I was mugged?!?!

[BigBear]

Wow,
Talk about a scary incident. For those who don't like to read, bottom line is I'm okay and 3 fools are off the streets (at least until they post bond and are out in 6 hours).

Ok, so if you don't know me, I'm a big boy. About 6 foot and 320 pounds of pure good ol' American farm boy. I personally think I'd be the last type of guy to get mugged (big, semiconfident, look you in the eyes, smart, martial arts, trained, etc). Boy was I wrong. I came home from a late night (about 3 a.m.) from a family function (wife's mom, brothers, and sister live in town). We do not live in a wonderful part of town due to finances, but hopefully that'll change come May-ish when a job in my field may open up and I can get some student loans paid off.

So, we pull up and park. Wife gets out and heads up the stairs (apartments) and into the house. I'm cleaning out the trunk. Three spanish-speaking brown-skinned Americans (I think they were Americans, lol) walk up to me behind me (that's a no-no in my book)about 10 yards away. I hear them and caught a glimpse in the periphial vision. I stand up and turn around.

Me: Hello
Them: Hey vato, nice car.
(I drive a '97 honda civic with no front bumper, no suspension, and no electronics... nice car? What've they been smoking? Alarms sounding in head, gut getting tight... familiar feel of adreialine from my martial arts days)
Me: Thank you.
(Guy in middle pulls a knife)
Them: We'll take your wallet now homie.
Me: Okay, relax, no need for the knife.
(By this time I have positioned myself on the passengers back side panel of car, they are across the trunk, still about 10 yards off. They are still standing together as a group, bad idea folks.)
I take off my watch, set it on the trunk hood.
I take out my wallet, set it on the trunk hood.
I take out my car keys, set it on the trunk hood.
Me: There it is guys, no need for violence. Anything else?
Them: What else you got cracker?
(Me thinking: Thank God I don't have kids and that my wife is already inside. If she sees me, hopefully she's smart enough to stay inside and call the cops...)
Me: Well...
(pull out my CCW and hold it at my side, not drawn down on them yet - this could've been a major mistake if they were carrying...)
Me: Just this.
Them: Oh @#$^! Naw man, we just be messing with you. We good, we ain't gonna do no @#$^%.
(They start backing away.)
Me: (Now I draw down, yelling and sight braced on the trunk) DROP THE WEAPON!! GET ON THE GROUND!! HELP, CALL THE POLICE, I'M BEING MUGGED!! (repeated... this worries me as I had them on point... I obvisouly was not being mugged any more.)

Lead guy drops the knife, he gets on the ground, legs and arms extended. One guy runs off, but was caught later. Two police arrive moments later and draw down on me (understandable) and handcuff everyone. Story is explained. I'm checked out and released. Press charges, they head off to jail Wife was witnessed. Apparently she saw the confrontation, called the cops and was standing on the porch (overhead behind me, I couldn't see her facing the muggers) with the shotgun. Good wifey, I love her!

Later after we calmed down, I asked her about getting the shotgun (we never discussed this scenario - another mistake). She said she thought it would be a better deterrent than her pistol (recently bought her a G26). I asked that didn't she know that it was loaded with birdshot and it was likely she would've hit me too? She said nope, "I thought about that and unloaded it to put in the slugs."! WOW, I love her! lol. I've taken her to the range several times and I would like to think I'm taught her halfway decently.


So any analysis/discussion on better ways to do things etc would be appreciated. Yes, I am aware it is time to move... no need to point out the obvious. Talk about scary though, wow. I only had one other scary incident like this (that I'd prefer not to talk about) but that was years ago in my undergrad when I had a job (stupid idiot that I am sometimes) of being a bouncer.

So in closing, we (wife and I) are safe, three idiots are in jail (at least for a night). Happy New Year! *Here's to hopefully a few more years before something else happens!*

[Irving]

Personally, I would have sworn more. I also probably would have lost my temper and kicked the guy laying face down on the ground in the neck. It sounds like you handled the situation very well (because you didn't shoot the guy).

I have a few questions though. First, I assume you didn't shoot him because he was 10 yards away. Although, since he was 10 yards away, why'd you wait so long to draw down on them? Just kind of a heat of the moment thing? Purposely distract them by acting in an obsequecse manner? Either way, I think you handled the situation well. I wouldn't say that you were mugged though, since you weren't.

[sniper7]

wow intense situation. glad you handled it well and things turned out for the best. I know i would have had a gun on them the instant I saw a knife. I wouldn't be fucking around at that point.
You did the right thing all the way around, the only thing we can hope for are these fuckers are illegals and get deported.
Great job, you should send the story to the NRA and see if you get it in their magazine. I love reading those.

smart wife by the way! Sounds like I need to teach my fiance some more scenarios...she doesn't think it would ever happen to us, maybe I should send this to her and let her know shit like this does happen.

[Irving]

Oh so how did the police treat you about this? Once they saw you were a CCW holder, how'd they treat you? They just tell you "good job pal" you did the right thing?

[Birddog1911]

In the flying world, they say that any landing that you can walk away from is a good landing. That doesn't mean things couldn't have been done better. A fitting analogy for your experience. Please understand, I wasn't there, so I can't say exactly what I would do.

Part of me thinks it was a smart moving giving up your watch, wallet, etc. Distracted them slightly. Would you, since you were indeed carrying, have let them take it? Why did you even go that far, too concerned that they could have cleared the distance it took to pull? Did you intend from the outset to comply, and changed your mind when they asked what else you had? Would you have responded differently had your wife still been there? Do you plan on moving now?

Don't think that I'm being critical; your safe, they're in jail (for now), and things turned out fairly well. My first thought is that there would be 3 more bodies in the morgue had it been me, but like I said; I wasn't there, so I can't say with certainty how I would have handled it.

[kwando]

1. Glad you and your family are safe
2. Thx for sharing this story, i'm sure others will be able to look at this situation in the future
3. What part of town were you in
4. What were you carrying and how?

[Irving]

My first thought is that there would be 3 more bodies in the morgue had it been me, but like I said; I wasn't there, so I can't say with certainty how I would have handled it.

I feel the same way and I'm glad to be able to read this story and see the outcome in a different way then it plays out in my head. I think that he chose the right path by not shooting these guys. Ideally, I'd like to hear that they were dead, but realistically, this guy has a life and family to take care of, and if he can get out of the situation without potential long term repercussions, then that is the right choice. Plus, it's easy for me to wish some bad guys got wasted when I'm not the one who had to pull the trigger. I like to tell myself that I'd be able to lay them out without a second thought or later regrets, but that isn't being honest with myself. This is a great outcome for shedding CCW in a positive light as well.

[Daniel_187]

Glad your ok, I don't know how to put this nicely but, i think we need less vermin on the streets hint hint. and if more muggers, rapeists, murderers, thives, were to start droping, from messing with people with CCW's i would feel better. and it would make them think twice. good read though

[Bailey Guns]

I'd say you did an outstanding job! Although I have to admit...I'm with Stuart on wanting to swear a lot and beat on the guy just a little bit.

I like the way you put the car between you and the guys and then apparently distracted them with your watch, wallet, etc... Good thinking.

I wish I could've seen their faces when you pointed the gun at them. Pour your wife a nice glass of wine and give her some flowers. It's gotta be a good feeling knowing she had your back like that.

Glad it all worked out well for you. I don't even mind paying my share for a few nights stay at the El Paso County Grey Bar Hotel for your 3 amigos.

[Birddog1911]

Ideally, I'd like to hear that they were dead, but realistically, this guy has a life and family to take care of, and if he can get out of the situation without potential long term repercussions, then that is the right choice...This is a great outcome for shedding CCW in a positive light as well.

We definately agree here. He is safe, his family is safe, and he doesn't have to go through any legal hurdles, or the horror of living with killing someone.