LA: Rare Rifle Robbery

I occasionally see where rifles are used in crime.  It is rare enough that it is noteworthy.  The reasons are simple and easily understood.  Rifles are much harder to conceal, and criminals do not like to draw attention to themselves.  To rob someone, criminals want compliance; to get compliance, they need to be close.  If you are close, it is much easier to disarm someone who has a rifle than it is someone who is armed with a handgun.

I was taught in the Army; a rifle gives you more to grab on to, and more leverage to twist it from the other persons grip.   In close quarters, rifles are harder to manuever.  That is why militaries issue pistols and short rifles to armored vehicle crews.   A pistol is easily handled with one hand, which leaves the other hand free to accomplish tasks such as opening a cash register, or hanging onto valuables.

Pistols were used to commit murder in the United States 6,371 times in 2012, while rifles were used in 322, according to the FBI.  That is a ratio of 20 to one.  The disadvantage of  the use of rifles in crime is illustrated by this story out of New Orleans.  From nola.com:

Jarreau allegedly stole a 2009 Ford Fusion and a .22 rifle from a Prairieville home and then drove to Walker and entered the home "without consent" and armed with the rifle, according to authorities.

There were two adults, and one juvenile inside who were held against their will for nearly three hours. Investigators say Jarreau then took their phones and keys, and ordered them to search the home for drugs and money.

As Aaron Neames, who authorities say is an acquaintance of Jarreau, returned to his home in Walker, Jarreau fired three shots inside the home. After the shots were fired, a fight then broke out between the two and Neames was able to take the gun away from Jarreau.

Not only does Aaron Neames take away the rifle, but as Jarreau runs to the car that he brought to the residence, and gets inside, Jarreau uses the rifle to shoot at him multiple times, and manages to get one of the soft, low powered .22 rounds though the car glass and or metal.  He wounds the man who just attempted to kill him, the bullet striking Jarreau in the shoulder.  Police capture Jarreau, but they also arrest Neames, who is charged with attempted murder.

Perhaps there are issues that we do not understand.  Jarreu is 17, so we do not know if he has a criminal record;  no mention is made of a record for Neames. 
As an aside, while I was not there, and am not Neames, how was he to know that Jarrew was not attempting to access another weapon that he had in the car?

The lack of a criminal record fits with the use of the rifle.  The use of such a weapon is the mark of an inexperienced criminal.

 ©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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