Open Carrying Veteran 'Did What He Had To Do,' Saving Clerk From Armed Robber

Vietnam veteran Don Rogers was open carrying a pistol when armed robber Devin Burton attempted to rob the clerk just feet away. This was widely regarded as a bad move.
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Army veteran Don Rogers went to a gas station in Sycamore, Georgia, to get change for a $20. The timing of this seemingly innocuous decision—and his decision to carry a handgun—may have saved store clerk Hardeep Benipal’s life:

Today has not been the day Don Rogers was expecting. “I wish the day could’ve went by without this happening,” said Rogers. “I just did what I had to do”

This Vietnam veteran was in this Sycamore gas station getting change for a 20 when his day took a bizarre turn. “I heard somebody say “put the money in the bag”. So I looked up and I seen this gentleman holding a pistol on the clerk,” said Rogers.

Fear quickly came over Rogers, but he knew what he had to do. The gun-carrying veteran pulled his weapon on the robber. “And when I did, he looked over at me and turned my way and I fired a shot. And he grabbed his side and then I fired two more shots before he got out the door,” said Rogers.

Two of the shots hit 18-year old Devin Burton. Burton got into a car driven by, 17-year old Marleigh Agner, and the couple took off down Denham Road, but Burton’s condition worsened so they stopped to call 911.

Assisting residents had no idea what happened just three miles away. “Then I saw them take the driver of the car in handcuffs to the police car and they took the passenger who had been shot, placed him in an ambulance and left,” said Leon Pirkle.

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Armed robber Burton is in critical condition, with two of Rogers’ shots hitting their mark. If he survives, he’ll face charges of armed robbery. If he dies, getaway driver Marleigh Agner faces the possibility of first degree murder charges in his death, thanks to Georgia’s implementation of the felony murder rule.

Turner County Sheriff Andy Hester was strongly supportive of Mr Rogers’ decision to pull his gun and fire on Burton.

“People are just sick of people running them up,” said Turner Co. Sheriff Andy Hester. “And robbing, and stealing, and pillaging, and people are tired of it. These people that’ll go out and do this kind of stuff need to realize- it ain’t always gonna fare to their favor, just because they’re a predator.”

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