Kayson Helms tries to hold up an AA meeting

[Unamused Cat]

Helms' MySpace: www.myspace.com/bones1234

A visitor to a Columbia Alcoholics Anonymous center on College Street shot and killed an 18-year-old man who tried to rob AA members at the center late Saturday night, city police said Sunday morning.

"Gimme what you got," witnesses quoted the suspected robber as saying when he entered the AA building at 2015 College St. about 10:48 p.m. Saturday. They said he brandished a .25 caliber handgun.

At that point, one AA visitor dropped something on the floor -- possibly his wallet -- and another AA visitor pulled a pistol out and shot the suspect several times in the chest, police said.

The dead robbery suspect was identified as Kayson Helms, 18, of Edison, New Jersey, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said Sunday.

Watts said an autopsy Sunday showed Helms was struck three times -- in the neck, abdomen, chest. Helms was taken to Palmetto Health Richland where he was pronounced dead at 11:24 p.m. Saturday night.

The person who fired his weapon and killed the suspect had a concealed weapons permit, police said.

http://www.thestate.com/136/story/747468.html

What you want to bet the shooter is a former cop?

[thebooblady]

Helms' MySpace: www.myspace.com/bones1234



http://www.thestate.com/136/story/747468.html

What you want to bet the shooter is a former cop?

Do they generally hold AA meetings amongst bars/clubs? This happened in 5 Points and that is where all the college kids go to party. The meeting was on a Saturday night. I just found that kind of strange, but glad that no one besides the criminal got hurt.

[petrina]

yeah, what fool tries to rob AA meetings? i mean, chances are you will have some street savvy peeps there, some peeps who are on edge already, some excops, and some peeps who have nothing to steal. that limits you.

besides, if you go into a meeting and tell them you are in trouble, they will prolly give you cash anyway bc they have been there. well, unless you say you want it for drugs. well, hell, maybe even then.

[Lizard]

:pound:

[Unamused Cat]

Do they generally hold AA meetings amongst bars/clubs? This happened in 5 Points and that is where all the college kids go to party. The meeting was on a Saturday night. I just found that kind of strange, but glad that no one besides the criminal got hurt.

I've no idea. Never been to an AA meeting.

[GlamourNoir]

EPIC...FUCKING...FAIL!

What an idiot. :rof2l:

[sherrz]

Do they generally hold AA meetings amongst bars/clubs? This happened in 5 Points and that is where all the college kids go to party. The meeting was on a Saturday night. I just found that kind of strange, but glad that no one besides the criminal got hurt.

The meetings my dad used to go to were never in bars... They usually had them in social clubs, conference rooms, hospitals, etc.

[runecire]

This is why I carry a concealed weapon. Anyone can be a victim at any time, but I prefer not to be outgunned.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

The article refers to it as an "Alcoholics Anonymous center", folks in AA usually refer to them as a "clubhouse". Meetings and clubhouses can be anywhere. Having them in an area where there is a lot of bars seems like a good idea. Maybe instead of the next drink, someone will go to a meeting.

I wonder if the guy even knew what kind of place he was robbing? I don't think clubhouses are noted for having money laying around (given the nature of the beast) and I doubt there were many "high rollers" hanging out at 10:30 on a Saturday night. Maybe he just saw folks going in and out and was desperate?

[Peeperann]

This is why I carry a concealed weapon. Anyone can be a victim at any time, but I prefer not to be outgunned.

Me too, actually

[Dakota Valkyrie]

The man who shot and killed an armed robber in April at a Five Points club for Alcoholics Anonymous members acted in justifiable self-defense, 5th Circuit Solicitor Barney Giese has ruled.

“It’s as clear a case as I’ve seen,” Giese said Wednesday. He has been the circuit’s top prosecutor for 14 years.

The decision means no charges will be filed.

Giese identified the man he cleared as James Corley, 61, a prominent Columbia lawyer.

Corley, a USC law school graduate, is a licensed concealed weapons permit holder and self-described recovering alcoholic who hasn’t taken a drink since 1981.

On April 11, Corley shot and killed Kayson Helms, 18, of Edison, N.J., not only to protect himself, but also to protect others on whom Helms had pulled a .25-caliber pistol, Giese said.

Helms entered the club, called the ACOA Club, with his gun drawn. When Corley rose from sitting on a couch, drew his gun from a back pocket and fired, Helms had already taken a cell phone at gunpoint from one AA member, so it was an actual — not attempted — armed robbery, Giese said.

Although The State published an interview with Corley days after the shooting, the newspaper identified him only as “Jim” because Columbia police said there was a possibility of retribution against him. They refused to be more specific.
[...]

Corley said later Wednesday he had no doubt he would be cleared — sooner or later.

“You would have a hard time finding a jury that would convict,” he said, adding he has no second thoughts. “I haven’t lost any sleep at all over it.”

Corley said he thinks he did exactly what he should have.

“I suspect they will use it as a textbook example in concealed weapons courses of a good, clean, legitimate shoot,” he said.

Corley declined to allow a photographer from The State to take his photo, but not for fear of retribution. As a lawyer who handles divorces, he sometimes is harassed by angry spouses, he said, and a photo would make their job easier.

Giese explained his thinking this way:

First, Corley and the others did nothing to provoke Helms’ actions.

And Helms was clearly a robber pointing a gun at people, including Corley, causing them to fear for their lives.

“At that point, he is entitled to use deadly force under our law,” said Giese. “He had a right to defend himself and the others.”
[...]

Another witness, Willie, 56, said the robber first pointed his pistol at him, then at Corley. Corley fired when the robber was aiming the gun at Corley’s chest, Willie told police.

Willie said he feared for his life. “I was glad Mr. Jim had a gun.”
[...]

Corley said he would like police to return his gun — a .32-caliber Kel-Tec semi -automatic.

Giese said he sees no objection to police returning Corley’s gun.

Meanwhile, Corley said, he’s carrying a spare gun these days — concealed, of course.

“Before, I just carried a gun because I felt undressed if I didn’t have it,” he said. “Now, after this, you never know what’s going to happen.

“I’m not looking for a situation to shoot somebody; I don’t want to be the one getting shot.”http://www.thestate.com/154/story/822525.html

[Amazon]

My space now deleted.

I want a concealed weapons permit. I have a 9mm, but I want the permit for blades.

[prettyuglyish]

Giese identified the man he cleared as James Corley, 61, a prominent Columbia lawyer.

Shouldn't they have identified him as "James C."? I guess he isn't anonymous now.

Buy that man a drink! :cheers: