Family Of Robbery Suspect Blames Retired Marine for Fatal Shooting

'If you want to kick a tiger in the ass, you'd better have a plan for dealing with his teeth.' - comment about this story on Topix.com

22-year old Donicio Arrindell of North Lauderdale was killed during the robbery attempt. Photo courtesy: Plantation, Florida Police

(PLANTATION, Fla.) - Emotions are flying in Plantation, Florida as the families of two armed robbery suspects shot by a 71-year old retired Marine a little over a year ago, claim that the former warrior had no right to take the law into his own hands.

But 71-year old John Lovell had a concealed weapons permit, and he didn't draw his handgun and fire until the suspects reportedly tried to force him into a bathroom.

A Florida newspaper reported that John Lovell had just finished dinner at about 11:15 PM that night, when the two men armed with guns quickly entered a Subway shop and demanded cash.

It seems like it could have ended there, but instead the men turned to Lovell and demanded his money, and then according to Police, tried to force him into a bathroom. The retired Marine apparently feigned dropping his wallet, and instead of picking it up, brandished a 9mm handgun and brought the robbery to a swift close.

A Marine Named Marion Carl

Many in Oregon recall the story of a retired Marine in Roseburg who was actually the first Marine Corps fighter pilot ace in WWII. The story of Marion Carl has similar components; armed men, a robbery, death, shots fired. But when he died In 1998, at the age of 82, Mr. Carl was a murder victim, shot to death during a robbery, defending his wife Edna from a home invader.

Local 10 TV News, the Florida station covering the story, says the foiled June 2007 incident the attempted robbery of a Subway sandwich shop. They reported that the former Marine was the lone customer at the time of the robbery.

John Lovell ultimately shot 22-year old Donicio Arrindell of North Lauderdale dead, and critically injured 21-year old Fredrick Gadson, also of Fort Lauderdale.

Suspect's Families Say it was Wrong

The family of one of the robbery suspects shot by Lovell, told Local News 10 that the Marine was wrong for pulling the trigger.

"He should not have taken the law in his hands," Rosa Jones, Gadson's grandmother, told reporters. Her husband echoed words that seemed to pass over the fact that an innocent person survived a frightening encounter while breaking no actual laws. Ivory Jones stated, "I don't condone what they did, (but) I definitely don't condone the news people making him out to seem like they're making a hero out of this man because he shot somebody down,"

Shot somebody down? It is one thing to criticize a homeowner who blasts an unarmed prowler, but these guys were armed and dangerous and they were going to take this man into a bathroom. Marion Carl was "shot down" in front of his wife in Oregon. These suspects were met with the same force they were using in the robbery attempt.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported at the time that the survivor of the botched robbery, Fredrick Gadson, was far from out of the woods, and would likely face multiple felony charges that could include murder. Detective Robert Rettig, a spokesman for Plantation Police, said that under Florida law, anyone who commits a felony including armed robbery that results in a death, they can actually be held accountable for the capital offense.

Rettig says the retired Marine John Lovell clearly feared for his own life. "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."

Richard Henderson of Deer Park, Texas left this comment on Topix.com; "Like Tom Clancy said. 'If you want to kick a tiger in the ass, you'd better have a plan for dealing with his teeth.' I feel for these young men's family, but you never know who you may run into if you break the law. This should give others a second thought before they try to harm others in there laziness to make 'easy money'."

Even though Americans like Henderson clearly support Lovell, the friends and family of the men who were shot want to know how he could "gun them down and not be charged."

Life is hard for families of people who die violently, every time, and there is simply no getting around that. But plenty of Americans without a doubt, support this retired Marine.

In Oregon it takes on a meaning unto itself, as it is so hard to forget what happened to the decorated war hero, Marion Carl. Perhaps some day the nation's economic picture will improve and people from impovershed communities will not feel the need to commit capitol crimes like armed robbery.

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Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. Today, in addition to his role as a war correspondent in Afghanistan where he spent the winter of 2006/07, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website, affiliated with Google News and several other major search engines and news aggregators. Tim's coverage from Iraq that was set to begin in April has been delayed and may not take place until August, 2008. You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com

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Enter ye at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13,14)

Death and killing is very serious and not to be taken lightly and a family member will always feel remorse for a loved one, regardless – so I can understand the parents and other family member's feelings, BUT this could have easily gone the other way (as they were equally armed themselves). The robbers could have just left the store with the money they had in hand but instead they made a choice and now live (or die) as a result of that choice. I don’t fault the ex-Marine for his actions. We all have a God given right to defend our lives. Finally as a parent I pray I never have to go through something like this and I know I would grieve for my child, regardless. I also pray that IF I were I faced with a similar situation, that after learning the facts I would have the strength and courage to accept that my child (and at 21 and 22 years of age - an adult) made a choice that threatened the life of another and now as an adult has to pay the price of having made that choice.

People who live in these states know the law. You use a gun; you face the chances of the victim having one too. To Dawshan: You committed a crime when you threatened this man's life. Remember that if you act on it because now you have shown premeditation. That makes it a Capital Crime.

Just Like ignorant people to think that their little babies were NOT in the wrong. Blame someone else is the story of people who lose someone to this type of incident. They shouldn't have been robbing anyone, and if you're looking for someone to blame, blame yourself for not raising your kids properly. They got what they deserved. US ARMY Soldier serving in Afghanistan.

FYI. If you come out against a Marine with intent to do harm, remember this; YOU MESS WITH ONE, YOU MESS WITH THEM ALL. Don't F*ck with a Marine unless you bring enough for the rest of us.

Semper Fi. Ding Dong, the Gang Banger is dead. Another chump of the streets.

all you racist white pieces of shit can burn in hell that was my brother and a very loving person everyone makes f*ckd up decisions in life and none of you pussies have the authority to judge anyone so fuk off and keep your comments to yourself any problems come find i have more i would like to say face to face...... and that marine is going to get his its jus time!!! LAUGH ON JUST WAIT!!!!!!!!!

Editor: Deshawn, I understand you are pissed off but don't threaten people, just make your point and represent your family without going so far, please, thanks.

Great story, except for the last time. Stupid thugs like these do nor rob because they are poor or due to the economy. If you noticed, robberies have actually declined with the bad economy. They are just criminals. Good riddance.

These two criminals should have been shot dead long ago.This was not their first violent crime

Editor: What a shitty thing to say.  He who is without sin throw the first stone, well where is it GI Joe?  You sound like a stinking bigot and I doubt you would say the same if the perps in this crime were white, right?

I hope the government is able to do 2 things: 1. Enact a nationwide right to carry law, as it stands now, my permit lets me carry in 30 states; not surprisingly, most of the most dangerous places are not on that list. 2. Target schools in high crime districts and teach stories like this, emphasizing that not only is this behavior wrong, but it will likely get you killed. Good shooting, Marine.

The article mentions the grandparents. I wonder where are the assailant's parents? Maybe that's why the POS committed the robbery, his parents are also POS! Way to go LOVELL!

DESHAWN- You should have been with them and died with your "bro" you ignorant scum!

PRAISE THE LORD FOR THE MARINE WHO SHOT THE PUNKS.

Here is one "totally ignorant liberal" who says good for Mr. Lovell! My politics might be liberal, but I served in the USAF, and sleep with a loaded .38 by my bed. For the past 23 years I have been a probation and parole officer, and I know there are scary antisocial people roaming our streets. It's unfortunate a person is dead, but as so many have pointed out, life is about choices, and these 2 men made very wrong decisions and have suffered the natural consequences.

If the tables were tuned, and someone was attempting to rob Mr. Arrindell, and Mr. Gadson (and I use the term MR. very lightly) and they inturn shot and killed their robber, these families would be rejoicing over the fact that they had servived. YOU LIVE BY THE SWORD... YOU DEI BY THE SWORD!!!! God Bless Mr. Lovell for putting and end to these two thugs rein of terror. There is know telling how many times these two thugs have gotten away with this very same thing. Now, maybe the other thug wannabe's in these families will think (if that's possible) before they do something STUPID like try and rob a Marine, or any one else with a license to carry, and knowledge to use it!!!! Just remember "Gun Control is HITTING where you aim!" THUGS and THUG wannabes beware!!!

he was right to shoot those useless criminals. I'm only sad he didn't kill them both. He needs to spend more time at the range!

Just as the Isrelits could not enter into the promised land because of their slave mentality after 40 years of being given everything so goes here. I was really please to read the comment by Toni Wyke a young black female who obviously does not have a slave mentality she has learned not to expect anything from anyone but go out and earn it for herself. the problem here is the parents continued to instill the slave mentality into their childern even after over 200 years. They are not slaves their grandparents were not slaves so stop acting like it. NO ONE OWES YOU ANYTHING! Get out and earn what you want. Stop and ask yourself why this country has so many illegal immigrants. It's because despite our faults we are the best country in the world. When those with the slave mentality (Not just the Blacks)wake up and realize that they will stop calling themselves African Americans and start calling themselves AMERICANS. No one else in America calls themselves anything other than AMERICANS. IT IS ALL ABOUT CHOICE. YOUR CHOOSE HOW YOU WNAT TO LIVE AND CHOOSE THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. THESE TWO GUYS HAD THE MENTALITY THAT EVERYONE ELSE OWED THEM SOMETHING AND TRIED TO TAKE IT. NO ONE OWED THEM A THING.

Pulling a gun on someno means that there is an intent to kill them...or you wouldnt need the damn gun in the first place.  If someone is pointing a gun ant me then Im fully justified in using similar force to neutralize the threat...THose dirtbags got what they deserved  and they weren't "gunned down"...the victim was defending himself and the lives of others....We are now in a much better place without scum like Gadsen and Ammindell walking the face of the earth....28 years of law enforcemnt dealing with scum like they are tells me that,,,

Life's about choices. We live or die based on the choices we make.

Life about choices. We iive or die based on the choices we make.

I hope that John Lovell will be able to mentally survive. I don't argue with him at all. If I am similarly attacked I hope that I will be able to physically survive. The mental is the hard part. I wish him well. Yes, my heart does go out to all the victims, their friends and families. Also, best wishes to all who read this.

MARINES!!!!!!!!!!! What is your profession???? UHH UHH UHHH.... Mess with the best DIE LIKE THE REST

i WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME. AMEN MR LOVELL!!!

Obviously it wasn't those poor innocents' fault....so their parents need to be jailed. After all, they instilled the values that were demonstrated in this incident.

I have read the story and the comments here. Let me give you my idea of the situation as an African American since this has come up from time to time... Hurray for Mr. Lovett!! I am sick and tired of law breakers. Yes people, there are those out there that will kill you just to take what you have! Even if it is just the $2.00 you may have in your pocket. I am all about law abiding citizens having the right to own weapons for not just self protection, but for self preservation. Times are getting hard and we have to have the ability to protect ourselves at ALL costs. I live in a state that is pretty much anti-gun ownership. When I get to retirement age you better bet I will be moving to a gun friendly state. Thank you Mr. Lovell for opening more eyes to the problems that unfortunately more of us are going to face due to these rougher times.

i say throw the family in jail to for being stupid in the media,if some one points a gun at me i will shoot them too.

Proof that a well armed society is a polite society.

A wise sage once said "If someone tries to kill you, you try to kill them right back!" HUA Mr. Lovell

I'm a sucker for a happy ending. A word to the families, don't raise dirtballs and you won't have to bury them 22 years later.

The shame of all this bull---- is that a great number of totally ignorant liberal people in the U.S. will side with these dregs of society. We have catered to the lowest common denominator more have BECOME the lowest common denominator.

In fear for his life? I doubt it. Convinced they were about to take his life...much more likely. I think there is likely very little he fears and punks with a death wish certainly aren't in that category. They paid their money and took their chances. They lost. Their choice. Semper Fi

I remember my old recon Sgt once told me that kids are like dogs, they behave only as well as they are taught, or trained to behave. Maybe if the parents of these young thugs had instilled better vaules and standards into their children, they would never have picked up a gun to get money. I don't buy the we was hungry tales because they didn't come to subway to steal sandwiches. This incident was tragic for both the victims as well as the criminals. I've been in the military and had to do what one has to do to survive, and I don't believe that the retired marine enjoyed for one moment what he ended up having to do to survive. I believe if he were trigger happy, they would have been shot at point blank right away and they would both have been dead right away.

The only problem with this story is calling them "suspects." They weren't apprehended away from the scene of the crime based on evidence they left behind... they were stopped in the process of committing the crime. They weren't "suspects," they were "armed robbers."

A similar situation happened in Greenville SC Tuesday, the 27th. Black guy holds up Dollar General Store, and kills white customer. Thank goodness, they did catch him

I subscribe to the activist meaning of the double-entendre bumper sticker "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." And in a world with only the outlaws packing, who's in charge? That's a frightening scenario! These pukes use guns to intimidate others; if the possibility exists that their "prey" might have an equalizer, they may be a little less anxious about the confrontation. Here in California, the laws aren't much of a deterrent. If you commit a capital crime and end up on "death" row (really a joke!), multiple appeals are automatic, and criminals have literally died of old age waiting for execution. Big deal. Mr. Lovell did society a favor by carrying out trial, conviction, and immediate punishment. If this sort of thing happened more frequently, I firmly believe the crime rate would decrease dramatically, either from the miscreants actually thinking about the possible consequences, or simple attrition. Either way, society benefits. The added bonus is that we don't have to sit through a years-long trial listening to excuses why these pukes grew up wrong. They did; they lost; good riddance.

I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because unarmed and facing two armed thugs, I am inadequate. Check this out for further information: http://www.peak.org/jmw/carry

I started trading trading forex looking to make easy money, thinking i was going get rich quick. i have mostly lost money in the market. but i am glad that i never i had the idea to walk into a subway with a gun. because if i had i would either be lock up or dead like Donicio.

Semper Fi! I can only disagree with the first sentence of the post. Mr. Lovell is no FORMER Warrior. Looks like he's still got it!

For every action, there's a reaction...remember that next time you do something stupid. This guy is a hero, he's removed to threats to society from ever doing this again...at least one of them permanently...these parents can cry all they want, but they need to realize they've raised criminals...nice job!! Go cry to someone who cares...like the other parents in your neighborhood that are raising the same threats to society. Just remember, they had a choice before they chose to break the law...and it was a costly one wasn't it?? You can see the overwhelming majority of the people posting on here don't sympathize too much on the side of the criminals.

This former marine didn't take the law into his own hands: He defended himself and others. I can't help but note that he didn't fire until they started moving them into the back room. Mr. Lovell didn;t take action when they robbed the store and him. He took action when he felt they were going to kill him. There is a good chance they were going to do just that. While it's regrettable that the bad guy dies, it's more regrettable when a good guy dies-which could have happened here. THEN what would have our poor misguided one's family said when he was arrested for capital murder? "He's misunderstood"? BS!!! Someone was most likely going to die that night-the right one did!

This story arrived just after Christmas, 2009. To verify the story, I followed the link to here. Imagine my surprise to find that this goes back to early this summer! As so many of the other posters have pointed out, while it is tragic that the young man died, HE DID SO WHILE COMMITTING A VIOLENT FELONY!! The parent(s) bear the brunt of responsibility for THEIR FAILURE to raise their child with the knowledge of what is right and wrong and what is "acceptable behavior"! THREE CHEERS for Mr. Lovell!! Thinks of the COST he saved the State of Florida from having to hunt these two thugs down and prosecute them!

This story should simply end with John Lovell receiving a Medal for bravery. If this upsets the local criminal population and their families, so be it. Marines are trained to kill the enemy. Donicio Arrindell was an enemy of all peace loving citizens of Plantation, Florida. In America our citizens still have rights. I don't suggest anybody attempt to take the 2nd Amendment away from any of us who whore a uniform to protect that right.

Editor: Semper Fi Brother.

This goes to show that the government does not give a crap about law abiding citizens. What possible reason could you want to take away someone's gun when these stories prove that they save lives in law abiding citizen's hands? Every law abiding citizen that is trained should have a concealed permit. I worked in McDonalds for minimum wage while I put myself through school, only to be robbed at gun point by a Cripp. I have 8 stiches in my head. I carried a 380 for the next year and a half. What gives thses criminals and their families the right to complain about anything? They had no issue using a gun, then be prepared to die by it.

Fredrick Gadson better pray that they don't charge him with the death of his partner for going with him to commit a crime. Someone died. They want to blame someone, blame the idiot that was with him. And I am a black female. Enough is enough. I'm ashamed they were black. Quit blaming others for your shortcomings with your kids.

I don't hate having to say this, people work to hard for their money, and will defend it just as hard. If you don't want your children killed in the streets like dogs, then raise them with some sense and not like thugs. It's the parents fault their child got killed, blame yourself, you should have raised them better and made sure they went to school for an education, but you were too busy and this is the end result. Oh well, another one bites the dust!!!!!!!

I answer to God not jah, and go Marines! woohoo!

Just got the story in my e-mail, googled and found this article. Read this article, and gave a synopsis to my wife. She said that Mr. Lovell did the right thing. Then I mentioned to her that the family was crying out racism. She looked up at me and asked, "You mean those crooks were black?" She was sincere in asking this. What does that tell me? The only racism she projected was imagining the criminals to be the same race as she is.

Sure, there is racism running rampant in this country, but, amazingly, the folks I've seen that cry it the most are actually the worst case of  racist scum that ever walked.

On another note, I have had a lot of dealings with former convicts when I was growing up. Not the best of role models, to be certain, but I was lucky. I was raised that being in prison was to be avoided, and to avoid it, the best thing to do was obey the law. Yeah, we were poor. So poor we received care packages from developing African Nations! (insert rimshot) I'm still too damn close to the poverty line due to disability, but by gum, I EARNED everything I have through hard work. I could have become a master burgler, or bank robber or any other assorted low-life illegal professions, but instead, chose to support myself by doing work that I didn't have to worry about being arrested. I even figured out how, after workplace drug testing came into play, to beat the test, and it ticked off the testers: I just didn't do drugs.

Unfortunately, too many thugs today lack the one thing that motivates my own work ethic: Taking pride in oneself.

The victim's family is overreacting. Their kid(s) pulled a gun on someone. Live by the sword, Die by the sword. Perhaps you should have raised him better.

To Deshawn How is anything anyone has said racist. I think the term redneck IS a racist remark.

to Deshawn, Nothing anyone said was racist, untill you called Lovell a redneck.

he was wrong but that old red neck shouldn't have shot my brother you all are racist pieces of crap and you all will have to answer to jah

I'm going to sleep better knowing two more worthless thugs are out of commission. I worry a lot more about the innocent butterflies I hit on the highway with my truck than I do these two scumbags.

For once, the right person(s) got shot. The family of the armed robber should all be imprisoned for extreme ignorance and neglect. They killed their kid; the Marine didn't. If they had raised him right, he'd be alive and working or in school...or maybe, in the Marines. But they were too busy with their own appetites and desires to raise that kid properly so he died on the bathroom floor of a sandwich shop after stupidly trying to screw with a senior citizen. I carry too, and would do the exact same thing...and will if ever forced to do so. God bless John Lovell and all men/woemn who sacrifice and serve their country. The rest of you can go take a long walk off a short dock. Semper Fi.

Mess with the bull and you get the horns. I feel no sympathy for these little devils. Lucky they weren't in Texas or Oklahoma we reload and keep firing if they keep moving.

Why is it that the family always cry’s fowl? As for taken the law into his own hands, what you want him to wait for the police to arrive? Your kid was forcing him into the restroom at gunpoint I don’t think he going to help him with his zipper. Your kid is a scumbag and he got what he had coming to him!!

Editor: John Wayne huh? OK you figured me out Pilgrim and thanks for the compliment! I can't consider these kinds of criminals human in the first place so yes I dehumanized them. By doing what they do, to innocent citizens, these criminals have given up their membership cards to the human race. How can you reason with criminals that do not respect and "dehumanize" others? I've been witness to so much of this kind of violence and watched countless amounts of $$$ and programs and rehabilitation and talk thrown at this problem with little or no improvement. While we as a nation will continue to do what we do to try and salvage these criminals, we should also do something that is simple for them to understand. YOU the criminal are now taking more risk to do your crimes. Granny is armed now and would like to go to the store without worrying about being a victim. Again, nationwide right to carry concealed weapon laws are a large part of the solution. John Wayne thinks we should hold the law abiding citizens to the same expectations.....You do something stupid, violent and most important something that is not legal with your gun, then you too should give up your membership card....I realize that right to carry laws are not the one simple solution to this problem but these laws might help keep more of us alive, deter these crimes while the social engineers continue their attempts to figure out why many of the machines are broken and not responding to therapy, rehabilitation and weak jail sentences....and SEMPER FI to you "Editor". Don't you enjoy a healthy, spirited back and forth chat?....Thanks....John Wayne

Editor: I live for it Pilgrim, and my name by the way is Tim King.  You take care and thanks!

EDITOR: Of course it's sad for the families and I'm sorry they lost family members. But when your family members try to prey upon decent people and get killed/crippled doing so, then justice was served. I'm also sure John Lovell most likely does not think of this incident fondly. The world will be a better place because John is alive and 1 of these criminals is not. He (John) is still alive after a violent attack from 2 armed criminals who no doubt saw a potential EASY MARK in an old man at a sandwich shop late at night, with few witnesses. This is how predators plan strategy. How much public outrage would there be had these 2 been able to do whatever they had in mind for John Lovell??? How much outrage would these 2 criminal's families feel for an old man that could have been robbed, assaulted, raped, murdered by their children?? John would have become another "statistic". The issue at hand is the right for us citizens to be able to defend ourselves against violent crime with a weapon that makes the playing field a little more even. I'm not advocating random purposeless violence in the streets but even the most hardened criminal knowing that the person they are about to violate might have a Colt on them will hesitate in performing the crime. That thought alone will prevent many crimes from even getting started. An old saying comes to mind, "Nobody Ever Raped A 38". When legal concealed carry laws are in place nation-wide you will see the crime rates go down…......Deterrent, cause and effect..............

Editor: I know, that's all cool, there is clearly right and wrong and there is no doubt about it.  FYI I was a Marine, I am very very pro-Marine but I am pro human also.  It is one thing to say it, but you really dehumanized the situation in the earlier post and that is my point.  I know you're pissed off and you have a right to be and nobody should hesitate in saying that John Lovell is an awesome and amazing man; a Marine's Marine.  So John Wayne, I get your point OK?  Just follow mine a little if  you can and then we all grow from this but we don't fertilize the negativity as much.  Thanks for your comments.   

Maybe some additional good will come from this in the form of a decrease in crime in the area. Cause and effect sometimes works. Years back the violent and armed crime rate in Richmond, Va. was getting out of control. The mayor at the time came up with a brilliant tactic. The DA's and law enforcement were ordered to prosecute these violent crimes under Federal Law instead of local or state laws. The Federal Laws had more teeth with mandatory sentencing, longer jail terms for these poor misunderstood, go nite-nite hungry scum bags. The crime rate in Richmond went to almost nothing. The ACLU freaked out (predictably). Cause and effect. Nothing will totally eliminate crime, but at least one of these two "model citizens" is worm food and the other one hopefully ruined. It's like turning on the kitchen lights at night, seeing a Roach and killing it. You didn't get rid of ALL of the Roaches but the one you squashed will no longer be a problem. This story is mostly good news, 1 low life dead, 1 low life put out of commission and A REAL citizen in the form of a retired Marine is still in good health and living among us. That is all the good news. The BAD news is that we are paying for Fredrick Gadson's medical care and disability with our tax dollars. Anyway, SEMPER FI John Lovell and thank you. Two less Roaches to worry about....

Editor: I don't know John Lovell but I have a feeling that he would not be flattered by this.  People are screwed up, that is a fact, but this is a sad ending for families whether the suspect deserved it or not.  

You pull a gun and you get what you get!

Anonymous, So you had to go to bed hungry? Who cares! If I could go back in time and give your mother some birth control, believe me I would. Someone needs to stop all these ignorant people that reproduce at will.

These were not kids doing this crime, they were adults. They made their decision and they deserved to die. My permit should be here in a week, so better rob me before then!

There are two naccuracies in the story. First, the Marine did not brandish his firearm. Brandishing is waving a firearm without firing. The Marine used his firearm with good effect. Second, the Marine's weapon was a .45 Automatic, not a 9mm.

Editor: As a former Marine, I apologize for any inaccuracy.  Thanks for this information.

Horrah, the good guy won this one. If you are a thug and want to prey on the innocent, be prepared to die like the scum you are. No excuses accepted. Hungry, no money, poor living conditions, BOO HOO!!

Reminds me of Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino. Good job!

Donicio And Fred were my two best friends since 9th grade in highschool.. We got involved in the wrong group of people... none of our parents were rich, Donicio's problem was that he always underestimated people and was hotheaded.. me and him stopped talking 8 months before this incident... always think what life would have been like if i could have talked him out of it.. and poor Fred charged with his murder according to a Florida statute! Imagine what losing your best friend to a Marine.. and than getting Charged with his murder because of some outdated law... Now thats an Injustice!

"I GREW UP WITH BOTH FRED AND DONICIO, WE WERE ONLY TRYING TO MAKE IT IN LIFE NOT LOOK FOR THE EASY WAY IN LIFE.. I LOOK AT ALL THESE COMMENTS AND I SEE THAT THEY CAME FROM PEOPLE WHO NEVER HAD TO GO TO SLEEP HUNGRY OR WORRY ABOUT HAVING A ROOF OVER THERE HEADS!! NOW I WILL NEVER SAY THAT THEY WERE RIGHT, BUT REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AMERICA A CONTRY THAT WAS BUILT STEALING, MURDER, AND LIES SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO DO WHAT U GOT TO DO. IM SURE EVERY LAST ONE OF U HAS STOLEN SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE" I cant believe that you tried to give em that lame ass defense for justification, I came up from a poor family, Im as broke as the next guy I have been to iraq I have been shot at,nearly blown to pieces but i dont go around holding people up looking for a quick buck! as for sleeping hungry I assure you that you MASTER that art in the military while in the freezing cold! so DONT for a damned second start assuming that u have it worser than anyone! For every one of your gripes IM sure that I have 6 more to match!

I guess this is a wake up call for all the people out there that think they can make a quick buck by robbing innocent citizens. You've been put on notice......"WE'RE MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!" If any of ya'll try to steal from my family or friends I hope you have said your goodbyes because the next time anyone sees you it will be in a body bag!!

The humans that respond to a story like this have one thing in commmon,they believe in justice,but it begs the answer.What truly is the definition of JUSTICE,

Anytime a human life is lost it is regrettable but there is always consequences for our actions which we have to accept. These men made a decision to threaten the life of this man and he did what was his God given right, defend him self! Where I live there is a high percentage of people that legally carry a weapon, and we don't have hardly any violent crime.

I GREW UP WITH BOTH FRED AND DONICIO, WE WERE ONLY TRYING TO MAKE IT IN LIFE NOT LOOK FOR THE EASY WAY IN LIFE.. I LOOK AT ALL THESE COMMENTS AND I SEE THAT THEY CAME FROM PEOPLE WHO NEVER HAD TO GO TO SLEEP HUNGRY OR WORRY ABOUT HAVING A ROOF OVER THERE HEADS!! NOW I WILL NEVER SAY THAT THEY WERE RIGHT, BUT REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AMERICA A CONTRY THAT WAS BUILT STEALING, MURDER, AND LIES SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO DO WHAT U GOT TO DO. IM SURE EVERY LAST ONE OF U HAS STOLEN SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE

This well exemplifies why we cannot let the Government take away our gun rights. Be aware that Big Brother keeps working to do such n6g75

The trash are the bastards on Capitol Hill. Those bastards make the laws, but they don't have to live among the s&%t. They have guarded mansions. Guns upside the foreheads of the people who make us endure this shit will put a stop to it. But it's time to let these bastards know we won't support your bogus call to war against Iran. I want to see Israel go to war and get their asses kicked.

I think every citizen should be able to carry a concealed weapon. If criminals knew they nearly everyone carried, they would be less inclined to steal and more inclined to get a freaking job.

Anyone that commits a crime with a weapon specifically a gun should be intelligent enough to realize you're willing to put you life on the line, obviously these thugs didn't grasp that. I'm sure they have a long criminal history and personally I don't care about them or their family.

I teach concealed carry law to citizens in Colorado who are exercising their 2nd Amendment rights. As a police officer with over 35 years experience, I can tell you that Mr. Lovell is, indeed, a hero. He is the epitome of everyday, hard working, American citizens, who are in the majority. Criminals beware! The armed citizen will be your Waterloo! I assure you the police will arrive after the fact, not before, and seldom during. Defend yourselves, ladies and gentlemen. It is the very last thing a criminal expects. And, I might add, criminals know no racial bounds or limitations. The statistics mentioned earlier clearly tell us whom we might be victimized by, but don't be led astray. Criminals will always exist. They like what they do, and their ethnicity is not the problem. It's their lack of character.

If you try to rob a man/woman or commit a felonious crime against someone, you deserve to be shot and the shooter should be applauded for his vigilance and not held responsible for the criminals demise. They deserved what the got. However I do feel for the families loss, but if their child had been raised with better convictions in the first place, the child would not have been committing felonies.

Mr. Lovell should receive an award, who knows how many people he saved from becoming future victims of these criminals.

To the Editor: Why wasn't it about race? Evedently you need to review the FBI crime stats. Let me guess Affirmative Action Editor?

What a beautiful story!! There is justice! These two no good thugs got what they deserved, and their families set the example for them. What wonderful parents!!

Taking a life with a gun is a serious thing. Not to be taken lightly. You thugs out there are playing russian roulette when you rob people at gunpoint. There are many more future heros out there armed and ready to help you loose. Mr. Lovell is a hero in my book!

In Oregon it takes on a meaning unto itself, as it is so hard to forget what happened to the decorated war hero, Marion Carl. Perhaps some day the nation's economic picture will improve and people from impovershed communities will not feel the need to commit capitol crimes like armed robbery. Tim, I just happened to see this story and can't help but respond. I don't buy into the idea that coming from an "impoverished community" justifies criminal behavior. Lot's of us came from poor families and we were taught that hard work and perseverence were the keys to moving beyond that. I know in Marine Corps boot camp they explained validity of excuses like that to you.

I get so sick and tired of people defending thier little babies. Did the parents know where their kids were and what they were doing. How many other Subways or Arby's these kids have robbed and how many other customers have they taken to the bathroom and robbed and possibly beaten. What kind of parents are they. Maybe they should also be arrested, After all, they are the ones who raised them to be who they were.

I love a happy ending.

OOHRAH!! SEMPER FI, DO OR DIE!!! Thank heaven for MARINES!! My husband and I would have done the same thing, and not think twice about it. Break the law=suffer the consequences!

maybe blacks should take responsability for their actions instead of play the race card when they don't get their way.they should not complain when they pay consequences for cimmitting a crime.good shooting marine!you are a hero!as for the family of the criminals it is you to blame for the behavior of the dead robber!it was your job to raise him properly you failed!

Editor to bxn:  How exactly did the family play the race card?  Your own ignorance bears out very clear here.  The family did not make it a matter of race, you did.   Why don't you make your suggestions to all people?  Did you forget that white people commit more crimes on a daily basis than black people?  What the hell should we do about "those whites" anyway?  How does that feel?  Quit making things racial that aren't.  The family of the suspect who died is sad; it is tragic.  It has not a damned thing to do with the color of anyone's skin, get it figured out!

DONT DO THE CRIME IF YA DONT LIKE A BULLET ! WHO'S NEXT LOL

This story had a good ending. This man is a HERO who saved lives and took out the trash at the sametime

This won't be the last we hear of Fredrick Gadson.....get some practice, John Lovell, you let one get away to try again next time..........

Something tells me that photograph of the dead one, wasn't taken at the last family Christmas gathering. I seriously doubt the family is overly shocked at what's happened.

Riiiight, the marine is just sooo wrong. Uh, these 2 "Wondeful Yoots" barged in the store with A GUN, And ATTEMPTED TO ROB THE PLACE:But b/c a quick witted citizen did the right f'ng thing THEY ARE NOW DEAD, AND THE STORE IS SAFE.Wake the hell up America: Violent,predatory Cancers like this do this everyday!Now, someone explain to me WHY the hell not we defend ourselves from them? What, were these two just really nice guys? B*llshit.They were predatory criminals who would have killed for the money, and at the least, they were terrorizing these people at the shop.... I have NO f"ng Pity.I'd have done the same. You try to rob me, I F"NG KILL YOU.Their grandmother is a F"NG idiot: Where were their fathers?(yeah,right.) Yeah, such good kids,my ASS. They did not DESERVE TO DIE? Lady, look at these comments-----It seems to me that we are ALL FED UP W/VIOLENT PREDATORY APES LIKE THESE:And now some of us are fighting back.Good. woo haa!

Over 600,000 Americans were murdered between 1975-2005 as per government sourced data. Approximately 35+% of these murders remain unsolved. Blacks account for over 56% of murder convictions. When you factor in the unsolved murder rate (and suspect descriptions) with the conviction rate, blacks account for 68% (+/- 3%) of all murders between 1975-2005. In 2005 blacks were reported (reports are always lower than reality) in 37,000 rapes of white females. Black females reported rapes by white males at less than 100 during the same time period. Blacks account for 13% of the U.S. population. All this data is government sourced as compiled by law enforcement agencies across the country. This above (article) event happens many times on a daily level and it's getting worse. It really does not matter if one wants to label this as racist or not, it is what it is, and people should take steps from becoming a victim. The recent decision that overturned the ban on people being allowed to keep handguns in their homes in D.C. and elsewhere by a majority of our Supreme Court was simply an interpretation of the Founders intent for the 2nd Amendment and just common sense as per countless years of government based statistics (please read the majority's opinion for an excellent legal interpretation for their reasoning. It is written so lay people can understand and it totally usurps the opinions of many journalistic pundits). I hope that law abiding citizens take steps to protect themselves and realize how #4 activists judges nearly destroyed a significant part of our Bill of Rights. I would imagine that in the Fall, this will be a significant election issue, which it should be. Facts should never be withheld from the citizens, especially if it impacts their safety.

Hi John! I'm glad that you were safe!! Thank heavens for weapons to protect ourselves!

Where ways this grandmammy at when her "Good boy" ways running around with a gun? ALl I can say is "He's a really good boy now." :)

John, You did the right thing. SEMPER FI

These animals knew the risk and took it. Fortunately they lost. Two less thugs in the world!

We have waited for judges and prosecutors to handle this for us for decades. They have allowed people like this guy (and his grandmother) to run rampant over the rest of us for too long. Would she be weeping if her grandson had shot Mr. Lovell in the bathroom? No, it would have been because of his "disadvantaged youth" in a courtroom. Now his youth is really disadvantaged. We are finally returning to a country where things are your own fault. These boys ran into traffic and got hit. Grandmothers used to tell their children that would happen, to help them avoid it.

Not about race? FBI stats on race and crime disagree with your naive assessment Tim.

Tim King: What are you saying Brian?  I took it as a matter of being illegal, not a certain race.  So I guess all white people are bac because some commit crimes?  I guess I am naive, I thought it was just bad choices.  Some black people make good ones, some make bad ones.  Only racists see it in other terms, and their lowered levels of intelligence render them unable to know any better.  Perhaps none of it is anyone's fault?

Hopefully, thanks to Mr. Lovell, young thugs everywhere might be considering career changes. Thank you to the U.S. Marines for their fine training. And thank you Mr. Lovell.

Hooo-ahhhh. Nice shooting, Marine. Your going to have to clean the weapon whether you shoot 3 bullets, or 9. Don't be so stingy next time!

Where did I mention the perps race?

Dude, the word "monkeys" is only going to be taken one way.  I am glad for this Marine being able to survive the incident, but that is going to sit wrong with people man.   If you somehow didn't mean that to be racist, then... good.

Editor: This STUPID racist comment will not be approved.  Remember this is not about race; and all racists have significantly lower IQ's than non-racists.  You are not welcome here.

Tim King

Well done Mr. Lovell. Young White americans need examples like this. Well done to the reporter for not taking the side of the criminals. Americans need to stand up to thieving scum like Mr.Lovell did.

Thank god. Another criminal goes to hell. Maybe his loving fambly should have did something about his career criminal behavior. I'm glad he is dead. The marine deserves a million dollar reward.

If you try to rob a store at gunpoint, and then you happen to get shot and killed in the process - well, I'm sorry, but I guess life just isn't fair sometimes, is it?

good for you, john lovell. i salute you and your service(s) to our country. semper fi

Way to go! This is what needs to be done to scum like this.

He had every right to judge them when they had a gun in his presence and committing a crime with it. I hope more people have guns and more criminals get to experience their usage against them. I think more experiences like this and you'll see either less crime or criminals, either way a good thing.

SEMPER FI

John was just "Takin' out the trash." Good going man...

Oh my God! Talk about STUPID mentality! To the dead mans family members: I too, have a concealed weapons permit. You point a gun at me...I WILL KILL YOU!

God bless that man, better these scum than some poor innocent folks.

Not sure what the victim's family is thinking. This guy has hero written all over him!

good job John Lovell, two less dangerous thieves to worry about.

Hooray for Lovell!!

Symptomatic of our society today, the family of the perpetrator wants to blame the intended victim for not just handing over his money, property, or life.

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