Tony Garces disarms church gunman
Mick sends a link to the story of Tony Garces who was at Faith City Missions in Amarillo, Texas on Valentine’s Day when a gunman took the congregation hostage. After the gunman got off a round, some of the men there wrestled the gunman to the ground and Garces disarmed him.
When Amarillo police arrived on the scene, they ordered Garces to put down the gun. He was a little slow in complying, so the cops shot Garces twice.
Garces was rushed to the hospital and the man who was the actual gunman, Joshua Len Jones, was arrested. Jones is facing six charges of aggravated kidnapping.
Today, Garces is out and back on his feet after spending time at Northwest Texas Hospital for a blood clot in his lung and now faces steep medical bills, probably a lot of long-term physical problems, and a possible legal battle with the city of Amarillo, according to his lawyer, Jeff Blackburn.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Garces recently got out of prison and was trying to turn his life around at the Faith City Mission. He described the move as a “natural reaction,” something he credits to the help of the program, and although he was shot, he said he would do it again “in a heartbeat.”
Garces doesn’t consider himself a hero because of the actions of the men who took the gunman to the ground.
“I disagree with him,” [Garces’ lawyer, Jeff Blackburn], told Fox News. “I think that’s pretty heroic.”
Category: Crime
Saw this several days ago in the Texas papers.
Tony Garces is a hero – and I hope the San Antone DA declines to press charges against him for being an ex-con holding a firearm.
Thank you Mr Garces.
Moral of the story, always do what the policeman says,
NOW !!!! You may not live to tell about it…
Yeah, that : Halt! Or I’ll (BANG BANG) shoot! is a bitch.
Couple of things at play:
This comes after the church shooting in Texas. So the LEO are a little anxious.
There is always confusion during a scenario where there are multiple people engaged in the conflict.
I would wonder if Mr. Garces could clearly hear or process the police commands, given the chaos in which he found himself.
He does not blame the LEOs, but has said it was an accident. The LEO(s) who shot him may have felt they had to do something to protect innocents.
It would probably have been best that, once the firearm is removed from the perp that it be placed somewhere safe – especially as the LEOs rolled up. But I’m going with Mr. Garces having no training in that area.
Graybeard, well said.
Felon in possession of a firearm? Nope. Absolutely not appropriate.
Maybe they could have had a quick committee meeting to decide who should hold the gun and who should sit on the bad guy’s legs? Yeah, right.
Good thinking, Mr. Garces. Neutralize the threat, save lives, and keep the threat neutralized knowing full well that doing so makes yourself look like a bad guy. That sure sounds like above and beyond action from here.
Thanks, Mr. Garces.
Good work Mr. Garces. But you gotta drop the gun when the police tell you. Since you just got out of prison, I’ll wager that this was not your first LE encounter. You knew the rules of the game.
Anyone who conceal carries, prepare to drop it. I’d probably drop it or re-holster before the cops come in. Deadly force does not have to come with a warning. Not that I ever met a cop that wouldn’t give you one or two chances to drop it.
did you see the video of the dart officer, as he fired, he yelled show me your hands…to the two guys who were rolling on the floor…
Mr. Garces said he was afraid the pistol might discharge from impacting the ground if he dropped it, so he was gently placing it on the ground; that’s when he took two rounds.
He sure has a good outlook on what happened to him — and I guess the police department will be paying his medical bills, etc. (and lawyer fees).
Memo to all non-cops:
Some cops will tell you to drop a pistol, even when all your prior instruction and common sense says “do -not- drop a loaded firearm.”
You might consider dropping that $2000 custom 1911 anyway.
And the bitch of it? If you do “drop it” and it goes boom, they still shoot you more than likely.
That was good reasoning on Mr.Garces part.
Even though all recent pistols have to be ‘drop safe’, that is NOT to be relied upon.
Also, you never know when a crim could have a stolen Nambu Type 94, oposite of ‘drop safe’!
Or squeeze-safe, with that exposed sear bar!
Hopefully the shooter-to-be would shoot off his own balls while tucking it into his waistband.
Bless you, Brother. For doing what was right, though it cost you, may the Lord bless you seven times.
Praying for his speedy recovery and success in his future enterprises.
Mr. Garces did the right thing. More power to him and I hope he gets well quickly.
But – don’t pick up someone else’s gun, Push or kick it away, out of his reach. Right?
Unfortunately Mr. Garces was shot for his efforts, which is sad, but you always secure the firearm. Kicking a firearm away and leaving it to lay where it stops allows the possibility of a second (unknown) aggressor to pick it up and use it on you.
If you do not perceive a need for it, you can always step on it or stand over it.
Keep in mind you may not be the only helpful soul racing to help out.
Amarillo, pay his damn med bills. There’s nothing to quibble over.
I agree and get him a job..
Yup, my father’s favorite saying… : “No good deed goes unpunished” ..
Now, THANK YOU MR. GARCES, may you recover quickly and fully, and may the citizens of Amarillo DEMAND that your medical bills be paid for by the city/county/GREAT State of Texas. In these recent very tragic and highly emotional times, it is not a big surprise that the police shot first, ask later , et al. Too many lives have been lost due to fractions of a second delays to recognize non-compliance / refusal to comply by murderous perps. GOOD ON YOU MR.GARCES, GET WELL.