Customer opens fire on armed robbers
Attempted robbery at Internet cafe in Florida thwarted when patron began shooting his own gun, wounding the suspects
The 71-year-old Florida man who fired his gun at two men trying to rob a crowded Internet café will not face criminal charges, an assistant state attorney general told FoxNews.com
Bill Gladson, the attorney, said he reviewed the security video from the Palms Internet café in central Florida.
The video shows patron Samuel Williams pulling a handgun and shooting. He continues firing while the suspects fall over each other as they run out the door.
Gladson said in the memo Williams' use of force was lawful under Florida's statutes regarding individuals rights to use deadly force when resisting a forcible felony, like a robbery.
The Ocala Star-Banner reports one robber pointed a gun at customers while the other swung a baseball bat.
Williams said in a post-incident interview, that he and his wife were at the cafe to play "sweepstakes," Gladson's memo said. He heard the commotion and, when given an opportunity, fired his weapon to protect his wife and other patrons, the memo stated.
Duwayne Henderson and Davis Dawkins, both 19, were later arrested and face attempted armed robbery with a firearm and criminal mischief charges. They were transported to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Dawkins had a superficial wound in his left arm, but Henderson was shot in two places: his left buttock and his right hip.
Both posted bail and were released.
Williams has a concealed weapons permit. Bill Gladson of the Marion County state attorney's office says the shooting appears justified.
Neither of the men have a criminal record, authorities said
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