Suspect Grabs Fallen Gun and Pulls Trigger at Police Officer: A Close Call

It was belatedly revealed through a trial that during a physical struggle between a police officer and a robbery suspect, the suspect picked up a fallen firearm and pulled the trigger toward the officer.

Fortunately, a misfire prevention device attached to the trigger prevented a major casualty.

According to the legal community today (Sept. 10), the 11th Criminal Division of the Ulsan District Court (Presiding Judge Park Dong-gyu) recently sentenced a man in his 50s, identified as A, to eight years in prison on charges including attempted murder and attempted special robbery.

In April of this year, during the daytime in an empty lot in Nam-gu, Ulsan, A tumbled to the ground and engaged in a physical struggle when Police Officer B, who had been pursuing him, tackled him from behind.

During the scuffle, the securing device of the holster attached to Officer B's vest broke, causing the firearm to fall to the ground.

A, who had a criminal record, believed he would face severe punishment if captured, so he grabbed the fallen gun first and pulled the trigger toward Officer B, who was 3 meters away.

However, the bullet did not fire because the trigger was caught by the misfire prevention device.

Officer B did not miss the moment, mounted A, pinned him down, and grabbed the wrist holding the gun, pressing it against the ground so he could not move.

A violently resisted and refused to let go of the gun, but was completely subdued about 10 minutes later when other police officers arrived at the scene and joined in.

Previously, A had been pursued after committing a robbery in broad daylight the day before.

At the time, as a woman opened the driver's side door of a parked vehicle and got in, A immediately opened the passenger door on the other side, got in with her, threatened her with a weapon, and forced her to drive to a secluded area.

Upon arriving at a motel parking lot, he attempted to tie the woman's hands and feet.

However, as the woman resisted by honking the car horn several times and screaming, A struck her in the face, attempted to confine her and rob her of valuables, and then fled.

The police identified the vehicle A used to escape and placed it on a wanted list. Upon confirming that the vehicle was captured by the Wanted Vehicle Search System (WASS), Officer B pursued A, leading to the physical struggle.

A committed these crimes just about three months after being released from prison after serving a prison sentence for gambling crimes, and Officer B sustained injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment.

The court stated, "The defendant's crime could easily have cost a police officer his life," adding, "Even in court, he shows no remorse and offers hard-to-believe excuses, such as claiming he picked up the gun to commit suicide."

The court further explained the sentencing reasons, stating, "Despite having numerous prior convictions for robbery resulting in injury, sex crimes, and violations of the Road Traffic Act, the defendant committed another crime during a period when he was subject to an aggravated penalty for repeated offenses, showing a remarkably weak awareness of the law. Severe punishment is necessary."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.