Shopper pulls gun, stops robbery cold

A grocery store customer in Indianapolis is being credited with halting an armed robbery by pulling his own weapon and pointing it at the assailant until police arrived.

According to a report in the Indianapolis Star, Charlie Merrell, 51, was in a checkout line at a grocery store called Bucks IGA on the city's south side when a "masked man jumped a nearby counter and held a gun on a store employee."

The police report cited by the newspaper said the incident happened at 5:17 in the afternoon Monday as Merrell was doing some year-end shopping.

"While the suspect was demanding cash from the workers," according to the police report, "Merrell pulled his own handgun, pointed it at the robber and ordered him to put down his weapon."

(Story continues below)

The newspaper noted that Officer Jason Bockting, in his documentation of the incident, said when the suspect seemed to hesitate, "Merrell racked the slide on his gun to load a round in the chamber."

At that point, the report said, "the suspect placed his gun and a bag of cash on the counter, dropping some of the money … the suspect removed his mask and lay on the floor."

Merrill, meanwhile, held the suspect at gunpoint until officers arrived and took him away in handcuffs.

Police reported Merrell had a valid permit to carry the handgun, and they recovered an unloaded .380-caliber handgun and $779 cash from the suspect.

Police records show Dwain Smith, 19, was being held in the Marion County Jail on a bond of $30,000 on initial charges of robbery, criminal confinement, pointing a firearm, battery and carrying a handgun without a license.

Special offers:

"Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self-Defense"

NOW SHOOTING BACK IS AVAILABLE AS AN EXCITING DVD DOCUMENTARY FROM WND FILMS

When it's time to shoot back – Get 'Armed Response,' the guide to firearms, self-defense

Perfect gift for pistol-packin' mama – 'Stayin' Alive' shows guns are indeed for girls

Related stories:

Gun owners 'get stabbed in back'

Threat to vets' 2nd Amendment rights on hold

Ex-military to be denied gun ownership

Gun shop: Complaint could have been ruse

Gun-shop owner gets 'breath of fresh air'

'Blog' puts fear into gun shop inspectors

New gun control: Shut down shops

Your doctor could put you on no-gun list

Expert offers teachers free weapons training

State quashed bill allowing handguns on campuses

Trial will debate 2nd Amendment rights

Buy a house, get a gun free

New use for schoolbooks: Stopping bullets

New Yorkers rally for 'illegal' guns

Clinton-era war on guns revealed

U.N. gun confab ends in frustration

The U.N.: Gunning for more power

NRA warns of U.N. gun control

Michael Douglas backs U.N. gun ban

'Anti-gang' bill endangers gun rights?

County drops homeowner gun charges

Related commentaries:

The history of gun control, part 2

The history of gun control, part 1

Guns, the devil and God

Our God-given right of self-defense

Where gun control leads

People power, not police power

Why citizens must own and carry firearms

Self-defense risky? Try the alternative

How often do Americans use guns for defensive purposes?