80-year-old Man Shoots 15-year-old During Armed Carjacking Attempt

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA — A late night armed carjacking attempt by two men didn’t go as planned on December 22^nd when the 80-year-old owner and concealed carrier exercised his rights, wounding one of the suspects.

Investigators with the Pensacola Police Department said that the homeowner went out to lock the cars in his driveway around 11 p.m. Two men approached him and attempted to steal his car, with at least one of the suspects pulling a gun on him.  The owner pulled his own gun and shot at the two.

Both fled on foot, with one showing up at a home on N Street with a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The homeowner was not injured, and there is no evidence that the suspects fire any rounds.

The following morning, PPD released a statement which read, “We do not anticipate any charges against the victim in this incident as it is a Stand Your Ground type case. The suspect who was shot is in critical condition, and he is 15 years old. The victim is 80 years old. We are still looking for the second suspect.”

While this confrontation had an acceptable outcome for the elderly owner and concealed carrier, it could have been just the opposite if one or both suspects had fired shots at him or engaged in a physical altercation, edged weapon attack or other violent assault.  It shows the need to carry your handgun everywhere, even in your own driveway.

It is good practice to lock vehicles every time you exit them, even during the day, even in your own driveway. This can help to prevent the theft of the vehicle or items inside the vehicle, as well as eliminating the ability for an assailant to hide in the vehicle awaiting the victims return. It also negates the need to go outside after dark, when criminal acts are more prevalent, to secure the vehicles.