Armed Robbery gone south....... of the border.

[Lars]

[URL="http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/newsletter/dp-local_sufrobbery_0624jun24,0,1861835.story"]After gun fails, an instant posse helps police nab suspect -- dailypress.com[/url]

After gun fails, an instant posse helps police nab suspect
A restaurant manager and her customers chase the man who fled with a Taco Bell bag of cash.

By VERONICA GORLEY CHUFO | 247-4741
June 24, 2008

SUFFOLK -

Former Taco Bell employee Deon Gatling, 19, of Sunbury, N.C., was charged with one count each of armed robbery and attempted malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was being held Monday at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk, said Suffolk Police Lt. Debbie George said.

Police said Gatling had a gun and demanded money from a Taco Bell manager on Sunday. She handed it over, but Gatling pulled the trigger.

The gun didn't fire, police said, but it provoked the manager to chase the robber in her vehicle while calling police on her cell phone.

Up to a dozen business owners, store employees and others followed, chasing Gatling into the woods behind the Farm Fresh plaza, where the restaurant is located, on North Main Street, just north of downtown Suffolk.

Police found him 45 minutes later when someone spotted him trying to escape the woods. A Taco Bell bag with him was full of money, police said, and a loaded gun was found in the restaurant's parking lot.

Capt. Stephanie Burch, who heads the criminal investigations section, said she was pleased with residents' willingness to get involved — police probably wouldn't have nabbed the suspect without their help.

But she recommends caution.

"This situation could have been very dangerous," Burch said. "This particular suspect was reported to have a firearm, and we would never want to have our citizens injured trying to assist us. Our citizens can always be helpful by being great witnesses, without putting themselves in harm's way."

 

[Scutter01]

""This particular suspect was reported to have a firearm, and we would never want to have our citizens injured trying to assist us. Our citizens can always be helpful by being great witnesses, without putting themselves in harm's way."

I can promise you that I'm not putting myself in harm's way to save Taco Bell some money. I protect myself and my family first, innocent bystanders second. Taco Bell's bag of cash is so far down the list that it doesn't even show up.

 

[turnandshoot4]

I would love to know what kind of gun he used.

 

[indyjoe]

It is a new style with a plastic firing pin. Don't think they will catch on.

 

[Ri22o]

I would love to know what kind of gun he used.

Probably an HK or Sig of some sort.

 

[jontheturboguy]

Probably an BLOCK OR GLOCK of some sort.

There. Fixed.

 

[Lars]

So, Besides Scutter01, what do you think you would have done had you been in the Taco Bell that day?

Me personally? I would like to think I'd have the courage to shoot the person, provided I had a clear shot, before he had time to correct the malfunction he had with his pistol. He's already shown his intent, as evidenced by the pulling of the trigger. He has opportunity, he's already robbing the store. And he has the ability, there's a pistol in his hand....

 

[Scutter01]

Me personally? I would like to think I'd have the courage to shoot the person, provided I had a clear shot, before he had time to correct the malfunction he had with his pistol. He's already shown his intent, as evidenced by the pulling of the trigger. He has opportunity, he's already robbing the store. And he has the ability, there's a pistol in his hand....

I'm just not going out on a limb to try to save the money.

 

[indyjoe]

I'm with you. A criminal's weapon malfunction is caused purely by karma.