Ohio CHL-holder forced to defend self and others when two armed men attempt robbery

A pizza delivery person with an Ohio concealed handgun license (CHL) was forced to defend themselves when two armed attackers attempted to rob him.

From The Journal-News:

An employee at a New Carlisle Papa John’s where one person died during an attempted robbery Sunday night described the shooting as self defense to a 911 dispatcher.

“Someone just broke in and they were shot in self defense,” the man told Clark County Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatchers, according to records obtained by this newspaper. “They came right in with weapons and tried to rob us. They’re still in here. There’s one shot and wounded on the floor. One of them ran out.”

...

Both attempted robbers were armed, a worker said.

“The one’s got a big crowbar and had what looked like a knife and they were sprinting toward us,” he said. “It looked like a knife or hedge clippers or something.”

Police later identified the deceased robber as Gage Melton, 21. Melton's accomplice remains at large.

“I’m just so glad my driver has a concealed carry,” the 911 caller said. “Because I wouldn’t know what to do with them running in like that.”

The worker has not been charged and the sheriff’s office says it appears to a justified use of force in self-defense.

A complete list of known incidents involving Ohio CHL-holders defending themselves is available here.

Chad D. Baus served as Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary from 2013-2019, and continues to serve on the Board of Directors. He is co-founder of BFA-PAC, and served as its Vice Chairman for 15 years. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website, and is also an NRA-certified firearms instructor.