Gun uses not in the press
Yesterday, I was tipped off by a few folks that the attacker who stabbed some people in Memphis was detained by an armed citizen. I scoured the news looking for confirmation and found none. Well, today, that has been confirmed:
Eyewitness News just talked to one man who says he saw what was happening, ran to get his gun and held the accused stabber at gunpoint until police arrived.
The stories I read yesterday morning mentioned nothing about it.
July 22nd, 2006 at 11:55 am
In the Kansas City Star this morning, 7-22-06, page 2:
“MAN ATTACKS CO-WORKERS WITH KNIFE
Memphis Tenn.- A Schnucks supermarket employee whose name was withheld attacked eight co-workers Friday, seriously injuring five before a witness pulled a gun and stopped him, police said. Elartrice Ingram, 21, was charged with nine counts of attempted first-degree murder. The attack apparently stemmed from a work dispute, police said.”
Pretty crudely written article, but at least it got in.
CC Grant-Kansas City
July 22nd, 2006 at 12:28 pm
I saw it last night on both Fox’s and CNN’s website, and both included the part about the guy using his handgun to stop the guy.
July 22nd, 2006 at 12:29 pm
Good to know. I was looking yesterday early.
July 22nd, 2006 at 1:03 pm
My local paper ran an AP story of it stating the suspect was tackled by a witness. If it doesn’t fit the template (guns are bad!), just make something up.
July 22nd, 2006 at 2:51 pm
In a pleasant surprise, Saturday’s Tennessean published the following AP story which quotes the armed citizen who stopped the attacker and held him for the police. But notice the comment of the Memphis policeman, Sgt. Higgins, at the end of the story. One wonders what he would have “encouraged” the good citizen to do???
Eight co-workers hurt in knife attack
Grocery employee, 21, charged with attempted murder
By WOODY BAIRD
Associated Press
MEMPHIS — A grocery store employee attacked eight co-workers with knives Friday, seriously injuring four before a witness pulled a gun and stopped him, police said.
Elartrice Ingram, 21, was arrested and taken to a hospital complaining of chest pains, Memphis Police Sgt. Vince Higgins said. He later was released and charged with nine counts of attempted first-degree murder.
The attack apparently stemmed from a work dispute, police said.
Four victims, one in critical condition, were admitted to the Regional Medical Center, the main trauma hospital for the Memphis area. Four were less badly hurt and treated at another hospital.
Ingram, chasing one victim into the store’s parking lot, was subdued by Chris Cope, manager of a financial services office in the same small shopping center, Higgins said. The person who was chased was hospitalized with heat-related symptoms.
Cope said he grabbed a 9mm semiautomatic pistol from his pickup truck when he saw the suspect chasing the victim “like something in a serial killer movie.”
“When he turned around and saw my pistol, he threw the knife away, put his hands up and got on the ground,” Cope told
The Associated Press. “He saw my gun and that was pretty much it.”
Police arrived within minutes and took Ingram into custody.
“He just kept saying, ‘I’m insane. I wish I was never born’ and that kind of stuff,” Cope said.
The attack started in an employee area of the Schnucks supermarket on the outskirts of Memphis, and no customers were involved, Higgins said.
Police said two large kitchen knives used in the attack were found at the scene.
Witness Frank Rector said the suspect held a knife high in a stabbing position as he chased a victim into the parking lot. The victim, Rector said, “was circling, trying to get away from him.”
The ages and names of the victims were not immediately released. A company spokeswoman said all the victims were employees of the store.
“Our first priority is the customers and associates,” said Schnucks Markets Inc. spokeswoman Lori Willis. She said officials from the St. Louis-based company were on their way to the scene.
Higgins said police were pulling into the parking lot as Cope was putting Ingram down.
“We commend him, but we don’t encourage people to take that kind of risk,” Higgins said. “He could have been hurt.” •
July 22nd, 2006 at 3:51 pm
The comment by the cop is utterly ridiculous.
It looks like one citizen failed to participate in last week’s gun buy-back in Memphis.
I grew up there, and I go there often, but I always have a Glcok 20 on my hip.
I need to pick up a “carry AR – 15” at Guns and Ammo the next time I’m there.
It is a dangerous city.
July 22nd, 2006 at 10:49 pm
I would hope (but I am not optimistic) that Schnuck’s would abandon their prohibition of concealed-carry on store premises.
July 23rd, 2006 at 8:22 pm
I am glad the man used the gun.
But as I read the cop’s comment, something occured to me: That cop may have made that (utterly stupid to us folks who use common sense) comment in order to decrease the city’s liabilities. I’d bet that if he makes any kind of statement endorsing or supporting citizens protecting themselves, some schmuck might get himself killed trying to be a hero and then the surviving family would sue the city for encouraging that. Given that the cop is a Sgt., he’s probably had that type of “management” training. He pro’lly is encouraged to take it a step further and _discourage_ helping others in order for the city to limit it’s liablity.
Granted – my entire thought is a stupid, assinine, dumb way for a society to exist. But that’s the thought that popped into my head. (Well, that and I’ve gotta pee.)
….
(much better now, thanks.)
Kinda related, I think if I had used a firearm to contain the bad guy, I’d be more worried about the cops shooting me when they arrived….
—
Oh, and just to make *my* position clear – I think being a hero like that is a noble and honorable thing to do.