Would-be robber picks wrong motel, gets shot
Audio clip
America's Best Inn 911 - Call 1
Audio clip
America's Best Inn 911 - call 2
A motel clerk shot and critically wounded a masked man early Tuesday during an apparent armed robbery in North Charleston.
Christopher Robert Barr, 34, told police that a man in a ski mask ran into the lobby at America's Best Inns & Suites on Fain Street about 1:20 a.m., pointed something at him and demanded money, according to a police report. But the clerk had a gun as well.
Barr fired twice, the man walked a few feet and fell to the ground.
"Don't move. Don't aim," Barr can be heard telling the man during a 911 call to police. "He's hurt. I just shot at him. He's on the ground. He needs help, like bad. He's still alive, and he needs help."
Police found a black pistol on the ground near the wounded man, the report said.
James Brandon Johnson, 20, of Clements Avenue in North Charleston, was critically wounded, according to the report. He will be charged with attempted robbery, police spokesman Spencer Pryor said.
Pryor said there were no charges against Barr on Tuesday night and that police continue to investigate the incident. Pryor wasn't sure whether Barr was the registered owner of the .25-caliber pistol he used or if he was legally permitted to carry it, but he hoped to have answers to those questions today.
The motel had been robbed recently, and Barr kept the gun in his pocket for protection, the report said.
Motel officials would not allow Barr to comment about the shooting.
"He's kind of shaken up," said Bright Norman, general manager. "We're proud of him."
Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
Zod (anonymous) says...
I'm proud of him too. Give him a raise!
July 18, 2007 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
I'm sure the nuts are about to spill out of the looney jar and start crying about how the perpetrator was the victim here. Give Barr a raise.
July 18, 2007 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
I am proud that Barr had the guts to do what he did. After listening to the 911 tape one could tell he was very upset. He had every right to defend himself. I say, " YOU GO, BOY! You know the bleeding hearts are going to start screaming over this. Save the drama for your mama, please.
July 18, 2007 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
robert8096 (anonymous) says...
Good job Barr!!! Just one suggestion. Get a larger caliber gun and frangible rounds and put them down for good. Save us taxpayers some money.
Yep can just about count on some relative showing up on the evening news telling people how much of a good citizen the robber was and he just got mixed up with the wrong crowd.
Then there is going to be the ones who want to sue Barr and the hotel chain because the poor good citizen robber can no longer work and will be in pain for the rest of his life.
July 18, 2007 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
HE IS BETTER THAN ME ,,, CAUSE IF I WOULD HAVE SHOT HIM, ID MAKE DAM SURE I KILL HIM OR PARALIZE HIM SO HE COULD NEVER DO THAT AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE ONE LESS ROGUE ON THE STREET.....
July 18, 2007 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
GOOD POST MAJOR, I THINK ME AND YOU THINK ON THE SAME LINES....
July 18, 2007 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mf105 (anonymous) says...
Who cares if was the owner of the gun? he was working for a living not robbing people. Was the bad guy legally permitted to carry his gun?
July 18, 2007 at 2:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
YOU ARE RIGHT !!! GOD WILL WORK IT OUT, BUT WE CAN HELP HIM A LITTLE BIT.... I KNOW THTAS CRAZY TO SAY... BUT I CAN NOT STAND ROGUES OR ANYBODY THAT STEALS..HE GOT WHAT HE DESERVES AND SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE.
July 18, 2007 at 3:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
Me to cvs , that is why I sounded so crazy saying what I did, I guess my feelings just take over Im just glad I dont own a gun.
July 19, 2007 at 8:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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