All's Well That Ends Well

trex1310 · January 3, 2012, 03:43 PM

First, a little background. About 2-1/2 years ago I shot a young man
that was trying to brain me with a piece of galvanized pipe in
order to rob me in broad daylight. Thanks to a Springfield XD45
and a Speer 230gr Gold dot that didn't happen. The young man
was convicted, sentenced to 5 years (3 on probation and 2 in prison).

A friend of mine that knows the father of this young man told me
over the holidays that since leaving prison, after serving a whole
year, that the young man has turned his life around, renounced
drugs, got married and has been working steadily as an electrician
apprentice.

Maybe this fellow lived for a reason, I don't know. I'm just glad I
didn't kill him. I know he was very lucky. I fired center mass and
the round struck him just above and slightly left of his heart. He
could have just as easily died from the wound.

rem44m · January 3, 2012, 05:11 PM

Thank you for the story, I always like to hear things turn out for the positive.

markj · January 3, 2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

I'm just glad I
didn't kill him.

I bet he is too, must have had an effect on his mentality. Thanks for the post.

highvel · January 4, 2012, 06:05 PM

I would think being shot at close range with a .45 would cause a definite rethinking of one's way of life!

Most just go toward the light though!

Hiker 1 · January 4, 2012, 07:09 PM

That is a great story!

Young.Gun.612 · January 4, 2012, 08:05 PM

Would you have any words of encouragement to actually say to him? I've always been curious as to the mindset of a person in your shoes would be. Assuming he really has turned the page and begun a new life of contributing to society as opposed to being a dredge.

shurshot · January 4, 2012, 08:21 PM

Sir, you are a kind soul and have more compassion in one thumb than most of us combined. Don't forget, you could have easily been killed that day. I admire your ability to forgive. I have a hard time finding empathy for violent, anti social behavior.

Paul K · January 4, 2012, 10:35 PM

Wait..... The system worked?!?!?!?!?!?

Glad all is well with you and him!

Vermonter · January 4, 2012, 10:44 PM

If you can please comment on the aftermath (legal and personal) of actually having to shoot someone. If you cant I will understand.

MLeake · January 5, 2012, 12:31 AM

trex1310, I have to say I like your post much better than I like posts that read along the lines of, "he needs to work on his shooting; a bad guy survived."

I like that the BG in your case seems to have turned his life around, and I like that you are happy for him.

Thanks for improving the evening.

Jim March · January 5, 2012, 07:33 AM

Quote:

I fired center mass and the round struck him just above and slightly left of his heart.

Whoa...that is absolutely a kill-zone shot right there. You might have missed the heart but you planted that thing right where a ton of really major arteries run. And a 230gr 45ACP could easily have punched deep enough to take out the spinal cord, which you were also very close to. Dude got damned lucky.

Can I ask a question here? What did he do when you shot him? In other words, what level of stopping power did this dump on him? Do you think he stopped from pain, from physical incapacitation, from pain or was it more a "psychological stop" along the lines of "oh crap, he's not kidding, time to give up!"?

Umm...also...do you know if the slug expanded or not, and whether it was a through-and-through or not? What was your barrel length? And...yeah, might as well ask in case you know: did it punch through the sternum?

Sorry to get all technical on you and I agree completely, this was the best possible outcome.

2damnold4this · January 5, 2012, 07:38 AM

I'm sorry that he put you in a situation where you had to shoot him but I'm glad it worked out the way it did.

trex1310 · January 5, 2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

If you can please comment on the aftermath (legal and personal) of actually having to shoot someone. If you cant I will understand.

There really wasn't any aftermath legally. It was deemed a self-defense
shooting by the DA. I never even surrendered my weapon. Personally, I
did what I had to do to go home. It didn't cause me any problems, no
hand wringing or crying jags. I would have retreated if I could have and
avoided the whole thing. That wasn't an option at the time.

jreXD9 · January 5, 2012, 08:54 PM

As Jim March (post #11) asked, how did he respond to being hit with a .45?

trex1310 · January 5, 2012, 09:03 PM

Quote:

As Jim March (post #11) asked, how did he respond to being hit with a .45?

He flew backward thru air about 10', did a 1-1/2 gainer and......
Oops that was a TV show I saw.

All kidding aside, he simply took a couple of steps backward and then just
collapsed on his back.

If anybody wants specific details I'll be happy to answer any questions
via PM. Don't think a lot of specifics is good here. I hope this is
understandable.

Vermonter · January 5, 2012, 10:37 PM

Thank god you were carrying. I am happy to hear that all really did end well.

myshoulderissore · January 5, 2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Wait..... The system worked?!?!?!?!?!?

I doubt it was the system, I've been in the system as a kid for quite some time, and I got nothing from it... Meeting my wife changed me forever.

It's messed up it came to that for him, but that really is an awesome story, good to hear that he came out of it and started doing good. Hopefully he stays that way, and doesn't have any complications from it. Good to hear it worked out all around!

rem44m · January 10, 2012, 01:33 PM

Code:

Wait..... The system worked?!?!?!?!?!?

Paul K- That made me laugh. I know a couple of people that the system "worked" for. I say worked in quotes because the guys were the one's doing the work and the soul searching. Jail/prison time just gave them time to really focus on themselves and where they are headed.

January 4, 2012, 06:05 PM	#4
highvel Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2010 Location: Powhatan VA Posts: 633	I would think being shot at close range with a .45 would cause a definite rethinking of one's way of life! Most just go toward the light though! __________________ Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.--Mark Twain "I have opinions of my own 'strong opinions' but I don't always agree with them."--George Bush

January 4, 2012, 10:44 PM	#9
Vermonter Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2010 Posts: 962	wow If you can please comment on the aftermath (legal and personal) of actually having to shoot someone. If you cant I will understand.

January 5, 2012, 08:54 PM	#14
jreXD9 Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2009 Posts: 404	As Jim March (post #11) asked, how did he respond to being hit with a .45? __________________ Don't go ninjin' nobody don't need ninjin'.

January 5, 2012, 10:37 PM	#16
Vermonter Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2010 Posts: 962	trex Thank god you were carrying. I am happy to hear that all really did end well.

January 10, 2012, 01:33 PM	#18
rem44m Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 171	Code: Wait..... The system worked?!?!?!?!?!? Paul K- That made me laugh. I know a couple of people that the system "worked" for. I say worked in quotes because the guys were the one's doing the work and the soul searching. Jail/prison time just gave them time to really focus on themselves and where they are headed. __________________ I'd rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it. "If gun owners are as violent as anti-gunners said we are, there wouldn't be any anti's left"

January 3, 2012, 03:43 PM	#1
trex1310 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 389	All's Well That Ends Well First, a little background. About 2-1/2 years ago I shot a young man that was trying to brain me with a piece of galvanized pipe in order to rob me in broad daylight. Thanks to a Springfield XD45 and a Speer 230gr Gold dot that didn't happen. The young man was convicted, sentenced to 5 years (3 on probation and 2 in prison). A friend of mine that knows the father of this young man told me over the holidays that since leaving prison, after serving a whole year, that the young man has turned his life around, renounced drugs, got married and has been working steadily as an electrician apprentice. Maybe this fellow lived for a reason, I don't know. I'm just glad I didn't kill him. I know he was very lucky. I fired center mass and the round struck him just above and slightly left of his heart. He could have just as easily died from the wound. __________________ NRA Life Member Certified in laziness Certified in watching TV Certified in BBQ on the Green Egg

January 3, 2012, 05:11 PM	#2
rem44m Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 171	Thank you for the story, I always like to hear things turn out for the positive.

January 4, 2012, 07:09 PM	#5
Hiker 1 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 596	That is a great story!

January 4, 2012, 08:05 PM	#6
Young.Gun.612 Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 400	Would you have any words of encouragement to actually say to him? I've always been curious as to the mindset of a person in your shoes would be. Assuming he really has turned the page and begun a new life of contributing to society as opposed to being a dredge.

January 4, 2012, 08:21 PM	#7
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	Sir, you are a kind soul and have more compassion in one thumb than most of us combined. Don't forget, you could have easily been killed that day. I admire your ability to forgive. I have a hard time finding empathy for violent, anti social behavior.

January 4, 2012, 10:35 PM	#8
Paul K Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 674	Wait..... The system worked?!?!?!?!?!? Glad all is well with you and him!

January 5, 2012, 12:31 AM	#10
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	trex1310, I have to say I like your post much better than I like posts that read along the lines of, "he needs to work on his shooting; a bad guy survived." I like that the BG in your case seems to have turned his life around, and I like that you are happy for him. Thanks for improving the evening.

January 5, 2012, 07:38 AM	#12
2damnold4this Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2009 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 2,526	I'm sorry that he put you in a situation where you had to shoot him but I'm glad it worked out the way it did.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search