Man wounds 2 robbers in Ybor City, police say

As a group of four men tried to rob him after he got off work, police say, he shot at them with a pistol.

By SARAH SCHWEITZER

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 29, 2000

TAMPA -- The semi-automatic handgun tucked in his waistband seemed almost a part of Louis Place's work uniform. It was always with him as he came and went from his bartending job at the Empire Bar in Ybor City -- visible enough to deter thugs looking to dip into his tip jar.

But the thought of actually using it seemed remote.

"I'd always said that I'd never use this gun unless I thought I was going to die," Place said of the .40-caliber pistol he bought as a backup for hog hunting.

Early Friday morning, the 25-year-old had just a few seconds to make that calculation when four Lakeland men jumped him as he was leaving the Empire with his $139 take for the evening.

As one of the men reached for the pistol, Place fired.

"I really didn't think I had it in me, but I was in fear for my life," he said.

The gunfire injured two of the Lakeland men, police said. Joshua Dow, 21, was shot in the leg, was treated and released into police custody. Jeremy Mixon, 24, was hit by a bullet in the upper chest and was listed in good condition at Tampa General Hospital.

Police said they captured the four men at 22nd Street and Hillsborough Avenue a few minutes after the shooting. They were treating the bullet wounds when they were caught, police said.

Besides Dow and Jeremy Mixon, police arrested Ryan Mixon, 20, and Lee Hill, 22.

All four were arrested on robbery charges. Ryan Mixon, Hill and Dow are being held at the Hillsborough County jail. Bail was set at $7,500.

Prosecutors will review the shooting to determine whether Place acted within state law, police said.

Place, who does not have a concealed weapons permit, likely was within his legal rights to carry the gun tucked in his pants, police said. A permit is not required to carry a gun a short distance from a place of work to a vehicle.

Police said it was not clear whether the men were waiting for Place or randomly targeted him.

"These four individuals are not speaking to us right now," said police Capt. John Garcia.

The attack happened at about 3:45 a.m. Police said the men approached Place as he was about to climb into his truck. Place was holding a translucent cup with his earnings for the night, police said.

The four men piled out of a car and jumped him, police said.

Place said he remembered hearing, "Get his gun."

"So I grabbed it in my hand and tried to secure it so they couldn't get it and aim it at me," he said.

As he lay on the ground and the four men kicked him, Place said he fired several shots. The four men scrambled away and he slunk along a wall toward approaching police, careful to let them know he had the gun but was a robbery victim, he said. Place said he planned to return to work Friday night. The money is good, he says, and helps him get by while he tries to start a lawn-mowing business.

But wasn't he spooked by the possibility of another attack?

"No, not really. I think the likelihood of this happening to me again is really slim," he said.

Just the same, he added, "I would like my gun back."

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