Fighting Back in Tokoroa

A great story from Tokoroa:

Mr Pearce said the disguised robber entered the shop as it was closing just before 10pm, produced the rifle and demanded cash.

As he was making his threats, one of the staff members who was watching from inside a nearby chiller surprised the robber and attacked him, and a fight between the robber and two staff began.

A brave and risky move, but sometimes you get an opportunity and the risk is worth it.

The fight continued through the back door into a service alley, where the offender was overcome and fell to the ground, and his firearm was taken by one of the staff members.

So far so good.

“The offender has attempted to retrieve his firearm so a shot was discharged by the staff member to scare the offender away,” Mr Pearce said.

A pretty stupid offender. He’s just had his gun taken off him, and been subdued and he thinks they will just give him his gun back. Very sensible of the staffer to fire a warning shot.

“He has continued to advance on the staff member and another shot was discharged.

“The staff member concerned has told police that he believes he has shot the offender in the legs with this second shot, mainly due to the scream the offender let out.”

Yes the scream would be a good indicator.

Mr Pearce said the robber left the scene on foot. A police dog was unable to track the offender more than a few hundred metres from the scene.

The staffers acted totally appropriately. They did not shoot him to stop him escaping – only to stop him taking the gun back off them.

Police did not encourage victims being robbed at gunpoint to fight back as these victims did, he said.

Of course not. No doubt the Police will now charge the staffers. But rest aassured if they do, the jury will throw it out, as they always do.

The Dom Post has more:

Mr Jiang said yesterday that he was not a hero. “I was not scared. I would do it again. I hate these people. I will never give them any money.”

Yay.