A cyclist here in Austin was robbed at gunpoint and yes, almost executed:
Robbery detectives are hoping to catch with two men still on the run after they rob an Austin cyclist at gunpoint. Police Det. Phillip Hogue says during his regular commute home a South Austin cyclist was approached by another man wanting to borrow his cell phone. Investigators indicate it was then that James Ray Perkins, Paul Rios and another unidentified man forced France Dulles to give up his bank account pin number and ATM card. “He didn’t have a lot of money in his checking accountant and the armed men were not satisfied at the amount of cash they were able withdrawal from the ATM” said Hogue. According to arrest reports, the three men decided Dulles should be executed and as Perkins aimed to shoot Dulles in the head the 19-year old cyclist took off on foot. After firing several rounds, Perkins managed to hit Dulles once in his buttocks. All three men have been charged with an Aggravated Robbery and Kidnapping, Attempted Capitol Murder and Organized Criminal Activity. Austin police have managed to arrest Perkins, while Rios and the other unidentified man remains on the run.
Things to note:
- Wanted to use his cell phone
- Robberies and other such criminal/violent acts don’t happen at long-distances. The criminal needs to approach you, they need to talk to you, they need to “interview” you to see if you’ll make a good victim. You need to have skills to keep unknowns at distance.
- The cyclist “just gave ’em what they wanted”, and look what it got him.
- You cannot think that giving them what they want will make them go away or that they won’t take any more than that. The cyclist almost lost his life.
- Executed. Just let that sink in a bit. You cannot apply your standards and values to that criminal. They were willing to kill a man just because he didn’t have enough money. That’s pretty fucked up.
- It was good that the cyclist fled. Our goal isn’t revenge, it isn’t to kill people, it’s to stay alive. He fled, he’s alive.
It’s getting to be an ugly, dangerous world out there. Take steps to keep yourself safe.
Stuff From Hsoi 
Let’s see if I can add to your great post.
1.) This happened during ‘normal’ activities — a commute home after a day at work.
Shows that carrying everywhere you go makes sense because you can’t control when the criminals will decide to target you.
2. I’m guessing this wasn’t in a ‘bad neighborhood’ but just an average area of town. Willy Sutton robbed banks because that is where the money was, now days — everyone carries a miniature bank with them via that debit card.
3. While some criminals practice with firearms, not all criminals are sharpshooters and not all have lightening fast reflexes. It is possible to use a firearm in self defense even if a criminal is holding a gun on you.
This victim may not have been able to carry one on his body if he was wearing spandex, so your mileage may vary on this one.
Great additions!
1. Yup. That’s such a key thing that many people that don’t “get it” will bring up. They’ll say “it’s a good neighborhood” or “not a bad part of town”. But the reality is, stuff can and does happen anywhere and everywhere. No where is immune.
2. Don’t know where it happened, but I reckon it wasn’t off the beaten path because it sounds like the ATM was in close proximity.
3. Around Austin, wear a fanny pack. Lots of folks wear them, or other sorts of day bags… especially people that ride a bike to commute.
Good additions! Thanx.
A couple of important things to think about I gathered from the article:
1) The asking to use his cell phone point makes me wonder if he had it out or some other device. Using phones, ipods, etc. in public without extreme situational awareness is asking for trouble.
2) Having a fast mode of transportation meant that the victim failed in situational awareness, if he had any to begin with. I.E. he was approached by men on foot, had he been aware he should have been able to get away much faster than they could give chase. This is a ~common~ problem here in Austin. The lack of awareness while riding a bicycle is all too blatant with the lack of signaling, traffic, or pedestrian awareness in general. There isn’t a lot that can be done about it, but admonish and educate your friends and family who lack awareness.
3) This is a good reason to commute by personal car or truck. I know we all like top down cruising or biking of all types. In your personal vehicle though, you can lock the doors and have a two ton weapon immediately at your disposal, on a bicycle you cannot. If you ride a motorcycle/bicycle you need to be extra aware not only of traffic and dangers there, but of dangers of being approached by someone while sitting still and being attacked.
4) On riding bikes/driving convertibles etc. You need to think about your carry methods. When I rode a bicycle to school, I rode lightly trafficked roads, but still carried a knife (because guns are a no-no). For my main method of concealment and carry, I opted for a fixed blade in a kydex holster, suspended in a shoulder rig (an inexpensive type made from paracord is the Mercharness from Modern Combative Systems). This allowed a right or left hand draw even on the move or astride the bicycle. When I arrived at school the rig could stay concealed, or I could slip it off in the bathroom or my office and drop it into my bag.
5) Finally, EVERYWHERE is a “bad” neighborhood, just assume that and use the same situational awareness everywhere. Assumptions on supposed safety are going to typically result in you getting involved in a bad situation.
-Rob
1. Possible, but on the same token, mobile phones are so ubiquitous these days, doesn’t matter. It’s just like coming up to someone asking for a light or to bum a cigarette… most people don’t, but it doesn’t matter… it’s not about that.
Still you are right.. people get into their devices and the rest of the world gets shut out. Not good. Even mudane stuff like just not walking with your nose in your phone is useful… keeps you from walking into things.
2 & 3 & 4 – good points for cyclists, especially given how prevalent they are in this town. I see nothing wrong with someone choosing this mode of transport, they just have to be honest and realistic about it, pros and cons, and contend appropriately.
5. But, this is how a lot of the world operates. Check any news story when something bad happens in a “good” neighborhood… interviews with the neighbors and the “I never thought it could happen here” comments. People believe that somehow bad only happens elsewhere… in the bad parts of town.. where bad people live, etc. You can’t escape it, no matter how much we all truly wish we could.