Incident At Lowes Parking Lot

When we (wife & myself) arrived at Lowes Hardware just after 8pm last night, we noticed a guy talking on his phone in a nearby sedan. Nobody else seen in the parking lot. After locking up, we walked to the other side of the lane before passing his vehicle. He got out just after we passed by, but remained on the other side of the lane while also walking towards the store. So far, nothing unusual. Just another store customer.

At that moment, we got distracted talking about the riding lawn mowers displayed out front. Just as we started across the drive in front of the store, he suddenly (surprisingly quickly) appeared a few feet behind us (within reach), lively moving side to side looking at us and back at our truck. The suddenness of his approach, along with his odd, brisk, movements so close, made us both stop and reach for our firearms (Beretta 9mm subcompacts). The weapons were not actually pulled or displayed.

Upon seeing our reaction, he started rambling about our truck, claiming he once worked at a Toyota dealership and had once owned one just like it. However, he didn't seem to know a lot about the Tacoma. For example, he thought ours was a 2009 instead of a 2012. In other words, he said little to reduce our apprehension. Anyway, after a few moments of curt, yet polite, responses from us, he walked on into the store.

To be honest, we don't know what this guy actually intended. The entire situation may have been entirely innocent. However, it was quite disconcerting, mainly because we had let our guard down enough for him to get so close without our sufficient awareness. And it only took seconds for him to close that distance. Just one more reminder (at least for us) of our vulnerability if not constantly aware.

 

Very good reminder to constantly be aware of your surroundings. Thanks for sharing and glad you and your wife were unharmed and safe.

 

Wow. Someone was walking too close to you so you went for your guns? Must be a lot o crime in your town?

 

thanks for sharing OP.

troll?

 

Sounds like he was up to no good. OP you bring up a good point. Always be aware of your surroundings...Always

 

i agree, i wouldnt go to that side of town if its that sketchy. i know you may not have a choice and it could happen anywhere, but thats what i would do

Troll

 

I'm glad things worked out for the best for you and your wife, that it didn't turn ugly. Yep, being aware is so important nowadays, no matter where you go.

I think it's great that you're allowed to carry and have that option to defend yourself, so many places don't allow it so the only ones carrying are the parasite criminals, making good people instant victims for the taking. The fact that you both reached for your weapons was probably what detered the guy from escalating things.

Thanks for sharing.

 

glad you and you’r wife are safe and nothing happened!

 

i dont have a firearm, but i always have my pocket knife in reach, if he had done that to me, it definitly would have been in my hand, i dont like people sneaking up on me, and i always scan my surroundings.

 

Could have been something, could have been nothing. Either way, you reacted and were ready. You didn't escalate and the situation difused itself. You went home safe with your wife.

The night had a good ending. Don't beat your self up over him getting so close. Stuff happens, and you were prepared to defend yourself if need be.

 

I dont care what side of town it is, I refuse to let a thug or anyone else keep me from where Im going

The Op did the right thing, handled it very well

I`d rather be judged by six than carried by six

 

He wasn't just walking. Instead, he very quickly covered a distance (in a direction which did not lead to the store, with no other stores or similar nearby) of roughly twenty to twenty-five feet to come up immediately behind us (again, within reach). The parking lot was dark. Nobody else was around. He was in his low to mid-30's. We're somewhat older, in a age group increasingly being targeted. We surely couldn't walk that fast. This particular part of town has a fairly low crime rate, but crime certainly isn't nonexistent. Actually, crime really isn't nonexistent anywhere, including Canada.

 

I completely understand how the OP reacted. It wasnt someone walking normally that got close. Ive had people waling downtown that would walk the other way on the sidewalk and as soon as they get behind they flip a bitch and follow you. Not exactly what he described but just socially un acceptable way to approach people or act. There are socially acceptable ways to walk around people and approach them and there are ways that people feel uncomfortable about. I applaud the OP for carrying and reacting the way he did. Could've been innocent could've been a purse snatcher or could've been worse.

 

This^^

 

from the op's description, there was no reason for this guy to alter direction, cover that much ground so quickly, and come up behind them...unless he was up to no good, or was just plain a little bit "off". if he just wanted to "chat" why move like that and approach from behind? in a dark parking lot, you just don't act that way without making people nervous. either way, having a means to defend yourself - just in case - and handling it the way the op and his wife did, was just plain textbook.

it irks me to no end how difficult it is to obtain a full carry where i live.

 

Not really certain that was the case. Also not really sure what made us aware of his approach. Anyway, once we did, I quickly stopped and turn to my left (the side of the lane he had been walking in when I last saw him, but he was now already behind us) with the firearm on my right. My body and jacket would have hidden the weapon and much of my movements.

At the same time, my wife was already reaching into her purse (to find paper to note mower prices), with that hiding her weapon. With hands on our firearms, we both froze for several seconds as we took in his actions (that pause & my discussion with the wife afterwards is why I remember all this so well).

Regardless, he may have noticed that we were reaching for weapons - or it all could have just been a chance encounter with someone curious about our truck. Will likely never know.

 

i dunno who it was, just sayin honey, this girl knows how to use a gun just havent gotten around to gettin a permit to carry yet, or find a pistol i like....soon

 

im getting ready to submit my paperwork for my Florida non-resident CCW permit. good in 31 states, lasts for 7 years, no test, no firing qualification. just sit through a 3-4 hour class and submit the paperwork.