Bank President Greets Robber —With Colt .380

Peoples Bank in Missouri supports concealed gun rights
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 1, 2012 11:18 AM CDT

A bank robber in a Chucky mask got more than he bargained for when he stole $4,779 from the family-owned Peoples Bank & Trust in Missouri this week—the business end of a Colt .380 handgun. The robbery was witnessed by bank president David W. Thompson, who followed the 58-year-old out to the parking lot and drew his gun as the robber sat in his Ford pickup, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. When the robber indicated he, too, had a gun and might use it, Thompson discouraged the idea. "You don’t want to go there,” Thompson told him. “This will end badly.”

Police say that the man charged, Donald Ray Lee, didn't even have a gun. But Thompson's response might not have been all that surprising—the bank prominently features a sign at the front door announcing concealed weapons are allowed. “I didn’t have time to get scared,” said Thompson, 58, a life member of the National Rifle Association. "I was excited. Your adrenaline pumps. He robbed a bank, he menaced my employees, and I don’t allow that.” Lee's neighbor said she thinks Lee may be suffering from dementia. (More Missouri stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X