General Discussion

stockholmer

(3,751 posts) Tue Mar 27, 2012, 11:40 AM Mar 2012

Florida store owner shoots teen in self-defense, killing him [View all]

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/Store-owner-shoots-teen-in-self-defense-killing-him

TAMPA, Fla. - Taquanda Baker doesn't remember the suspect saying anything. She just remembers seeing his gun. "I was standing here," she said, pointing to a spot near her cash register. "As I saw him coming, he already had the gun up." Baker pulled her gun out of her pocket, misfiring a shot into the wall, then aimed and shot again. "He stumbled about 3 feet back, hit the floor, and I shot out the door," she recalls. Baker ran outside her convenience store to Armenia Avenue and flagged down a TPD cruiser.

"I was like, 'I just shot somebody. Help me! Help me! Help me!" While paramedics raced the suspect to the hospital, police put Baker in handcuffs and in the backseat of a patrol car. She told them she not only knew the person she shot -- she knew he was only 16. "I used to tease with him, 'Why aren't you in school today?'" Baker explained. Baker calls Quintavius Moore a regular customer, who shopped in her store several times a day. He'd buy shirts or candy, sometimes he even brought kids in.

Moore's grandmother, Delores Wesley, wouldn't comment on her grandson's death, but asked ABC Action News to relay a message to other teens. "Stay in school," Wesley said. "Put God in your life." Knowing she killed Moore, even in self-defense, makes Baker sick. "It's a feeling in the inside. I can't explain it," Baker said. "It's like my heart's broken."

Baker bought the gun when she opened her store a couple years ago. She puts it in her pocket first thing every morning. She keeps it concealed, so she's not sure more even knew she had a gun, especially since this was the first time she's ever had to use it. "With $30 in the register, so if he was lucky enough to get the money, it would've just been $30," Baker said. "That's nothing. It's not worth your life."

snip

video at link above
-------------------------------
more video

http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/247290/250/Store-owner-heartbroken-after-shooting-teen-suspect

117 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Florida store owner shoots teen in self-defense, killing him [View all] stockholmer Mar 2012 OP

While I'm not a fan of guns or CCW.... Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2012 #1

Store vs. out in the street encounter. Baitball Blogger Mar 2012 #5

I gotta get out of the state of Florida HockeyMom Mar 2012 #2

More poor reporting..... rgbecker Mar 2012 #3

So she was clearly defending her self and property and she gets handcuffed. rhett o rick Mar 2012 #4

Actually he did too zipplewrath Mar 2012 #7

I would love to see a link to that. nm rhett o rick Mar 2012 #61

Twin Lakes Shooting Initial Report FrodosPet Mar 2012 #63

Whatthe??? That link didnt tell me shite. rhett o rick Mar 2012 #80

I saw it, on page 3.. (mostly) X_Digger Mar 2012 #85

Thanks. I missed it. nm rhett o rick Mar 2012 #95

Probably not her's either zipplewrath Mar 2012 #6

Why not take someone at their word when they threaten violence by pointing a deadly weapon at you? X_Digger Mar 2012 #10

From this 16 year old? zipplewrath Mar 2012 #11

A 16 year old that she knew? And could identify him? By name?!? X_Digger Mar 2012 #15

Only if she's alive. nt Snake Alchemist Mar 2012 #17

It always helps to read zipplewrath Mar 2012 #19

I actually did read it, but you seem to have a different interpretation.. X_Digger Mar 2012 #24

Let her shoot TWICE zipplewrath Mar 2012 #30

I'm not sure what you think that shows, care to enlighten me? X_Digger Mar 2012 #31

Perhaps he wasn't ready to use the weapon zipplewrath Mar 2012 #32

And you're talking about a store clerk facing a robber in a gun, in a high-adrenaline situation. backscatter712 Mar 2012 #34

Actually zipplewrath Mar 2012 #47

No, I don't think it's easy. But I'm not going to second guess her without having been there. X_Digger Mar 2012 #36

I commented on HER second guessing zipplewrath Mar 2012 #49

And you came to the conclusion that X_Digger Mar 2012 #51

Yeah, that's it zipplewrath Mar 2012 #54

If he wasn't ready to use the weapon SATIRical Mar 2012 #44

Yeah especially 16 year olds zipplewrath Mar 2012 #48

So you are clearly for parental permission SATIRical Mar 2012 #52

Gungeon time zipplewrath Mar 2012 #55

So 16 year-olds ARE or ARE NOT SATIRical Mar 2012 #56

THIS 16 year old zipplewrath Mar 2012 #57

It wasn't a musket Fla_Democrat Mar 2012 #68

How long to return fire? zipplewrath Mar 2012 #71

Doesn't take training to fire fast Fla_Democrat Mar 2012 #76

what percentage of sixteen year old armed robbers NoGOPZone Mar 2012 #67

Probably all three. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2012 #81

She may want to be Darwin's servant zipplewrath Mar 2012 #89

Because they are 16? zipplewrath Mar 2012 #64

And 16 year olds never shoot anyone? X_Digger Mar 2012 #66

Nor do I zipplewrath Mar 2012 #72

"She shot, poorly, for $30." -- Kinda looks like you do. n/t X_Digger Mar 2012 #79

$25 for a dead convenience clerk. ScreamingMeemie Mar 2012 #41

That is why you Dokkie Mar 2012 #94

Alert. The kid had a gun. How do you not understand that?????? rhett o rick Mar 2012 #62

Not criticizing zipplewrath Mar 2012 #65

You're not understanding me zipplewrath Mar 2012 #90

A kid the she can identify pointing a gun at her means she was going to get killed. Edweird Mar 2012 #69

That's the presumption zipplewrath Mar 2012 #73

Do you believe that she wasn't going to call the cops if he robbed her a gunpoint? Edweird Mar 2012 #98

I have no way of knowing zipplewrath Mar 2012 #102

The question wasn't what she believes, but what YOU believe. Edweird Apr 2012 #114

I have no way of knowing zipplewrath Apr 2012 #115

For someone that has 'no way of knowing' you sure were judgmental of another defending their LIFE. Edweird Apr 2012 #116

How was I judgemental? zipplewrath Apr 2012 #117

At least she will be able to ask that question for life ...... oldhippie Mar 2012 #111

Hope she see's it that way zipplewrath Mar 2012 #91

10 year mandatory sentence if he got tried as an adult Yo_Mama Mar 2012 #75

There is no time zipplewrath Mar 2012 #92

Yes, of course Yo_Mama Mar 2012 #100

Alot of things happen zipplewrath Mar 2012 #104

Hold up and let me see if I have this straight. moriah Mar 2012 #87

You haven't read what I wrote at all zipplewrath Mar 2012 #93

I have read your posts. moriah Mar 2012 #99

She may not agree with you zipplewrath Mar 2012 #103

I didn't see anything questioning about what she said. moriah Mar 2012 #106

I see more zipplewrath Mar 2012 #107

And it has, for certain. n/t moriah Mar 2012 #113

So why didn't she just give him the $30 if 'It's not worth your life'? sinkingfeeling Mar 2012 #8

Was it really over $30, or was it a threat to HER life? Speck Tater Mar 2012 #13

Guess I read a different article zipplewrath Mar 2012 #20

Like he threatened her life? sinkingfeeling Mar 2012 #26

And you know this because you were there? Speck Tater Mar 2012 #38

Assuming her story is correct Sgent Mar 2012 #74

Exactly. And if you point that out to someone who doesn't want it to be true... Speck Tater Mar 2012 #78

You're the one who said it. Or are you making up stories? Were you there? sinkingfeeling Mar 2012 #96

Of course I'm making up stories. It's what we ALL do. Just be honest and admit it. nt Speck Tater Mar 2012 #97

Um...he pointed a GUN at her. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2012 #82

Because he pointed a gun at her Marrah_G Mar 2012 #14

It didn't matter how much money was in the register - she was as good as dead. Edweird Mar 2012 #70

It's a corny cliche that's true TomClash Mar 2012 #9

This sounds strange. drm604 Mar 2012 #12

I'm kinda glad she didn't learn the answer to that question. nt Snake Alchemist Mar 2012 #16

Prisons are full of stupid criminals. nt hack89 Mar 2012 #43

She was in her store Aerows Mar 2012 #18

How come she got arrested? Quantess Mar 2012 #21

They cuffed and questioned her -- that is SOP in a shooting obamanut2012 Mar 2012 #22

According to the police report, Zimmerman was handcuffed, taken to the PD, and questioned. X_Digger Mar 2012 #25

They cuffed and questioned Zimmerman as well mactime Mar 2012 #27

I am struck by her attitude compared to what we know of Zimmerman's obamanut2012 Mar 2012 #23

+1 uponit7771 Mar 2012 #28

I think Zimmerman's mindset is totally different from hers. Mariana Mar 2012 #40

This doesn't only happen in Florida. Cleita Mar 2012 #29

She decided his life wasn't worth $30. That's all. saras Mar 2012 #33

Would it be reasonable for her to think that if she gave him $30, he'd never bother her again? slackmaster Mar 2012 #37

Or that his life wasn't worth hers. nt Snake Alchemist Mar 2012 #42

Actually, HE is the one that made that decision (nt) SATIRical Mar 2012 #45

Bullshit Yo_Mama Mar 2012 #77

Utter nonsense. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2012 #83

Do you honestly believe that? moriah Mar 2012 #88

This is proper usage of the law EC Mar 2012 #35

A good precedent bongbong Mar 2012 #39

You won't last long SATIRical Mar 2012 #46

Not me bongbong Mar 2012 #53

You never set up a firing position directly across from yours. That would be suicide. Ikonoklast Mar 2012 #59

Got it covered bongbong Mar 2012 #60

glad she come out safe... ileus Mar 2012 #50

I knew a convenience store clerk who was shot and killed. closeupready Mar 2012 #58

"Taquanda is alive today because she fought back" 2ndAmForComputers Mar 2012 #84

Oh hell, just rush all the stores - Zax2me Mar 2012 #86

It's always sad when someone dies, but it sounds like she was justified TeamsterDem Mar 2012 #101

Justified don't make it much easier zipplewrath Mar 2012 #105

Terrible choices are never easy or enjoyable TeamsterDem Mar 2012 #108

Likewise zipplewrath Mar 2012 #110

Don't I know it TeamsterDem Mar 2012 #112

I believe she was justified. RebelOne Mar 2012 #109