These posts are based on our Good Guy with a Gun calendar. Today’s post is somewhat updated from the calendar version.
There were two handguns in Will’s Food Store that Tuesday.
Victor Almodovar Jr., 26, had one of them. He walked in masked, gloved, and armed. He pointed his gun at the head of the cashier and demanded that she give him the money from the register.
There was a customer in the store who was armed too — legally, with a concealed carry permit.
WSOC reported that the customer followed Almodovar out of the store, Almodovar pointed the gun at him, and the customer shot Almodovar in the parking lot.
WBTV makes it sound like the shot was fired inside the store, but I don’t think that was the intended meaning1 — they also show Almodovar’s Mercedes with a bullet hole in it.
Nobody else was hurt. Almodovar was taken to the hospital and died of his injuries.
“It’s really sad, it’s a sad situation,” said a woman who was apparently the store owner or manager. (She refers to the victim as my employee.) “But we’re talking about a woman who had a gun put in her face, and was cussed, told her to give the money.”
“I hate our own people in America are having to fight our own selves in America and it should never have happened,” said customer Monty Sailor. (With that name, I have to note that he’s a Marine vet. I can only imagine the ribbing he took.)
An employee who had been inside during the robbery was thinking about the next one: “It terrifies me that it is so close to home nowadays. I mean, it’s like you can’t even go outside anymore without carrying a gun or something to defend yourself. I mean, it’s really sad.”
Asked whether the GGWAG should be prosecuted, the manager gave a flat “No” followed by, “Thank God he was here. I’m glad somebody was here with her.”
Two weeks later the police department met with the district attorney’s office, which found the shooting a lawful and justified use of deadly force.
Sources
News
WSOC talked to two people who had been at the store, and followed up when the district attorney’s office finished its review.
Customer shoots, kills armed robber at Gaston County food store (The incident, 2:19 video. Great work getting reactions from the community.)
No charges for customer who shot, killed armed robber at Gaston County store (The declination)
WBTV’s wrote an article and included 1:52 of broadcast video.
Customer shot, killed suspected robber at Gaston County store (Article, 1:52 video. Also great work getting community reactions.)
WCCB Charlotte ran two.
Attempted Armed Robber Shot, Killed In Gastonia (The incident)
No Charges Filed In Fatal Gaston County Grocery Store Shooting (The declination)
Would-be armed robber shot, killed at Gaston County convenience store: Police (Queen City News)
Update On Recent Convenience Store Shooting (Lincoln Herald)
Fatal Shooting in Gaston County as Customer Kills Suspected Robber at Local Store (Hoodline)
Words are hard. Ask me how I know.