Not so average weekend, instead of spending my time helping at an FFL, I’m out getting an oil change, getting a treat, and then while on my way to the garden store, waiting to turn SB onto a fairly major road, a pedestrian on the other side of the road appears, faces traffic, has both hands up at his mid section before turning and facing more NB, pulls a handgun from his waistline, pointing it more North Bound, and begins cycling the pistol.
Given how close I was, even with my music going, I could faintly see the projectiles being shot and given no report, mh conclusion was an airsoft or BB gun. I believe it was like a Desert Eagle…
Tucked in my shirt on my right hip while in the car, pulled onto the road as soon as a spot emerged, and drove down the road to the garden place a short distance away. 911 on the phone, quick location, basic details, pulling what appeared to be a firearms and shooting and made sure to tell them there was no report and it was likely a BB or Airsoft gun…
A very short time frame later I saw the guy walking down the road in my direction, police quickly showing up, guy not obeying commands to stop, he crossed the road, first 2 officers blocked both lanes in both directions and one officer with AR15 moving up mostly with vehicle for cover…
The guy for a bit, stops, follows commands, lays on the ground, he was yelling it was a BB Gun a bit… Then for whatever reason, he got up and started walking away, NB alongside the road and started going towards the blocked traffic where the officers were frantically getting the drivers to turn around or get away from hom to clear the area.
Bushes and plants from the garden center parking area I was in blocked my view a bit but last I saw was multiple officers on him on the ground… it took place a stones throw from the fire station so they were fast on scene…
I kept my distance in the garden center parking lot that had a good fence separating from the road, kept back and mostly with a parked vehicle nearby for cover if needed…
Once he went down, I got to my car to start downloading the footage, got video of him appearing, pulling the “gun” cycling it, and such which promped many calls…
Flagged down an officer returning to his vehicle, let him know I was one of the callers and had already downloaded the dash camera footage to my cell, file too big to email so a 9 second mini clip of the main occurance from appearance, shooting, and him moving away, got the main footage transfered to USB drive upon getting home, just got to drop it off on Monday…
Got the officers card, little talking with the officer, officer told me he was lucky he was not shot (based on what I saw, I was expecting to hear shots).
From when I first saw him to when he pulled and started shooting was seconds, I’m just glad I was able to determine his firearm was not a real one quickly…
