The tables were turned when a teen playing "Point 'em Out, Knock 'em Out," a "game" of brutal street violence in which a target is chosen at random and beaten in an attempt to knock them out; a recent crime trend among troubled juveniles. A 17-year-old carrying a stun gun approached his 28-year-old victim, who was waiting for his daughter at her school bus stop. When the assailant turned and pressed the stun gun against his intended victim's side, it failed to discharge. The man responded by pulling out his .40-cal. Smith & Wesson and firing. The teen was later taken to the hospital and treated for a single gunshot wound before facing charges. The intended victim was not harmed during the attack. (The Muskegon Chronicle, Lansing, Mich., 8/28/13)
A 24-year-old man entered Cobb's Grocery early one morning armed with a knife and a can of mace. He demanded cash from the store clerk, who went to retrieve the money. Meanwhile, another store employee drew his firearm and fired a single shot at the robber. The robber fled the scene in a stolen pickup truck. Police reportedly arrested the man when he was seen driving erratically. He was taken to an area hospital and treated for a gunshot wound before being charged with First Degree Attempted Robbery, Armed Criminal Action, Tampering in the First Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Store employees reportedly sustained no injuries during the attempted robbery. (The Daily Journal, Park Hills, Mo., 4/10/14)
From The Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1932: What was described as an attempted hold-up and assault at a filling station near Erie, Pa., on January 28, was frustrated when the owner, F.L. Burden, seized a gun and held the two robbers at bay until the arrival of state police.