On the night of December 7, 2022, an argument at an Ashburn (a southside Chicago community) gas station between a man and a woman (also a concealed carry holder) led to the woman drawing her firearm. A struggle ensued for control of the weapon, and the concealed carry holder was shot in the hand, and the man was shot in the chest.
The man was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The woman was arrested and taken to the hospital in good condition.
The incident is under investigation, and charges are pending.
There are few details on this incident, but it doesn’t seem that this incident, an argument, or a disagreement between two parties, should have risen to the level of deadly force. There is no indication in the news report that the male posed a threat to the woman requiring her to produce the firearm. In fact, participation in the argument, followed by bringing the gun into the mix, could make the concealed carry holder appear to be the aggressor or, at the very least, not an innocent party.
If no threat was present before allowing the argument to escalate, the armed person had the duty to de-escalate or disengage.
