HCP holder shoots attacker in Knoxville gym. Attacker may be charged.

[hso]

HCP holder shoots attacker. HCP holder not to be charged. Attacker may be charged.

http://knoxnews.com/news/2007/nov/29/gym-shooter-wont-be-charged-police-say-victim-star/

Authorities this morning said a man who fired a pistol into his assailant's stomach at an Northeast Knoxville fitness center does not face a criminal charge, but the wounded man might.

Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk said no charges are expected against Kristopher Kitts, 29, who shot Erik Knight, also 29, once in the stomach with a .22-calber pistol.

Knight was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with the non-life threatening wound, DeBusk said. Knight was listed this morning in critical condition.

DeBusk said Knight attacked Kitts about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Rush Fitness Complex, 3001 Knoxville Center. Knight knocked Kitts down and was choking Kitts, DeBusk said, when Kitts reached into his pocket and pulled out a pistol.

DeBusk said Kitts has a carry permit for the weapon.

While DeBusk said prosecutors in the Knox County district attorney's office deemed no charges would be filed against Kitts, the spokesman said Knight may face a criminal offense because of the incident.

DeBusk declined to discuss what prompted the attack at the gym.

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/stor...=DnusE7Z3YVzuUvisWbrScb9ZVQYl4mlJO4HCw0pcD0U=

An altercation in the men's room at a popular gym escalated into a shooting Wednesday night.
According to police, the fight started at around 6:30 pm when 28 year-old Erik Knight attacked 29 year-old Kristopher Kitts. Knight knocked Kitts down and began choking him.

Kitts then pulled a .22 caliber handgun from his pocket and shot Knight in the stomach, sending him to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Kitts was licensed to carry the gun.

No charges will be filed against Kitts, but Knight may be charged in the incident.

 

[REPOMAN]

and the score is..........

good guy-1 bad guy-0

 

[TexasRifleman]

While DeBusk said prosecutors in the Knox County district attorney's office deemed no charges would be filed against Kitts, the spokesman said Knight may face a criminal offense because of the incident.

DeBusk declined to discuss what prompted the attack at the gym

Must be a pretty interesting story to be legit self defense but the attacker not charged. I'd love to hear the tale

 

[Mr White]

And not once did they call Knight a victim.
There may be hope for the press yet.

 

[rjohnson4405]

Some of the best reporting I've seen in a long time.

 

[Bobarino]

wow. the gym is one of the very few places i choose not to carry that i'm legally allowed to. guess i'll have to give it some more thought.

Bobby

 

[yesit'sloaded]

Note that although the ,22 didn't cause a "life threatening wound" it did seem to stop the threat.

 

[buzz_knox]

This hits close to home as I was supposed to be at this gym last night, and my workout routine would have put me right outside the locker room when the shooting occurred.

I might have to reevaluate my carry policy as well.

 

[romma]

I carry once in a while there. If I am hitting weights,no cardio,and If I am going home to shower I will sometimes have the P32 with me in the front pocket...

 

[jlbraun]

Was it a .22LR or a .22Mag?

 

[Chipperman]

What caliber for Roid Rage?

Glad they have already cleared the shooter.

 

[romma]

What caliber for Roid Rage?

Good one!

 

[ThomasT]

I'm glad to here his 22 worked. I have posted before that i recommend a 22 rifle for a home defense weapon for non enthusiest and beginning shooters. I also keep a 10/22 loaded myself. It is the gun i told my 15 year old son to use if force was needed. He has been trained in its use.

Several posters took me to task for my recommendation. Frankly 22s were designed from the beginning to be a self defense round. It used to be that more people were killed each year with a 22 than all other rounds combined.

If someone finds out what gun and specific round was used please post it.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Frankly 22s were designed from the beginning to be a self defense round. It used to be that more people were killed each year with a 22 than all other rounds combined.

Frankly, what is your source that says the .22 was designed as a self defense round? Actually, I thought .22s were designed originally as a powderless plinking round in the form of a .22 BB (Bulleted breech cap) rimfire round.

Yes, a lot of people are killed with .22s, no doubt. Then again, a lot are shot with them. I think if you look at the data that you will find that the .22 isn't a terribly effective killer compared to the number of folks that survive. I also believe you will find that more people survive .22 gunshots than all other rounds combined as well.

 

[Jamie C.]

Okay, I'm a little confused here...

This:
"Knight was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with the non-life threatening wound..."

Then this:
"Knight was listed this morning in critical condition."

That last part sounds pretty life-threatening to me. Was the ride to the hospital just that rough?


J.C.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I want everyone who participate in the "fair fight" and parking lot encounter threads who argued so vehemently that you can't use a firearm in self defense against an unarmed attacker to re-read this story a couple of times. And then re-read it again.

 

[Jamie C.]

I want everyone who participate in the "fair fight" and parking lot encounter threads who argued so vehemently that you can't use a firearm in self defense against an unarmed attacker to re-read this story a couple of times. And then re-read it again.

Heh heh... that's a good one, ClickClick... wish I'd thought of it.

But then, you know some of 'em are still gonna argue that the above-story is the exception, not the rule.... Either that, or "it'd have turned out differently if Knight had died".


J.C.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

i think the subtle shadings of difference between shooting someone who i9s choking you as compared to drawing and shooting to prempt an attack is escaping some folks. either by accident or purposly

 

[jdgabbard]

I am not sure about the states you gents live in. But in my state, Oklahoma, the law states that if you FEEL threatened of your life, or FEEL as though someone else's life is threatened you are authorized to shoot. The man was choking him...In Oklahoma he would be well within his rights to fire on him.

 

[acdodd]

"Okay, I'm a little confused here...

This:
"Knight was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with the non-life threatening wound..."

Then this:
"Knight was listed this morning in critical condition."

That last part sounds pretty life-threatening to me. Was the ride to the hospital just that rough? "


The Doctors put him in critical condition not the .22.
Doctors can be very bad for your health.

 

[Avenger]

The hospital that my friend works at considers ANY gunshot wound to be a critical condition level wound, regardless of any actual damage. Get a minor bruise and abrasion from a .22 ricocheting from a backstop? Critical condition. .38 leaves a crease down your arm? Critical condition. 12ga slug to the torso....O.K., I'll spot you that one!
Critical condition allows them to apply different admittance rules and procedures. To a certain extent, gunshot wounds are about the worst wounds possible infection-wise, outside of bites from other humans.

 

[Halo is for Kids]

What caliber for Roid Rage?

LOL

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

QUOTE:
"Frankly, what is your source that says the .22 was designed as a self defense round? Actually, I thought .22s were designed originally as a powderless plinking round in the form of a .22 BB (Bulleted breech cap) rimfire round.
Yes, a lot of people are killed with .22s, no doubt. Then again, a lot are shot with them. I think if you look at the data that you will find that the .22 isn't a terribly effective killer compared to the number of folks that survive. I also believe you will find that more people survive .22 gunshots than all other rounds combined as well."

During the Civil War S&W could not keep up with the demand for their .22 revolvers. I have read in several gun books they were a popular hide out gun for Union officers and any enlisted man who was lucky enough to come across one. According to what I have read the demand for the .22 & .32 S&W revolvers was so great it slowed the development of a larger caliber revolver because all of S&W resources were busy producing current models during the Civil war.

 

[BRASSM]

I go defanged alot, because of that embarrasing bulge. I'm going to have to pull my .22mag out of retirement, and get the grease out of it. I can conceal it a lot easier then my Hi-Power.

 

[MechAg94]

Another good reason to remember my Keltec P32 more.