Gun at Sandwich Shop.

[mrvette]

Gun at Sandwich Shop.

Retired Marine and former Pan Am/Delta Pilot John Lovell is Top Gun atSubway Sandwich Shop:


Plantation, Florida:

Last week police were called to investigate an attempted armed robbery: The 71-year-old retired Marine who opened fire on two robbers at a Plantation, Florida, Subway shop late Wednesday, killing one and critically wounding the other, is described as John Lovell, a former helicopter pilot for two presidents. He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, and he works out every day. Mr. Lovell was a man of action Wednesday night.

According to Plantation police, two masked gunmen came into the Subway at1949 N. Pine Rd. Just after 11 p.m. There was a lone diner, Mr. Lovell, who was finishing his meal. After robbing the cashier, the two men attempted to shove Mr. Lovell into a bathroom and rob him as well. They got his money, but then Mr. Lovell pulled his handgun and opened fire. He shot one of the thieves in the head and chest and the other in the head.

When police arrived, they found one of the men in the shop, K-9 Units found the other in the bushes of a nearby business. They also found cash strewn around the front of the sandwich shop according to Detective Robert Rettig of the Plantation Police Department.

Both men were taken to the Broward General Medical Center , where one, Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. The other, 21-year-old Frederick Gadson of Fort Lauderdale is in critical but stable condition.

Mr. Lovell was a pilot in the Marine Corps, flying former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He later worked as a pilot for Pan Am and Delta Airlines.

He is not expected to be charged authorities said. ''He was in fear for his life,'' Detective Rettig said, "These criminals ought to realize that most men in their 70's have military backgrounds and aren't intimidated by idiots."

Something tells me this old Marine wasn't 'in fear for his life', even though his life was definitely at risk. The only thing he could be charged with is participating in an unfair fight. One 71- year young Marine against two punks. Two head shots and one center body mass shot.

Outstanding shooting! That'll teach them not to get between a Marine and his meal.

Florida law allows eligible citizens to carry a concealed weapon. Don't you just love a story with a happy ending?


Old people don't fight, they just shoot you.

[Chris Fowler]

At least one of those guys won't have to spend time in the private prison system... :cheers:

[NB2K]

Sweet.

Two head shots.:cert:

[jaxgator]

:thehandle: :patriot:

[Bingo Fuel]

At least one of those guys won't have to spend time in the private prison system... :cheers:

:Jeff '79:

[RonC5]

Good for John. He is a very good man. He was a pilot for National/Pan Am when I worked for them, one of the most dedicated and professional pilots I ever had contact with.

[xXBUDXx]

Former Marine thwarts Subway robbery, kills 1




By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 2, 2007 19:23:50 EDT



A 71-year-old former “Marine One” helicopter pilot broke up an armed robbery at a Plantation, Fla., Subway restaurant last week, killing one alleged robber and hospitalizing another.

While John Lovell was finishing up his sandwich around 11:15 p.m. last Wednesday, two masked men armed with guns barged into the restaurant, according to a statement from the Plantation police. After taking money from the register, the two men turned to Lovell and demanded his wallet, police said.

As the two tried to force Lovell into the ladies’ room where he thought he would be killed, the former Marine reached behind his back to grab his .45-caliber handgun, which he fired seven times at the two men, according to the police statement.

Donicio Arrendell, 22, of North Lauderdale, was fatally shot in the head and chest. Frederick Gadson, 21, of Fort Lauderdale, ran from the store after he was shot in the chest, according to the police statement. A police canine unit found him hiding next to a nearby bank. He was sent to Broward General Hospital and was listed in stable condition.

“It’s tragic and I feel sorry for them,” said Lovell’s attorney and longtime friend Wesley White. Lovell did not return calls to his home Monday afternoon. “He did it to protect himself and the guy behind the Subway counter.”

Police will not charge Lovell. He owned a concealed weapons permit to carry the gun he used that night, White said.

“Lovell doesn’t want to talk about the incident right now because he is afraid the family members of the two men will come after him,” he said.

Gadson was charged with felony murder and armed robbery. According to Florida law, a person charged with a felony, such as armed robbery, resulting in death can also be charged with murder.

Lovell served with Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 — which transports the president, vice president and cabinet members — while John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson were in office, White said. After getting out of the Marine Corps as a major, Lovell flew with Pan-America and Delta, he said.

“Based on his Marine Corps training he was ready for that night,” White said.

An official at the squadron said he could not confirm whether Lovell was a pilot there, since they do not track former pilots.


the link (http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/07/marine_subway_robbery_070702/)

[Kerrmudgeon]

:hurray::hurray::hurray: good shooting John! :thumbs:

[Blademaker]

Nice....:seasix:

[MrPeabody]

Haven't seen this on the news. The guys he shot must have been white.:D

[Jeff '79]

Fk ya !!!.......He's trained for that moment all of his life...... His training obviously paid off.....:seasix:

[99 pewtercoupe]

Good on him.:seasix:

[RedLS1GTO]

:hurray:

[BADRACR1]

Way to go, armed citizen.:seasix:

[xXBUDXx]

I had a few minutes to waste, so I googled as much info on this as I could find:

John Lovell removed the cash from his wallet ($500) and tossed it on the ground. The robbers demanded that he pick it up. He told them that he couldn't and that was the point that the perpetrators forced him into the ladies restroom. John Lovell waited until that point to draw his weapon and fire seven rounds at the two perpetrators. [This is paraphrased from the various articles found]


If the above statement are completely factual, I can gather several details that tell me he was very well trained. He maintained an admiral amount of composure under extreme duress and he likely only carried 7 rounds in his 1911.


I hope that I am never forced to make the decision that man faced. :sadangel:

[lspencer534]

I had a few minutes to waste, so I googled as much info on this as I could find:

John Lovell removed the cash from his wallet ($500) and tossed it on the ground. The robbers demanded that he pick it up. He told them that he couldn't and that was the point that the perpetrators forced him into the ladies restroom. John Lovell waited until that point to draw his weapon and fire seven rounds at the two perpetrators. [This is paraphrased from the various articles found]


If the above statement are completely factual, I can gather several details that tell me he was very well trained. He maintained an admiral amount of composure under extreme duress and he likely only carried 7 rounds in his 1911.


I hope that I am never forced to make the decision that man faced. :sadangel:

Me either. But...I hope I would be able to keep my composure as well as he did (though I doubt it). Don't know why, but he reminds me of the way that John Wayne would have done it.