NBCDFW: Thief shot by seller during online sale meetup for rare coins: Arlington Police
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Oh boy, this is a sticky one. What would you have done if you were carrying heat?
Thief shot by seller during online sale meetup for rare coins: Arlington Police
By De'Anthony Taylor • Published June 17, 2024 • Updated on June 17, 2024 at 5:57 pm
An online marketplace sale for rare coins in Arlington led to alleged theft and shooting on Saturday evening.
According to the Arlington Police Department, officers were called to a parking lot near The Parks Mall around 6:35 p.m. on June 15 after a man called 911 and stated that he shot someone who robbed him.
The caller, 23-year-old Edgar Ipina, reportedly told police he was selling rare coins online. He had arranged to meet a buyer in the parking lot, later identified as 34-year-old Booker Ross.
Authorities said when Ross arrived, Ipina showed him the coins, and that's when Ross allegedly snatched the coins and took off running. Ipina admitted to pulling out a handgun and firing multiple times at Ross, who got in a car and fled the parking lot.
Because Ross did not appear to be armed or threatened Ipina's safety, Ipina was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Arlington Police said.
No one else was injured during the shooting, and the incident did not impact the mall's operations.
The police department said amid their investigation, they were told that a man matching Ross' description showed up at the emergency room of a hospital in Fort Worth with multiple gunshot wounds.
Comments
The seller is a moron
You have a good point.
Anything you bring to a meetup like that…in a parking lot no less… you have to kinda assume you might get robbed. I’d much rather be taken than have to shoot somebody. What a sh!+show!
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Matt’s Mattes
Seller messed up at many levels.
First off I woulda met dude in a police station parking lot. Number two he shoulda showed the items in a contained and managed manner. Third, you cannot shoot at an unarmed person, (in this situation), running away.
As much as a 2A and law and order guy as I am, that’s not how to handle this situation. It should have never gotten to that point. I hate to play Monday morning QB, and there may be more to this whole story, but with what we have it’s not a good look at the moment.
Having fun while switching things up and focusing on a next level PCGS slabbed 1950+ type set, while still looking for great examples for the 7070.
The seller is a f’ing moron and the perpetrator is no rocket scientist.
No one deserves to die for stealing a coin. Dude shot him in the back. I see jail time ahead for the seller.
At least near me, the local sheriff's and police have a meeting area at their station for "safe internet sales". So, stupidity number one is meeting in a mall rather than at a police station.
But firing in public at a fleeing suspect will get you charged even in a gun friendly state.
internet person i have exchanges with says crime is so bad and not enough being done about and soon people will take matters in their own hands. i think we just came across that
A transaction like this can also happen in relative safety inside the lobby of your bank although a police station is a better option if it's conveniently available.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
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There are potential split-second decisions that someone carrying needs to mentally prepare for. That seller failed in that regard since the situation as presented did not warrant firing any shots. Atleast he called 911 to report the incident.
Don’t mess with Texas?
Since this crime took place in Texas, I doubt the victim of this robbery attempt will be charged because the DA knows that it would be extremely difficult to get a conviction.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Absolutely agree. And what about the risk to innocent people at the mall? Just plain crazy and reckless.
Texas is stand your ground. This means you can defend yourself to protect yourself, your family and your property against bodily harm. Seeings how the victim wasn't attacked, I presume anyway, it may not be considered grounds for use of deadly force.
What's soo sad is thieves have become much more brazen and gun wielding these days, that citizens are put in positions of having to be ready to defend themselves at all times.
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I would never meet a person I didn't know to transact high value items in a parking lot, or out behind a wharehouse, or in a heroin shooting alley down on skid row.
Seems to me the seller might have been trying to sell stolen goods.
Seller made some critically bad decisions. I'm all for 2A and I'll gladly use deadly force if my life is threatened, but the way this was handled was irresponsible and careless.
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Thieves will be shot ..... I hope he remembers not to take things that don't belong to him, going forward.
I was trained in the military : "one shot, one kill ". Bad shot.
Although there is no cause for the use of deadly force. I get that too. But one less thief would make a better world.
I would have fired just like the seller did. I'd prefer to argue with the judge about my rights to defend my property then to be the victim of crime and have to rely on the police.
The substantial truth doctrine is an important defense in defamation law that allows individuals to avoid liability if the gist of their statement was true.
I strongly disagree with several of the posters here. The whole point of “stand your ground” is for defense of life, not possessions. And while the premise of that law makes sense in theory, in practice it’s become basically an excuse to shoot anybody you feel like shooting as long as you feel “threatened” which in this case, with the thief running away, the seller was not. I personally hope the seller is arrested and made an example of by the justice system. IMO he’s just another idiot with a self-serving take on self defense who should have his right to carry a firearm stripped.
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if I'm reading this right, the lesson is to be quick to draw so the robber doesn't have time to turn around
I once did a $2K coin deal (a Dahlonega half-eagle) … with someone I had never met … in the parking lot of a truck stop. 😂
I never even got out of the car. He stood outside my driver’s side window while the deal was done. (One wonders what the passers-by must have thought.)
No gunfire needed to be exchanged. Not that I could have, anyway. If things had gone sideways, the worst I could’ve done would have been to throw an empty McDonald’s cup at him.
Remember that deal, @PerryHall ? Was nice to finally meetcha. 😉
Oh, and as to the event discussed, I agree that the seller/victim was too impulsive and overreacted. But I hope he gets his coins back and isn’t in too much legal trouble.
As to the alleged thief, if he really did snatch the coins, I’m sorta glad he got shot and injured (not killed). Hopefully the wounds are minor and he recovers eventually- but with enough pain to teach him a lesson.
Does anyone have a coin to post with a firearm on it?
Or perhaps a depiction of a coin sale robbery?
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I would have made sure he didn't make it to his car.
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One decent place to do an in-person deal is at a local show standing right in front of security staff / police. This is my go-to strategy if a new acquaintance wants to meet in person.
Safety and security are more important than any particular deal. Avoid places where a deal could go sideways.
If parties are impatient and can’t wait for the next local show, USPS works just fine.
Manslaughter?
I haven't see anything in this thread that would elicit a man's laughter.
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Comment about where to shoot them to make them wisht they'd been killed pre-deleted.
Dealers paying for tables at coin shows don't like collectors doing this. If you do you may be asked to leave.
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I remember that transaction very well. It's always great to meet a fellow forum member.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
If you want to stay out of prison I’d suggest not shooting somebody in the back as they are running away from you. Also be prepared to lose all your assets in the civil trial.
Under what conditions do you have the right to protect your property? For instance someone stealing your car right in front of you.
It’s really dependent on what State you live in. I have a ccw permit and carry all day everyday and in my State in order to use deadly force your life or the life of somebody else needs to be threatened. If it’s an iffy situation and you shoot you will be charged and have to prove to a Jury you acted correctly. And the person you shot or relatives will file a a civil suit and sue you regardless of the criminal trial outcome.
Leary of online transacting but I guess no gunfire.
Casual collector, mostly Morgans & Peace Dollars.
Now that I think about it, I met Lord M at a parking lot and bought a coin also recently.
I don’t recall him throwing a McDonald’s cup at me though.
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I’m surprised by the responses here.
Never did it.... BUT .....thought about it many times.
IF I ever "meet" a buyer..... it will be at MY BANK !!
For the safety of BOTH parties.
Any reluctance to that and I would kill the deal.
The most amazing thing is that the shooter managed to hit the guy running away.
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By shooting an unarmed thief? Never.
Your physical well being needs to be at risk.
I did a sale to a guy I didn't know, I was selling silver eagles by the roll. He wanted 10 rolls and we met at my bank to do the transaction.
We sat at a table and he went through all the coins and then just went to the teller to withdraw the money
No problems and I thought it was a safe place to conduct business
That was back in 2010, not sure I would do it again, times have changed..............
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from Fox 4 KDFW...............
A man matching the description of the buyer was taken to a Fort Worth hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.
That man, 34-year-old Booker Ross, suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Police say Ross will be booked into jail on one count of theft from a person.
No one else was injured in the shooting, and it did not impact mall operations, according to police.
Fox 4 KDFW Link
The whole point of “stand your ground” depends on state law.
Texas law states that you have no duty to retreat when there is a reasonable belief you are in danger and it extends to your home, vehicle, or job. You can justify the use of deadly force if you believe it was absolutely necessary to prevent a violent crime like sexual assault, kidnapping, murder, or robbery.
When a person breaks the law they risk arrest, physical altercation and/or death, whether they are a smart career criminal or a first time offender. I have no sympathy for their outcome, any of them. Even if they end up becoming the victim of the their own act.
The only time deadly force is justified, is if your life, or the life of another is in imminent danger.
Okay, so I guess his mistake was that he let the robbery take place without first drawing his weapon to prevent it? I did read that right?
Edited to add: I think the premise of the law is such that you can use or discharge a firearm in order to prevent a crime from taking place against you or a loved one, or anyone really. There is inherent risk in an emergent situation, and one could never be sure of the perpetrator’s actions in a defensive situation, so there is a “fear for life” implied in the act. But once the crime has occurred you can’t just go all vigilante and start shooting to maybe kill.
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Matt’s Mattes
I'm doing a deal with a stranger in a parking lot and I'm taking a gun with me.....
I believe a person always has a right to protect themselves and their property, even though I acknowledge that the law doesn't always recognize that right.