The Man I Did Not Kill

The Man I Did Not Kill

8pm, weekday night, off duty, walking the dog, slightly different route, takes me by a small "pocket park" I had passed many times before.

A white male 6ft, 190#, 30y/o, "clean" looking, strides out from behind an emaciated tree with a melon sized rock raised in his right hand. "Give me your money!"

My leashed dog lunges at him (Good Boy!). I say "STOP! The dog bites!" He stops about 15 ft away. He repeats the demand for money. I say emphatically and clearly "NO". He launches into a stream of invective and rough derogatory language, taking one more step toward me. I clearly remember thinking: If he runs toward me or takes two more steps, he Will be shot.

He says: "You want to fight me?!" I say softly and calmly "No, but I Will kill you."

Silence.

Dog and I walk off, he then continues, unmoving, to shout slurs and bad language.

I 'check 6' periodically as I walk home, and he stayed there in his little park, keeping the birds awake.

I never had to display or touch the holstered gun...he saw no gun.

I thought that he might well assault the next passer by. However I am not going to preemptively kill a man, despite his being a demonstrably violent criminal, because of a future crime I am sure he will commit.
It is too presumptuous and uncivilized and egotistical.

I did not call the police. Why? (and here I project based on past experience) Most of them cannot be trusted to address the situation in a professional or even intelligent manner. They would feel I was bothering them, would feel it necessary to search me, perhaps shoot my dog, would assume I was somehow responsible for the threat (drug deal gone bad or some such), how no crime was really committed or most likely; either not respond or respond in 30-90 minutes. Lastly I would not want to listen to their standard lectures about going out alone after dark and how like totally seriously they were going to take this incident.

I do not regret Not shooting him. Glad I didn't have to! Ain 't no heroes.