Balls of Steel: Bring a gun to a bomb fight, win.

Blind_Io · June 17th, 2008, 10:38 PM

http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story...6-1237c14d1376

Quote:

(WXYZ) -- An attempted bank robbery in Canton played out like a scene from a movie Monday when a man who police say claimed to have a bomb was stopped by a customer armed with a pistol.

The drama started just after the Comerica bank on Michigan Ave. opened around 9 a.m. Police say 54-year-old man Joseph Webster from Washtenaw County walked up to a teller and handed her a note claiming he had a bomb strapped to his body.

The fast-thinking teller hit the silent alarm while filling a bag with $1 bills -- until, police say, Webster demanded "bands of 50s and 100s." Another teller saw the situation unfolding and alerted Nabil Fawzi, 39, a long-time customer.

Fawzi, who spent six years in the Lebanese army, took matters into his own hands.

He tells WXYZ.com he pulled out a .9 mm handgun (for which he had a CCW permit), racked a bullet in the chamber, pointed it at Webster and announced, "You are not robbing this bank!"

The startled Webster countered with, "but, I have a bomb" -- but Fawzi wasn't impressed. "I don't care. You are not robbing this bank!" was the reply from the other side of the gun. He then forced the Webster into a chair and held him at gunpoint until police arrived.

Police tell WXYZ.com there were no injuries, no issues with Fawzi's CCW permit, and no bomb found at the scene.

Webster was arraigned Tuesday afternoon and charged with one count of bank robbery, one count of armed robbery, and a habitual third offense. He faces 25 years to life in prison.

Probably not the brightest thing to do if the guy said he had a bomb, it could have put more people's lives in danger - for what? Some cash that's federally insured? Maybe the guy read the robber's body language or noticed the lack of a trigger device and felt it was an acceptable risk to take. Still, that takes some balls to sand up to a guy claiming to have a bomb.

jayhawk · June 17th, 2008, 10:43 PM

I am sure his wallet has "bad motherfucker" embroidered on it.

Blind_Io · June 17th, 2008, 10:50 PM

jayhawk · June 17th, 2008, 10:53 PM

That's it, thank you.

watto · June 17th, 2008, 11:27 PM

Cool wallet.

I presume CCW is carry-concealed weapon??

That guys got massive brass balls that would make God envious.

nist7 · June 17th, 2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Another teller saw the situation unfolding and alerted Nabil Fawzi, 39, a long-time customer.

Not sure if that was the best idea. As Blind_Io already mentioned, the guy could've been for real and potentially killed everyone inside that bank lobby after he was confronted at gun-point. Because then he had nothing to lose and wouldn't think twice about taking his own life and anyone around him.

The citizen cop was fortunate to have as much luck as balls.

Viper007Bond · June 17th, 2008, 11:45 PM

Bad idea honestly. What if he really did have a bomb?

nist7 · June 17th, 2008, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Bad idea honestly. What if he really did have a bomb?

However, we also have to take into account that the teller who alerted the citizen cop might've forgot/didn't to tell him that the robber could be wearing a bomb.

H0nzik · June 18th, 2008, 12:11 AM

Don't know, how many of these people actually have a bomb? Suicidal bomb attacks are made by an entirely different group of people than the kind of people who rob banks, claiming they have whatever. Even the guns they use are mostly fake, at least here. Maybe it's different in the US as it's much easier to get hold of a real gun there.

chaos386 · June 18th, 2008, 01:06 AM

I'm going to guess he didn't buy the guy's "I have a bomb" story. Suicide bombings are done for ideological reasons, not money. Kinda hard to get away with the money when you're dead.

EDIT: Or to put it another way, an actual weapon like a gun can be used directly as a tool, and you can prove it's real and that you're serious. The only way to prove a bomb's real is to detonate it, and if you've already gone that far, chances are you no longer care what happens after that point.

The only thing a bomb does is this case is threaten, which you can do just as easily with a fake.

LeVeL · June 18th, 2008, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayhawk

I am sure his wallet has "bad motherfucker" embroidered on it.

Seconded.
Stupid or not, this guy is badass.

Cobol74 · June 18th, 2008, 06:28 AM

Celebrate one less criminal on the streets. What really annoys me is that people who choose crime as a career are so god awful at it usually. They can't sit down and think - "the risk reward ratio is all wrong, I will try something else!", never mind the moral aspects to it - which is stealing is wrong.

the infinite jar · June 18th, 2008, 07:57 AM

.9mm?
That's even more badass.

Viper007Bond · June 18th, 2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the infinite jar

.9mm?
That's even more badass.

Needle gun!

chaos386 · June 18th, 2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobol74

Celebrate one less criminal on the streets. What really annoys me is that people who choose crime as a career are so god awful at it usually. They can't sit down and think - "the risk reward ratio is all wrong, I will try something else!", never mind the moral aspects to it - which is stealing is wrong.

Well, if they were smart, they'd get a degree and go into business, so...

H0nzik · June 18th, 2008, 12:59 PM

Or get employed at G4S and steal 20 million EUR without even getting noticed, like a guy did here half a year ago.

Adunaphel · June 18th, 2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H0nzik

Or get employed at G4S and steal 20 million EUR without even getting noticed, like a guy did here half a year ago.

So he did get noticed after all, right? Else you wouldn't even know he stole the 20 million.

June 17th, 2008, 10:43 PM	#2
jayhawk Cigar Smoking Man Joined: Dec 11th, 2005 Last Online: 12:35 AM Location: Listening to stories from the Brân Lwyd. Age: 32 Posts: 4,788 Car: MY07 G11 WRX-TR WRB. Rep Power: 76	I am sure his wallet has "bad motherfucker" embroidered on it. __________________ It is nice to have friends like you on this forum. In the wee hours I'll meet you, down by Dun Ringill. Wife is re-employed....maybe I will show up unexpectantly at the next Nürburgring meet... Last edited by jayhawk; June 17th, 2008 at 10:53 PM. Reason: eliminated the ass.

June 17th, 2008, 10:50 PM	#3
Blind_Io Dispenses buckshot medication for all undead patients. Joined: Apr 5th, 2006 Last Online: 07:54 PM Location: Richmond, California, USA Age: 27 Posts: 8,501 Car: 2004 Honda Civic Coupe 2000 VF750C2 Rep Power: 87	__________________ Life is like riding, you have to keep your balance to keep moving. Deacon of Dirt, Head of North American Anti-Environmental Inquisition (Left Coast Division). founder of The Church of Gear's Two Wheeled Sect. Zombie Slayer, Extraordinaire. Reasonable rates, inquire within.

June 17th, 2008, 10:53 PM	#4
jayhawk Cigar Smoking Man Joined: Dec 11th, 2005 Last Online: 12:35 AM Location: Listening to stories from the Brân Lwyd. Age: 32 Posts: 4,788 Car: MY07 G11 WRX-TR WRB. Rep Power: 76	That's it, thank you. __________________ It is nice to have friends like you on this forum. In the wee hours I'll meet you, down by Dun Ringill. Wife is re-employed....maybe I will show up unexpectantly at the next Nürburgring meet...

June 17th, 2008, 11:27 PM	#5
watto Unloved and lacking a title Joined: Jun 13th, 2005 Last Online: 08:03 AM Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 23 Posts: 4,967 Car: 1997 VW Golf MkIII CL, Giant OCR 3 Rep Power: 47	Cool wallet. I presume CCW is carry-concealed weapon?? That guys got massive brass balls that would make God envious. __________________ RickRolling people whenever his phone rings

June 17th, 2008, 11:45 PM	#7
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: 11:57 AM Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 24 Posts: 20,135 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 224	Bad idea honestly. What if he really did have a bomb? __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

June 18th, 2008, 12:11 AM	#9
H0nzik Joined: Dec 14th, 2006 Last Online: 12:31 PM Location: Prague, Czech Republic Age: 24 Posts: 179 Car: Fabia RS Rep Power: 10	Don't know, how many of these people actually have a bomb? Suicidal bomb attacks are made by an entirely different group of people than the kind of people who rob banks, claiming they have whatever. Even the guns they use are mostly fake, at least here. Maybe it's different in the US as it's much easier to get hold of a real gun there.

June 18th, 2008, 01:06 AM	#10
chaos386 .sa = bad driver! Joined: Nov 8th, 2004 Last Online: 04:58 PM Location: Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia Age: 22 Posts: 3,177 Car: 2005 Toyota xA (temporary) LFS Status: Rep Power: 47	I'm going to guess he didn't buy the guy's "I have a bomb" story. Suicide bombings are done for ideological reasons, not money. Kinda hard to get away with the money when you're dead. EDIT: Or to put it another way, an actual weapon like a gun can be used directly as a tool, and you can prove it's real and that you're serious. The only way to prove a bomb's real is to detonate it, and if you've already gone that far, chances are you no longer care what happens after that point. The only thing a bomb does is this case is threaten, which you can do just as easily with a fake. __________________ "Because I'm like one of those self-cleaning ovens...except that I'm a mountain lion." --Sandusky Last edited by chaos386; June 18th, 2008 at 01:10 AM.

June 18th, 2008, 06:28 AM	#12
Cobol74 Joined: Mar 21st, 2006 Last Online: 07:25 AM Location: Southampton Posts: 5,175 Car: Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 TDI Slush box. Rep Power: 40	Celebrate one less criminal on the streets. What really annoys me is that people who choose crime as a career are so god awful at it usually. They can't sit down and think - "the risk reward ratio is all wrong, I will try something else!", never mind the moral aspects to it - which is stealing is wrong. __________________ Strewth mate another whinging pom! Build the Severn Barrage NOW! Last edited by Cobol74; June 18th, 2008 at 08:01 AM.

June 18th, 2008, 07:57 AM	#13
the infinite jar Joined: Apr 24th, 2007 Last Online: 08:44 PM Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 63 Car: 1993 Nissan Altima (422000 KMs!), 1980 Honda CB750 Rep Power: 9	.9mm? That's even more badass.

June 18th, 2008, 12:59 PM	#16
H0nzik Joined: Dec 14th, 2006 Last Online: 12:31 PM Location: Prague, Czech Republic Age: 24 Posts: 179 Car: Fabia RS Rep Power: 10	Or get employed at G4S and steal 20 million EUR without even getting noticed, like a guy did here half a year ago.