71 year old Marine kills two robbers

[Akula]

(once you are a Marine you are always a Marine.)

 

This is from the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel:

--------------------------

Subway customer lauded as hero for gunning down robbers in Plantation

 

By Akilah Johnson, Andrew Tran and Juan C. Ortega

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Posted June 29 2007

 

Some are calling a former U.S. Marine a hero for shooting two men — killing one — during the botched robbery of a sandwich shop in Plantation. But the men's friends and family want to know how he could gun them down and not be charged.

 

John Lovell had just finished dinner at about 11: 15 p.m. Wednesday when, Plantation police say, two men armed with guns rushed inside a Subway shop and demanded cash. After robbing the store, the men turned to Lovell. They wanted his money, police said.

 

But like his attackers, Lovell was armed.

 

The retired military man opened fire, shooting dead Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale, and critically injuring Fredrick Gadson, 21, of Fort Lauderdale.

 

Lovell, 71, of Plantation, has a valid concealed weapons permit and is not expected to be charged in the shooting, said police spokesman Detective Robert Rettig. Gadson, however, faces multiple felony charges that could include murder, he said. Under Florida law, anyone who commits a felony such as armed robbery resulting in a death can be held accountable for the capital offense.

 

"He feared for his life," Rettig said of Lovell. "And if he's in fear for his life, then he has a right to defend himself, even if it means severe bodily injury or death."

 

Florida law gives people the right of "self-defense without the duty to retreat." That means individuals can use deadly force virtually anywhere to prevent death or serious injury.

 

Lovell could not be reached for comment despite calls and visits to his home.

 

His attorney, Wesley White, of Yulee, near Jacksonville, said he has known Lovell for 19 years and described him as a "quiet Clint Eastwood-type you don't want to mess with." He is a former Marine who was a member of the helicopter detail that transported Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, White said.

 

Lovell, a retired Pan-Am and Delta Airline pilot, has held a concealed weapons permit since September 1990. Three months earlier, Plantation police had arrested him for having a loaded .9 mm and three extra clips behind the driver's seat of a Corvette without proper permits for the gun. The Broward State's Attorney's Office declined to file charges in that case.

 

According to a police statement, :Arrindell ordered Lovell to hand over his wallet. He intentionally dropped it on the floor and refused to pick it up, saying he was afraid. That's when Arrindell ordered him into the women's restroom.

 

"The victim believed he would be executed and when he noticed [Arrindell] distracted ... reached behind his back, removed his loaded .45 caliber handgun from his holster and fired seven rounds," the statement said.

 

Arrindell was struck twice — once in the head and once in the stomach — and collapsed. Officers found him face down, wearing sunglasses and a bandanna, with a gun near his left hand. Gadson was hit in the chest and ran from the store. Police dogs found him in the hedges of a nearby office building and bank.

 

Both men were taken to Broward General Medical Center, where Arrindell died and Gadson was in critical condition Thursday.

 

Sebastian Shakespeare, 23, of Lauderhill, was going to buy a sandwich at the Subway at 1949 N. Pine Island Road when he saw Lovell, gun in hand, standing over Arrindell. A former employee, Shakespeare worked the night shift and often worried about getting robbed.

 

He said Lovell did a good deed. "A civilian was a hero."

 

Lovell's neighbor agreed.

 

"If I was in the same situation ... I hope I could've done the same thing," said Bryan Sklar, 45.

 

But Gadson's grandmother, Rosa Jones, said: "He ain't no hero. He is a murderer and God will serve justice."

 

She and her husband, Ivory Jones, pastor of a Fort Lauderdale church, sat on their front porch in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday wondering how a man could shoot two people and not go to jail.

 

They said their grandson sometimes hung with the wrong crowd but never got into legal trouble. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, he has no arrest record. They said Gadson, who never finished high school, got tired of low-wage jobs and was pursuing his GED.

 

Arrindell, friends said, found himself in a similar situation: no high school diploma and working odd jobs. So he went back to school. He was a man with past troubles, including a 2004 arrest for carrying a concealed weapon, but he was improving his life, they said. He recently bought a car and had a girlfriend.

 

Kathy East, 54, whose son went to school with Arrindell, said she took him in two years ago when he and his mother had a falling out.

 

"I'm absolutely stunned," she said Thursday.

 

Staff Researchers Barbara Hijek and William Lucey contributed to this report.

[AJ]

good shoot.

[Nitrousbird]

"They said their grandson sometimes hung with the wrong crowd but never got into legal trouble. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, he has no arrest record. They said Gadson, who never finished high school, got tired of low-wage jobs and was pursuing his GED.

 

Arrindell, friends said, found himself in a similar situation: no high school diploma and working odd jobs. So he went back to school. He was a man with past troubles, including a 2004 arrest for carrying a concealed weapon, but he was improving his life, they said. He recently bought a car and had a girlfriend."

 

Ummm, then why were they both committing ARMED ROBERY??

 

That marine is a hero, and did the correct thing.

[Mr. Jones]

I love how the family always tries to turn it around. Always pure fucking scum.

If he would have shot the old man, it would have been.

 

"He was a good boy, but he man kept him from bettering himself, and he did the only thing he could to support his family. He doesn't deserve to be in jail, let him go.."

 

 

The only regret I feel after reading this story, is that he didn't kill them both.

[Vulcan900]

"They said their grandson sometimes hung with the wrong crowd but never got into legal trouble. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, he has no arrest record. They said Gadson, who never finished high school, got tired of low-wage jobs and was pursuing his GED.

 

Arrindell, friends said, found himself in a similar situation: no high school diploma and working odd jobs. So he went back to school. He was a man with past troubles, including a 2004 arrest for carrying a concealed weapon, but he was improving his life, they said. He recently bought a car and had a girlfriend."

 

Ummm, then why were they both committing ARMED ROBERY??

 

That marine is a hero, and did the correct thing.

 

+1

Couldnt have said it any better.

[BloodRed]

Way to go Mr. Lovell. I commend him in his actions in protecting the public from scum.

[HAOLE]

Gadson, however, faces multiple felony charges that could include murder, he said. Under Florida law, anyone who commits a felony such as armed robbery resulting in a death can be held accountable for the capital offense.

 

Serves him right for robbing a place...

 

 

But Gadson's grandmother, Rosa Jones, said: "He ain't no hero. He is a murderer and God will serve justice."

 

She and her husband, Ivory Jones, pastor of a Fort Lauderdale church, sat on their front porch in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday wondering how a man could shoot two people and not go to jail.

That lady would feel different if it was her that just got robbed.

Someone needs to send Mr. Lovell a thank you card!

[Guest MyV6IsFast3r]

If someone tried to rob me with a gun or knife or what have you I would have done the same thing, and it would be, and this is completely JUSTIFIED.

[Lustalbert]

The only problem I see here is they should make the criminals repay Mr Lovell for the 7 rounds, and the time invoved in disposing of said criminals.

[HotCarl]

You guys all said it right. Of course the friends/family of the victim's will cry foul but in the end they were the one commiting the robbery and they were the one's that got themselves killed.

[MrMeanGreen]

Then there was the 74yo Marine this week who dropped a guy who tried to pick-pocket him after going to an ATM.

[TTQ B4U]

Thank you John Lovell.

 

If you ever want to move to Columbus, Ohio and live next door to me, I'll help you move in for free.

 

Nice job and nice shot(s). My only advice is next time, Kill them both.

 

To the family and friends of the two punks.....FUCK YOU ALL and I hope the bastard who died rots in hell!! I also hope the punk who lived gets a severe staff infection and dies a slow painful death. You wonder why John Lovell isn't being charged.....shit, you're lucky he doesn't come after you all for raising such a couple of worthless maggots that likely darn near gave him a heart attack. SCUM!!!

[Clifford Automotive]

"self-defense without the duty to retreat"

 

coming to an ohio near you.

[Lustalbert]

"self-defense without the duty to retreat"

 

coming to an ohio near you.

 

 

Yes please I hope. And get gid of those damn "No conceal carry on premises" stickers. What a was to advertise "Rob us, we are unarmed."

[Spidey2721]

this is a prime example of why concealed carry is a good thing!

[87GT]

lovell didn't do ANYTHING wrong other then being in the wrong place at the wrong time.