Armed Robbery and Getting Involved
My question involves criminal law for the state of: California
So yesterday I was at a local indoor swapmeet and I was inside a stand looking at band shirts when I hear something break and all of a sudden there's people screaming he has a gun, when I look into the walkway I see a guy at a jewelry stand across from where I am breaking the displays and grabbing jewelry, theres always security guards standing there cus it's right by the door and they were just standing there like in shock, the man robbing had what looked like a gun in one of his hands, I wasn't scared of the situation that was going on mostly my adrenaline was pumping like I wanted to do something, I edc a pocket knife and this is where my question comes from, what would happen to me if I would have attacked the man with my knife and seriously hurt him or neutralize him?
I know someones gonna probably say don't b a hero let the police handle the situation
Re: Armed Robbery and Getting Involved
Taking a knife to a gun fight is a foolish proposition. No property is worth anyone's life. Had you tried to intervene, not only might YOU have been hurt or killed, but someone else might have as well. Bullets do not have a brain and they could have been fired in any direction striking anyone at the market.
You would not likely be prosecuted for taking any action against the robber, but you might be held at least civilly liable had someone else been injured as a result of your actions.
Reserve the heroics for when someone's life is in danger, not their property. Had he been trying to take a child, or rape someone, then maybe the risk MIGHT be worth it for you. Otherwise, your best course of action would be to become the best witness you could be ... note a physical description, voice, actions, clothing, vehicle in a parking lot, etc. But, stuff is rarely worth risking anyone's life.
Re: Armed Robbery and Getting Involved
A LOT would depend on the other circumstances surrounding the event.
Did the person have a gun? Were you in fear for your life? or the life of someone else? Was the person directly threatening anothers life or safety? Would your actions have interfered with the protection provided by the security guards?
If you had acted in a manner based on the use of deadly force to protect yourself or another, BUT you interefered with the ability of the security guards to act due to you being in the way you could still be held liable, especially if you do not have any training in this area. Say you are wrestling around with the subject, the gun discharges and kills a bystander. You could certainly be held liable for the death because you can't state for certain that anyone was directly threatened, you have no training, and you interefered with the people who are trained to handle this situation.
With the type of situation you described unless you are in a situation where you or someone else is directly threatened AND you have the ability to react, it is best to let those that are there for protection do their job. Is it really worth getting yourself or someone else killed for some jewlery that is covered by insurance? Don't bring a knife to a gun fight.
Re: Armed Robbery and Getting Involved
Heck, the security guards probably would not do anything, either. Their job is to observe and report. Even if armed with guns, they may not directly intervene.