Pizza man fires on attackers, kills one

[Prince Yamato]

We need to start contacting Pizza Hut in regards to this guy's job both corporate & the franchise

You're damn right! Let's keep an eye on this one. If Pizza Hut fires him, bombard their corporate offices with phone calls.

 

[SCKimberFan]

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/708475.html

Here is the link to an update on the story. The driver immediately called 911 on his cell. Based on the story, it appears he did everything right.

Here is the story as printed in the paper:

Ambushed pizza man kills attacker
Irmo High student shot in robbery attempt Saturday night, authorities say
By JOHN MONK - [email protected]

An Irmo pizza delivery man ambushed by a group of young men trying to rob him Saturday night shot and killed one of his attackers, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department announced Sunday afternoon.

One of his assailants, Paul Andrew Sturgill Jr., 17, of 5819 Kenna Drive near Irmo, was pronounced dead of gunshot wounds later at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital, Sheriff James Metts said. An autopsy will be performed today.Sturgill was a senior at Irmo High School and a musician who received honor grades and planned to join the Army at the end of this school year, said his parents, Lynn and Paul Sturgill Sr., on Sunday night.

They said they were stunned to learn of their son’s death.

“This was the first time he has ever been late for his curfew,” said Lynn Sturgill, interviewed Sunday night in front of her Kenna Drive house, less than half a mile from Irmo High. “He’s a good kid.”

The shooting took place about 10:25 p.m. Saturday on Avery Place Lane, a quiet residential street less than a quarter-mile from Irmo High. Sturgill lay on the ground next to a driveway bleeding from wounds in the chest and stomach for a half-hour before medics arrived on the scene, neighbors said Sunday night.

The pizza delivery man, Christopher Steven Miller, 43, had a concealed weapons permit and was trying to retreat from his attackers while being beaten by one of them, Metts said. Such a permit allows a person to carry a hidden gun.

Miller carried a .45-caliber Taurus handgun in a fanny pack and took it out and fired while being beaten backward, Metts said. Such large caliber pistols are known for their “stopping power” — the ability to bring down an attacker instantly.

No weapons were recovered from Sturgill, Metts said.

Metts said Sunday afternoon it appears Miller acted within the law and will not face charges. However, police have made no final decisions and will discuss the incident with prosecutors, he said.

“At this point in time, his (Miller’s) actions look very appropriate,” Metts said, describing them as apparent “self-defense” because Miller was retreating and his assailants continued to attack.

The sheriff’s department said Miller told detectives he did not want to talk publicly about the shooting.

“He is a little shaken; I understand he has a broken nose,” Metts said.

In custody Sunday afternoon were Jason Todd Beckham, 18, of 415 Emory Lane, and Carlos Renard Dates, 20, of 1506 Nursery Hill Road, both near Irmo. Both are charged with robbery and criminal conspiracy.

A final suspect, Justin Towan Roundtree, 18, of 610 Emory Lane near Irmo, turned himself in to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at 9:15 p.m. Sunday night. He is charged with robbery and criminal conspiracy.

Roundtree is suspected of having a connection to a gang, Metts said. Metts did not have details.

Initial checks on the young men’s backgrounds indicate — apart from the possible gang connection — all had good records, Metts said.

Metts said that on Saturday night an order had been called in to Pizza Hut on Irmo Drive for two large, thin-crust pizzas with extra cheese for delivery to a house on Avery Place Lane.

However, when Miller showed up with the pizzas, he was met by a young man outside the house he was delivering to, Miller told detectives.

In fact, Metts said, the suspects had called the order in on a cell phone. The people who lived in the house had no knowledge of the pizza request, Metts said.

Miller gave the following version of events to police, Metts said: Miller exited the car with his pizzas. The young man standing in front of the house asked him if he had change for a $100 bill. Miller grew suspicious on noting that the young man had no money.

The young man began to hit him, and Miller spotted two other men coming toward him out of a nearby woods. Miller began to run away, pursued by the young man, who was hitting him. As he ran, he drew his pistol and fired, hitting him in the upper torso. The shots caused the two other men to run off.

After being shot, the assailant fell to the ground and began thrashing about and yelling.

“I thought he was saying, ‘Let me die,’” said Sandy Briggs, on whose driveway the assailant’s blood was still visible Sunday night. But another neighbor, Marsha Woods, believed the young man was shouting, “I don’t want to die.”

Neighbors, joined by sheriff’s deputies, looked on as the young man lay bleeding. Deputies administered first aid, they said.

Paul Sturgill Sr. said his son had big plans.

“He was planning on joining the Army and wanted to be an Airborne Ranger,” Sturgill said. “He had already signed papers.”

Sturgill asked people not to judge his son on this incident. “He made one wrong decision. I guess he paid the ultimate price.”

The pizzas were worth $25.13.

Police said Miller called police on his cell phone right after the shooting. Neighbors said they also called 911. Sheriff’s deputies were on the scene within minutes, they said.

Judith Shealy, whose house on Avery Place Lane the pizzas were brought to, said Sunday she has never ordered pizza.

Metts said that although an investigation will continue, one thing about Miller’s using his weapon is clear:

“This sends a loud message to the criminal element — you don’t know who’s going to be armed and who’s not going to be armed when you go to rob someone.”

“This sends a loud message to the criminal element — you don’t know who’s going to be armed and who’s not going to be armed when you go to rob someone.”

Maybe, just maybe...

 

[tuckerdog1]

Because a death resulted during a crime, shouldn't the other actors be charged with some level of homicide?

Tuckerdog1

 

[gimlet1/21]

Pizzaman is an instructor of the youth

I recently moved my family to S.C. from Vermont, following my wifes carreer. We live about 30 min. from this scene,Sumter, and am surprized at how the residents of this state live with this sh*t. My wife and I now carry everywhere, our seven kids come home daily with stories of tasings in the halls of the schools, middle and high, the wife has had a gun held to her head in the hospital parking lot where she works, at lunch time, by a criminal who was released from prison two weeks earlier on a prior violent offense.

These types of crimes rarely happen in Vermont, you never know who is armed. This very fact insured that we were safe and didn't need to carry.
I never did.

The religous of the south should mimic the Arch Angel Micheal, who is always depicted holding a sword on every stained glass window in every church. The "bible belt" has to many sheep and not enough herd dogs with teeth to protect the prey from the predators.

 

[ShadyScott999]

I lived in Sumter for 10 years. I carried everywhere.

 

[Flea]

I think this furthers the argument that you should always be wary of who you associate with. If indeed this boy was on honor roll, then he should have known better than to be around someone with "possible gang affiliation." My condolences to his parents, but the Pizza guy was absolutely in the right - retreat, in danger during the commission of a felony, shoot, 911, remain on scene.

Wonder if it was a PT 145 or a PT 1911?

 

[ScottsGT]

I live about 10 minutes from where this happened. SC Castle Doc. has been improved over the years. Sheriff Metts is a pretty good guy. Nothing like Leon Lott in Columbia (Michael Phelps).

Not to hijack thread, but just what did Lott do wrong??? He did exactly what he had to do. He answered a question a reporter asked him about what he was going to do. He spent an entire 15 seconds on the air answering the question and everyone else ran with it. He COULD NOT ignore illegal behavior, and he did not agressively hunt down Phelps. Lott has been great for us in Richland County, and his deputys are some of the best LEO's I've ever met. BTW, did you see the Rotary Club video? That was some good stuff!
(OK, I'm biased, he signs off on my Form 4's )

 

[peacenik]

Re:

The shooter has issued a statment: http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=71292&catid=2


Responding to previous posters:

I recently moved my family to S.C. from Vermont, following my wifes carreer. We live about 30 min. from this scene,Sumter, and am surprized at how the residents of this state live with this sh*t. My wife and I now carry everywhere, our seven kids come home daily with stories of tasings in the halls of the schools, middle and high, the wife has had a gun held to her head in the hospital parking lot where she works, at lunch time, by a criminal who was released from prison two weeks earlier on a prior violent offense.

Crime is bad in Columbia (I live there) in places, but Sumter, West Florence and North Charleston are hardcore. I can imagine the culture shock coming down from Vermont. It's just something you have to live with around here, better with a 1911 in your waistband.

Hopefully, this Miller guy will not get charged, but the law here needs to be cleared up: if you are facing multiple assailants and one has already struck you, that's reasonable justification to brandish and fire. The law should be changed to say as much.

Not to hijack thread, but just what did Lott do wrong??? He did exactly what he had to do. He answered a question a reporter asked him about what he was going to do. He spent an entire 15 seconds on the air answering the question and everyone else ran with it. He COULD NOT ignore illegal behavior, and he did not agressively hunt down Phelps.

Give me a break. He raided homes, where people had 5-6 grams of marijuana, and tried to scare them into testifying against Phelps, so he could get his face on TV. All because of a picture of a guy with a bong. If you think he did nothing over the line, you might be more comfortable living in a place like Iran or China. His actions were a disgrace to Richland County and the state of SC.

 

[TAB]

I hope Pizza Hut doesn't fire this guy like they have others before him.

So its not ok to fire an eployee for breaking company policy? More so when its one that doing so opened the company to major liability.

 

[TexasRifleman]

So its not ok to fire an eployee for breaking company policy? More so when its one that doing so opened the company to major liability.

It's perfectly fine for them to fire him.

It's also perfectly fine for all of us to refuse to spend money with their company because of it, and to let them know why.

Ain't freedom great?

* Pizza Hut, Inc.
* 14841 Dallas Parkway
* Dallas, TX 75254
* Customer Feedback
* Phone: 1-800-948-8488
* All Other Inquiries
* Phone: 1-972-338-7700

 

[61chalk]

Everyone should read POST 5 by
Gamera...your a sick man, an very
funny...I'm still cracking up...

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Never mind that lead pizza, have it delivered and buried with the corpse and bill the estate.

I think after a sufficient number of killings in the legal manner will eliminate future danger to the next generation of Pizza drivers that will be brought in to stimulate the economy.

 

[dobrzemetal]

"Relatives and neighbors expressed shock over the death of Sturgill, whom they said had been an honor student and musician. His family said he planned to join the Army, with a goal of becoming an airborne ranger, after graduating from Irmo High School this year."

What a load a ****, they are just building him up to be a martyr. Blah blah, he was turning his life around, he had intentions of serving his country...yeah right, an honor roll student involved in a mugging for a pizza?

I'm happy the guy defended himself, about 2 years ago here in Gainesville a pizza guy was beaten and left for dead in a ditch over 12.00$, He ultimately died.

 

[Officers'Wife]

So many young lives are lost to peer pressure and drugs (which usually are started do to peer pressure also).

Peer pressure is a cop out. You either know right from wrong or you don't. You either have the courage of your convictions or you don't. I don't know about you but when I disobeyed the rules and tried to use the excuse 'everybody else does it' Dad would have taken it as his failure in raising me.

You don't want to see Dad when he is correcting his mistakes.

Bottom line, if you choose to go along with the crowd and do evil, the blame isn't your peers. You have no one to blame but yourself.

Selena

 

[Lightninstrike]

When have I ever heard anyone described as less than presidential material after they were caught, arrested or shot for robbing, beating, raping, killing another. Like never.

 

[mongo4567]

Too bad the driver didn't get all of the punks.

 

[ShadyScott999]

Isn't that the truth.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Or worse, live to learn to bring weapons next time they want to knock off another Pizza Man.

 

[mjkten]

I'm surprised John Monk wrote this as a "just the facts" kind of story. I think he has written with a liberal hue for most of what I have read. I can certainly feel for the Dad who lost his son, and probably had such high hopes for him. But. I think that the pizza man is a hero, at least for his family. Our town should also hail him as such. This is how a society that values innocent human life and the rule of law should react. This is likely to be very stressful for him and his family. I think he would probably stop delivering pizzas on his own.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

I believe I would have made my last delivery if I was that pizza man.

Once is plenty.

 

[WardenWolf]

The pizza delivery guy had a broken nose. That's actually good for his case, because it's proof of the attack. Not a life-changing injury, but one that will back up his story and pretty much ensure he won't be charged.

 

[rojocorsa]

I wasn't aware of Pizza Hut's policies, but I don't usually order pizza. I'd rather make my own so I could have it my way!

 

[INMY01TA]

I'm glad the driver had the means to defend himself. However, I like Pizza Hut and will continue to eat there.

 

[ShadyScott999]

That is your call. My family will not.

 

[INMY01TA]

Pretty much no one in Md can carry, let alone pizza men. I work at the Post Office and no one can carry there and that is nation wide.