Customer shoots would-be robber

[wildcard]

link
(http://www.omaha.com/article/20100426/NEWS97/100429632#customer-shoots-would-be-robber)

(worthless)Vid at link ^^^

Customer shoots would-be robber

BY Susan Szalewski and Mike Holmes
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS


Police today said a customer fatally shot a would-be robber Monday evening at a busy Walgreens Pharmacy at 6101 Northwest Radial Highway.

Investigators believe that two masked men entered the Walgreen's about 8:50 p.m., one armed with a short shotgun, said Officer Jacob Bettin, a police spokesman.

Police were not releasing the dead man's name until relatives could be notified.

The armed suspect leveled the gun at customers, police said. One of the customers at the register, who has a permit to carry a gun, drew a handgun from the waistband of his pants and fired at the gunman, hitting him several times, Bettin said.

The wounded man fled, but then collapsed on the north side of the store. He was taken to Creighton University Medical Center, where he died.

The second suspect was held in the store by the same customer until officers arrived. That 17-year-old was booked into the Douglas County Youth Center on suspicion of robbery and using a weapon to commit a felony, police said.

Police interviewed the customer with the handgun and released him after detectives conferred with the Douglas County attorney, Bettin said.

The case remains under investigation.

[ximmy]

excellent!! shoot to kill... save some court costs

[Ironfield]

This news story truly warms the cockles of my heart. An armed society, is a polite society =D

-Ironfield

[I am me, I am free]

Sends just the right message: Don't be fucking with others you don't know 'cause you never know who you're fucking with and what they're capable of.

[zusn]

Police interviewed the customer with the handgun and released him after detectives conferred with the Douglas County attorney, Bettin said.

The case remains under investigation.This part scares me. What the hell was there to "confer" about?? Hey, this guy just prevented a felony and probably saved the lives of many people in the store. So what do you think we can charge him with? What if the guy didn't have a permit? Would he be up on 2nd degree murder charges?

[wildcard]

Probably just to cover their own asses. Cops aren't too bright as we all know. They have learned to asked someone higher up before making any big decisions.

You can imagine if they should hold a suspect and accidentally let him go. :)

You have to figure if you shoot someone and they die then you are going to waste the rest of your evening answering questions or waiting on an attorney.

[zusn]

I guess it just pisses me off the way they worded it. It almost implies that the hero could have been guilty of something anyway. I read too many stories about people getting sued after helping someone, etc.

[wildcard]

Yeah, media spin is frustrating. I'm still glad I (am able to) see it.

[wildcard]

A different version of the same story:

http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=12383501


OMAHA (KPTM) - An armed customer shot a man attempting to rob a Walgreens Monday night, Omaha Police say.

Investigators say two masked suspects entered the Walgreen's near 61st and NW Radial Highway shortly before 9pm Monday night, one armed with a short shotgun.

Police say the armed suspect had leveled the gun at customers, and one of the customers at the register saw the suspect point the gun in the direction of the register where there were several others standing. This customer who had a valid permit to carry a gun, drew a handgun from his waistband shot the suspect holding the shotgun multiple times.

The suspect was able to run from the store and collapsed outside. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

The second suspect was held in the store by the same customer until officers arrived. The suspect, a 17-year-old male, was booked into the Douglas County Youth Center for Robbery and Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony.

The customer who shot the first suspect has been identified as 32-year-old Harry McCullough III of Omaha.

Police say McCullough was in possession of a loaded handgun that was concealed on his person without a Concealed Weapons Permit. He did possess a carry permit which only allows a person to carry a loaded handgun in plain view (typically in a holster).

McCullough was cited for a misdemeanor charge of Carrying a Concealed Firearm.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine says no charges will be filed against McCullough, though, because the shooting was justified.

"An individual has to fear for their life, and certainly the actions of the robbers put that into place," says Kleine.

The man killed has been identified as Marquail Thomas, 18.

McCullough's attorney, James Martin Davis, says his client's actions were honorable.

"He not only averted a robbery, he may have prevented someone from being seriously injured or killed," says Davis.