One thief tried to a rob a convenience store in East Knoxville, but was fatally shot by an armed bystander who is being hailed as a hero.
Officers answered a call at 2:35 a.m. in a report of shots fired at the Breadbox on 6200 block of Asheville Highway. When they arrived they found 18 year old Tamon on the floor with a single gunshot wound. Tamon was armed with a 9mm when he entered the store and forced the clerk to get behind the counter.
A male friend of the clerk was outside of the store sitting in his vehicle when he saw the armed robbery taking place. He retrieved his weapon, walked into the store, and fired a single shot that proved to be fatal.
Local news agencies checked to see if what the man did was legal in the state of TN or if charges would be brought.
“The law in Tennessee as to third party is basically the same as it is to any individual in self defense,” said Knox County District Attorney General Charme P. Allen. “If you walk upon a stranger and you think that stranger is fixing to be hurt, then you can act on behalf of that stranger.”
No other person was harmed in the incident. Tamon’s 9mm was thought to be stolen and the serial numbers had been removed.
Way to go to the clerk’s friend! This is exactly why it pays to go to the range.
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It’s too bad that all situations like this are not so black and white. My hat’s off to the friend who intervened and most likely saved his friends life. I guarantee though that the family of the thug will be looking for any way to sue the good guy. It may have been legal, but civil courts are beyond that; someone will have a slick attorney looking for any angles to get a lawsuit on the good Samaritan. Gun grabbers need to take notice: If there were strict laws in place banning firearms from civilians, this situation would have left the friend in the car calling 911 while he watched his friend get murdered by the robber, who ignored the law and has a firearm anyway (which was attained on the black market). Then, as the robber came out of the store, he would have noticed the [witness] in the car and would have shot & killed him too. 3-4 minutes later, the cops show up – but there’s no one to shoot – he’s long gone!