Pizza Delivery Driver Shoots Would Be Robber

Mphstiger1981 · #1 11-04-2011, 04:30 PM

Armed pizza delivery man shoots would-be robber * The Commercial Appeal

I'll be curious to see if Papa John follows the lead of Walgreens.

Lost Lake · #2 11-04-2011, 07:39 PM

The reporter must be a gun aficionado because he details the pizza guy has a S&W .38 special and the robber has a Highpoint .38.

Sounds to me like pizza boy has a lot of questions to answer. He fired 5 times, was the BG a threat during all 5 shots? Sounds like he was running away while the pizza guy was blazing away. And why did the pizza guy pick up the BG's gun? That was stoopid!

The sister incriminated the BG though, that is cool.

TACC1 · #3 11-04-2011, 08:10 PM

Pizza guy probably worried that the would-be robber had a
buddy with him, and wanted to make sure he didn't get shot.
Don't know about others, but when I'm in a scary situation, I'm
pretty shaky right after, and my thought processes take awhile to
level out.
Whatever happens now, to the delivery guy, I'm glad he's
still here to answer for it. TACC1

Retired LTC, USAR · #4 11-04-2011, 08:10 PM

Story said BG droped his gun after he was shot and then ran away.

Pizza guy only shot till the threat was no longer a threat.

He picked up the BG's gun to save it for the police.

spoonltz28 · #5 11-04-2011, 08:13 PM

Once the adreniline gets pumpimg, you don't realize how many shots are fired.
They did a report on LEO's that fired shots during a shot-out, most thought that they had only fired a few rounds, when they actually fired the whole mag.

Plus, 3 shots hit the BG, so the driver was not that good of a shot, the BG could have still had the gun in his hand.
I would continue firing untill the threat is gone, either he went down or dropped the gun.

sheriffoconee · #6 11-04-2011, 08:33 PM

C'mon ya'll..
The pizza guy got three hits on a moving target at night, when the target ambushed him from a place of concealment....give him a bit of a break on his shooting, he didn't do that bad....
He saved the BG's gun and called the cops.....the bad guy hid in his sisters house...the cops ain't gonna buy the bandits story any more than I do....
The pizza guy may lose his job, but there ain't nothing wrong with the shooting IMO

427mach1 · #7 11-04-2011, 08:54 PM

Good points, Sheriff. Not to mention he was probably under a little stress or fear!

If the pizza guy loses his job, I say we all contact Papa John's HQ and let them know that we will never order another one of their pizzas. If enough of us do it, maybe we can make a difference??

APS · #8 11-04-2011, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427mach1

If the pizza guy loses his job, I say we all contact Papa John's HQ and let them know that we will never order another one of their pizzas. If enough of us do it, maybe we can make a difference??

It's probably safe to say that carrying a firearm is against company policy and grounds for termination.

427mach1 · #9 11-04-2011, 09:18 PM

Quote:

It's probably safe to say that carrying a firearm is against company policy and grounds for termination.

Exactly. Maybe if enough of us contact them they will reconsider their policy. I know that trying to get a large corporation to change policy is probably a long shot......

Sprefix · #10 11-04-2011, 09:45 PM

Sorry some schmuck had to risk his life over some pizza and (dough)

, but I believe he got his just rewards. It was his choice, and who are we to step on his rights and freedoms of choice? In my opinion, the delivery guy deserves a medal for bravery and outstanding citizenship from the community. Dare I say, as good as his shooting was, it could have been a little more directed at the vitals. Again, it was the perps choice. The perp could afford a Highpoint, but no pizza. Darn those priorities anyway. Hope I don't get slapped for this post. It is just how I see it. I (may) be outspoken, but I am honest and I call em' the way I see em'. Again, JMO!!!!!!---PEACE

APS · #11 11-04-2011, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427mach1

Exactly. Maybe if enough of us contact them they will reconsider their policy. I know that trying to get a large corporation to change policy is probably a long shot......

I like the way you're thinking and I encourage you to contact them and complain. But the reality is, it's more than a long shot it's an impossible shot. The potential for multi-million dollar lawsuits are far most costly to a company than if even a hundred thousand gun owners stop buying pizza from them.

TNDixieGirl · #12 11-05-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427mach1

Exactly. Maybe if enough of us contact them they will reconsider their policy. I know that trying to get a large corporation to change policy is probably a long shot......

It won't matter one iota if all of us called. I've talked to the corporate offices of all the major pizza chains about their no weapons policy. It's a policy required by their insurance carriers, and without a no weapons policy, the business can't get coverage. So if you want to boycott anyone, start with the insurance companies.

oldman45 · #13 11-05-2011, 08:56 PM

You guys need to read just how often Papa John's is hit by robbers. Several of their drivers have shot at robbers.

Read this website pertaining to one community of Papa John stores.

Articles about Papa John S Pizza - Morning Call

everReady Rob · #14 11-07-2011, 05:11 PM

I was going to say that I hoped the no carry policy of Papa Johns was a legal public stance and maybe PJs would not terminate this guy, but TNDixieGirl makes a valid point that our battle will be with the insurance people and thats okay too.

He didn't start it, he was protecting his life. In these situations I don't think you can wait to see if the BG is serious. His gun was out, he was serious.

TennTony · #15 11-07-2011, 06:14 PM

I read the story. Did not see as much detail as I would like. Mainly: Did the delivery guy drop the pizzas or did he shoot while he still had them balanced in one hand? Most of us practice shoot strong and weak hand. I once did an IDPA shoot where we had to pick up and carry a 15 pound "baby" while moving and shooting. I will not critique his shooting. He got 3 hits shooting double action.

Mphstiger1981 · #16 11-07-2011, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TennTony

I read the story. Did not see as much detail as I would like. Mainly: Did the delivery guy drop the pizzas or did he shoot while he still had them balanced in one hand? Most of us practice shoot strong and weak hand. I once did an IDPA shoot where we had to pick up and carry a 15 pound "baby" while moving and shooting. I will not critique his shooting. He got 3 hits shooting double action.

Not sure if he dropped the pies or not, but let's think about this. One thing we know he did do, he did put to rest the old axiom that you can't out draw a man who is already holding a gun on you.

This event also has me giving serious consideration to the 5 shot J frame I frequently carry. It appears the driver emptied his gun, firing five times, striking the BG three times. While the fight was taken out of him, the perp was still able to run, climb a fence and seek refuge in a close by house.

What if there had been a second perp who was just a little more determined to stand and fight? Just food for thought. I'd like to talk to this pizza driver and get a real in depth after action report from him. What would he do different? Any thoughts to changing to a semi-auto now or does he think the 5 shot J frame is still "enough"?

JayBird686 · #17 11-07-2011, 07:32 PM

In college I used to deliver Chinese food. Only had one bad run in...with a Hells Angel. He wanted me to go in his trailer to pay, I politely declined, he took offense. Threw a wad of money at my threatening me. I walked backwards to my truck and go the heck out of there!

I was only 19 or 20 so I could not have owned a handgun, but thinking about it nowadays, I would carry one regardless of company policy if I still delivered. I would rather be looking for another job and be alive!

hatt · #18 11-07-2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mphstiger1981

Not sure if he dropped the pies or not, but let's think about this. One thing we know he did do, he did put to rest the old axiom that you can't out draw a man who is already holding a gun on you.

This event also has me giving serious consideration to the 5 shot J frame I frequently carry. It appears the driver emptied his gun, firing five times, striking the BG three times. While the fight was taken out of him, the perp was still able to run, climb a fence and seek refuge in a close by house.

What if there had been a second perp who was just a little more determined to stand and fight? Just food for thought. I'd like to talk to this pizza driver and get a real in depth after action report from him. What would he do different? Any thoughts to changing to a semi-auto now or does he think the 5 shot J frame is still "enough"?

He might not be able to carry anything bigger without risk of detection by his employer. And why would he want to. He was able to put rounds on target and stopped the problem without being injured. Success! No sensible carry gun is going to put someone down who wants to run, unless you get lucky or are incredibly skilled. But if you can get CNS hits under stress, at will, handgun choice isn't going to be a big deal and a J frame has several encounters worth of ammo.

Chuck1217 · #19 11-07-2011, 08:07 PM

Couple of quick notes- one, someone mentioned not knowing how many shots you fired when the ordeal was over- was reading the other night, this cop said he knew of several times whn people shot to defend themselves and were so discombobulated, they had misfires, had to tap-rack-shoot, that stuff, but didn;t remember clearing the jams. The other idea- if this guy gets fired- someone needs to go to court with the case about not being allowed to carry on the job- and getting shot. You know, if you deliver pizzas like in this case, and your boss says 'no firearms', the driver gets shot or beat up, stabbed- then the driver should sue the boss/company for denying him his Constitutional right, thus he was injured.Love to see how the court handles that case.

Mphstiger1981 · #20 11-07-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatt

He might not be able to carry anything bigger without risk of detection by his employer. And why would he want to. He was able to put rounds on target and stopped the problem without being injured. Success!

Very true hatt, good point. The man saved his own life and at the end of his shift was able to go home to his family, and that is all he really wanted to do. As you pointed out, "success!"