Yet another defensive gun use involving an Illinois concealed carry licensee occurred this past weekend at Route 83 and Cicero in Crestwood, IL, a Chicago suburb.

A carry permit holder told police he observed an armed robbery in progress inside an AT&T location (pictured above) and remained outside to prevent any other innocents from entering the store.

The card-carrying good guy, seeing a police officer heading towards the rear of the store, also saw the robber heading out the rear door of the business – gun in hand.  The licensed gun carrier pursued the robber and at some point engaged the bad guy with two rounds out of concern for the officer’s well-being.  Both shots missed.

Kudos to the CCW licensee for a willingness to risk his own safety to help save a police officer from death or great bodily harm.   We don’t recommend civilians go chasing after armed bad guys though, absent some extraordinary conditions!

Bad guy was arrested.  The card-carrying good guy?  He was released.

Of course, the Chicago Tribune had to paint the story in as negative light as possible.

Officer takes cover as man with concealed carry permit fires at suspect

Crestwood, IL (Chicago Tribune) – A man with a concealed carry permit shot at an armed robbery suspect who was running from a cell phone store in Crestwood, prompting an officer who was also chasing the suspect to take cover, police said.

UPDATE

The CCW holder?  An 86-year-old man!

With a pair that clank when he walks.

 

86-year-old won’t be charged in concealed carry shooting, prosecutors say

(Chicago Tribune) – Authorities have decided not to file charges against an 86-year-old Crestwood man who fired his legal weapon at an armed robbery suspect who was fleeing police, the Cook County state’s attorney’s office said today.

The man, whom authorities would not identify, is licensed to carry a concealed gun in public, officials said. Authorities described him as a “model citizen” in Crestwood, a village of 11,000 residents in south suburban Cook County.

…  Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Kirk said the Crestwood Police Department declined to file charges and the state’s attorney sees no reason to pursue it further.

“This is an 86-year-old law-abiding individual who comes across a forcible felony in progress … and helped others avoid being victims,” said Kirk.

The suspect, Demetrius Merrill, 17, of Chicago, was charged with armed robbery and held on $1 million bail.