Somebody threatened to kill me at a restaurant

[sebtool]

OP did well - acted just as he should have. He assessed the situation, made preparations to act IF THE SITUATION WARRANTED, decided that an active response was not needed, and stood down, while remaining alert. +1!

Isn't that a text book reaction? He didn't interject himself into the 'altercation' with the idea of being a hero, but planned a response IF the SHTF, and was ready to execute, IF needed!
I can't see how anyone on here could have a problem with that.

The one person whose actions I do have a problem with, as mentioned above, is the restaurant manager! There's no reason that a waitress should have to confront a 'problem customer' - that's why he/she gets the big bucks, right?
And the police should have been called, if for no other reason than to make them aware of the potential threat and/or pattern, so the next time it happens they might respond just a little quicker, if needed.

As far as giving beggars/bums/homeless people $$$, I get approached on occasion. Had some guy walk in the shop about 4-4:30 a.m. 2 months ago - we're right off a major 4 lane hwy thru St Louis. Said he was coming home from his mother's funeral in Springfield,Il., was driving a Porsche! nearly out of gas, had about 40 miles to go. Offered repayment the next night.
He was clean cut, needed a shave, clean jeans and Harley t-shirt. My height-about 5'9", skinnier, seemed open, not acting threatening or evasive. Though he was alert.

Now as I was working 3rd shift, my 9mm was on top of my tool box in an open bag - accessible, but concealed, within arm's reach. The guy I was working with was about 15 feet away, knew I was armed, positioned to the guy's left, and watching pretty close. I think he had a wrench in his hand, nothing big.
Now, unless I have a 'stash' in my wallet, it never contains cash. I carry a money clip for that, and can slip a couple $$$ quickly, without exposing anything to prying eyes. If I'm carrying a substantial amount, I'll carry 2 clips, 1 with about $10-$20, the other with the majority of the cash. I will never pull out my wallet at another's request, unless a police officer asks, or needed for a purchase.

In this case, I placed myself between my gun(closer, now) and the broke guy, peeled $4 in ones out of my clip, taking my eyes off of his for less than a second to determine what bills were on top, and told him not to worry about it - shtuff happens to the best of us. I made sure that I moved fast enough that he never came within my 'comfort zone', i.e. arm's reach or closer. I gave hime enough to get him home, but that's it. Told him I've been helped, help someone else next time. He thanked me, and walked out.

But I damn sure kept my eyes on the overhead door from there on out! The gate was open already, as we were expecting some guys to start at 5 a.m.
Gotta love life in the city...

 

[GLOOB]

Not to sound like a jerk, but instead of kicking the dude out, someone could have bought him his food. Crazy or not, people have to eat.

True, the mentally ill might get stuck in a situation where they truly go hungry, but from the way he acted this sounds like something different.♦ My guess is that he fully expected to get thrown out, and he did it anyways because he wanted to blow his top. Some people are too disturbed to deal with their problems on their own. So rather than take advantage of shelters and soup kitchens, they learn how to get taken to the local ER or psyche ward every few days. I doubt paying for his meal would have made any difference.

 

[Realbigo]

When I was stationed in 29Palms back in 91, i intervened in a similar situation. Difference was, I was in Reno NV @ a $6 AYCE buffet, so i just paid for him after he promised to behave. I also told him if he didn't behave, I was going to break his arm. He blanched, but he ate up and behaved. This may not have worked in the OP's situation, but as we all know, every encounter is different

 

[OurSafeHome.net]

But in a restaurant, under these circumstances, you're paying for yours anyway, a simple, "Just put his on our tab" would have been the smooth, cool and very inexpensive alternative to a scene which could easily have resulted in a stabbing or shooting...

With ammo prices what they are these days, this is the most economic choice, too!

Oh, and just one more thing...

For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.' Deuteronomy 15:11

 

[KBT1911]

From my perspective the guy was already trying to use intimidation and force to get a free meal. It's not a matter of altruism, it's more about the tone of the situation. Definitely not a Luby's but for sure potentially threatening. Having not been there, I can only guess ghost was getting red lights from the guy and chose to act defensively. Sad or not, the guy was already a powder keg and as someone else mentioned, he should have left in the custody of the police.

 

[Darkninja]

unless this guy pulls a gun, why even consider a lethal response? In a crowded or semi-crowded restaurant? If the dude pulls a knife (although apparently no indication he had one), it seems to me a couple of husky male patrons armed with chairs could bonk the guy and hold him at bay, and him pinned to the floor long enough for cops to arrive.

Get a sharpie, give it to a friend and have them 'attack' you as if it were a knife. You'll soon understand why no one wants to be in a knife fight. Even 'husky' guys wouldn't want to be facing a someone with a knife and nothing to lose.

That being said I think you made all the correct decisions. I agree with some of the other members, the manager should have been the one to escort him out and should have called the cops. Maybe they did. I'm glad everything worked out for you.

 

[ceyko]

Am I understanding correctly that some folks feel that the OP should've considered buying the guy his meal? In the city, this is not a once in a lifetime occurance and not an acceptable comprimise. Spend a week in Dallas with a million dollars, do that and you'll be broke at the end of that week.

 

[Mp7]

sounds like a situation, where even thinking about drawing
would be completly out of place.

As a guest your job is to back up the staff,
basically just show you are supporting them

in 99,9% of cases this should suffice.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

WOW. We're all in this together. Some of us were raised to look out for our own. Obviously some of us weren't raised that way. This is the reason retailers have to put limits on primer sales.

Maybe you should move somewhere that is nicer.

I'm ok with being kind to my fellow man.
While the responses from steely eyed gun-do masters here have certainly indicated how tense things could be, kindness is always an option that should be in everyone's bag of solutions.

 

[shephard19]

Maybe you should move somewhere that is nicer.

I'm ok with being kind to my fellow man.
While the responses from steely eyed gun-do masters here have certainly indicated how tense things could be, kindness is always an option that should be in everyone's bag of solutions.

Indeed, kindness is almost always or always a option. Most people I dare say don't think homelessness is a distinct possibility till it happens to them...
I think most people on this forum would not be in a good mood if they had to beg for food and sleep on the street every day, and be treated like a piece of garbage by many people.
Some of the attidudes displayed in some of the posts in this thread are reminiscent of Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol".

To keep the post gun related: you did the right thing, by not drawing on him.

 

[Autolycus]

The reason you were not phased is your status as a sheepdog.