It is unclear from the video if he got a round off or not.
While it is easy to be critical of this incident, as we have the luxury of knowing the outcome, some of us, especially those who made a profession of actually hunting the worst predators that prey on the weak of society need to bear a couple things in mind;
After watching the video the first thought was "He should have kept his hands up and visible, to show (or give the illusion) he was not a threat to the two scumbags."
Even if to mentally have them orient themselves elsewhere.
That said,
Most who have hunted that particular 1% of the human race can relate to the mental process of looking at a person and pre-gaming your attack mode. Maybe not necessarily in this case, but thinking
"I am going to leg sweep/face grab and drive this dude's head into the dirt, followed by knee drive to the Solar Plexus" (Thus ending 99% of crap before it becomes a knock down drag out)
Thus following my personal #1 rule of "
where the head goes, the body follows".
Anyways, while I would like to think I would have not done anything, kept hands visible and let these guys do their bit, and let them walk, as long as they did not get physically violent, or start shooting, I also bear in mind that some of us are wired a certain way.
In short, I don't fault this guy one bit, as he stepped up. He just bit off more than he could chew.
A lot of guys think that if they have a gun and poke holes in paper that is all the training they need. They are absolutely fooling themselves.
I have read stuff on here about how so and so will neatly put two rounds from his J Frame into the button of villain # 1 and then two rounds into villain #2, as if these guys are going to hold perfectly still.
Reality is more like trying to make hits on a dude rushing you, during the initial snap of an NFL game. That is how fast some of these guys are moving, and how agile these guys are.
Plus they are shooting at you.
On top of that, if you have deliberately, unknowingly or whatever, put yourself between them and freedom, they are coming right through you.
The other thing I read constantly, is "I am not a cop, I will just run/walk away". That is fine, "IF" it is the type of criminal that is oriented to let you.
In this video you saw how easily one of the guys leaped over the counter top, as easily as many of the posters here step off of a curb. How many guys here can leap over a 4 foot tall counter and not even touch it with your shoes?
Do you honestly think you are going to pull the NIKE Defense if one of these guys has other plans?
This is all where getting serious about making fast and accurate hits with a gun that you shoot very well (versus one you find comfortable) comes into play.
This is NOT where I want a POS .380 Bodyguard, Keltec, or other pocket gun.
This is also where I want to consider having actually spent some time training, not just range masturbation.
It is easy to go make noise and feel good about poking holes in big targets without a timer, never really pushing yourself to improve and tell yourself that you are good.
Find an accomplished shooter, who is better than you and go shoot with them. Have him critique you. Critique each other. Spend the majority of your time working on your weaknesses, not your strengths.
I have a very good buddy who is a grand master level shooter. He is and always will be a better shooter than I am. He is great to shoot with, as I get feedback that helps me improve.
He also happens to be a master at the art of making holsters!
He is shown here in the black with Ken H.
When I first started shooting IPSC/USPSA long ago, I spent years squadding up with him. I always learned something. It never hurt my ego one bit to be beat by a guy who was simply a better shooter. He and others like him on the "super squad"made me a much better shooter than I ever could have been otherwise.
Anyways, there are a lot of good lessons to be learned here, and though this man may have failed, he stepped up. Using his video to generate discussion and learn some lessons is one way to actually in a small way say thanks stepping into the arena.
Teddy Roosevelt:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."