in the hands of God......I'll accept that on a technicality since he was pretty much back-handed by God into the next world. So yes, you could say he was touched by God's hands.

SF_BHT · 08-15-2009, 09:52

It is great that none of his employees were hurt. He is a Hero to them and their familys.......

This was a Darwin experience for the Idiots that thought they could walk in and forcefully take what belongs to others.

We might need to send him some more ammo and a thank you note....

Utah Bob · 08-15-2009, 10:34

Iiteresting that the article originally calling him "Elderly Vigilante" has now been updated and he is referred to as "Shopkeeper"
Got a few e-mails maybe?

08-15-2009, 10:36

Quote:

Augusto "was defending his work, his business, so you could perceive that as being heroic," she said. "But on the other hand, these kids died."

Sad how? First mistake trying to rob someone, second mistake trying to rob a citizen who had the sense to exercise his second amendment rights.

I am truly suprised in Mr Bloomberg land that the poor man was not arrested.
Where do I send a thank you note and a new shotgun?

Utah Bob · 08-15-2009, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by armymom1228

I am truly suprised in Mr Bloomberg land that the poor man was not arrested.

Well, not yet anyway.

greenberetTFS · 08-15-2009, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

It is great that none of his employees were hurt. He is a Hero to them and their familys.......

This was a Darwin experience for the Idiots that thought they could walk in and forcefully take what belongs to others.

We might need to send him some more ammo and a thank you note....

Amen to that............

Big Teddy

bluebb · 08-15-2009, 13:06

He needs some range time, only terminated 2 of them.

Just joking, good job Gus.

Blue

echoes · 08-15-2009, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

It is great that none of his employees were hurt. He is a Hero to them and their familys.......

This was a Darwin experience for the Idiots that thought they could walk in and forcefully take what belongs to others.

We might need to send him some more ammo and a thank you note....

VERY well said, Bryan!!!

Holly