Once again, this simply proves that the best place for guns to be is not necessarily in the hands of government agents, but in the hands of law-abiding citizens who look out for their fellow man. The story of armed citizens bringing an end to a string of attempted carjackings comes to us from the State of Washington, a state that continually attacks the rights of its citizens to keep and bear arms.
On Sunday, Tumwater Police responded to a report of a possible DUI because the driver was driving in the wrong direction, but while heading to the scene they were dispatched to the scene of a carjacking in which shots were fired.
Upon arrival, the officers discovered a 16-year-old male who received non-life threatening injuries during the carjacking. Another victim was also treated for minor injuries.
The officers then located the stolen vehicle.
All of this began around 5pm.
About 5:30pm, calls came into Thurston County 911 that shots were fired at the local Walmart store.
TPD said the suspect, Tim Day, 44, allegedly went into the store, fired a gun at the display case that contained ammunition and fled.
Armed shoppers were put on alert, and at least two of them pursued Day.
“Two shoppers in the store were legally carrying firearms and heard the shots,” police said. “The shoppers observed the suspect with a gun, and followed him to the parking lot.”
Day attempted to carjack another vehicle in the parking lot and when the driver failed to comply, he shot the driver.
“The suspect then approached a second car and driver. When the driver backed away, one of the armed citizens shot the suspect who died at the scene,” police said.
A 47-year-old man shot Day and then proceeded to administer first aid to him before paramedics arrived.
At least one shopper praised the armed citizen as a hero.
“This guy could have taken out more people, wounded or killed,” Brian Adams said.
Indeed, as the Seattle Times reported, while some people hid under cars and ran to get away from the danger, armed, confident citizens sought out the criminal and dealt with him. Mr. Adams is most definitely a hero!
Day had a criminal history, including violations of a domestic-violence protection order, felony assault and making death threats, according to the Seattle Times.