Two armed criminals walked into a gun store in Mableton, Georgia, on Monday Dec. 26 with the intention of robbing it. They would fail in their attempt — and only one would leave the store alive.
You can watch the event unfold in the video above. Warning! It may be too graphic for some viewers.
Jimmy Groover, the owner of Dixie Gun and Pawn, said he had not choice but to return fire at the would-be robbers who were making their move during daytime hours.
“Get down on the floor, get down on the floor or I’ll kill you,” said the 64-year-old, recalling the incident in an interview with 11Alive. “Then they shot at me.”
Groover grabbed his own firearm and immediately shot back, hitting one of the suspects and killing him. The other suspect fled the scene and is still on the loose.
“I had no other choice. I had no other choice. I hate that it happened,” he said. “I’ve been doing this 30 years. Nothing like this has ever happened. I never wanted this to happen but I want to go home at night, too.”
Groover’s store has been targeted by burglars around 20 times, presumably, most of those were perpetrated at night when the business was closed. Hence Groover’s decision to up security by adding security cameras, bars on the windows and multiple safes to store the firearms in during off hours.
But the two suspects struck in broad daylight, when the store was open for business, when the firearms were not locked up in the safes.
“They tell you they’re going to kill you. That’s what they told the man,” said one of Groover’s friends, who was at the scene. “Come in with two guns, tell you they’re going to kill you. He’s got grandbabies and family. You got to have some compassion. I’ve known this man all my life.”
Following the shooting, Groover lamented the situation.
“I hate it. I really do,” he repeated. “I hate it. I hate it bad.”
Meanwhile, authorities said that Groover is unlikely to face charges as he acted in self-defense. They are also asking the public to assist in finding the other suspect.
But but but… This is good kid, everbudy like him, was going to start college this year. How else he get money to buy books and school close. You all are rasict. Store man should get elestirc chere.
Know your weapon and shoot center mass until the threat is neutralized. I meet a man several years ago returned to his Jewelry shop to find his wife on her knees with a gun to her head. He picked up his double Barreled 12 gauge and yell put the gun down. The guy swung around and they fired at the same time. He was hit in the face and the perp received two loads of 00 buckshot in the left side of his chest from about 15 feet. The guy was loaded on PCP and didn’t even feel it but he did turn around and ran out of the store and ran almost a mile down the street before bleeding out as he was passing a police cruiser responding to the alarm. Moral is shoot with what you are good with, aim center mass and if you have only 2 shots don’t shoot both at the same time.
Tom they don’t even have a clue. All the stupid what if scenarios and planning in the world will never prep you for the feeling you have as you have to pull the trigger . You only learn that the hard way. All training is pretty much useless because of that simple fact.
All you can do is be aware of your surroundings and get comfortable using your gun. The rest of the planning, the what if scenarios, the tactical stuff is all horseshit.
My shooting was in 1986, one shot from a 1911 ended the threat forever. No I didn’t have the fantasy of double taps and all that stupid shit. Just solid awareness of my surroundings and rock solid habits handling my gun.
Ha! Now that’s gun control……awesome ability to hit his target and ELIMINATE the threat!!
What type of firearm and caliber did the store owner use?
Play stupid games win stupid prizes.
SMH
: o \
I heard Emily Tisch Sussman of the Center for American Egress (-P. T. Barnum) say that “A Good Guy with a Gun” is a myth because there were — and as Dave Barry says, “I am NOT making this up” —- “all kinds of guns at Ft. Hood.”
The fact that the 13 dead and 33 wounded were UNarmed with their weapons locked up in an armory makes no difference to these FANATICS.
You have to be felony stupid to think you can walk in, wearing masks and rob a gun store where everyone there is armed.
I know, right? Who would be stupid enough to rob an open gun store? I mean, you know they’re armed, lol!
I heard a story years ago about a guy trying to rob a gun store that was also the local Police Dept. supplier. Between the owner, employees and all the Police in the store the guy was shot over 20 times. Could be “Urban Legend”, but a good story all the same.
Three Cheers for the GoodGuy.
In today’s sick society, thanks to 8 yrs of Obama crime has increased. We need to combat this like the old Soldier of Fortune motto said Kill Them All Let God Sort em Out
Actually, crime is down, and it had nothing at all to do with Obama. People’s perception of how much crime exists is up, though, possibly because that’s the only thing we see on the news. Crime has been steadily dropping for decades – with slight bumps here and there – but the overall trend is downward.
I agree. Probably has more to do with the spread of people arming themselves and realizing they’re defense begins with themselves. Also the spread of personal carry laws and the spread of open carry too.
Very disturbing to me.that he is “unlikely to face charges”
How in the Sam Hill could he ever face charges??? Oh wait , I know.
I fell badly for the owner forced to defend himself and employees as his life has changed forever.
I’ve been in his store and almost bought my first gun from him (couldn’t because my drivers license still had my old address on it). Well done sir! I’ll be back in your store soon, and my drivers lisence has been updated!
Good old 1911 cocked & locked and hits like a Mack Truck . Gun control is using both hands. Nice shooting under distress
Hmm, the other employee failed to engage the second thug. Too bad. Lacked situational awareness and no plan. Would like to know what ammo the first class citizen used to take down the perp so fast in all that heavy clothing. Looked like a 9mm or 40. Maybe the new ARX rounds, perhaps? Appears to be black thugs – what else is new?
We need a national law about citizen rewards for eliminating those in the bad gene pool. Maybe $100k per thug. Payable within 30 days. Tax free. Remember the gold stars for families in WWII who lost family? Same idea.
If I owned a gun store or pawn shop, I would install 3/4″ lexan for the front windows for a solid backstop to keep rounds from going out to the street.
1911 knockdown power … nuff said.
I’ve told my kids growing up, if they ever do things like this they deserve to die and I would not hold it against the person who defended themselves. A rabid animal needs to be put down and those men are no better than one.
OUTSTANDING shots; getcha a sixer of Heinekens for that one. : )
Awesome seeing the robber hit the floor dead as a doornail……and the (undoubtedly stolen) two guns he had hit the floor too : )
Out-fuckin’ standing : )
As you can see from the shooters responses in the article, killing anyone under any circumstances is never easy or cause for celebration. Of course it was a positive outcome for the store owner, but cause for a party–never.
Where was the “graphic” part? We have become such a nation of weenies that we are going to cringe at the sight of a person falling down?!
Oh dearie me oh dearie me!
The store folks can sleep well at night. What they sell in their store must not be allowed to fall into the hands of crooks. If they were in a grocery store stealing twinkies and no one was being hurt, then maybe another story. Good shooting.
Almost perfection, if the other had been eliminated it would have been perfect. The other one will not change, it will probably blame the death of his accomplice on everything and anything but the truth, and become even more evil. Perhaps with his lame ass excuses for failure, he will strike again and meet his demise in a likewise manner. Bravo store owner bravo job well done.
Nobody should have any regrets about eliminating violent criminals from society in a permanent way. Sort of like stomping on cockroaches. The thugs made their choice, and one paid. The only regrets the store owner should have is that one got away!
TOO GRAPHIC??? HE’LL, PLAY IT SLO-MO WITH SOUND!!! HEARTWARMING STORY WITH A HAPPY ENDING!!! GOT NEWS FOR YOU, THAT DEAD SCUMBAG HAD 2 GUNS, THEY WEREN’T GONNA LEAVE ANY WITNESSES!!! TOO BAD THE OTHER ONE GOT AWAY TO LIVE TO KILL SOMEONE ELSE ANOTHER TIME!!!!! YOU KNOW HE AIN’T GONNA QUIT THE “BUSINESS”!!
Agreed, anyone walking in and wielding 2 guns is trying to be a badass, and deserves NO consideration at all.
Soft Americans just don’t understand, there are some people in this world who are just plain evil, and need killing.
The idiot perp was trying to dual wield. Morons. Glad the owner and his partner is ok. Liked how the partner was keeping an eye on the friend to see what was going on. He kept aware as well
Why are there always paragraphs of justification needed when someone protects himself and his property from gun welding nut heads. No justification is needed here at all when removing a very bad guy from the gene pool and saving tax payers the additional cost of trials, prison time and additional victims when the guy gets out of prison.
Play stupid games……win stupid prizes.
Its a sad situation, but thankfully this didn’t go sideways for Groover and his employee(s).
SAD????? Oh, I SEE, got to buy a new counter glass!!!
Your comment made my day well stated. Thank you
Completely rehabilitated this thug in a few seconds with a minimal cost to the taxpayers.
Shoot them all.
The business owner has no need of cardiovascular stress test, he just passed one perfectly. The two felons learned that crime does not pay. Well at least one got the message.
A GREAT START…..
I’m very glad Mr. Groover got to go home that night. The perp. got exactly what he had coming to him. The law needs to change allowing an owner in this situation to keep firing as long as a perp doesn’t properly give up. Like lay on the floor after dropping the gun and not a twitch! So, if they turn their backs on you, you can’t shoot at them? They can always kill you firing with their back turned. A short barreled shot gun can still hit you firing on the run.
I admire Grover’s composure, he acted to the threat of being a victim. He was on target, then tracked the other DUMB ASS with his weapon. He had the presents of mind not to shoot him in the back. The same thing happened here in Indiana to a local gun shop owner, it didn’t go well for him. He was alone, and died from the attack. I feel for Grover, but what could he do. He is still alive!
The owner should get a medal for protecting his community!
He should get that medal for also saving tax paying citizens money for dispatching that scumbag instead of having to provide room and board at the local prison.
Every gun and pawn store employee I’ve ever met on the job is armed. So are most of the customers who come in. Nobody ever said bad guys have a monopoly on brains…
Practice makes perfect thank gawd grover didn’t get to kill the 2nd bg who was running away …..threat had left so bad plan shooting it but BZ on the 1st bg that stopped the threàt …BOOM drop the mike
Again, in English, please.
Dawg, I bet you’re a cop. All my cop friends talk and text exactly like you. Haha. I not badgering you just pointing out an observance. Plus, you pointed out that the other perp got away “safely”. Personally I think the shop owner should have double tapped and then dropped the other guy.
and then after he dropped the guy running away the owner could have gone to jail. but damn he woulda dropped the other one.
All the best to the owner and good riddance to the robber. It all turned out perfectly. Scary though. Typically, it is a bad idea to draw on a drawn gun, especially one already pointed at you. The owner noticed the momentary distraction on the part of the now deceased robber, drew and put rounds on target. In a way he was lucky because one of the first few rounds probably found the cranium and dropped the vermin cold. The problem with handguns is that putting a few rounds in the chest will usually kill the assailant (pretty soon), but often not soon enough. A person shot in the heart as a good 15~30 seconds of conscious ability to act; 15 to 30 seconds is an eternity to be taking fire.
Here in the people’s Republic of California, most cities forbid you from carrying and defending yourself — most counties do not issue CCW permits except to the politically connected. The lack of a CCW permit of course is zero impediment to criminals intending too commit gun crimes. Stupid politicians are getting Californians killed without a fighting chance everyday. Sad.
This just happened in Vallejo, CA to a pawn shop owner and the owner died due to the fact he was not armed, they even killed his dog and wounded an employee who is disabled and in a wheelchair!!!!
WRONG!! STUPID CALIFORNIANS are LETTING SCUMBAG POLITICIANS GET THEM KILLED WHILE ALL THE POLITICIANS ARE EITHER ARMED THEMSELVES, (aLa FEINSTEIN), OR HAVE BODYGUARDS!!!!!! CALIFORNIANS REVOLT, THE NEXT THING THEY HAVE SLATED FOR YOU IS SECESSION!!!
Right on Mike it’s the people allowing it, or adhering to the so called rules and regulations. Nobody or anything can or should make you do anything that is against the will of God or the Constitution.
I love a happy ending.
Anyone criticizing this man or anyone else who has been involved in such a situation, but has not been in this same situation themselves, needs to stfu because they essentially know NOTHING.
You got that right. I had to kill someone in self defense, and it is nothing like what the clowns on this board think they know.
I just laugh at all the stupid as shit “what if scenarios” and how they setup their gear. “I put my knife on my weak side, and I have an ankle gun and blah blah blah blah:”.
Dudes I can promise you this. IF IF IF any of you idiots actually get in a self defense shooting all your “tactical hot air” is going out the window. LOL
And god all the articles by this Sammy reese guy, I seriously doubt this dude has ever shot anybody in self defense.
I could go on and on about the “tactical” guys but they are all hot air also.
Yes, it’s tragic when a life must be taken in self defense. But really, how much sympathy can you have for someone who gets killed trying to rob a gun store during daylight? I would bet this is one of the guys running stolen guns to NY. So much the better, if so. Ever notice that the benefits packages for robbers have very poor health coverage and life insurance options??? That’s because it’s DANGEROUS!!!! And the NY Post wants to make out like the shop owner is the bad guy here?!?!?! Does them a favor and what thanks does he get??? Typical liberal mindset.
AMERICANISM!!!! NOT Globalism!!!
Thuggies are stupid. BG has one handgun pointed at Staff. When Staff don’t comply and start to clear leather: BG focuses on drawing his second handgun instead of using the one in hand: poor choice for him, great results for everybody else.
GROOVER NEEDS TO SPEND A WEEK AT THE RANGE—HE ONLY GOT ONE OF THEM
Sorry, Doc, but your wrong. He was absolutely, perfect. He ended the threat, and gets to go home to his family.
I’m guessing,
50% of CCW holders (not talking gun shop owners, operators, those with combat experience) would have completely froze up, maybe wet, or soil themselves, until the armed robber smacked them up the side of the head with the butt of their Glock, then they would start to cry, plead, and grovel for their life.
30% would have cooperated with the robber, after thinking of their wife and kids, and making a decision that they don’t want to become a dead hero.
Of the 20% of those with the presence of mind left to draw and fire their sidearm, only about 5% would have been able to put rounds on target, r/t the adrenaline surge which effects reaction time, muscle over-reaction, tunnel vision, and a plethora of other body functions/reactions (My guess of %’s is based on the way the playground works when folks are confronted with a bully. Peoples’ modus operandi stays pretty constant throughout life). This guy was perfect.
Want to train for the adrenaline rush? Try running 3-5 miles, do 10 pull-ups, 50 sit-ups, 30 push-ups, then while your hearts still pounding, your muscles are fatigued, and your chest is heaving, try to hit a moving target, like the guy running out the door. …And if you did hit the guy running away in the back, you may face legal, civil charges, or both (not fair, just the way the world works).
P.S. There are real life, steely nerved, SOB’s out there like Hollywood’s depiction of, The Outlaw Josey Wales. FBI agent (Oklahoma City Detc.), Jelly Bryce was such a man. They are the 1%. The rest of us just have to fight through the fear, and maybe throw away a pair of underwear once, and a while.
Where do you come up with this shit? Do you actually sit there and think of stupid shit to post?
…thanks Ron, you said it for me!!
LOL!
Yeah Ron, I actually do. I get tired of these easy chair cowboys talking about the brave deeds they would perform, or what someone else should have done. As if killing another human being was like taking out the trash.
My post was to inform that:
1. Combat shooting is not like shooting at the range
2. The reactions of the human Central Nervous System (CNS) in times of stress can alter physical/mental function
3. That shooting an attacker in the back can have severe unforeseen consequence to the shooter
4. That there are a few individuals who do not seem to suffer from physical/mental altercations brought on by the CNS in times of high stress, but that you are probably not one of them.
Perhaps you can point out the stupidity in wanting to inform others so they are prepared if the time comes, and need arises?
Here’s a place where you can, “come up with this shit.” (called facts):
Scroll down to: “Fear Control”
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/psychological-preparedness-for-combat-survival/
Ron & Steve,
The fact that you had never heard of these physiological change that occur in the human body during combat stress, and thought I was making up B.S. tells me several things about you.
1. You have never been in combat, or under live fire.
2. You have never taken a combat handgun or combat rifle/carbine class, where this material is common curriculum.
3. That you are just the Stone Cold PS2 Killers that need to hear this message, and go and take further training ($ well spent).
Unfortunately, the other one might return – with more homies next time….
…pity the fool!