Lake Dallas Ace Hdwe Takeover Robbery ends well.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

http://www.lakecities.com/main.asp?Sect ... M=46881.61" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The above article is from the Lake Cities Sun newspaper site. The 4 Lake Cities are
Lake Dallas, Hickory Creek, Corinth, and Shady Shores. These towns are located off
I-35E, on the north side of Lake Lewisville. No Shady Shores police were involved in
this takedown of bad guys because Shady Shores is the only 1 of the 4 towns that does
not have a police force. They contract with Corinth PD for their police protection.

This takeover robbery seems like it could have ended with a lot of dead victims in the
back room.

Notice that Troy McDonald did have a revolver, but it was in the back room, and he was
LOADING IT while things were going south in the front of the store. Plus he was trying to
formulate his shoot/don't shoot plan. Very stressful.

What was not noted in the story is that the Ace Hardware property is totally fenced in, so
even if the bad guys ran out the back of the store, they would have to run to the front of the
yard to get out the open gate.

I shop at this Ace and the people that run it are nice. I'd like to be a little bird in Troy's ear
and tell him he needs to get more LOADED firearms sprinkled around the store, and some
range time so everyone's familar with their arms.

By the way, these 3 hoodie-wearing bad guys didn't notice that the Lake Dallas cop shop is
about 1/4 of a mile from the place they lingered in while robbing it!

[longtooth]

I talked to a neighbor down the road abut this very thing last Tuesday. I say it to every one that says "since we can have one in the car now you really dont need the class." This one will be copied & in the folder of examples w/ the rest.
Thanks for posting it.
LT

[joe817]

Unbelievable. I've been to that hardware store, as my daughter and her family live within easy walking distance to it. My grandkids walk there to pick up home fix it things for their dad.

The towns touch each other, and they have a very strong mutual aid procedures. 8 LEO units showed up from 3 of the towns. Thank God those thugs didn't shoot anyone. The boy that was interviewed was thinking well. It could have turned really ugly, had those LEO's been any later. I'm sure that that revolver will NOW remain loaded.

3 of the units came from Corinth. Remember Corinth is the town that had the shooting of the mother in a park a few days ago by that lunatic. There is a thread posted on this forum elsewhere about that incident.

It's just another prime example that usa1 pointed out yesterday, that domestic terrorism is on the rise and can happen anywhere, anytime to anyone.

I'd venture to say if a CHL instructor would walk into that hardware store and start talking about the advantages of getting a CHL, that he or she would enroll several employees.....and customers.

A question for CHL instructors: Are you restricted from advertising you school? Radio spots can be pretty cheap. Also the small town newspapers are next to nothing in costs. Hmmmmm.....

[DoubleJ]

Man, Denton Co is turning into a hardcore area!

anyone remember that girl that was kidnapped, raped, murdered, and torched from the QT on the corner of Mayhill and I35?

used to be, "If I cross the bridge, I'm going armed." It has long since turned into "If I leave the front door, I'm packin'"

We see LD, and Corinth PD guys at work all the time. lots of cooperation roun' hurr.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Updated news on this incident.
One of the bad guys hopped the 6' or 8' foot fence at the back of Ace's
property and climbed a tree to hide. The cops Tasered him down from
his elaborate escape site.

Each of the 3 bad guys was armed with a pistol and one applied his
directly to the neck of one of the store employees. Even if all the
store employees were armed, this is a very difficult scenario from
which to apply defensive force.

The 3 bad guys were from the southern part of Dallas County:
Duncanville, Desoto, somewhere down there.

I stopped in there this morning to have a key made and congratulate
the boys for coming out of this thing OK.

Since there were no customers for a minute, I said to the revolver-
loading gentleman:

"I'm glad y'all came out of this OK, but as a member of the self-defense
community, I'd like to say that you should get some semi-auto's (higher
capacity than a revolver), sprinkle them around the store, and have
everyone in the store get some range time in with their guns so they know
what to expect when they have to shoot."

I asked him about his experience with guns and he told me that he has military
experience, plus has taken some other kinds of firearms training, which I can't
remember the names of. He said that as far as arming the store along
the lines of what I proposed, he "is making some changes".

More customers came in and I didn't want to wear out my welcome, so I left it
at that.

[bryang]

It would have been nice if Troy McDonald had his CHL and was carrying instead of trying to load one in the back room. His survival instincts kicked in as soon as they walked in the door. Maybe all three of them will get their CHL now.

I am thankful no one was hurt and that it did turn out okay, but that was a situation that could have gotten out of control...real quick.

-geo

[03Lightningrocks]

http://www.lakecities.com/main.asp?Sect ... M=46881.61

The above article is from the Lake Cities Sun newspaper site. The 4 Lake Cities are
Lake Dallas, Hickory Creek, Corinth, and Shady Shores. These towns are located off
I-35E, on the north side of Lake Lewisville. No Shady Shores police were involved in
this takedown of bad guys because Shady Shores is the only 1 of the 4 towns that does
not have a police force. They contract with Corinth PD for their police protection.

This takeover robbery seems like it could have ended with a lot of dead victims in the
back room.

Notice that Troy McDonald did have a revolver, but it was in the back room, and he was
LOADING IT while things were going south in the front of the store. Plus he was trying to
formulate his shoot/don't shoot plan. Very stressful.

What was not noted in the story is that the Ace Hardware property is totally fenced in, so
even if the bad guys ran out the back of the store, they would have to run to the front of the
yard to get out the open gate.

I shop at this Ace and the people that run it are nice. I'd like to be a little bird in Troy's ear
and tell him he needs to get more LOADED firearms sprinkled around the store, and some
range time so everyone's familar with their arms.

By the way, these 3 hoodie-wearing bad guys didn't notice that the Lake Dallas cop shop is
about 1/4 of a mile from the place they lingered in while robbing it!

Wow!!! I lived in Lake Dallas for five years. I know exactly where that store is. Thank goodness nobody got hurt. I have to say, it would have been hard for me not to go back into the store to protect the employees. It looks like he did the right thing. The hard part is knowing whether or not the lives of your employees are in danger. Over reacting could have caused someone to get shot that shouldn't. Under reacting could mean someone gets shot before you go into the store and start shooting.

[casingpoint]

The shopkeeper's best friend.

Not to plug this holster maker, but he seems to stay on top of customer needs and wants. And the times, they are a changin'. This is one of his newer creations, initially made for a Glock 26 at customer request.
http://www.mernickleholsters.com/ps/ps6sobr1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ELB]

Hmmm. My first thought, when thinking of places that have a lot of cash on hand, is not "Ace Hardware." Then again, maybe it is brilliant, because it is so unexpected -- who would think three guys would knock over a hardware store?

Luckily for all involved the robbers decided to let everyone live. Mr. McDonald's revolver might have helped him defend himself if the robbers had discovered the back office, but really it was largely useless. Good that he picked up on the oddball behavior of the punks and acted on it soon enough to call the cops -- and that the cops were close. I hope he follows through on his changes.

This is not an example of "domestic terrorism," rising or otherwise. This was a robbery. Terrorism tries deliberately targeting innocents people or property so as to scare everybody else into complying with the terrorists' political goals. Three guys trying to scare people into giving them money is robbery.

I suppose if it turns out they were trying to raise funds for the Presbyterian Popular Front for the Liberation of Bugscuffle County, then it could be an example of domestic terrorism. But I think these guys were not Presbyterians. Nor were they from Bugscuffle County.

Did anyone else find that article a bit disjointed and awkward to read?

[surprise_i'm_armed]

ELB:

Yes, the article is a little disjointed and hard to read.

The Lake Cities Sun publishes one issue a week (each Thursday).
Anthony Scott is the primary reporter for the reporter, and wrote that
article.

Just as the previous reporter before him, the stories are full of typos and
awkward grammar, along with a few missing words here and there.

Proofreading does not seem to be part of the plan at this small town fish-wrapper,
but they do cover local stories. I subscribe, but I wince at every issue's typos.

[ELB]

ELB:

... the stories are full of typos and
awkward grammar, along with a few missing words here and there.

Proofreading does not seem to be part of the plan at this small town fish-wrapper,
but they do cover local stories. I subscribe, but I wince at every issue's typos.

I grew up in a small town that has a weekly. When I joined the Air Force, I kept up the subscription to see what was happening back home. A guy a couple years ahead of me in high school, who married a gal in my year group, was the editor. He finally left for greener pastures in the late 90s, a new editor and crew (younger) came in, and I noticed the quality of writing nose dived. Poor spelling, using the wrong synonym, incorrect subject/verb agreement, poor story organization -- the works. As you said, I'd wince reading the paper.

Newspapers in general have not been on a good glide slope for a long time...

[surprise_i'm_armed]

ELB:

It's a shame that the newspaper biz is on the skids.
I like a morning when I have time to walk over to 7-11, pick
up a Dallas Morning Snooze and read it while savoring 2 big
mugs of joe.

You never know what you are going to find in a paper. There's
always stories that you would never expect. The photographs are
great.

I have been buying the paper more often lately because I'll be
able to tell little kids about it some day!! They'll be shocked.

The DMN has really jacked up their prices lately. They went from
50 cents to 75 cents, then went to a buck.

Oh well, just like in the rest of the life - you have to pay to play!!

[DoubleJ]

I suppose if it turns out they were trying to raise funds for the Presbyterian Popular Front for the Liberation of Bugscuffle County, then it could be an example of domestic terrorism. But I think these guys were not Presbyterians. Nor were they from Bugscuffle County.

A fellow LawDog fan?

[Purplehood]

Domestic Terrorism is on the rise? Is that a new PC phrase?

This is crime. Always had it, probably always will.

[ELB]

I suppose if it turns out they were trying to raise funds for the Presbyterian Popular Front for the Liberation of Bugscuffle County, then it could be an example of domestic terrorism. But I think these guys were not Presbyterians. Nor were they from Bugscuffle County.

A fellow LawDog fan?

Yup.