Footage of an armed robbery from August, 2017 was released by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.
Gregory Franklin Westfall entered Big Buck’s Pawn Shop on College Park Road in Ladson, North Carolina and asked to see an AR-15. After a brief conversation with an employee, Westfall drew a loaded magazine from his back pocket and inserted it into the rifle.
The 36-year-old appeared mentally disturbed as he spoke with the employee saying that Russians had “contacted him about 9/11.” The customer-turned-robber then chambered a round and began retreating toward the front door. The employee drew his own handgun and opened fire from concealment as Westfall fled the building.
Two armed employees can be seen moving toward the front door before Westfall fired multiple shots through the adjacent window.
According to CBS News, Westfall still had the AR-15 and was wearing ballistic armor when he was finally arrested in a wooded area behind the shopping center. Westfall was charged with two counts of attempted murder, armed robbery, and a weapons charge.
Westfall spoke about the robbery during his arraignment saying, “My actions were poor in choice. However, due to the circumstances of my life and the abuse that has been struck against me, I do rise in protest. And I arise in violent protest. That’s all I would like to say.”
Unmoved by Westfall’s words, Judge James Hinson of Berkeley County Bond Court denied bond and sent Westfall back to jail.
Watch security footage of the robbery below. What do you think the employees could have done differently?