Here’s a travel tip you won’t find in the Michelin Guide: Use St. Louis’ reputation as one of the most dangerous cities in America to ward off potential attackers.
It worked for one St. Louis man last week when an armed robber tried to hold him up at gunpoint. The crime victim, identified in the Seattle Police Department report only by the name West, walked away unmolested after telling the gunman that his hometown is the STL.
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West told police investigators that he was riding the bus last Monday afternoon when he noticed a strangely-dressed man sitting behind him. Despite relatively warm weather, the tall teenage man was wearing pants, a jacket with the hood around his head and a yellow bandanna across his face, West told police.
When West got to his stop, he noticed the man exit the bus ahead of him and wait in the bus shelter as West walked by.
West, still sensing there was “something off,” turned around to see the man pull a black handgun, possibly a Glock, out of a paper bag and point it at West, according to the report.
That’s when West broke it down St. Louis style for the wannabe robber. According to the police report:
West stated that he is from St. Louis and was not going to be robbed. The suspect was unable to say anything to West because West confronted him first. West said, “So what are you going to do with that big ass pistol? If you wanna rob me I ain’t got nothing. If you decide to do this we’re gunna go heads up!”
In case you’re not sure what “heads up” means, the Seattle Police define it in the report: “‘Heads up’ means fighting each other fist to fist.”
After West’s verbal beatdown, the gunman put his weapon back into a paper bag, followed West for a block and then walked off in a different direction. Police are still searching for the gunman. The police report says there were no cameras at the bus stop.
West’s tough guy ‘tude didn’t just scare away his would-be attacker. It also inspired an animated illustration by The Stranger, Seattle’s alt-weekly. Seattle Police tell SLM the cartoon is probably exaggerated—there’s nothing in the police report about West calling the gunman a “motherf*cker,” for example—but that doesn’t make it any less epic.
So way to go, West. We’re happy you’re safe and even happier you rep’ed your hood. Next time you come home to St. Louis, treat yourself to a tall local beer and a plate of t-ravs.
