parking lot incident

[sparky]

I just had a scary thing happen in the local Home Depot parking lot and need some advice. I was halfway across the parking to my car and got a really weird feeling and turned around and there was a guy almost on my heels....couldn't have been more than 2 feet behind me if that. He looked like just an average joe but my car was the only one around in that part of the lot (trying to avoid dings on the new vehicle). We stared hard at each other for a minute and then he did a 180 and walked quickly away. I got the heck out of there and while this lady doesn't normally drink much I plan to correct that situation tonight!

Anyway, the questions. Am I overreacting? Unholster vs not that close to someone? Would there be a benefit to switching to a crossdraw or appendix carry for encounters with someone coming from the rear? What should I have done? Thanks.

Sparky

[fatboy97]

I think you handled it well. If he was that close you would have invited trouble if you would have gone for a gun. At least you realized there was something wrong and reacted before you unlocked your vehicle.

I think my signature says it all.

[Dick Unger]

I think he was trying to intimidate you. He probably hoped you would say something, then he could pretend to be "hurt" by your comment, maybe you would then sort of apologize, then he'd have you in a socially ackward situation.

He wanted to create a bad scene, then blame you for it, and see if you would accept the blame, .....and see what might happen next. He wanted a victim, and you were being interviewed to see if you would be a good victim. You flunked, fortunately. He decided you were trouble.

[westhope]

Sorry for your experience. Thankfully the outcome was good.

got a really weird feeling

This is where your "awareness" of the situation around you gave you the little extra time to react. The more aware one is of their surroundings the more time one has to react.

couldn't have been more than 2 feet behind me if that

This is the range that most encounters will occur in Defensive Gun Uses. We don't practice at these ranges, but this is where things will happen for most of us.

stared hard at each other for a minute

Your challenging him was good. I would recommend that you issue a very loud verbal command also. Such as "STOP GO AWAY." Repeated several times. LOUD!

Unholster vs not that close to someone

At a minimum I would have my strong hand gripping the gun as I would be issuing the above verbal commands. (It sounds like you carry holstered on your strong side.) When encountering a threat to the rear, the technique I recommend is to step forward (strong side foot), grip (draw?) the gun, turn to your weak side. Your weak hand should be at your chest to push away the threat if necessary. Keep your strong side angled away from the threat so he cannot grab your gun hand and you can use your weak hand to push the threat away and draw if necessary. If the gun is drawn, it should remain at "retention" (at the holster, pointed at the threat, ready to fire if necessary).

You did not mention if you were carrying packages. If you were, I would have dropped them before turning to encounter the threat.

You did very well by being aware of the situation and controlling the situation.

[Aceq2jot]

This is when the little one shot pepper spray key ring attachments come in handy. I amnot sure about you but normaly my keys are the first thing in my hand out of the door for the remote. So if you had your keys with a one shot pepper in your hand you could have been real safe.

And basically at that distance pulling a Gun would put you in a strength fight for the gun. You would be surprised how fast some one can cover distance.

[Thor]

I'd also recommend contacting the manager of Home Depot and the local police to apprise them of the potentially bad situation. After all, this guy could be looking for victims.

[Srigs]

No you are not over reacting. You were being setup.

Good job on listening to the "inter" voice and acting. Move, holler, scream, OC or grab your gun to keep the perp away from you. Please do call the police if something like this happens again.

[BamBam]

Is it possible that your gun "prints" through your clothing? he may have noticed this or somehow figured out you were carrying and possibly thought he could snatch it from behind? after you turned around , his odds changed quit a bit.

[Pinnacle]

Is it possible that your gun "prints" through your clothing? he may have noticed this or somehow figured out you were carrying and possibly thought he could snatch it from behind? after you turned around , his odds changed quit a bit.

Yeah lets blame the gun for someones elses bad behavior.

The right thing to do in this situation was exactly as you did - as for further options - there are plnety of people here that would be willing to put you through a class.

[GregM]

Well done! That guy undoubtedly had some sort of criminal plan (mugging, carjacking, etc) and was counting on the element of surprise (and possibly gender difference) to carry it off. Your alertness and your courage (turning to confront him) short-circuited his little operation.

A phone call to the Home Depot office with whatever description you could provide would be a good idea.

[sparky]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'm planning to pick-up some pepper spray and a pocket snubby today. Also called the store manager and gave him a heads-up.

Sparky

[BamBam]

Is it possible that your gun "prints" through your clothing? he may have noticed this or somehow figured out you were carrying and possibly thought he could snatch it from behind? after you turned around , his odds changed quit a bit.

Yeah lets blame the gun for someones elses bad behavior.

The right thing to do in this situation was exactly as you did - as for further options - there are plnety of people here that would be willing to put you through a class.

Not blaming the gun at all, just trying to think like a criminal, what was going through his mind at the time, and making a suggestion. Criminal are very devious, you never know what their up to.

[mnxd9]

I'm under the firm belief people don't get funny feelings for no reason, that your self preservation kicking in.

Personally I think they were up to no good, and I think you knew it too, good catch.

I also think a police report/contact should've happened, though I don't think it's too late.

Thirdly http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Fear-Gavin-B ... 921&sr=8-2
I haven't read it fully, but it talks a lot about fear and your reaction to events, pretty eye opening I think, I'd give you my copy, but I'm not done with it yet.

Remeber a Gun never solves a problem, being in a good aware postion is always your first line of protection, and gun is always the last line protection.

[glock+ipod]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'm planning to pick-up some pepper spray and a pocket snubby today. Also called the store manager and gave him a heads-up.

Sparky

Just reading your original post was scary enough for me. I really like my pocket snubby for those situations where I'd like to have my hand on a gun just in case anything weird happens, but it would look funny to walk around with a firing grip on the one on my hip. It sounds like you handled it well--you came through alive and unhurt.

[chunkstyle]

Yes, definitely file a police report. No harm in that. Try to remember all the identifying features you can. Also, do tell the management at the store.

Law-abiding citizens' best weapons are each other, predators know this and try to separate us one from another, both physically and psychologically, through fear. Cooperating with others, sharing what you saw, speaking up, is the same as fighting back.