While “t3h int3rw3bs” is rife with much chaff, there’s wheat to be found as well.
Check out this video of an Internet cafe security guard stopping a robbery before it can start.
OODA loop in full effect, with no hesitation. Gets up, gets off the “X”. Aimed fire. Using two hands. Moves. Shoots. Keeps his distance (doesn’t charge/close). Solid work. Kudos to you, Mr. Security Guard.
(h/t Shawn)
To elaborate on a few things.
The robbers had their OODA loop in effect. No idea if they knew there was a guard there or not, tho I’ll guess they didn’t know because who would willingly walk into an armed confrontation… but then, criminals aren’t known to be smart. By the guard FIRST getting off the “X” he did a couple of things:
- It’s better to NOT get shot than it is to shoot. Karl likes to say that incoming bullets have the right-of-way. Move first.
- Regardless if the robbers knew of the guard before they entered, they certainly knew of him once they entered. By moving off to the side, the guard changed the situation. As Tom Givens calls it, the guard gave the robbers a “WhatTheFuck?” moment. The guard was in their field of vision, but as soon as he side-stepped he left their tunnel vision. This resets their OODA loop (what the fuck? where did he go? back to Observing), and now the guard operates ahead of them.
- Notice there was no need to take massive steps. It’s often taught that moving by just side-stepping is a range-safety artifact, and to an extent it is. But I learned from Givens that simple step is really all you need. You don’t need to run a 40-yard dash.
Notice as well, the guard’s draw took about 2 seconds and it was almost 3 seconds before the first shot was off. I started timing from when it appeared physically evident the guard was reacting to the situation, so really it was a hair longer than that from the moment he first observed (when the OODA loop initiated). It was not a lightning fast 1.0-1.5 second draw. Karl Rehn and Claude Werner separately have been examining a lot of real gunfight data and coming to interesting conclusions in terms of training and performance. I know Karl’s working on an article so I won’t spoil things, but this video gives another data point.
The robbers were not out for a righteous fight, just a quick score. As soon as the bullets started coming their way, they took off.
There was no need for a reload, but I’m sure the guard had a reload on his belt. I couldn’t tell how many shots he fired, but I reckon a 5-shot snub would not have gotten the job done that night.
I’m curious what the distances were. Seems 7-15 yards at least. Statistically well outside the range of typical gunfights. How well can you shoot at that distance?
All in all, good job Mr. Security Guard. I hope everything works out well here.
Stuff From Hsoi 
Good reaction but, I’m left wondering is does “internet cafe” mean something completely different than what I expect it to mean? This is the 3rd or 4th attempted robbery of one in the past few years.
I believe ones in Florida also have gambling machines… thus there’s a lot of money in the machines if you bust into them.
that would explain a lot. Surprising that a Casino wouldn’t have more security then…
There could have been more… in the back? Who knows.
I’m just happy he was aware. I’ve seen too many “security guards” that are so totally unaware of what’s going on around them…more concerned with hitting on the cute receptionist than anything else.
I watched that vid this morning, and was very impressed with the guard’s reaction/ Action. he did everything text book.
Also, he not just hit them at distance but while they were moving and while HE was moving. That was some damn fine tactics and shooting. Good job.
Well, I’m not totally sure how well things played out in terms of accuracy and so on. It’s too hard to tell. The one guy got hit, but where (something implied leg, but hard to know). How many rounds fired? I’d love to know all these nitty-gritty details. But in the end… he done good.