If you move, I will blow your fu*king head off
Making the split-second decision not to shoot was the right one
I was riding with Sergeant in an area that was known for violent gang activity.
It was a Friday night around 10 pm when we spotted five gang members hanging out in front of an apartment complex. We decided to try and talk with them to find out what they were doing there.
The Sergeant had a feeling they were going to run, so we slowly drove up with lights out, trying to get close before we got out. Even though we were in an unmarked vehicle, it was well known to the local gangsters.
As we parked and quietly got out, one of the gangsters spotted us, and they started running.
Naturally, we ran after them.
The Chase Is On
They led us through the apartment complex, running between cars, over fences, until they darted into an adjoining complex. Once they got into that complex, they split into two groups.
The Sergeant followed two, who had run into an occupied and well-lit apartment and told me to go after the three that continued running through the complex.
As they reached the last building in the complex, they darted into a dark apartment. I followed, running to just inside the doorway.
At that point, common sense took over, and, as I drew my weapon, I backed out of the apartment to just outside the door.
Within moments, another officer came up behind me. We quickly discussed how we would enter the apartment and slowly entered. We located the first gangster hiding behind some furniture, ordered him up, and handcuffed him.
Once we got him out of the apartment, I had the officer stay with him and went back inside to look for the other two.
Bad Decision
It is not the best thing to do in the world, entering an unfamiliar dark apartment with two known gang members hiding inside, but I am not the smartest person in the world.
I quickly located the second gang member and ordered him up. With my weapon on him and keeping an eye out for the third, I had him back out of the apartment.
Once outside, I handcuffed him, left him with the officer and the first gang member, and went back inside.
I slowly went through the apartment, re-checking the areas I had already been through first. I went through the kitchen, bathroom, and front bedroom without locating him.
As I entered the last bedroom, which was empty, I scanned the room and started to wonder if he had jumped out a window.
The Decision of Life — Not to Shoot
The last place to check was a closet with sliding doors. As I approached the closet, I took a deep breath and quickly slid open the door. I saw the gangster crouching in the corner, holding what appeared to be a large knife.
At about the same time I spotted him, he started to get up, and his arm started coming towards me.
I yelled at him, “Stop, Police, If you move, I will blow your fucking head off.”
This is not how I would typically talk to people during an arrest, but this was not a normal situation.
As I yelled at him, I started pulling back on the trigger of my weapon. I was ready to shoot this guy if he did not listen.
Luckily he paused with a shocked look and dropped what he was holding. I ordered him out and with his hands in the air and had him exit the apartment.
Once he was outside and handcuffed, I could relax and reflect.
Realizing I Made the Correct One
Shortly after more officers arrived, and the scene was secure, I went back into the apartment. I wanted to see what the gangster was holding when I found him in the closet.
To my surprise, it was not a knife.
When he first ran in, I did not see anything in his hands. Somewhere inside, he had picked up a small bat.
I spoke with the gangster afterward and asked him what he was planning to do. He told me that he had grabbed the bat inside the closet where he was hiding. He did not know why he even picked it up, nor was he planning on using it as a weapon.
He was scared and was only getting up because I had opened the door. He also said he did not realize the bat was still in his hand.
Relief, at Last
I cannot tell you how relieved I was, realizing that I came close to shooting this guy, that he followed my directions.
If he had not, if he had continued to move for even a split second more, I would have fired my weapon.
Even though I made some bad decisions that night, like entering the apartment alone, the split-second decision I made not to fire my weapon is the one that I still hold as the best decision I have ever made.
Thank you for allowing me to share a small part of my journey with you.
If you are interested to know more about my experiences as a former Federal Agent, you may read the following article published in The Masterpiece.
