Lessons from an Armed Robbery

By Jeremy Gill — September 6, 2016

Pretend for a moment that you're the guy in the blue jeans, button-down shirt, and cowboy hat. Caught completely off guard with his back to the door, and panicked. His life went from calm and peaceful to turmoil in a matter of seconds. What would you do?

Two threats emerge — one brandishing a handgun — forcing you to scramble for cover behind the nearest display. The armed robber dives through the counter window, shooting at cashiers who frantically escape incoming rounds. When he notices you, he takes aim but diverts attention back to the cashiers. One cashier retrieves a hidden handgun and returns fire. The second attacker, having been shot at, flees through the exit.

What would you have done, assuming that you had your concealed handgun on your person? When would you have acted? Would you have acted?

What Would I Have Done?

Without prior planning, panic and scrambling would likely occur — the same reaction as the man in the cowboy hat. This underscores why remaining aware of your surroundings, at all times, matters for those rare critical moments.

What Would I Have Done Differently?

The man's back faced the door, appearing unaware of his surroundings. Those familiar with Cooper's Color Codes recognize he was in "condition White." Better positioning — seeing the door while conducting business — wouldn't guarantee victory but might provide a few extra milliseconds to react, allowing yourself to get behind cover and draw your handgun without it being noticed.

When Would I Have Acted?

Analyzing the video timeline, approximately 18 seconds was optimal: enough time to observe what was going on, orient myself, decide what to do, and act. With range experience presenting from concealment in 1.2 seconds at 7 yards, real-world response under ambush would be slower but feasible in under a second and a half.

What Did We Learn?

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS. If you had 5 seconds to observe a threat, would you be able to execute?

Mental preparation — envisioning such encounters beforehand — gives your brain a slight head-start versus experiencing this unprepared. Decrease your response time through training while increasing your decision time through situational awareness.