AggieDave 6 #1 August 3, 2003 This story got the "Hero" tag on Fark... Quote Laying down the law Fed up with crime, 67-year-old man fires on 3 engaged in shootout in his front yard BY STEVE REEVES Of The Post and Courier Staff The last time police came by his Tripe Street home to investigate complaints about drug dealing in the West Ashley neighborhood, William Gates made it clear to them that he had had enough. "I told the police, 'Bring the coroner and body bags the next time you come out here,' " he said. "Nobody is going to run me out of my home." The coroner and body bags weren't needed Friday morning because when Gates made good on his statement, he only wounded the men he shot. But it wasn't for lack of trying. "I shot to kill," he said. "I'm not going to lie to you." Roused from his sleep by the sound of gunfire about 4:30 a.m. Friday, the 67-year-old Gates took up his 12-gauge Browning automatic shotgun, stepped out onto his front porch and fired three blasts at men he said were drug dealers having a shootout in his front yard. When the shooting stopped, three men lay wounded. Gates is said to have hit two of them, and the third is thought to have been hit during the initial shootout. Gates, a semi-retired brick mason who drives a battered blue Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck with an airbrushed tag on the front bumper that says "Godfather," said Friday afternoon that he was only protecting his wife and house from what he describes as out-of-control neighborhood thugs in their teens and 20s who drink beer and sell and take drugs in his yard. He said gunshots fired near his house during drug-related disputes are a common occurrence. "I had had enough," he said. "If I have to go to jail, so be it." While police did not publicly approve of what Gates did, they filed no charges against him Friday. "We have no plans to arrest him," Charleston Police Chief Reuben Greenberg said. "We can't see from where we sit where a crime's been committed. People have the right to provide for their safety, and we believe that is what he was doing." Greenberg said the decision on whether Gates will be charged will be made by the solicitor's office, a decision likely to come early next week. Meanwhile, Greenberg said police patrols in the neighborhood will be increased. Gates was born in the house on Tripe Street. It was his parent's house, and they passed it on to him when they died. Tripe Street was a good part of the neighborhood at one time, Gates said, but began going downhill fast about 10 years ago. The narrow, tree-lined street is home to many houses that have seen better times and, according to police, the area is a magnet for illegal activity, much of it drug related. "Drugs, stealing, a little bit of everything," said Gates' wife, Yvonne. She said that last year someone fired a shot through their living room. The bullet hole can be seen in the wall that faces the street. "The good Lord was with me that day because I had just moved my grandbaby from that couch," Yvonne Gates said. "She would have been killed because the bullet hit the couch." The Gateses' yard is littered with empty 32-ounce beer cans and other trash they say was put there by the young people who loiter in the area until the early hours of the morning. William Gates' anger finally reached critical mass early Friday morning when he and his wife were awakened by the gunshots, which police say was likely the result of a dispute over drugs, outside their bedroom window. Gates said he heard his wife yell and fall to the floor. "I thought they shot my wife," he said. "I went and got my gun and fired three shots." Investigators were trying to determine exactly who shot whom, but it is known that Kevin Hazel, 27, was found lying in the bushes in front of the Gateses' house. He had been shot in the back with a 9 mm pistol. Matez Hazel, 24, and Christopher Hampton, 22, both suffered shotgun wounds. All three were in intensive care recovering from their wounds. Police said Friday they don't know yet whether the three men, all of whom previously have been in trouble with the law for drugs, will be charged with any crimes. Police found a 9 mm handgun and three spent shell casings next to Matez Hazel, and said he had a small amount of marijuana wrapped in a $5 bill in his sock. Gates, who is an avid hunter and proudly displays two large mounted deer heads among the photographs of children and grandchildren in his living room, had all seven of the guns he owns confiscated by the police until their investigation is complete. He vows that he will be ready if friends of the three men try to retaliate, and he smiled as he said he planned to acquire a gun to protect himself. "They better make sure they get me if they come back, because if they don't get me, I'm going to kill all of them," Gates said. "I'm 67 and don't have that long to live anyway." Gates said all he wants is peace and quiet and to be able to come home to his wife and not see drugs being sold in front of his house. He said he refuses to move. "Why should I go?" he said. "I'd sooner be dead." http://www.charleston.net/stories/080203/loc_02shootingx.shtml--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #2 August 3, 2003 Wow! What a story. I hope that gets some wider circulation.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leroydb 0 #3 August 3, 2003 wooooooo hoooooooooo one for the good guys......... . .Leroy ..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kmcguffee 0 #4 August 3, 2003 Quotewooooooo hoooooooooo one for the good guys......... Don't celebrate too soon. The lawyers haven't gotten ahold of this one yet. They will make it into a circus. Hopefully this man will make it out unscathed. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sinker 0 #5 August 3, 2003 sad but true... I sure admire his attitude though! -the artist formerly known as sinker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whocares 0 #6 August 3, 2003 That is great. Chalk one up for the NRA Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 102 #7 August 3, 2003 Quotepolice patrols in the neighborhood will be increased. They can only patrol it once in a while, they have to stay devoted to their vital "tax" collection duties you know.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #8 August 3, 2003 QuoteHopefully this man will make it out unscathed. would be nice, but it seems unlikely. given the neighborhood he lives in he probably doesnt have the time or the money to defend himself from the lawyers who will be looking to get some free publicity out of it.. hopefully he is already an NRA member and some of their legal defense funds will help..____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot90 0 #9 August 3, 2003 Quotehopefully he is already an NRA member and some of their legal defense funds will help.. I would be willing to give up a jump ticket to help out. You have to draw the line some where. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squirrel 0 #10 August 3, 2003 lets all chip in and get this guy some 00 shells....magnum loads. ________________________________ Where is Darwin when you need him? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PurpleBadger 0 #11 August 3, 2003 that's to deal with the lawyers... right Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #12 August 3, 2003 Quote lets all chip in and get this guy some 00 shells....magnum loads. Heheheee....I'll donate my shotgun to him. It's a Mossberg 835. Takes 3 1/2 in mags. The 00 Buck is REALLY nasty. Eighteen .30 Caliber pellets in each round. Definately shoulder fired artillery. A friend of mine shot a 6 point buck at 80 Yds with his. Took him right off his feet. Pretty amazing for buckshot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #13 August 3, 2003 Quotewould be nice, but it seems unlikely. given the neighborhood he lives in he probably doesnt have the time or the money to defend himself from the lawyers who will be looking to get some free publicity out of it.. Given the neighborhood he lives in he probably doesn't have to worry about a civil suit either. Public opinion will most likely determine the course of action from the DA's office. - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robskydiv 0 #14 August 3, 2003 Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #15 August 3, 2003 Kick Ass, I want to buy that man a beer! or maybe a case,I like his attitude. And for the lawyers, just remember this is Texas where it seems if your protecting yourself or family they more or less say Ahhhhh that was a bad thing to do, but "wink wink good job" Hope things turn out for the good for himIf you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squirrel 0 #16 August 4, 2003 excellent smithers.... ________________________________ Where is Darwin when you need him? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueEyedMonster 0 #17 August 4, 2003 I think I like this guy....but the cops should have left him at least one gun to defend himself. He might need it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dterrick 0 #18 August 4, 2003 QuoteI think I like this guy....but the cops should have left him at least one gun to defend himself. He might need it. ...aah, but THIS affords him the opportunity to get something, um, apropriate for the job... I'd dare say that if anyone comes back on his property they will be armed and unfriendly towad him... sadly I fear in the end 'they' will win the war, if not the battles. And this way, the police can claim to have 'removed a potential threat' - if he buys more guns and ammo it's not THEIR fault is it? -Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #19 August 4, 2003 You all seem to be wary of what will happen to this guy when lawyers get ahold of this thing. Well, what kind of lawyers? The DA? Well, they haven't arrested him yet, and it's up to that system to indict him. If the DA does so, then he'll have a defense lawyer (criminal defense lawyers? They are usually the most hated out there) defending him? Civil suit? Yeah, I'm sure there is some shyster out there who will want to go after him. It may reach litigation, but I think this guy has a pretty good defense. He said he was defending his family, and not property. Deadly force can't be used to defend property. But people is entirely different. Take it from this attorney. Good for him! And I know plenty of us dirtbag shysters who who would be more than happy to "pull" for him. That is, "pull" as in launch some skeet!!! Lighten up on lawyers. There are one or two good ones out there... My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #20 August 4, 2003 QuoteThere are one or two good ones out there... The two that defended me were pretty awesome. They were still dirty shysters but at least they were on my side. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
INSANEDADDY 0 #21 August 5, 2003 license plate "the godfather" He-He-He You dont't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when.......You can only decide how you're going to live........NOW. -BASE 1605 Night BASE 227 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
