Harlem Store Owner Shoots 4 Robbers, Killing 2 (1)
They strode into the restaurant supply store in Harlem shortly after 3 p.m. on Thursday, four young men intent on robbery, one with a Glock 9-millimeter pistol, the police said. The place may have looked like an easy mark, a high-cash business with an owner in his 70s, known as a gentle, soft-spoken man.
But Charles Augusto Jr., the 72-year-old proprietor of the Kaplan Brothers Blue Flame Corporation, at 523 West 125th Street, near Amsterdam Avenue, had been robbed several times before, despite the fact that his shop is around the corner from the 26th Precinct station house on West 126th Street.
There were no customers in the store, only Mr. Augusto and two employees, a man and a woman. The police said the invaders announced a holdup, approached the two employees and tried to place plastic handcuffs on them. The male employee, a 35-year-old known in the community as J. B., struggled with the gunman, who then hit him on the head with the pistol.
Watching it happen, Mr. Augusto, whom neighborhood friends call Gus, rose from a chair 20 to 30 feet away and took out a loaded Winchester 12-gauge pump-action shotgun with a pistol-grip handle. The police said he bought it after a robbery 30 years ago.
Mr. Augusto, who has never been in trouble with the law, fired three blasts in rapid succession, the police said, although Vernon McKenzie, working at an Internet company next door, heard only two booms, loud enough to send him rushing to a window, where he heard someone shout: “You’re dead! You’re dead!”
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Updates:
2:08 pm EDT, August 14th, 2009 — Store owner, 72, hailed a hero
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Male, retired and the rest is of little interest to anyone. The site keeps me busy and if it helps others to stay abreast of daily events then my time is well spent.
MaryT Says:
It appears that all 4 would be robbers had criminal records. Why weren’t they in jail.
Posted on August 14th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
hynd Says:
Why do you think?
Posted on August 14th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Cynapse Says:
Because they served their time?
Anyway, the dynamic of this could get ugly. But on its face, the situation seems to be a case of robbers choosing the wrong store. So be it.
Posted on August 14th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Pat Says:
A tough time for the friends and family of the dead. It’s the nature of deadly threats and actions, they’re deadly. That having been said, I’ll just bet the robberies drop off for a while in that ‘hood.
Posted on August 14th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Mr.g Says:
Make no mistake about it,there is no firearm money can (legally) buy that is more powerful and more of a fight stopper at short range than a 12 gauge shotgun.
Posted on August 14th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
mike Says:
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
mid island mike
Posted on August 14th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Bruce Says:
“Make no mistake about it,there is no firearm money can (legally) buy that is more powerful and more of a fight stopper at short range than a 12 gauge shotgun.”
When I was stationed in Calgary, for a couple of years we staged regular raids on the clubhouses of outlaw bikers…they were causing us real problems. My weapon of choice was a fold-down-stock 12 guage, loaded with “00″ buckshot….when those jerks heard that tell-tale “snick-snick” of a round being chambered, they tended to immediately stop whatever it was they were doing…really immediately. Not very many sounds that draw more attention…
Posted on August 14th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Mac Says:
I know that sound well, Bruce. I brought the shotgun with me on every shift on patrol.
The folding stock on the Remington Wingmaster has no recoil pad so it wasn’t fun to fire. I still remember our firearms instructor telling us how 00 Buck had 8 pellets and each was almost as large as a bullet. Those who get nervous at the sound of a round being pumped into the chamber are right to do so…
Posted on August 14th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Pat Says:
Ah yes Grass Hopper, now you learn Ching chang style of sefl-defence. Place feet approximately hip width apart, on 45 degrees to point of interest, lower abdomen, invigorate the hairline and draw strength through your hips.
Place left hand forward, grasp forestock, pull action to the rear and then forward as you shoulder the piece. The sound will be ching-chang and all will be well in the kingdon.
Folding stocks don’t cut it and #5-6 is a great load. No over penetration and lots of nasty little balls flying around. If you need penetration, use a slug. Not that I ever have an opinion.
’97 Winchesters Rule
Posted on August 15th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Capt. Craig Says:
Slug up the pipe followed by 00 buck, slug, buck, slug, buck! Magnum of course. No ching chang, just the low click of the safety coming off on the Remington 1100.
Posted on August 15th, 2009 at 7:21 am
E.J. Says:
Man, you guys make my heart flutter. I am going to go and caress my 40 year old Winchester model 12. It certainly is a showstopper. Yes, Cynapse, there are still some of us “good old boys” around.
Posted on August 15th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Cynapse Says:
Good. I’ll need you for roll call next time someone claims there aren’t. Stick around.
Posted on August 15th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Bruce Says:
Mac…somewhat funny story, speaking of firearms instructors. One year in Calgary they decided that for the annual shoot aka qualification process, they would have us fire shotguns in addition to revolvers & rifles.
Did the revolver…check. Did the rifle, 50 rounds…check. By this time my shoulder is aching, and to add to the `punishment`I made the mistake of grabbing the barrel of the rifle, which had just had 50 rounds through it on a blistering hot day….burned the crap out of my hand. At least I did not have the experience of a number of the participants who went away with half-circle cuts near their eyes because they placed their faces too close to the rifle`s scope LOL.
Then, shotguns….if I recall correctly it was 25 rounds. When I went home I stripped down and discovered a purple bruise the size of a bloody dinner plate on my shoulder…geez that hurt, but the training experience was well worth it…
Posted on August 15th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Mac Says:
The notorious “scope bite” makes for a lovely scar… The only time I got bit was in Depot on the day of final qualification and it wasn’t a solid bite, just a nip… Up until then, I’d always shot Crown with the rifle but it threw my concentration so I only shot Cross.
The shotgun tactical shoot is fun but the bruise from the folding stock sucks. In recent years when they talked about going to a padded composite-stocked shotgun, I cheered!
Posted on August 16th, 2009 at 12:32 am