ZALESKI — Authorities are still on the lookout for a pair of would-be robbers who were forced to flee a Vinton County store Saturday after its owners and a customer opened fire on them, Vinton County Sheriff's deputies reported.
At about 4:54 p.m. Saturday, two men wearing camouflage and carryingan assault-style rifle and shotgun entered the Zaleski General Store at the intersection of Ohio 278 and Ohio 677 and demanded money, according to a release from the Vinton County Sheriff's Office.
Store ownerLetha Toops retrieved a small handgun from under the counter and fired four shots into the floor in front of the would-be robbers, who then fled. As the pair got into a waiting car, the lone customer in the store took Toops' handgun and fired a shot as the car drove away.
Toops' husband, Jerry, also fired at the car, using a gun he had in the waistband of his pants.
The sheriff's office is unsure whetheranyone was struck by the gunfire, but all area hospitals were put on notice and units from the sheriff's office and Ohio Highway Patrol searched the area. Read more
Source: chillicothegazette.com
Recommended gun books for those who carry concealed handguns:
The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry
The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery
Effective Handgun Defense, A Comprehensive Guide to Concealed Carry
Store owner and customer are both lucky they didn’t hit the BG, UNLESS they had witness / or could prove the departing BG were an immediate threat to other people being killed or grievous bodily harm from fleeing BG… Because they (store owner or customer) could be charged with a Felony (done with a Gun in Florida, it’s mandatory Jail Time under min sentence guidelines where Judge has no choice but to send you to jail for taking Law into their own hands by shooting BG).  Once the original BG assault is done and BG is Fleeing, that activity is over.   (Ex: A person was attacked in front of many witnesses by a BG using a knife, where the innocent person received a number of serious knife cuts before he managed to get the knife away from BG and the Victim proceeded to use BG’s knife to do some cutting of his own on the BG.  Even though Victim was hospitalized briefly and received quite a few stitches; GUESS WHO WAS CHARGED, RECEIVED PROBATION and FORCED to PAY restitution for the BG’s hospital bills and BG lost time from work?  THE VICTIM!  First assault was over (BG did get a small slap on wrist for his assault and some of Victims Money owed TO BG was reduced.  FAIR?  NO way, but the Law is strange at times.. Â
n
Moral of Story… understand your State’s Laws on When you can legally use deadly force.  Regardless of how YOU will deal with such a situation, at least know what you’re facing…. another view from my saddle and not intended to give legal advise; you should consult with an attorney in your state.   davzay