By Dean Weingarten
Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- On 12 April, 2016, a kidnapping of an armed victim ended with a shooting and car crash in a Henderson, NV cul-de-sac. At the time it was unclear what the motivation for the kidnapping was. Both kidnappers in the front seat were killed, and no charges were filed against the shooter. Three weeks later, dramatic details have been revealed.
At the time I speculated that the victim might have directed the kidnappers to the cul-de-sac where the shooting occurred. That has been confirmed. It has been revealed that the first “victim” was a confederate of the two front seat kidnappers. Brian Kleynen has admitted his involvement and has been charged. The two kidnappers in the front seat who were killed have been identified as Lanard Wilson and Selvy Auston, ages 36 and 27. Both had criminal histories, one had a known gang connection. From news3.lv.com:
Kleynen admitted to police that he planned and staged his own kidnapping with Auston for the purpose of deceiving and robbing the victim.
The victim will not be charged with any crime as detectives have determined he acted in self-defense.
Kleynen is being held at the Henderson Detention Center on charges that include conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping, first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery with a deadly weapon and attempted robbery with a deadly weapon.
The victim, who manages the jewellery store, was tricked into complying with the kidnappers’ demands so as to save his “friend” Kleynen. The kidnapping occurred just outside the victims house. The victims hands were bound to the headrest while he was in the backseat of the Altima that was used as the kidnap vehicle. As the vehicle returned to the cul-de-sac, he broke free of the zip ties that were used to constrain him.
Ordinary zip ties can be defeated with a sharp and aggressive action. He had the advantage of having the ties in front of him where it was easier to use his upper body strength. This does not work as well with police or military grade ties used for prisoners, but there are simple techniques for escaping them as well.
With his hands free, the victim accessed a concealed handgun and shot the two kidnappers, killing them. He chose the time to act when the vehicle was in a cul-de-sac, where it was travelling at a slow enough speed to allow him to resist without worrying about a fatal car crash. Taking out the driver of the vehicle that you are in may not be a good tactic while traveling at high speed.
Even with the slow speed, the car crash resulted in an engine fire.
The pretext for returning to his home in the cul-de-sac was that he needed keys to be able to access the store. The victim will not be charged with any offense, as he acted in self defense.
A great many defensive gun uses do not involve quick draw or shootouts in the open street. If that happens, it is likely that all of the people involved have made serious tactical errors.
Use situational awareness to avoid problems, if possible. If avoidance is not possible, be pro-active and pick a time and place of your choosing, not your adversaries. If you are caught by surprise, it is often more advantageous to take cover before or while drawing and/or firing.
©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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.