Shot At Point Blank Range: Lessons From The Street

By Christopher Caile

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 request, 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

Christopher Caile

Christopher Caile is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of FightingArts.com. He has been a student of the martial arts for over 65 years.

He first started in judo while in college. Then he added karate as a student of Phil Koeppel in 1959 studying Kempo and Wado-Ryu karate. He later added Shotokan Karate where he was promoted to brown belt and taught beginner classes. In 1960 while living in Finland, Caile introduced karate to that country and placed fourth in that nation’s first national judo tournament.

Wanting to further his karate studies, Caile then hitch hiked from Finland to Japan traveling through Scandinavia, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and South and Southeast Asia — living on 25 cents a day and often sleeping outside.

Arriving in Japan (1962), Caile was introduced to Mas Oyama and his fledgling full contact Kyokushinkai Karate by Donn Draeger, the famous martial artist and historian. Donn also housed him with several other senior international judo practitioners. Donn became Caile’s martial arts mentor, coaching him in judo and introducing him to Shinto Muso-ryu under Takaji Shimizu.

Caile studied at Oyama’s honbu dojo and also at Kenji Kurosaki’s second Tokyo Kyokushinkai dojo. In his first day in class Oyama asked Caile to teach English to his chief instructor, Tadashi Nakamura. They have been friends ever since. Caile also participated in Oyama’s masterwork book, “This Is Karate.”

Caile left Japan with his black belt and designation as Branch Chief, the first in the US to have had extensive training in Japan directly under Oyama Sensei. As such, Oyama Sensei asked him to be his representative on visits to his US dojos to report on their status.

A little over a year later, Nakamura, Kusosaki and Akio Fujihira won an epic David vs. Goliath challenge match against Thailand’s professional Muay Thai Boxers in Bangkok, Thailand, thrusting Kyolushinkai and Nakamura into national prominence.

Back in the US Caile taught Kyokushinkai karate in Peoria, Il while in college and later in Washington, DC. while in graduate school. Durimg this time Shihan Nakamura had moved to New York City to head Kyokushinkai’s North American Operation.

In 1976 when Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura formed the World Seido Karate organization, Caile followed. Living then in Buffalo, NY, Caile taught Seido karate and self-defense at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) for over 15 years where he also frequently lectured on martial arts and Zen in courses on Japanese culture.

Caile moved to New York City in 1999 to marry Jackie Veit. He is now an 8th degree black belt, Hanshi, training in Seido Karate’s Westchester, NY Johshin Honzan (Spiritual Center) dojo. In Seido Caile is known for his teaching of and seminars on kata applications. He also produced a 14 segment video series on Pinan kata Bunkai currently available to Seido members.

Caile is also a long-time student and Shihan in Aikido. He studied in Buffalo, under Mike Hawley Shihan, and then under Wadokai Aikido’s founder, the late Roy Suenaka (uchi deshi under Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido and was Shihan under Tohei Sensei). In karate, Suenaka (8thdan) was also an in-house student of the Okinawan karate master Hohan Soken.

Having moved to New York City, Caile in 2000 founded this martial arts educational website, FightingArts.com. Twenty-five years later, in 2025, it underwent a major update and revision.

For FightingArts.com and other publications Caile wrote hundreds of articles on karate, martial arts, Japanese art, Chinese Medicine and edited a book on Zen. He also developed relationships with a cross section of leading martial arts teachers. Over the last four decades he has conducted extensive private research into karate and martial arts including private translations of the once secret Okinawan hand copied and passed on Kung Fu book, the Bubishi, as well as an early karate book by the karate master Kenwa Mabuni. He periodically returns to Japan and Okinawa to continue his studies and participate Seido karate events. In Tokyo he practiced (with Roy Suenaka Sensei) in a variety of aikido organizations with their founders – including private interviews and practices at the Aiki-kai Aikido Honbu dojo with the son and grandson of aikido’s founder, Doshu (headmaster) Kisshomaru (an old uchi-deshi friend) and his son, Moriteru Ueshiba and in Iwama with Morihiro Saito. On Okinawa he studied Goju Ryu karate under Eiichi Miyazato, 10th dan founder of Naha’s Jundokan, and also with Yoshitaka Taira (who later formed his own organization, who specialized in kata Bunkai. While there Caile also trained with Hohan Soken’s senior student, Master Fusei Kise, 10 dan as well as with the grandson of the legendary karate master Anko Itosu.

Caile’s other martial arts experience includes: Diato-ryu Aikijujitsu and Kenjitsu, kobudo, boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Kali (empty hand, knife and bolo), study of old Okinawan Shoran-ryu & Tomari body mechanics, study of old Okinawan kata under Richard Kim, study of close quarter defense and combat, including knife and gun defenses, Kyusho Jitsu and several Chinese fighting arts including 8 Star Praying Mantis, Pak Mei (White Eyebrow), and a private family system of Kung Fu.

Caile is also a student of Zen as well as a long-term student of one branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chi Kung (Qigong). As one of two senior disciples of Chi Kung master Dr. Shen (M.D., Ph.D.) Caile was certified to teach and practice. This led to Caile’s founding of the The Chi Kung Healing Institute on Grand Island, NY. In Western NY, he also frequently held Chi Kung seminars, including at SUNY Buffalo and at the famous Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY. His articles on Chi Kung also appeared in the Holistic Health Journal and in several books on alternative medicine.

Caile holds a BA in International Studies from Bradley University and MA in International Relations with a specialty in South and Southeast Asia from American University in Washington, D.C. While in Buffalo, NY he also studied digital and analog electronics.

In his professional life Caile also worked in public relations and as a newspaper reporter and photographer. Earlier he worked in the field of telecommunications including Managing a Buffalo, NY sales and service branch for ITT. He then founded his own private telephone company. This was followed by creation of an electrical engineering company that designed and patented his concept for a new type of low-cost small business telephone system (which was eventually sold to Bell South). The company also did contract work for Kodak and the US space program. Simultaneously Caile designed and manufactured a unique break-apart portable pontoon boat.

Most recently Caile co-founded an internet software company. Its products include software suites with AI capability for control and management of streaming media, such as video and music, an all-in-one book publishing software product for hardcover, eBook and audio book creation and security software for buildings and government use.

For more details about Christopher Caile’s martial arts, work experience and life profile, see the About section in the footer of this site.