AutoZone Fires Worker Who Stopped Armed Robbery.

[Titan]

This proves yet again that some companies are run by complete idiots!

An AutoZone worker who stopped an armed robbery by retrieving a weapon from his truck said he was fired by the company for violating their gun policy.


http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/autozone-fires-worker-who-stopped-robbery.html

[saddlesore]

The only mistake he made was not shooting the robber.
I'll go to the Advance Auto across the street.

[Hook#3287]

Go to AUTOZONE.COM and at the bottom is a "contact us" button.  Tell em what you think.

I tried to state "Get in the Zone"  "The come in and rob & kill us zone!"

But the site wouldn't let me use those words.

So I told them I would never set foot in any of their stores until they rehired Devin McLean.

[MacDragon]

I'll be doing my business elsewhere as well.  There is a PeP Boys,  Advanced Auot, NAPA and locals all within the same distance from me.  What buttheads they are to fire him.

[Jess from VA]

AutoZone

Add another company to my...... will not shop list.

[Titan]

A friend of mine told me on Facebook today that she called that store on the phone to express her thoughts and they just hung up on her.
I'm guessing the company will come out with some kind of public statement soon. Bad news and public scorn travels fast these days.

There's a Facebook page supporting a boycott and it's getting a lot of hits. It's gone from around 400 'likes" this morning to over 3000 currently.

http://www.facebook.com/BoycottAutozoneInSupportOfDevinMcclean

[MacDragon]

Go to AUTOZONE.COM and at the bottom is a "contact us" button.  Tell em what you think.

I tried to state "Get in the Zone"  "The come in and rob & kill us zone!"

But the site wouldn't let me use those words.

So I told them I would never set foot in any of their stores until they rehired Devin McLean.

I did that just a little bit ago.  Left a comment that Devin McLean saved the life of one of their managers and you tret him like this... What kind of a message are you sending.   Idiots.

[3fan4life]

I just sent Autozone the following email via their website:

I just read the story about the unjust firing of Devin McClean. And I must ask WTF were you thinking? I do not know this young man but I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is a HERO. Unless he is apologized to and rehired and the IDIOT that fired him is canned, I will shop for auto parts exclusively at Advance Auto and will NEVER set foot inside an Autozone store again.

I realize that they may not care about an email from a single person. But if enough of us send similar massages to that and follow through with our refusal to shop at their store. Then maybe they will listen.

I am also sending an email to EVERYONE that I know who owns a gun and or would consider this to be an outrage,  encouraging them to contact Autozone as well.

[fudgie]

That sucks.  A-Z is the only store in my town open after 5p.

 I open carry in mine all the time and they even give my a HUGE discount cause I do so.

I also expect to be fire from my job someday. But, my partner & I will be alive to be fired. At least I hope so, but if not, I hope she is.

[Rams]

Sent them a short note advising them that since they have now openly invited armed robbery into their stores that I'll feel safer visiting the Advance Auto Parts across the street.

Having (at one time in my life) a member of the corporate rule making team for a large corporation, I fully understand and support work place rules and yet, I also acknowledge and understand that there are circumstances where a Zero Tolerance Rules is not applicable or appropriate to enforce.

Sure, the out come of his actions could have been that someone got shot and killed but, that situation is a result of the robber's decisions and actions.  Would have never happened had the initial robbery had not been attempted.

[Skinhead]

I just sent Autozone the following email via their website:

I just read the story about the unjust firing of Devin McClean. And I must ask WTF were you thinking? I do not know this young man but I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is a HERO. Unless he is apologized to and rehired and the IDIOT that fired him is canned, I will shop for auto parts exclusively at Advance Auto and will NEVER set foot inside an Autozone store again.

I realize that they may not care about an email from a single person. But if enough of us send similar massages to that and follow through with our refusal to shop at their store. Then maybe they will listen.

I am also sending an email to EVERYONE that I know who owns a gun and or would consider this to be an outrage,  encouraging them to contact Autozone as well.

I left a similar message, but added that since they informed the criminal element of their zero tolerance policy, that I hoped their stores become regular targets until they make things right.

IDIOTS!

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

If that a crock of sh#tt I don't know what is. I hope he gets a better job out of all of this.Maybe somebody in his area is looking for a good man with morals and a strong sense of what is right.

[old2soon]

I went to auto zone a couple of times but NO MORE will i enter their places of business. Sounds to me as if the dipshits in charge would have been happier with their employees hurt or killed. I have O'reilly Napa and a bunch of locals available to take my money. Think i'll stop at the 2 i know of and tell them WHY i will not spend my money there anymore. RIDE SAFE.
                                                                                             

[donaldcc]

  a very nice lady i work with was in a restaurant not long ago with her 5 yo son having breakfast.  she is friends with the owners and goes there frequently.  she saw a man walking in pull a gun just as he was nearing entrance.  she pulled her son down under the table and sat watching the events unfold.  the criminal approached the cash register, demanded money that was given right away, and left.  not much money, but he was in and out quickly.  no one was hurt, a few dollars lost and the customers were not harmed.

  i know this could have turned out differently, but i wonder what i would have done had i been there armed.  i think doing nothing would have been best. and i think that the autozone robbery is the same.  i believe most of these events are in and out robbery and confrontation is dangerous and puts lives at risk.  i do feel strongly about personal defense, but wonder about john doe employee confronting a thief who probably wants to get out as quick as possible.  some seem to say he should have come in shooting.  may have put innocents at risk.

  seems easy for some but makes me think of consequences.



 

[czuch]

I got robbed at gunpoint when I was younger. A lot younger. That .38 had a hole in the end of it I could have stuck my head in. The 68.00 he got away with was insured. This lad has a cool head.
 I havent been to an auto zone for many years due to several competence issues.
I.E., Is that 69 VW van air cooled?
 1961 Galaxie, who made that, my computer dosent go back that far.
Et al.

[DIGGER]

I hit the contact button and told them I would not be trading at their store till they rehired Devin McLean......and I'll do just that.

[Hook#3287]

i think doing nothing would have been best. and i think that the autozone robbery is the same.  i believe most of these events are in and out robbery and confrontation is dangerous and puts lives at risk.

I feel your wrong on this one.  I believe the perp made the manager move to the office.  To me, that says the perp was looking for more than just the cash register $$ and a quick in&out robbery.  Once they have you cornered in a small room like an office or cooler, your done, if they want no witness.

Doing nothing may be the best way to handle a armed robbery, even if you have the ability to confront and stop, but  Devin McLean was forced into the mens room, left alone, escaped, returned armed and saved his co-worker.

HERO!

[MAD6Gun]

[quotei think doing nothing would have been best. and i think that the autozone robbery is the same.  i believe most of these events are in and out robbery and confrontation is dangerous and puts lives at risk. ][/quote]

 Spoken like a true liberal. How many times have you heard that the perp shot and killed the store worker because it was not enough money or just didnt want to leave a witness. I personaly would not hope that the perp would not hurt someone because he just wanted to "get in and out" as you say. As far as I am concerned he gave up his right be safe the minute he pulled a gun and demanded money. At that point he is fair game.

 I will also not go to Autozone until he is rehired.

[Hook#3287]

Another point on this robbery and it's outcome.  

Obviously, the perp made a move after Devin McLean drew on him, when the perp escaped and Mclean DID NOT shoot him.

He did nothing but save his manager.

I'm not sure I would have been as calm or forgiving.  I'm pretty sure the perp would have had a hole in him.

[donaldcc]

  seems like 2 issues to me.  should autozone have fired the employee?  probably not.

  how to correctly handle the criminal if you were there and armed?  i'm not sure about that. i do agree that criminal with gun gives up his rights but am not sure that coming in with guns blazing would always be the best.  
   
  in this instance, no loss of life or injury and criminal forced out under gunpoint. 


 

[Kep]

Just e-mailed and phoned Autozone customer service..seems as though the young lady in customer service has been taking alot of calls on this situation .haha.She seemed prepared in how to respond to my comments.I get a feeling Mr. McLean will be getting his job back ..or maybe a job at Pep Boys,Advance Auto, etc...maybe even the firearms dept at Cabellas !!I commend any man who risks his own life to save anothers...you never know what a CRIMINAL with a gun is going to do , however , a RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN  with a gun  ..I would trust !

[PharmBoy]

Posted on Facebook to allert friends about such an "Un-American" action by Auto Zone.  It is for sure that "The Media" will not run this story.  I also have several other avenues for procuring auto parts and an occasionaly needed procurment for a motorcycle.  I will no longer be making any purchases in Auto Zone...Jim  

[Valker]

If someone enters a store with a drawn gun they are saying "I am ready to kill anyone who doesn't obey me or anyone who stands between me and what I want". They are showing they regard human life as less important than a couple hundred dollars (maybe that much). That makes them an immediate danger to my family and me. I will use deadly force against someone like that and not trust that they might be a liar.

[MAD6Gun]

how to correctly handle the criminal if you were there and armed?  i'm not sure about that. i do agree that criminal with gun gives up his rights but am not sure that coming in with guns blazing would always be the best.  

 He didnt come  in "guns ablazing". The criminal saw the gun and beat feet out the door. He would have been justified shooting the POS if he had needed to. Like if the criminal had made a move toward the manager or himself.

 In most cases just the presence of a gun will make a criminal make for an exit. Criminals like "easy" targets. An victim with a gun is not an easy target.

How would I have handled this? I would have told the perp to drop the gun. If he made a threatening move he would get shot. Plain and simple. If you take the time to think what he "might" do with his gun you or someone else could be killed.

[donaldcc]

 

  Not arguing w you MAD6Gun.  Sounded like he handled it appropriately. It's just a dangerous situation that had lots of bad outcomes and it seems like the way it ended was one of the best possible.

[Serk]

When you shine a bright enough light onto it and all the cockroaches are forced to scurry back under cover, these stories CAN have happy endings... Anyone remember this one?

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,45301.0.html

[Daniel Meyer]

If someone enters a store with a drawn gun they are saying "I am ready to kill anyone who doesn't obey me or anyone who stands between me and what I want". They are showing they regard human life as less important than a couple hundred dollars (maybe that much). That makes them an immediate danger to my family and me. I will use deadly force against someone like that and not trust that they might be a liar.

This.

[fudgie]

In most cases just the presence of a gun will make a criminal make for an exit. Criminals like "easy" targets. An victim with a gun is not an easy target.

Your correct!  Do you know this is a very common answer for people that open carry? 

[WamegoRob]

Me:
I'll not return to AutoZone until I hear that Devin McLean has been re-hired and thanked for his selflessness.
Your gun policy is great for taking care of goofball employees that want to have a gun show inside the store, but what Mr. McLean did was heroic.
You've only begun to see the repercussions of your disservice; I expect a resolution soon.
Thank you for listening to your customers.

ps: How many customers have written to say, "Good job on firing that kid?"

AutoZone:
Thank you for submitting your question or comment to AutoZone.com. You will be contacted shortly.

I'll let you know if I hear back   

[Tx Bohemian]

Wow! There's a lot of Wild West computer "cowboys" on here.

It's easy to sit here calmly on our keyboards, reading this story, getting infuriated and say things like he should've shot him or I'd put a hole in him!!

I don't think any of us know how we'd handle a situation like this unless we're there.  
I'd like to think I'd blow his sh!t away too but, in reality, I'd probably freeze and soil myself!

Personally I think McLean did exactly what he was supposed to do; confronted the perp, with a gun, and scared him away.  And seeing all the support he is getting I'd venture to say this is going to be one hell of a Christmas for him and his family.
If he would have shot him he (McLean) may find himself in the same shape as two of my other heros, Joe Horn and George Zimmerman.  Depending on the nationality of the perp.

As far as shopping at Autozone, for me it is the last place I go anyway.  They'd have to be the ONLY place in town that had something I needed.
But I've been doing this for many years now for the same reason as czuch stated.