Armed Citizen Thwarts Bank Robbers, Kills One

By Dean Weingarten

Arizona Crime Scene, Phoenix Metroplex
Armed Citizen Thwarts Bank Robbers, Kills One
Dean Weingarten
Dean Weingarten

Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- After being shot, one robber dropped the stolen money.

An armed citizen in Arizona has stopped a bank robbery in a dramatic and effective fashion.   It appears that he determined what was happening, took action, and fired on the armed robbers when they resisted.   One robber was killed, the other is in custody.   It reminds one a bit of the famous Arkansas bank robbery that was thwarted by armed citizens in 1922.  From abc15.com:

“He took the keys out of the car because they left the car running. And so he took the keys out of the car and kind of, I guess, he stood behind it waiting for them (the suspects) to come out,” said Therea Sessler, owner of Fix Salon.

The armed citizen used his head to gain tactical advantage.   He disabled the armed robbers means of escape, then took cover.  In the video, the witness above says that he “hid” behind the vehicle.

I suspect that he called the police.   It is not reported, but it makes sense to have reinforcements coming and aware of your presence.   We do not know if the robbers fired at him.  The citizen who thwarted the robbers was not identified, but the word on the street is that he was someone who owns a nearby business.

The Desert Schools Credit Union is located in a strip mall next to a Big 5 Sporting goods store.  Here is what the scene looks like from the air.  The Credit Union is to the right of the Big 5 sporting goods.

Arizona Crime Scene, Phoenix Metroplex
Arizona Crime Scene, Phoenix Metroplex

In the 1922 Arkansas bank robbery attempt, an armed citizen noticed a running car outside the bank, with a getaway driver in it.   He flattened both tires with a handgun;  the driver attempted to flee, but was shot by another citizen with a shotgun.   Three robbers were killed, two seriously wounded and captured.   Not one citizen was hit with stray gunshots.There appear to be four vehicles inside the police tape at the scene.   The planned getaway car may have been the gray sedan on the right.   It is blocking the handicapped space directly in front of the Credit Union.   The robber could easily have run the distance to where the money was dropped in front of the Big 5 before collapsing.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

Update: This magazine was found at the scene.  Its origin has not been reported.  It appears to be for .40 S&W or 9mm ammunition.

This magazine was found at the scene.  Its origin has not been reported.  It appears to be for .40 S&W or 9mm ammunition.
This magazine was found at the scene. Its origin has not been reported. It appears to be for .40 S&W or 9mm ammunition.

c2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included. Link to Gun Watch

About Dean Weingarten;

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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Roger

Gotta love Arizona. Kentucky, where I live, is similar. I open carry just about everywhere, including into banks……… have never had a negative reaction from anyone.

Bob

This is what I call crime control. It is hard to live a life of crime, when you’re dead.

RDNK

I really like happy endings !

Eric

Yet most states would rather you be disarmed in a bank. Which always make me ask why would you disarm a law abiding citizen other than to make him a victim in the circumstance.
Then the banks and states say you have no right to sue (bank and/or state )for damages from bank robbers , yet they are the ones that disarmed you and made you a victim.