Around 5:05 a.m. Saturday, the victim was walking in the 1900 block of Burgundy Street when he was approached by the suspect, police said.

The suspect pointed a shotgun at the victim’s face and demanded money, police said.
The victim disarmed the gunman and chased him, according to the NOPD.

Moments later, the victim was approached by two men in a black four-door sedan, possibly a Honda Accord. The driver told the victim, “Give me my gun back and I’ll give you your phone that you dropped,” police said.

The victim then struck the rear windshield with the shotgun, which caused the windshield to break, police said.

The suspects fled on Frenchmen Street to St. Claude and then to an unknown location, police said.

It’s pretty clear that the would-be robber was no Moriarty-type criminal mastermind. If his putting a shotgun—which has the sole advantage over a pistol or rifle in firing a spray of pellets rather than a single bullet—in the face of a would-be victim isn’t enough of a clue, trying to barter to get the weapon back should remove all doubt.

That said…

Did the would-be victim really have to “go”? Let’s stipulate that he did, that he knew better than anyone what his chances were of surviving. How did he do once he “went”?

Well, he won—but what is the Prime Directive in gun defense? Anyone? Bueller?

That’s right, getting and keeping the line of fire off you. Watch the clip again: he does not. Even a gunman as clueless (and stone-less) as this one could get his finger caught on the trigger as he’s turning to run away. I’ve never seen the result of a point-blank shotgun blast to the abdomen, and I don’t want to. But it can’t be pretty.

Line of fire: be its friend, not its b… bête noire.