Home Invasion Stopped with BB Gun

[tinygnat219]

This took some cajones. One of the intruders had an AK-47 "Assault Rifle".
http://www.kpho.com/news/14766204/detail.html

MESA, Ariz. -- A Mesa father armed with a BB gun confronted two home invaders, one of them brandishing an AK-47 assault rifle, after they grabbed his daughter by the hair at gunpoint, police said.

"I woke up and first I thought it was my mom screaming," said 15-year-old Gricel Ruelas. "Then I heard people shout, 'Open the door, open the door.'"

The intruders had kicked through the front door and were headed straight for her parents' room when they heard the girl screaming.

"I was going to hide in the closet, but that's when they got me," Ruelas said.
The men broke into her room and one of them grabbed her by the hair, she said.

"They had a gun to my head, like a big old gun, and the guy's saying , 'Come here.'"

Police said the weapon was an AK-47 assault rifle.

The 15-year-old said she fought back.

"I wasn't going to let them take me," she said.

Her father, Leonardo Lucia, came to her rescue and threatened them with a BB gun, police said.

He and the girl's uncle detained one man, but the one who had the rifle dropped it and took off running, according to officers.

"I'm so happy they were here," Ruelas said. "If they weren't, I wouldn't be here."The man who was arrested, Daniel Lopez, 37, was on parole at the time, police said.

Lopez was arrested around 4:30 a.m. Sunday and booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree burglary, aggravated assault and criminal damage.

Police said they hope he can lead them to his accomplice.

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

I don't know what was worse; the criminals not realizing it was a BB Gun, or the dad going after the crooks with one. I'm glad everyone's fine and I hope that the dad will now take it upon himself to get some real protection.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I wonder if the AK was empty or if the BG lost his nerve all of the sudden. Glad everybody was ok and there were no welts dealt!

 

[hso]

AK-47 assault rifle

Somehow I seriously doubt that an NFA selective fire weapon was used instead of a lookalike semi auto carbine.

 

[Sgt.Dusk]

Lol

 

[TexasRifleman]

Despite the humor there is good information here.

As lots of people have said, the bad guys don't want to die. ANY resistance throws the majority of them completely off their game.

They were not expecting resistance so whether or not it was a real gun never entered their mind.

This whole "don't resist, just comply and it will be over soon" nonsense just doesn't work.

 

[tinygnat219]

I figure the homeowners were lucky to say the least. If that guy with the AK-47 look-a-like, or whatevr it was had any clue about the situation, there would probably be some bad guys with welts and three dead people in that home.

 

[RLsnow]

good he did something, wonder if hel get a gun now

 

[Constantine-p89]

Really, he should get a real gun.

 

[Mannix]

Knowing the media, the crook very well could have had an airsoft rifle with the tip painted black.

 

[alucard0822]

Its not so hard to belive, bad guys holding his girl, daddy comes around the corner with a "gun" leveled, the bad guy's probably don't know it is a bb gun, and self preservation takes over, and away they go. Not a reaction I would rely on, and hopefully neither will the lucky homeowner. I don't think the BGs said, "oh my god, he can put an eye out with that thing".

 

[yesit'sloaded]

I take it none of you have ever been shot by a bb gun. It ain't a good feeling. I wouldn't be surprised if he thought he was actually shot. A 17 caliber projectile going 900 fps isn't exactly airsoft.

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

Knowing the media, the crook very well could have had an airsoft rifle with the tip painted black.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

I take it none of you have ever been shot by a bb gun. It ain't a good feeling. I wouldn't be surprised if he thought he was actually shot. A 17 caliber projectile going 900 fps isn't exactly airsoft.

900 fps? Doubtful. A BB gun is certainly not a pellet rifle.

 

[RLsnow]

BB guns do occasionally look like real guns.

but i repeat, he probably WILL get a real gun, wonder if he asked himself (after this happened) "what if i had had to shoot at them?"

Reality checks can be painfull...

 

[romma]

Yea just give them what they want!

You mean my daughter?? Umm, no!

 

[MD_Willington]

AK-47... they sure it wasn't an Airsoft rifle?

 

[crackhead]

For some a reason a christmas story come to mind...

 

[CZ 42]

Hell, I carry an air pistol around the house... In case a squirrel invades and wants the peanuts. It's better than a melee weapon in most cases I'd think.

 

[dasmi]

The 15-year-old said she fought back.

"I wasn't going to let them take me," she said.

Excellent. She has the right mindset.

 

[Standing Wolf]

The man who was arrested, Daniel Lopez, 37, was on parole at the time, police said.

Why, how very surprising!

 

[tinygnat219]

I'd probably do something similar with a staple gun if it were my daughter in that same situation. As for the AK-47, I just posted what the media has on their website.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Which shows how mindset can make a big difference in the outcome of a violent encounter.

 

[Officers'Wife]

All I can say is that guy had more heart than John Wayne and Chuck Norris put together ever pretended to have! I suppose, as another pointed out, that afterwards he did wonder what would have happened if he would have had to shoot. Reality check notwithstanding, when the chips were down he protected his child, his wife and his home. While he may be suffering his reality check, the Saints are rejoicing.

Selena

 

[TNBulldog]

My RWS Diana looks JUST like a cartridge firing gun. Solid steel barrell, polished wood stock, and it's pretty big all in all. Most ppl when they first see it do think it's a real gun. I can totally see that scenario unfolding as such. I'm not sure that gun wouldn't kill you if shot from across the room.

 

[keeleon]

I too am curious if the "AK-47" was an airsoft gun. I can't imagine a BG that would go to the trouble to bring an actual (clone or whatever) AK to a robbery, and then fdrop it and run away. I would at least imagine he would have taken it with him if it were real. Of course "AK-47" in the news pretty much means anything other than a handgun. One of my biggest pet peeves is when news people say "AK-47".

Speaking of which, while I wouldn't bring it to a gun fight, I would certainly rely on my Marui "AK-47" in a knife fight 800 rds a minute at 450fps to the face will stop some one faster than pepper spray