So they took his gun away?

[carreradpt]

In the news today, a shopkeeper protects his employees and his business from armed robbers, kills 2 of them and the cops arrive and confiscate his weapon. That'll show him from keeping an unregistered firearm. WTF?

NEW YORK — The sidewalk outside the Harlem store still was smeared with blood Friday, and the glass on the door still was blown out.

Above the entrance, someone had scribbled the words, "Abandon hope all ye who enter here."

Less than 24 hours after a deadly showdown at the shop worthy of a Clint Eastwood script, Charles "Gus" Augusto Jr. entered his store — oblivious of the inscription taken from Dante's "Inferno."

The 72-year-old wholesaler of commercial restaurant equipment had been up all night, questioned by police about how he'd drawn a shotgun and killed two of four armed robbery suspects who entered his Kaplan Brothers Blue Flame store Thursday afternoon.

Two of the young men died on the street. Two remained hospitalized in stable condition with gunshot wounds.

When they walked in at about 3 p.m. and confronted Augusto with guns, "I didn't want to shoot them," he said, sitting bleary-eyed in his dusty, windowless warehouse, with a fly swatter hanging above his head.

He said the bandits drew their handguns, yelling, "Where's the money? Where's the money?"

They pistol-whipped a worker and waved a weapon at a cashier's face, he said.

"There is no money," Augusto said he told them. "Go home."

Stashed away nearby was the 12-gauge shotgun he bought decades ago and said he had never used since a test-fire. He reached for it when he sensed one of the men was about to shoot, and pulled the trigger once.

"I hoped after the first shot they would go away," he said.

When they didn't, continuing to menace his employees, he fired again, and again.

Police said one of the men collapsed and died outside the door, just feet from a Baptist church.

Another fatally wounded suspect managed to cross the street, leaving a trail of blood before he collapsed. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

More blood led police to the other two suspects, who were arrested and taken to the hospital. Charges against them were pending.

Police said Augusto didn't have a required permit for the weapon used in the headline-grabbing shooting the Daily News called a "Pump-Action Ending."

But he was a victim, police said, and no charges had been filed on Friday.

"I'd rather not have done it," Augusto said, "and I'm sad for those mothers who have no sons."

The shopkeeper was coy when asked whether, with his shotgun confiscated, he had a backup.

"I'm not going to tell you that," he said.

[Rick Lee]

I think they always take the gun and hold it while they're doing the investigation. That's why it's important to always have more guns and in several places.

[TimT]

The gun was properly registered per NYC law.. just heard that while driving to work tonight..

Also one of his employees who was pistol whipped, chased one of the robbers who was shot across 125th st.. and proceeded to kicking to crap out of the injured guy while he bled out.

I'm working on building a new bridge across the Harlem river at 1st Ave & 125 th. St. ( Willis Ave Bridge). Its an interesting neighborhood to say the least.

[TimT]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/08/13/2009-08-13_harlem_biz_owner.html


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/08/14/2009-08-14_harlem_business_owner_charles_gus_augusto_opens _shop_day_after_fatally_shooting_.html

[stomachmonkey]

Sounds like he had an unlicensed weapon and is not being charged for the shootings so what's the problem

[TimT]

Sounds like he had an unlicensed weapon

No, the shotgun was registered, thats what local radio news has been saying all afternoon. 880 WCBS, 1010 WINS etc..

[stomachmonkey]

Ok

so when they finish investigating he gets it back

sounds like SOP to me

[legion]

Yeah, nothing out of ordinary here yet.

Not like Chicago.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I think they always take the gun and hold it while they're doing the investigation. That's why it's important to always have more guns and in several places.

+1

At least two spares. Always.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by rick lee

i think they always take the gun and hold it while they're doing the investigation.

+1

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Sounds like he had an unlicensed weapon and is not being charged for the shootings so what's the problem

He only killed two of the purps, that is the problem..

[david914]

So the shop owner did us all a favor and rid the world of two scumbags. So... where's the problem?

[WilsonTC]

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by david914

So the shop owner did us all a favor and rid the world of two scumbags. So... where's the problem?

Ultimately there isn't one, but the PD still has to do an investigation and make sure that the evidence matches his account/story and that it wasn't, say, a premeditated homicide or anything.

If it went down as described, I doubt there'll be much of a problem. There shouldn't be anyway.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

He only killed two of the purps, that is the problem..

Agree but his percentages are good. He simply needs to go back to the range for some practice, and load up with OO next time.

[david914]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Ultimately there isn't one, but the PD still has to do an investigation and make sure that the evidence matches his account/story and that it wasn't, say, a premeditated homicide or anything.

If it went down as described, I doubt there'll be much of a problem. There shouldn't be anyway.

Sorry. My bad. Tongue was planted firmly in cheek with my comment

[david914]

Originally Posted by joeaksa

agree but his percentages are good. He simply needs to go back to the range for some practice, and load up with oo next time.

+1!

[jdlowery]

Wow! I grew up right across the street from that business. People are getting more desperate. We should all be careful.