By Dean Weingarten
Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- The Rite-Aid shooting saga has just resulted in another mistrial for Bernell Benn. In the video (below), Benn is the large black man on the cell phone. Colorado is the white man in white shorts and dark short sleeved shirt.
From the recent article at wavy.com:
Benn has claimed he acted in self-defense during the altercation with Ramon Colorado in which investigators say both men had guns and began shooting at each other.
During a jailhouse interview with WAVY.com after his August 16 arrest, Benn said Colorado jumped ahead of him in line that afternoon.
“I said ‘Excuse me, sir. I’m in line to get my blood pressure medicine.’” said Benn, explaining what he said to Colorado. “[Colorado] said, ‘I’m in line too, bro.’”
Benn said at that point, Colorado pepper-sprayed him. Both of the men reportedly had guns on them and investigators say they shot at each other. They were both injured; Colorado died and Benn was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Watching the video, I cannot help but believe that there were many opportunities for both men to break off the encounter and avoid the gunfight that finally ensued. It appears that after the pepper spraying, both men actively sought each other through the aisles of the store.
I was not there, and I do not know what was said. I have not been in the jury box, so I do not know all the evidence presented. Given only what I have seen on the video, I believe both men exhibited aggression and bad judgment.
Maybe that is why there have been two mistrials.
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.
I watched the video. Benn was NOT in line. Colorado came up got in line and was minding his own business. Benn started the confrontation. At that point anything that happened after is his fault. It is to bad Colorado was not a better shot. That is why I practice at the range twice a week. I have a simple rule that I follow and others would be advised to also follow. If you light the fuse to the dynamite, do not bitch about the explosion.
The ROE’s for robbery can be explained in one sentence. Don’t chase or shoot the perp unless he took your wallet.
I never realized “Impolite” is a Capital Offense. Both are, quite, guilty, considering the man (1) who sprayed the other (2) left the scene before any gunfire occurred, but returned, and man 2 would not get off his phone to solve the problem. If both were still alive they, in my opinion, would have been guilty of, among other things, Reckless Endangerment of all the staff and customers in the store. I, truly, hate articles like this because one such action, like these, will out live dozens of true self-defense cases occurring daily. These clowns consistently damage the reputations of… Read more »
Afterthought where both idiots.
Just from looking that at video it was like the black guys started the problem, looks like the black guy has a sense of entitlement.
This could have easily been avoided. #1 I the video clearly shows that the guy on the phone was not standing in line as he claims, he was actually wandering around the front of the store talking on his cell phone, How rude and disrespectful. It doesn’t mean that anyone should be shot or pepper sprayed but it could have easily been avoided.