Gas station clerk gives robber a lesson in martial arts

Doglips · 07-11-2004, 02:40 PM

Gas station clerk gives robber a lesson in martial arts

Instructor put self-defense training to good use during attempted holdup.

By BRIDGET MURPHY
The Times-Union
Note to potential robbers: Don't target martial arts instructors as victims.

A man stands accused of making that mistake Thursday, when police said he stuck a rifle in the chest of a 33-year-old gas station clerk outside a Jacksonville store in an attempted holdup.

Larry Nichols of Arlington was confronted early Thursday during his shift at the Gate Gas Station at 7211 Merrill Road by a robber. Nichols, a martial arts instructor, used self-defense techniques to subdue his assailant and hold him until police arrived.
BOB SELF/The Times-Union

But clerk Larry Nichols was ready.

Using moves he teaches students in his second job as a martial arts instructor, Nichols grabbed the robber by the neck, disarmed him and wrestled him to the ground, where he held him until police arrived minutes later.

"I've been trained," Nichols said Friday of his self-defense maneuvers. "I wouldn't recommend anyone else trying to play hero. But it was him or me."

Nichols had help from other bystanders, one of whom helped hold the robber on the ground, according to police. Nichols said another bystander went back into the gas station's convenience store and told another employee to call 911.

The incident happened at 1 a.m. Thursday at the Gate Gas Station at 7211 Merrill Road.

Nichols said he'd seen the man loitering around the store in the past. The robber had a cap pulled low over his face when he confronted the clerk, who was walking outside to get items from a storage building so he could re-stock the convenience store's shelves.

Nichols reacted instinctively when he felt the gun on his chest.

"I had a feeling he was probably going to shoot me," he said. "I pretty much close-lined him, then took him to a headlock and then to a submission hold."

But the robber wasn't giving up easily.

Jackson

"He's like 'Let me go.' And I'm like 'No way buddy! You pull a gun on me and you're down for the count!'"

Police arrested Quinton Jackson, 52, a transient, on charges of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and wearing a mask, hood or other device in public with intent to commit a crime. Jackson was jailed on $90,000 bail Friday.

bridget.murphyjacksonville.com, (904) 359-4161

07-11-2004, 02:40 PM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,088	Gas station clerk gives robber a lesson in martial arts Gas station clerk gives robber a lesson in martial arts Instructor put self-defense training to good use during attempted holdup. By BRIDGET MURPHY The Times-Union Note to potential robbers: Don't target martial arts instructors as victims. A man stands accused of making that mistake Thursday, when police said he stuck a rifle in the chest of a 33-year-old gas station clerk outside a Jacksonville store in an attempted holdup. Larry Nichols of Arlington was confronted early Thursday during his shift at the Gate Gas Station at 7211 Merrill Road by a robber. Nichols, a martial arts instructor, used self-defense techniques to subdue his assailant and hold him until police arrived. BOB SELF/The Times-Union But clerk Larry Nichols was ready. Using moves he teaches students in his second job as a martial arts instructor, Nichols grabbed the robber by the neck, disarmed him and wrestled him to the ground, where he held him until police arrived minutes later. "I've been trained," Nichols said Friday of his self-defense maneuvers. "I wouldn't recommend anyone else trying to play hero. But it was him or me." Nichols had help from other bystanders, one of whom helped hold the robber on the ground, according to police. Nichols said another bystander went back into the gas station's convenience store and told another employee to call 911. The incident happened at 1 a.m. Thursday at the Gate Gas Station at 7211 Merrill Road. Nichols said he'd seen the man loitering around the store in the past. The robber had a cap pulled low over his face when he confronted the clerk, who was walking outside to get items from a storage building so he could re-stock the convenience store's shelves. Nichols reacted instinctively when he felt the gun on his chest. "I had a feeling he was probably going to shoot me," he said. "I pretty much close-lined him, then took him to a headlock and then to a submission hold." But the robber wasn't giving up easily. Jackson "He's like 'Let me go.' And I'm like 'No way buddy! You pull a gun on me and you're down for the count!'" Police arrested Quinton Jackson, 52, a transient, on charges of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and wearing a mask, hood or other device in public with intent to commit a crime. Jackson was jailed on $90,000 bail Friday. bridget.murphyjacksonville.com, (904) 359-4161