Just Stopped the Attempted Robbery of My Gear

[Andrew Walker]

So I was shooting some timelapse down in LA on the 6th Street bridge right after the sun went down with my 5D2. As I stood there watching the cars go by as my camera clicked away frames. I noticed the same car that just drove by me drive by again with all 4 occupants looking at me as they went by on the other side of the street. This was kind of making me question why they were doing this because they didn't look lost at all. More like, looking for trouble. The car kept going down the street and I thought that was it.

I got back to looking at my camera snapping pictures and then I looked back down the street and saw the same car coming towards me on my side of the street. Right when I saw them coming down the road towards me I knew something was wrong. I put my hand on my gun under my jacket knowing what was about to happen was going to go down one of two ways. One, they start shooting me and steal my gear or two, try and take it by force. Luckily for me it was option two. The car pulled up slowly on a bridge where there is no stopping for whatever reason and the mexicans in the car looked at me for a second and then started getting out of the car coming towards me. They didn't say one word to me as they got out of the car. I knew if I didn't do something very fast they were going to steal my gear or kick the shit out of me then take it. I drew my gun and yelled at them in my most commanding voice I could muster, "GET OUT OF HERE, GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE". As soon as I did this they tried to shield themselves and get back in the car and drive off as fast as they could.

I stood there for a moment watching them speed off down the road still trying to figure out what just happened as it was so fast. I put my gun away and let my camera take the final frames before I packed everything up and got out of there. I'm very glad that this whole incident didn't end with me having to shoot anybody. So everyone be careful when shooting down in LA as you never know when your life or your gear might be in jeopardy.

The picture I posted is the best picture I have of the car the idiots were driving. It was a long exposure timelapse and that's why its all blurry.

 

[Roberto B]

be careful w/ u man.. we know LA is not EU but a shot or any number of them does not worth your life

- the (whole) gang :wishes you the best:

 

[Raul Gonzo]

Andrew, you get major props for having the foresight to bring protection.
Glad you didn,t have to pop anyone.
Crazy stuff man...

 

[Antonio Forjaz]

man, it sounds like a film...

 

[Michael Grugal]

Do you have a conceal - carry license? Haha

seriously though. Becareful man.

 

[Frank Weeks]

Walker... Texas Ranger. Glad everything worked out ok

 

[Andrew Walker]

Do you have a conceal - carry license? Haha

seriously though. Becareful man.

I do have one. Had to go through the class and everything to get it. Very glad I did.

 

[Omar Saad]

Holy shit! Props for having the guts to do what you did. I honesty don't know how I would have reacted to 4 guys rolling up to me looking for trouble if I was alone. Glad everything worked out.

 

[Van Din]

and the mexicans in the car looked at me for a second and then started getting out of the car coming towards me

Were they mexicans? How do you know?

 

[Andrew Walker]

Were they mexicans? How do you know?

Because they looked mexican. They didn't identify themselves as mexicans but I do happen to know what they look like. Plus that is a very predominantly mexican neighborhood.

 

[hunterrichards]

Guns work.

 

[Cristina S]

Sometimes yes, sometimes don't. I wouldn't be so sure. If he had to shoot, he wouldn't be here telling his story.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Wow, glad to hear it worked out well for you Andrew. "Congrats" isnt the right word, as I know you'd have rather had it not happen, but I commend you on your presence and bravery. While 'stuff' isn't worth killing for, they probably would have killed you or at least thrashed you pretty well. You didnt save your stuff, you probably saved your own life.

 

[Andrew Walker]

Sometimes yes, sometimes don't. I wouldn't be so sure. If he had to shoot, he wouldn't be here telling his story.

Very true. I would have had to explain what happened to the cops and would have had to wait on posting this story until I had talked to a really good lawyer. I hope I never have to shoot anybody. But I am very glad to have had my gun on me this evening.

 

[Sally Shamas]

u might not get that lucky next time so watch it ...

 

[Wesley Scoggins]

Perhaps, no.

But he WAS watching it, he had the ability to stop a situation before anything could happen, and because he was "watching it", and had the presence of mind to take care of himself he's still here.

He's still got his gear, and way more importantly he still has his life.

 

[Milan Spasic]

Very true. I would have had to explain what happened to the cops and would have had to wait on posting this story until I had talked to a really good lawyer. I hope I never have to shoot anybody. But I am very glad to have had my gun on me this evening.

Sounds to me like you were looking for trouble. Carrying a gun, shooting time lapse in SKID ROW with expensive equipment after dark, on your own. Your avatar and your racist overtones tell it all.

Well done Travis Bickle/Dirty Harry or whoever you are pretending to be. :nonod:

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Sounds to me like you were looking for trouble. Carrying a gun, shooting time lapse in SKID ROW with expensive equipment after dark, on your own. Your avatar and your racist overtones tell it all.

Well done Travis Bickle/Dirty Harry or whoever you are pretending to be. :nonod:

1. It's not derogatory to plainly state the ethnicity of someone. It would have been racist had he added inflamatory adjectives in front of said description.

2. Milan, you have two posts here, perhaps you should do some research before slamming a member of this community with such hateful messages. If I were a mod, I'd ban you right now for your careless remarks. Andrew has a long history of getting beautiful night cityscapes, it's his part time vocation.

 

[Andrew Walker]

u might not get that lucky next time so watch it ...

So what would be the better course of action...just don't go down there. That shot that I was getting has made me quiet a bit of money and paid for some of my equipment. No one ever said life was safe. I knew what might happen if I went down there, hence the reason for bringing the gun. I try and live my life without fear of others. So far its work but your right...next time I might not be so lucky. But at least I will know that I fought evil instead of cowering to it. Its not just about stuff. Its about standing up against people that will take what's yours if you let them. Too many times throughout history people have just stood by and let things happen when they could have prevented their own death if they had just fought back.

 

[Sally Shamas]

All i was saying that if these guys were real badass they wouldve had guns on them too and he's alone...so u do the math ... its better not to go alone at night carrying expensive gear shooting in a dangerous area...
I lived my entire life in a conflict area , lived the craziest war ever... but still i wouldnt do what he did ... its just like ... hey ! yohooo wanna make some quick money?!