(Another) Ohio CHL-holder protects own life when robbed

The Cleveland Plain Dealer recently reported that another Ohio concealed handgun license-holder was able to defend himself when his business was robbed.

And the last line of the story deserves attention from legislators who have inexplicably stalled Ohio's Castle Doctrine legislation for the past several months.

From the story:

Bedford Heights -- A store owner shot a robbery suspect in the head at 7:15 p.m. Thursday at the Northfield Food Mart, on Northfield Road, police said.

The robber later identified as Roddy Prophet, 27, of Maple Heights, walked into the store and demanded money, according to witnesses. A clerk ran from the store and the owner retreated toward the door as the robber grabbed the money.

Police said when Prophet started toward the door the owner shot twice striking him once in the head. Prophet ran from the store and collapsed in a parking lot two blocks away.

He was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center where he is listed in critical condition.

Police said the owner has a concealed carry permit.

The city prosecutor will determine if any charges will be filed in the case. (emphasis added)

Read that last line again. In the aftermath of this robbery, police were considering whether or not to prosecute the victim. This 61 year-old store owner was forced to undergo the scrutiny of the City of Cleveland's anti-gun bureaucracy in order to learn if he would face charges for, according to Cleveland's NewsNet5, responding to being robbed by a criminal with a (toy) gun by drawing his own gun, which he was licensed and trained to carry concealed, and defending himself and his employees.

In a story about surveillance video taken during the robbery, FOX4 has since reported that the store owner is not going to be charged. But the simple fact is that this victim, in his state of mind following a potentially deadly encounter, should never have had to endure the added worry of what an overzealous prosecutor would do about his decision.

From NewsNet5.com:

Mushtag Ahmed was at the counter writing out the winning lottery numbers when a man walked in and pulled a gun on him.

"He said, 'I'm gonna shoot you. Hurry up. Where's the money?' He knocked me down. I don't know how I got away. I was so afraid he was going to shoot me any moment," Ahmed said.

Ahmed did get away and pulled out his own gun and fired. Then he called police.

Police said the would-be robber is Roddy Prophet, of Maple Heights, a 27-year-old with a 10-year history of robbery, assault and identity theft.

Ahmed is angry about what happened.

"Of course I'm angry. I work hard to make a living. They want easy money. Not in this store. I do whatever I can to defend myself and my customers," he said.

Ahmed said he will never forget that silver gun being pointed at him, a gun police now say was a toy gun.

Under Sen. Steve Buehrer's Castle Doctrine legislation (SB184), a presumption of innocence would be established upon the victim in this case, instead of a suspicion of guilt.

Commander Gary Serfilippi of the Bedford Heights Police Department told the Bedford Sun Banner that it is expected that the suspect (whom we must assume, because the media didn't bother to report on it, was neither licensed to carry a concealed handgun or probably even to be in possession of a firearm at all) will be charged with aggravated robbery.

Click here to access the list of Ohio CHL-holders acting in self-defense in the Buckeyefirearms.org Education Guide.

Related Story: SB184: Sen. Steve Buehrer announces PROPONENT hearing on Castle Doctrine