(VA) Man being robbed kills an attacker, police say

[Drizzt]

Man being robbed kills an attacker, police say
A second robbery suspect is charged and a third is sought.

BY JUSTIN WALDEN
247-4753
July 15, 2006

NEWPORT NEWS -- A Williamsburg man being robbed by three people shot and killed one of his attackers and injured another, police said Friday.

Morris L. Brown, 22, had just dropped off a friend at Heritage Trace apartments about 1:30 a.m. Friday when two people approached him and asked for drugs, said Lou Thurston, a spokesman for the Newport News Police Department.

When Brown responded that he didn't have any drugs, the two said they were robbing him. A third person then approached him from behind, Thurston said.

The two men in front of Brown started beating him, while the third person held him. The three stole Brown's keys, cell phone and wallet and started to walk away, Thurston said. The man who approached Brown from behind then pointed a handgun at Brown.

But Brown fired his own weapon into the group and hit Michael M. Highsmith, 22, of Newport News in the arm.

A 32-year-old man was shot several times in the torso and later died at Riverside Regional Medical Center, Thurston said. His name was not released because relatives had not yet been notified.

The man who pulled the gun on Brown fled the scene, and police aren't sure if he was injured, Thurston said. Highsmith was charged with robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Police were searching for the third suspect Friday afternoon.

Thurston said he's hoping someone with a tip will call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887).

Brown, who has a concealed weapons permit for his gun, likely won't be charged, Thurston said, because at this point the shooting is considered a justifiable homicide.

As police arrived at the scene, Brown got the attention of an officer and explained what happened, Thurston said.

The apartments are immediately off Campbell Road in the Denbigh section of the city and near Warwick Boulevard. Several residents said they heard what sounded like fireworks going off early Friday morning.

Resident John Nelson said that after hearing the gunshots he heard someone run through his building. "But I was not going to come out."

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-75089sy0jul15,0,6424641.story?coll=dp-news-local-final

 

[gunsmith]

I'd say

He finally learned his lesson

A 32-year-old man was shot several times in the torso and later died

I feel sorry for the young man forced to defend himself, it must be difficult to kill
someone , even if you're 100% justified.

When they catch the others I hope they are charged with murder.

 

[Apple a Day]

Brown, who has a concealed weapons permit for his gun, likely won't be charged, Thurston said, because at this point the shooting is considered a justifiable homicide.

God bless the Commonwealth of Virginia!

 

[mete]

It worked out OK but I think he needs some training in tactics. People asking for money or especially drugs should put you on high alert !!!

 

[Ferrari308]

It worked out OK but I think he needs some training in tactics. People asking for money or especially drugs should put you on high alert !!!

What else could he have done? He couldn't just start shooting. It is only justified if someone attacks you and your life is at risk.

 

[VTKFJoe]

[/QUOTE]It worked out OK but I think he needs some training in tactics. People asking for money or especially drugs should put you on high alert !!![/QUOTE]

I'm sure he was on 'high alert', I'm sure what came next happend pretty fast.

When Brown responded that he didn't have any drugs, the two said they were robbing him. A third person then approached him from behind, Thurston said.

BTW, this article is pretty short and none of us know exactly what happened or how much training Mr. Brown does have, what we do know it that he was quick enough not to get shot by the three thugs (at least one of whom had a handgun). I too feel sorry for Mr. Brown - I hope he comes out of this ok.

 

[EddieCoyle]

This part is curious:

The three stole Brown's keys, cell phone and wallet and started to walk away, Thurston said.

They didn't steal his gun?

Keys? Check.
Cell phone? Check.
Wallet? Check.
Gun?... Naw, let him keep it.


There's got to be more to this story.

 

[Mannlicher]

One of the problems with this type of news report is that there is very little info, and often the info presented changes. When it all is sorted out, it's no longer news, and you can't find what the eventual outcome was.
On the surface, I think the fellow showed restraint, and did the right thing in the end. After all, not everyone in America is as 'tacticaly perfect' as some of us here.

 

[#shooter]

They didn't steal his gun?

If he was carring it concealed and they just punched his face or gut and made him empty his pockets, they could have missed it at 1:30 am.

 

[rhubarb]

Well, the obvious solution to this case is to make it illegal for criminals to allow victims to wrest away their guns. This is one of two threads I've read today where criminals are shot with their own guns by victims. There must be a scourge of gun violence perpetrated by armed criminals relinquishing their weapons. It must stop.

 

[Devonai]

My guess is that Brown offered the items in his pockets, hoping the perps would accept them and not shake him down further. The third man realized that he could be holding out on them, and upped the ante. Brown had no choice but to fight back or give up his weapon. I think he showed remarkable restraint and may have fired only when he thought his weapon would be in play anyway.

 

[Bog]

Good Shoot.

Let's hope the honourable citizen's mind bears up well under the knowledge. It would be deeply wrong. if this guys successfully and decently upheld his right to life in the face of adversity and felt bad about it. However he found himself remaining armed under the circumstances doesn't really seem important. His IWB might have been chafing by that late and he might had left his hand-held self-determination machine under the counter for all we know.

 

[Diomed]

This is one of two threads I've read today where criminals are shot with their own guns by victims.

But Brown fired his own weapon into the group and hit Michael M. Highsmith, 22, of Newport News in the arm.