At around 5 a.m. on Jan. 18, a man came into a gas station in Avondale, Ariz., with his face covered, mumbled something about “rob” and “money,” and then pointed a gun at the clerk and at a customer. However, when the suspect became distracted by another customer, the clerk reportedly drew his own firearm and shot the assailant. The would-be robber was taken to a hospital in critical condition, and neither the clerk nor any customers were hurt in the incident. While mainstream-media accounts often quoted an employment attorney advising clerks against arming themselves, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that about two-thirds of workplace homicides involved robbers. “I’m not happy I had to shoot him,” the clerk told reporters, “but I’m not stressing. The moment he pulled the gun on me, he set the situation and I just followed it. He made the situation what it was.” Police indicated the clerk would not be charged. (Blaze Media, Las Vegas, Nev., 1/19/23; Fox 10 Phoenix, Phoenix, Ariz., 1/18/23; Arizona’s Family, Phoenix, Ariz., 1/18/23)
Two people wearing ski masks entered a clothing store in Hartford, Conn., Feb. 2 just after 10:30 p.m., likely intending to rob the business. One of the suspects allegedly shot the store’s owner in the back during a struggle. However, the owner returned fire with two of his legally owned firearms, striking one of the suspects several times. That assailant, a 26-year-old man, was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The other suspect fled during the altercation and remained at large at the time of reporting. (NBC Connecticut, Hartford, Conn., 1/3/23)
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