Defensive gun use in Harlem

Amazingly the NY Times had an article on their blog about this. The man who used the gun defensively waited until after an employee was being attacked.

A 72-year-old Harlem business owner used a shotgun to blast four men who tried to rob his restaurant-supply business Thursday afternoon, killing two and sending two others to the hospital with gunshot wounds, the New York City police said.

The business, the Kaplan Brothers Blue Flame Corporation, at 523 West 125th Street, near Amsterdam Avenue, sells commercial gas and electric ranges, as well as parts and repairs.

The police said that the four would-be robbers entered the business and announced that they were robbing it. One of them took out a 9-mm pistol and started to pistol-whip a 33-year old employee inside the store. The owner then took out a shotgun and opened fire, striking the four men.

Public records identify the owner as Charles J. Augusto Jr., 72.

It was not immediately clear whether the owner had a license for the shotgun. . . .