1 Nov 01

Incident just occurred near Durban. From a friend in the area:

"A shooting incident involving an AIT (assets in transit) team (your students) took place last week in Pietermaritzburg, near Durban.

Our AIT guys (team of three) entered a client's premises (KFC restaurant) to pick up receipts. Three men sitting at a table stood up and produced firearms as soon as our guys started to leave. One of our guys immediately drew his pistol shot all three before any of them could fire. All three were hit at once and disabled. They quickly decided to surrender. Our guy fired fifteen rounds from his CZ-75. All found their mark!

Our guys then went outside and were promptly confronted by three more armed attackers! One of our guys was shot in the pelvis as he tried to reach the safety of the armored vehicle. Another of our guys was hit in the arm (the same guy who had shot the three robbers on the inside of the restaurant). Despite his wounds, he fired at all three attackers, severely wounding two and killing the third.

During the exchange, the three robbers on the outside fired several dozen rounds at our officers. As noted above, two of our guys were hit. However, four bystanders were also shot, one fatally. Bystanders were all hit by rounds fired by the robbers. All rounds fired by our guys struck suspects. Adhering to their training, they used their sights!

The five remaining robbery suspects, now all wounded, surrendered. They were subsequently arrested."

Lessons:

>Without a winning mindset, born of a firm foundation of competence and a personal commitment to victory, weapons skills by themselves are of little real use. Legitimate warriors are always looking for (and finding) a way to win. Grass eaters spend their time looking for an excuse to lose.

>DON'T RELAX TOO SOON! After shooting three suspects, many would consider the fight to be over. Our student, adhering to his training, reloaded at his first opportunity and stayed in fighting mode. His competence and alertness was rewarded. When confronted by three additional suspects just moments later, he was ready. He finished the fight! As we've seen before, "high morale," when it has no legitimate foundation, is little more than groundless arrogance. It will fall apart when the first shot is fired.

/John