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Disabled Veteran Shoots Possible Carjacker
Last Edited: Wednesday, 25 Jul 2007, 5:50 PM CDT
Created: Wednesday, 25 Jul 2007, 5:50 PM CDT
A man shot at a possible carjacker. SideBar
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Kansas City man stopped a would-be carjacker from robbing him and stealing his car. He said his conceal-carry permit may have saved his life.
The 49-year-old man is a disabled veteran who served nearly 10 years in the Army. He just got his permit to carry a concealed weapon earlier this year, but said he never thought he'd have to use it.
The man, who asked to be called "Bill" for fear of retaliation for the actions he took to defend himself was parked in front of this apartment building Monday night helping a friend move out when he said a strange man approached him.
"He questioned me more or less as to if I was going to buy some drugs. Or what kind and how much," Bill said.
When Bill told him he wasn't interested, he said the man left, but soon came back. Bill was behind the wheel of the car as he and his friend were getting ready to leave.
"This guy was going back and forth. Then he motioned, pulling up his shirt as if he had something underneath it. With the other hand, he socked me in the jaw," Bill said.
Bill recently obtained a conceal carry permit in Missouri and when he came to help his friend, he decided to bring his 40-caliber handgun along with him. It's the same type of weapon police carry.
"Before he could get the second punch in, is when I decided to go ahead and use lethal force," Bill said.
Bill shot the would-be carjacker one time in the stomach. He said the man cursed and ran away. Bill called police and an ambulance.
"I feel disgusted that I had to use it on a human being," Bill said. "But I'm not going to be the victim who can't defend himself anymore."
He said he shudders to think what would have happened if he did not have his gun with him. The man who attacked Bill is in the hospital in serious condition. The Jackson Couty prosecutor will determine if any charges should be filed.
John Pepitone, FOX 4 News  |