(PA) Youths' pellet gun stick-up foiled by witness' firearm

[Drizzt]

Youths' pellet gun stick-up foiled by witness' firearm

By Ellen James
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, February 16, 2003

A University of Pittsburgh student, with the help of a pair of classmates, nabbed juveniles who tried Saturday afternoon to rob a pizza delivery man in Shadyside, police said.

Two juveniles, ages 14 and 15, were arrested outside an apartment building along the 6000 block of Kentucky Avenue and charged with robbery, police said. A 12-year-old boy who was with the pair was taken into custody and later released. No one was injured.

Matthew Demos, 22, a senior studying business communications, said one of the juveniles put a gun to the head of a Domino's Pizza delivery man at about 3 p.m. outside the apartment building. The two older juveniles were found to have been carrying pellet guns, police said.

But Demos' weapon was real.

Watching from inside his apartment in the building, Demos said he yelled "gun," while his roommate, Rich Miller, 23, a pharmacy student, dialed 911. Demos said he grabbed his registered .32-caliber handgun, raced outside and told the youth to drop the weapon. Police arrived less than 30 seconds later, Demos said.

"I'm just glad that no one was hurt but you could see the delivery guy was very scared," Demos said. "I don't think he ever expected something like this would happen in broad daylight."

Demos said he was awakened by his friend Matthew Gouwens, 22, a graduate student, who said three juveniles were lingering outside the building.

"I just kept peeking outside my window, keeping an eye on them," Demos said. "The next thing I saw is one of them put a gun to a pizza delivery guy's head and yell, 'Freeze, this is a shake-up.'"

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/pittsburgh/s_118771.html

A shake-up? I've heard of a stick-up, and a shakedown, but this?

 

[Blackhawk]

Stupid kids. Thing is a pellet gun at contact range to the temple is a lethal weapon.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Watching from inside his apartment in the building, Demos said he yelled "gun," while his roommate, Rich Miller, 23, a pharmacy student, dialed 911. Demos said he grabbed his registered .32-caliber handgun, raced outside and told the youth to drop the weapon. Police arrived less than 30 seconds later, Demos said.

Wow! Definitely fast response time!

 

[Beren]

It's important to get to the scene while the pizza is still warm.

 

[Stetson_CO]

I just kept peeking outside my window, keeping an eye on them," Demos said. "The next thing I saw is one of them put a gun to a pizza delivery guy's head and yell, 'Freeze, this is a shake-up.'"

Maybe, "Shake, this is a freeze up!" ?




c):{

 

[jimpeel]

"All right mothersticker, this is a f---up!"

 

[David Park]

Thing is a pellet gun at contact range to the temple is a lethal weapon.

If it was a real pellet/BB gun, it could be. If it was an airsoft gun that shoots plastic BBs, no way. A .32 will outgun either one.

 

[twoblink]

If the cops didn't arrive within 30 minutes, do they get a discount??

A metal BB at blank range, is lethal shot into the temple... So the pizza guy was actually in harms way..

That said, the kids should get tazzered a few thousand times... They will learn, as soon as they stop twitching..

 

[Blackhawk]

If it was a real pellet/BB gun, it could be. If it was an airsoft gun that shoots plastic BBs, no way. A .32 will outgun either one.

So you think a defense to being caught packing a .32 without a CCP is "Officer, it's not a lethal weapon since it's just a .32."?