Temple Student Pack'n Gun and CCW Fires Back at Robber; Wounded Gunfight
Sophomore Temple University student Robert Eells, 21, was hanging outside his off-campus apartment having a smoke with friend around 1:30 a.m. Monday morning when several street thugs approached him.
The thugs demanded that Eells give them his money. Eells refused.
One of them then brandished a gun and started firing at Eells and his friend. Eells caught a round in the stomach.
But Eells wasn’t defenseless. He, a licensed gun owner with a carry permit, also drew his gun and fired several shots toward the robbers. He hit one of the assailants, a 15-year-old whose name has not been released, in the chest and leg. While the others quickly fled the scene.
Tanya Little, a police spokesperson, said the teenager would face charges of “aggravated and simple assault, robbery, and possibly attempted murder.”
As for Eells, he will not be charged.
"As far as the investigation stands now, I don't believe so. He was acting in self-defense," Little told reporters. She added, “If you do have a permit, that would be the time to use your weapon, when someone tries to rob you and shoots you,"
Immediately following the gunfight, both Eells and the teen robber were listed in critical condition at Temple University Hospital. Since then Eells’ condition has been upgraded to fair and the teen’s condition has been upgraded to stable.
Eells’ grandmother told reporters that he was awake and expected to recover.
“We are very thankful," she said.
(A slightly more complete Video)
Eells is a psychology major. And Listed on Eells’ Facebook page are his hobbies, which include playing the bass guitar and shooting. Eells lists Samuel Colt as one of his role models.
Also on his Facebook page is the following quote, "The world looks different when you're looking at it down the barrel of a loaded gun, whether that's good or bad depends on which end you're looking down."
The thugs demanded that Eells give them his money. Eells refused.
One of them then brandished a gun and started firing at Eells and his friend. Eells caught a round in the stomach.
But Eells wasn’t defenseless. He, a licensed gun owner with a carry permit, also drew his gun and fired several shots toward the robbers. He hit one of the assailants, a 15-year-old whose name has not been released, in the chest and leg. While the others quickly fled the scene.
Tanya Little, a police spokesperson, said the teenager would face charges of “aggravated and simple assault, robbery, and possibly attempted murder.”
As for Eells, he will not be charged.
"As far as the investigation stands now, I don't believe so. He was acting in self-defense," Little told reporters. She added, “If you do have a permit, that would be the time to use your weapon, when someone tries to rob you and shoots you,"
Immediately following the gunfight, both Eells and the teen robber were listed in critical condition at Temple University Hospital. Since then Eells’ condition has been upgraded to fair and the teen’s condition has been upgraded to stable.
Eells’ grandmother told reporters that he was awake and expected to recover.
“We are very thankful," she said.
(A slightly more complete Video)
Eells is a psychology major. And Listed on Eells’ Facebook page are his hobbies, which include playing the bass guitar and shooting. Eells lists Samuel Colt as one of his role models.
Also on his Facebook page is the following quote, "The world looks different when you're looking at it down the barrel of a loaded gun, whether that's good or bad depends on which end you're looking down."
MOST POPULAR ARTICLES
05.15.2012
EDITOR'S PICKS
05.20.2012
05.18.2012
News & Articles |
Affiliates
|
|
|
Well done, Mr. Eells! Unfortunately he took a bullet to the stomach, but fortunately he was armed and fired back. Had he not been armed, it seems as if Mr. Eells and his friends would have been murdered.
And of course because the attacker was just 15 years old he will only get a slap on the wrist instead of being incarcerated for many years. Fortunately (YES, FORTUNATELY!!!) the attacker was shot himself so maybe next time he goes to rob and shoot someone he may think twice for fear they may also be armed.
"It is better to be a living dog, than a dead lion" - Ecclesiastes 9:4.
And I'm curious to know what readers would think about this approach.
Had Mr. Eells decided to capitulate to the demands of the street punks, and gave them some money, would he have been shot? Would that 15-year-old teen have been shot?
Also the following questions are critical in determining the optimal response: Did the kid come out blasting? Or was incited to shoot by Eells persistent refusal?
Of course, hindsight is 20/20. And knowing the outcome indubitably changes how one ought to respond.
Personally, I feel it's always best to err on the side of aggression and, therefore, believe Eells acted appropriately.
Nevertheless, it's interesting to think about this particular scenario from the vantage point of the other side.
His whole argument against Eells response centered around the fact that Eells had been shot.
He asked me, "what if he died?" Would it have been worth it?"
He maintains that the optimal response in any criminal confrontation is "no injuries, bad guys go to jail."
Accordingly, he believes that one should do whatever it takes to procure that optimal solution, even if it means surrendering ones property and/or personal possessions.
I told him, "I'd rather die upon my feet, than live upon my knees."
And since he's a Christian I cited proverbs 25:26, "A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring."
He said, "well, then - that's where we differ."
Who's right? Who's wrong?
Good Job Eells!!..God Bless You and Quick Recovery!!