seekinganswers
Member
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2009
- Messages
- 15
Let me set the stage: another male and I are working for school on something at an outside cafe. There have been some robberies in this area. my back was towards the cafe, his back was exposed to the parking lot. We are both looking at computers.
I see a black male approaching from behind him. He starts to say something (I don't remember what - something about hey I'm blah blah I need blah blah) and I automatically stand up (I really didn't even think about it it was the first time in my life I have automatically reacted to something like this), back away from the table, and get in a defensive posture (one foot behind other, hand at my side but I NEVER exposed my weapon or grabbed it). I reacted automatically like this because he was definitely a crackhead/homeless person, and when I stood up I noticed his hands were in his pockets which made me very nervous and skeptical. He had ugly yellow teeth and a dress about him that told me he was up to no good. Also seemed too warmly layered for our warm weather .
I have never seen anybody's eyes get so big in my life. He looked like a deer in headlights. I got the distinct impression that he knew from my posture/body language that I was armed and prepared to hurt him if the need arose. He says hey man I'm just something something I don't even know I just said I don't care we don't have anything get out of here.
He backs away, keeping his eyes on me and apologetically saying (this is the most vivid memories I have - I remember what he said) "Aw man I wouldn't do nothing to yall sorry man I'm just a student like you all!" He kept his eyes on me the whole time as he left and I kept mine on him.
The guy I was with I think didn't even really realize what happened. Til it was over - he couldn't really see the guy I don't think until he walked away.
I later explained to my work partner that I do carry a firearm and I would only have drawn if it had been an immediate threat. But I definitely went to condition orange - I was steady during it but after the adrenaline gave me the shakes.
Did I completely overreact here? What would you have done? There was just something about a guy the way he looked popping up behind us all of a sudden, hands in pocket. And the way he lied at the end ("I'm just a student like you all" - yeh right) made me think he this was not some misunderstanding on my part.
I really want some feedback here - if you need more info to judge how I acted ask. Feedback is important because if I needlessly escalated the situation in any way I might reevaluate my carrying - I don't want to be more a hindrance than a benefit to myself/society. If I overreacted I will expedite getting serious formal training so I know exactly how to react.
I see a black male approaching from behind him. He starts to say something (I don't remember what - something about hey I'm blah blah I need blah blah) and I automatically stand up (I really didn't even think about it it was the first time in my life I have automatically reacted to something like this), back away from the table, and get in a defensive posture (one foot behind other, hand at my side but I NEVER exposed my weapon or grabbed it). I reacted automatically like this because he was definitely a crackhead/homeless person, and when I stood up I noticed his hands were in his pockets which made me very nervous and skeptical. He had ugly yellow teeth and a dress about him that told me he was up to no good. Also seemed too warmly layered for our warm weather .
I have never seen anybody's eyes get so big in my life. He looked like a deer in headlights. I got the distinct impression that he knew from my posture/body language that I was armed and prepared to hurt him if the need arose. He says hey man I'm just something something I don't even know I just said I don't care we don't have anything get out of here.
He backs away, keeping his eyes on me and apologetically saying (this is the most vivid memories I have - I remember what he said) "Aw man I wouldn't do nothing to yall sorry man I'm just a student like you all!" He kept his eyes on me the whole time as he left and I kept mine on him.
The guy I was with I think didn't even really realize what happened. Til it was over - he couldn't really see the guy I don't think until he walked away.
I later explained to my work partner that I do carry a firearm and I would only have drawn if it had been an immediate threat. But I definitely went to condition orange - I was steady during it but after the adrenaline gave me the shakes.
Did I completely overreact here? What would you have done? There was just something about a guy the way he looked popping up behind us all of a sudden, hands in pocket. And the way he lied at the end ("I'm just a student like you all" - yeh right) made me think he this was not some misunderstanding on my part.
I really want some feedback here - if you need more info to judge how I acted ask. Feedback is important because if I needlessly escalated the situation in any way I might reevaluate my carrying - I don't want to be more a hindrance than a benefit to myself/society. If I overreacted I will expedite getting serious formal training so I know exactly how to react.