Shot At Point Blank Range: Lessons From The Street
By Christopher Caile
 |
This reenactment by FightingArts.com shows how quick thinking and
hiding behind a tree saved the victim from certain death at the hands
of a point-blank gun assailant. |
You saw it on the news – startling film images repeated over and
over –
film of an older man trying to shoot another just feet way hiding behind
a tree.
It is a true life story of a disturbed man with a gun, a man violently
angry about a lawyer being paid from his trust fund. After a court hearing
the attacker sought out the attorney in front of a California courthouse.
The attacker wanted to impose his own brand of justice.
The assailant, William Strier, had asked a passer by if he had seen
the attorney, Gerry Curry. He then walked up to Curry, asked, “Are
you Mr. Curry?” and when Curry said “Yes”, Strier pulled
a gun and shot him point blank in the neck. Luckily Curry wasn’t
killed or even disabled, although he was bleeding.
What happened next and how Curry survived is a lesson in quick thinking
and sound defensive tactics.
What saved Curry’s life was that he was able to dash behind a
nearby tree and use it for protection. A cameraman at the scene for another
trial caught Strier on film as he fired around the tree at Curry, who
dodged, ducked and stepped side to side, back in forth, keeping the tree
between him and the continuing rain of bullets. After emptying his gun,
Strier pocketed his weapon and calmly walked away as if nothing had happened.
An off-duty reserve sheriff at this point tackled and brought him to
the ground where he was arrested.
Although Curry was wounded and bleeding, the wounds were not life threatening.
Strier was involved in a dispute in which he alleged that a trustee
appointed by the court to manage his trust fund was withholding money
he needed
for medical care. The fund had been established with money Strier received
in an injury settlement.
The dispute was so volatile that Evelyn Murphy, the trustee, said she
felt "physically threatened'' by Strier. She also said that Strier had
called her in late August and warned, "I'm going to kill you.'' Murphy
had been asked to resign and was being represented by Curry. She had
also requested the judge to grant her additional money from the fund,
around $6,200, for her and Curry’s services. A hearing on this
matter had taken place that morning, but Strier didn’t attend and
had not been in the courthouse. Curry had never met him before being
attacked.
Lessons Learned:
If a person pulls gun on you in anger or for the purpose of revenge,
words alone might not be sufficient. If the person is close to you, a
well trained expert might be able to maneuver and wrestle the gun away
from the attacker, but you probably aren’t that person.
Lessons Learned:
If a person pulls gun on you in anger or for the purpose of revenge,
words alone might not be sufficient. If the person is close to you, a
well trained expert might be able to maneuver and wrestle the gun away
from the attacker, but you probably aren’t that person.
If a shot is fired and you are still alive, or not seriously injured,
it probably means the attacker is not a professional. A professional
would have shot you from a distance, or at close range put a series of
shots on target, close in. A non-professional is often emotionally charged.
If the attacker demonstrates that, he or she is intent on harming or
killing you, some form of action is your only chance. The more emotionally
charged the attacker is, the less steady will be the gun. The attacker
might even be waving it around and shouting.
If this is the case, you might be able just to duck and run. You might
also create some kind of distraction – say something confusing
(making him think and slowing his reaction time), glance over the attacker’s
shoulder (which might make him turn to see what’s coming), or throw
coins, a paper, magazine, even a briefcase in the face – giving
you a precious split second for defensive action.
If the gun is next to you or pressed into you, you might block it to
one side and move. But if it is just robbery, don’t resist –give
up your money, you wallet or purse. It’s better than your life.
Finding nearby cover can save your life. If possible get something substantial
between yourself and your attacker, as Curry did. Inside, use an upturned
table, substantial piece of furniture or thick door. Outside use a tree,
car or other vehicle, a metal mailbox, phone booth stand, even a stone
wall.
If you have a politically charged job or are involved in an emotionally
charged situation where decisions can elicit violent reactions or emotions
by those effected, don’t readily identify yourself at a stranger’s
requent, or if you do be very alert and careful. And if you have been
threatened, especially if it’s your life is at stake, never take
the threat lightly. Even if someone associated with you, such as the
person Curry represented has been threatened or intimidated, watch out
for yourself too.
Always be aware of your surroundings and of anyone who approaches you.
Most people in public places are totally unaware of their surroundings,
of any possible danger and are not alert and prepared for any emergency
or threat that might arise. You might be lucky and never have to defend
yourself, and probably will never be attacked with a gun at close range
like Curry was – but then again you might. Be prepared, and remain
alert at all times.
About The Author:
Christopher Caile is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of
FightingArts.com. He has been a student of the martial arts for over
43 years. He first started in judo. Then he added karate as a student
of Phil Koeppel in 1959. Caile introduced karate to Finland in 1960 and
then hitch-hiked eastward. In Japan (1961) he studied under Mas Oyama
and later in the US became a Kyokushinkai Branch Chief. In 1976 he followed
Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura when he formed Seido karate and is now a 6th
degree black belt in that organization's honbu dojo. Other experience
includes judo, aikido, diato-ryu, kenjutsu, kobudo, Shinto Muso-ryu jodo,
boxing and several Chinese fighting arts including Praying mantis, Pak
Mei (White Eyebrow) and shuai chiao. He is also a student of Zen. A long-term
student of one branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qigong, he is
a personal disciple of the qi gong master and teacher of acupuncture
Dr. Zaiwen Shen (M.D., Ph.D.) and is Vice-President of the DS International
Chi Medicine Association. He holds an M.A. in International Relations
from American University in Washington D.C. and has traveled extensively
through South and Southeast Asia. He frequently returns to Japan and
Okinawa to continue his studies in the martial arts, their history and
tradition. In his professional life he has been a businessman, newspaper
journalist, inventor and entrepreneur.
|
