Disclaimer: the video associated with this post may be too graphic for younger viewers.
Earlier this spring, while being followed by a pair of officers (the video was captured from the cop car’s dash camera) during a standard traffic stop, an Ohio man stopped his vehicle, and stepped out of it pointing a loaded AK-47 rifle back at the officers. He then proceeded to open fire on the cops, walking toward their vehicle.
The officers returned fire and the AK’s wielder walked back to his car, still shooting. He died next to his vehicle with his rifle in his hands. When the shooting stopped, a concerned citizen and firearms owner near the scene asked if the cops were okay, and informed them that he had a pistol. The officers told him to stay back while they called dispatch. Both cops were hit during the exchange, but they survived their injuries.
This video reminded me of two important points concealed carriers in general should consider. First, when the firearms owner approached the cops, he didn’t take any shots at the man with the AK-47. This may have saved his life, and in the least, it helped keep him out of harm’s way. CCW permit holders are not law enforcement personnel. Had the man drawn his pistol during the exchange, the officers may have mistaken him as an additional threat, possibly even someone attempting to aid the first shooter.
A second takeaway from this video is the significance of accuracy and how it is effected when shooting under stress. Shooting 7.62×39 rounds from close range (the man wielding it doesn’t appear to shoot from further than three or four yards away, maximum) at stationary targets, under different circumstances would not generally have been considered a great challenge of marksmanship. However, the man shooting the AK, even with the element of surprise as his advantage, was not able to accomplish more than “winging” his intended targets. Meanwhile, the two officers armed with handguns were able to dispatch their rifle-toting assailant while under the stress of receiving fire. Thankfully for the cops, their attacker was more ineffective with his firearm than the officers were with theirs. This demonstrates is the importance of accuracy while under duress; the officers ability to maintain their accuracy while in mortal danger saved their lives.
The exchange between these two officers and the crazed AK-47 shooter was awful, but in it can be gleaned two important lessons for concealed carriers in the mindset of concealed carry. A concealed carry permit may empower its holder to protect themselves or their loved ones with their firearm, but it does not equate to a badge. Using that firearm around law enforcement personnel might, in fact, serve to put the well-intentioned permit holder in greater danger. Also, those who have concealed carry permits are advised to learn how to effectively operate their concealed carry pistol while under stress. The urgency of firing in defense of one’s life can quickly erode one’s marksmanship skills. But, as the altercation recorded in this video displays, a few well-placed shots are more effective at neutralizing a lethal threat than a high volume of misses.
Trouth is, that the average police officier doesn’t have an adequate training in teqniques and tactics. This is why swat teams exist.
It isn’t clear from the footage, but it seems the officers just stood behind car’s doors and did’t try to reach a real cover.
AlessioBaldi It does seem that the man with the AK caught the officers off guard. I’m sure that’s not something one expects when pulling someone over for a simple traffic stop. Scary!
This is why immediate action drills are so important. You MUST be able to do the right thing while in auto-sorvival mode.
By the way, whatching it on a screen is scary as hell, and makes think of a lot of things…
AlessioBaldi Your so right we did drills every month at the range I was also on the SWAT Team so when encountering a threat like that the best way to counter-attack was to just attack the the threat instead of standing there in shock. Like being in a ambush you don’t stop in your tracks you act aggressively or die !
I’ve seen several video’s like this the past few years. I’m always amazed at how many rounds it takes to put the bad guy down. Plus, the extra lead flying in a populated area is horrific. Practice, practice, practice.
TRRJDB It hammered the importance of training home to me, too.
Wow. Things like this happen all the time, well maybe not shooting at cops with an ak, however where I live there was an incident where 2 deputies were killed with an assualt rifle by a vet returning from Iraq. He was armed with an assualt rifle. CCW citizen need to be able to keep there weapones for there own safety, Destinee makes good points in her article. So why are we trying to disarm America?
modestohomeboy I have several motivators that contributed to my decision to obtain my permit and concealed carry a firearm. I’d be very concerned if I was denied that right. This video is only one shred of the mountain of evidence that bad things happen. I don’t consider myself to be paranoid, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want the option of bettering my odds of survival should something bad happen to me.
Insane. Thank God that guy was a lousy shot and the officers were okay. How many times have you heard of crazy things during a “routine traffic stop?” Scary.
JunkfoodZombie My thoughts exactly.
I have friends and family in the police force. Stuff like this makes me nervous. Thanks for the reply. 🙂
A very intense video. Seeing this unfold from the camera’s “in front of the gun” perspective” is unsettling.
Great article Destinee, and very excellent concealed carry advice.
DrivinDave Agreed. I found the whole video unsettling. I had to talk about it, you know?
When I was on the job in Broward County , Florida I had some fool do the same thing with a Mini-14 he just sprayed and prayed. I usually worked 3pm to 11pm so when a traffic stop was conducted your sidearm was already in your hand and ready so the Mini-14 thug was peppered with .45 caliber rounds.
markslugocki That’s awful! I’m so glad you survived the encounter.
FateofDestinee markslugocki
It was a crazy time in South Florida ! Castro emptied his prisons , insane asylums put them on boats and sent them our way. Then you had the Jamaican Shower Posse gang , Colombian cocaine cartels , Haitian drug cartels so when you effected a traffic stop you had your sidearm out of your leather because you never knew who was in a vehicle. Then almost all windows were tinted dark so the safest tactic would to go around to the passenger side and TRY to see who was in the vehicle. I’m surprised in the video how the officers conducted themselves on the radio usually you would just hear screaming ? That was after the FBI Agents in Homestead were lit up by two bad guys who were robbing banks and the agents were carrying .38 snub nose revolvers with 6 rounds in them? I believe 3 Agents were killed so then the FBI went with the .10mm round then eventually the .9mm.
Being prior Military helped 🙂
When I was on the job in Broward County , Florida I had some fool do the same thing with a Mini-14 he just sprayed and prayed. I usually worked 3pm to 11pm so when a traffic stop was conducted your sidearm was already in your hand and ready so the Mini-14 thug was peppered with .45 caliber rounds.
Being a police officer is a thankless job at times. We hate them beacuse they right tickets and do their job enforcing the law. We need to repect the fact they put their lives on the line for us. They don’t know you or I but they do it because its their duty. I have a cousin in the Orange county Sheriffs dept and I pray on a daily basis he comes home safe.
http://youtu.be/Wa0hYmwrmPA Working link as of 7-02-13.