The Wrong Car
My buddy came to visit me in a rented a black Dodge Charger. While driving around we stopped at a strip mall for coffee. As we left the bakery he asked if I wanted to drive. A rented Dodge Charger, Oh hell yes I do!
Approaching the car I went to the driver's side door and him the passenger side. I tried opening the door but it was locked. As I asked him to unlock it, I hear " How can I f@#king help you?" Looking down I see a gun pointed at my head. I say "Wrong car brother" and very slowly I raise my hands and still facing him start walking backwards. I keep facing him as I am armed also and will return fire if he shoots. About 8 ft away and with another car between us, I turn and keep walking. As I do I see my buddies car 3 parking spots away.
I've been around guns for over 50 years and never had one pointed at me. I can tell you it was a semi auto that had a barrel the size of a 105 howitzer. Other than that, I couldn't describe the gun.
Some observations and lessons.
The day was warm, sunny around 11am. We were in a good, safe neighborhood.
I heard his voice and upon seeing the gun, I knew I had the wrong car. In that moment time stood still. I have faced death before, skydiving, flying, car and motorcycle accidents and each time, time slowed down. Each second is an eternity and my mind goes into a hyper focus mode. My mind becomes still, eeriely quiet. It is calm, immediately looking for a solution. In flying and skydiving there were actions I could take to save myself. The same hyper focus occured after the car and motorcycle accidents. How to get out, am I hurt, etc.
In this instance the focus was not to do anything quickly. Slowly, very slowly I raised my arms to show no threat. IE. Carjacking, robbery, etc.
I told him my mistake by stating "Wrong car brother." Saying this out loud I hope to de-escalate the situation.
I kept facing him as I walked slowly backwards. Why? Because I am armed also and if this goes bad I won't just go down being shot in the back. I will at minimum try to return fire. I didn't not stop facing him until I had put another car (a barrier) between him and I. From the moment he spoke, our eyes were locked together. If eyes are the windows to the soul, his conveyed, DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID, I WILL KILL YOU. I prayed mine convinced him I was of no threat.
There are factors that played to my advantage. The weather, daylight, time of day and the location. Change one or two of those factors and a much different outcome is possible. Two very cool heads prevailed this day. I give props to the driver for defending himself. I give him props for analyzing the situation and not just blasting away.
Ask any questions of me. What did I do right or wrong.
My buddy came to visit me in a rented a black Dodge Charger. While driving around we stopped at a strip mall for coffee. As we left the bakery he asked if I wanted to drive. A rented Dodge Charger, Oh hell yes I do!
Approaching the car I went to the driver's side door and him the passenger side. I tried opening the door but it was locked. As I asked him to unlock it, I hear " How can I f@#king help you?" Looking down I see a gun pointed at my head. I say "Wrong car brother" and very slowly I raise my hands and still facing him start walking backwards. I keep facing him as I am armed also and will return fire if he shoots. About 8 ft away and with another car between us, I turn and keep walking. As I do I see my buddies car 3 parking spots away.
I've been around guns for over 50 years and never had one pointed at me. I can tell you it was a semi auto that had a barrel the size of a 105 howitzer. Other than that, I couldn't describe the gun.
Some observations and lessons.
The day was warm, sunny around 11am. We were in a good, safe neighborhood.
I heard his voice and upon seeing the gun, I knew I had the wrong car. In that moment time stood still. I have faced death before, skydiving, flying, car and motorcycle accidents and each time, time slowed down. Each second is an eternity and my mind goes into a hyper focus mode. My mind becomes still, eeriely quiet. It is calm, immediately looking for a solution. In flying and skydiving there were actions I could take to save myself. The same hyper focus occured after the car and motorcycle accidents. How to get out, am I hurt, etc.
In this instance the focus was not to do anything quickly. Slowly, very slowly I raised my arms to show no threat. IE. Carjacking, robbery, etc.
I told him my mistake by stating "Wrong car brother." Saying this out loud I hope to de-escalate the situation.
I kept facing him as I walked slowly backwards. Why? Because I am armed also and if this goes bad I won't just go down being shot in the back. I will at minimum try to return fire. I didn't not stop facing him until I had put another car (a barrier) between him and I. From the moment he spoke, our eyes were locked together. If eyes are the windows to the soul, his conveyed, DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID, I WILL KILL YOU. I prayed mine convinced him I was of no threat.
There are factors that played to my advantage. The weather, daylight, time of day and the location. Change one or two of those factors and a much different outcome is possible. Two very cool heads prevailed this day. I give props to the driver for defending himself. I give him props for analyzing the situation and not just blasting away.
Ask any questions of me. What did I do right or wrong.
