Gun Shop/Range Shooting/THEY GOT HIM #28

[MrTrolleyguy]

edit:See post 28 for latest news.

SUSPECTS AT LARGE AFTER GUN RANGE ROBBERY, SHOOTING



It could have been me. This involved my two shooting buddies. I was supposed to be there with them. However I got involved in listening to Hilary Clinton being interviewed on a local radio program and missed the trip.

The man shot (Al) is doing okay at a local hospital. There quickly were nine squad cars on scene but no ambulance so the officers put a tourniquet on Al and transported him themselves. This morning I was talking to the other victim (Harry) who told me that it was a .22 round that hit Al in the groin.

It happened as the range was closing down at 8:40pm. We all carry a range bag and a tool box with us so it was easy to get the drop on them. Harry saw the female get out of the car with a snub nosed revolver in front of her.



Police theorized that the robbers might have followed them to the range from their house. Neighbors would see us two or three times a week loading the heavy range bags into the trunk of my car, usually. Sadly it is a dangerous area day or night. But there is reason to think that might not have been the case.

The range is in an industrial park in the better part of the city. Closer to Center City Philadelphia a similar robbery took place on Wednesday night when a single customer was approached outside a range on a city street. You'll see it in the video. To me it looked like the victim went for an ankle gun after the perps turned their backs to get away. Not much time for effective action then.

Police were checking Al's truck for prints and gathering video from the range and near by businesses.

Once again my friend Al is listed as critical but he said he is doing well.

For those that pray, your prayers would be appreciated.

 

[oldbill]

Doesn't Philadelphia restrict the carrying of a loaded weapon, even for PA holders of a license to carry? In other words, the bad guys can assume the victims have guns, but they can also assume they are not loaded.

My prayers go out to Al.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

Doesn't Philadelphia restrict the carrying of a loaded weapon, even for PA holders of a license to carry? In other words, the bad guys can assume the victims have guns, but they can also assume they are not loaded.

My prayers go out to Al.

I never heard anything like that. Perhaps if you are NOT licensed to carry you could not carry concealed in route to the range.

In fact Pennsylvania is an open carry State. However no one does open carry unless they are looking for police and press attention. The percentage of adults that own a hand guns in the city is around 30%.In 2010 there were about 23,500 active licenses in the city. That number is way up now.

 

[Autococker07]

Prayers out to Al! I sure hope they find these fools before they strike again!!

 

[3dots]

Knee mails sent. It's sad that you can't even enjoy a hobby as simple as target practice without some scumbag jacking it up for you. I hope if they try it again, someone pops them in the head.

 

[Maze 686]

I heard about this last night.
These thugs are walking targets, knowing they are armed and having demonstrated the willingness to shoot.

 

[perrazi]

sounds like you should open carry from the range to your car so as to be at least on even keel with the criminals.

 

[Comrad]

That's what I worry about in my little slice of heaven here in NJ. Some of the ranges around my area are in pretty bad places and it's something I watch for very carefully when coming and going to the range, carrying a bag full of guns and ammo and no real means to defend it other than my hands, feet and maybe a sharp stick.

 

[Arik]

I heard about this. But that is not a bad area. It's a .3 of a mile form McManssions. It's one of the ways I drive into Philly, depending on where I'm coming from. The only thing is that specific street is a dead end and it's nothing but body shops and mechanical shops. The only thing is there are a few apartments not far. Seems more like a crime of opportunity.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Arik]

Doesn't Philadelphia restrict the carrying of a loaded weapon, even for PA holders of a license to carry? In other words, the bad guys can assume the victims have guns, but they can also assume they are not loaded.

My prayers go out to Al.

No. Pa is an open carry and you don't need a license but if you get in your car it's now concealed and illegal. I might be off on the info but bottom line, have a license to carry and it won't be a problem

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Krell1]

Where I used to live our range was in a bad part of the city. Whenever I went I made sure my snubby was in my pocket with my hand on it. Nothing ever really happened except being hassled by some guys in front of the building next door. That was as close as I ever came to any violence. Since then the club moved to the suburbs in a much safer location.

 

[bhayles]

One more example of why I'm glad my backyard is my "range".

 

[oldbill]

PA license to carry - Philadelphia

My question regarding carry in Philadelphia is answered in The Pennsylvania Firearms Owners site.

Is my License To Carry Firearms honored in Philadelphia?

Contrary to many rumors that have been floating around for years, a Pennsylvania License To Carry Firearms issued anywhere in the state is good anywhere in the state. Pennsylvania's Uniform Firearms Act provides a pre-emption statute which prevents anyone other than the state legislature from regulating the carry of firearms among other things. At one point in time Philadelphia had attempted to ignore this, but it has long been resolved.

 

[rwsmith]

I pray for a full recovery.

I hope Al heals from this. You know, those people had the guns. Shooting a person in the groin is just plain ornery and they may be getting some sick pleasure from making people suffer. I hope those two get their heads blown off.

 

[Irn-Bru]

Shot in the groin, that had to hurt like a son of a .....

 

[Arik]

I hope Al heals from this. You know, those people had the guns. Shooting a person in the groin is just plain ornery and they may be getting some sick pleasure from making people suffer. I hope those two get their heads blown off.

I doubt they were aiming. Most likely shot from the hip or quickly pointed and shot without aiming.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[wetdog]

One suspect in custody.
The female turned herself in, male still at large.
They did both robberies.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

One suspect in custody.
The female turned herself in, male still at large.
They did both robberies.

Thanks for the good news wetdog.

When I looked up the report it turned out that the police had a good photo of the female (non-shooter) inside the first range prior to the robbery. That would be why she turned herself in.

 

[NYlakesider]

I live in the people's republic of NY and always have a good carry gun on me going back and forth to the range.

In fact many years back we had a couple guns disappear from the firing point at the 100 yard range when shooters went down to check/change their targets. Do to that I'm very careful about going down range and as I have a good spotting scope that you can see different calibers used on a single target I do not leave the bench area often. Unless someone/s I know are staying up range I go down and back fast. While going down I tend to look behind me while walking and if it's a stranger I have been known to go back up range STAT.

My carry weapon is well concealed and always on me while at the range (and most any other legal place) Hey you never know!!!!! FWIW I was a RO and for many years a director at this particular club.

PS things must be getting worse, because as a kid one of the older people I grew up around always said KID there are a few places you do not want to get caught at being a thief or acting totally stupid one is a gun club the other a Karate/Judo club.

Now retired and moved out of the city areas, for the most part I shoot on my own rural property.

 

[Inspector-Callahan]

I'm in Old City, so have been tuned into this story too.

#1) I'm glad I live in a CCW state so that I may stay legally armed to and from the range. Sadly, my friends in NJ are condemned to defenselessness when they go to and from the range.

#2) This is also a perfect example of how the pacifists mentality in NJ (They do not allow any concealed carry), is pure nonsense.....where they believe if you surrender in a robbery situation, criminals just take what they want and you walk away unharmed. NOT SO! (how is this more safe?)

I moved out of NJ, so I'll stay armed.

IC