Muggers on Custis

[Tim Kelley]

@Two Wheels 48149 wrote:

Last night around 10 or so two men tried to mug me at gunpoint on the Custis just before Glebe Road/footbridge over the I-66 westbound offramp. As I topped the last of the two hills, I saw one walking slowly towards me on the far left side, then saw the other on the edge of the path on the right. The one on the left pulled a semiauto handgun. I accelerated as hard as I could, rammed them, stayed upright and fled. Called 911 ASAP. They also mugged another guy. He stopped, they put the gun in his mouth and beat him, broke his collarbone. The police took his report from the hospital.

Be careful out there.

Wow–yikes! Any description of the guys that you can provide?

[acc]

@Tim Kelley 48164 wrote:

Wow–yikes! Any description of the guys that you can provide?

Great thinking in a bad situation.

[jrenaut]

Wow, glad you’re all right.

[MRH5028]

That’s crazy! Glad you are OK. Hope they catch these guys.

[DaveK]

@Two Wheels 48149 wrote:

Last night around 10 or so two men tried to mug me at gunpoint on the Custis just before Glebe Road/footbridge over the I-66 westbound offramp. As I topped the last of the two hills, I saw one walking slowly towards me on the far left side, then saw the other on the edge of the path on the right. The one on the left pulled a semiauto handgun. I accelerated as hard as I could, rammed them, stayed upright and fled. Called 911 ASAP. They also mugged another guy. He stopped, they put the gun in his mouth and beat him, broke his collarbone. The police took his report from the hospital.

Be careful out there.

Ugh. Glad you’re okay.

It’s notable that this is the exact same spot where the last attack on the Custis trail took place a couple of months ago.

http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/three-arrested-after-armed-robbery-on-custis-trail/

[Dickie]

@DaveK 48176 wrote:

Ugh. Glad you’re okay.

It’s notable that this is the exact same spot where the last attack on the Custis trail took place a couple of months ago.

http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/three-arrested-after-armed-robbery-on-custis-trail/

Thanks DaveK for finding this, I was wondering the same thing. I must admit when I saw the original posting I wondered how long it would take before cyclists would be targeted. I always figured the speed of a bicycle would be a deterrent, but never considered the effects of a gun…. really really frightening!

Glad you are safe Two Wheels, kudos for taking a run at the guys… I have no idea how I would have responded in that situation.

[Two Wheels]

@DaveK 48176 wrote:

Ugh. Glad you’re okay.

It’s notable that this is the exact same spot where the last attack on the Custis trail took place a couple of months ago.

http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/three-arrested-after-armed-robbery-on-custis-trail/

Thank you. The adrenaline is wearing off, and now I’m concerned about my daily commute. The ironic thing is that I was tired after a long day at work, so I considered heading up Veitch and taking Key and Fairfax Blvd to avoid the hills and did not.

I think when I’m stuck here at the office until late I will stick to surface streets and avoid the mugging hot spot.

[DaveK]

@Dickie 48179 wrote:

I always figured the speed of a bicycle would be a deterrent, but never considered the effects of a gun…. really really frightening

The guys (more likely kids) on the MBT in DC have gone after cyclists a few times, mostly knocked them off their bikes as they’ve been riding by. It’s not common but it has happened.

[Tim Kelley]

So that’s what the helicopter I heard last night was:

https://twitter.com/BrianKal/status/319281534349742080

[Two Wheels]

@Dickie 48179 wrote:

. I always figured the speed of a bicycle would be a deterrent, but never considered the effects of a gun…. really really frightening!

He was either going to shoot me or not, whether I tried to flee wouldn’t affect that decision. And I figured if he was going to shoot me, I might as well make it hard for him. It is hard as hell to hit a moving target with a handgun especially when you are surprised and excited. And that’s with lots of practice, which I assumed he did not have. It is easy to hit a someone when who is two feet away, on his knees hoping to live, especially when you have all the time in the world to aim. All this popped through my head in 1/100th of a second.

And after hearing what they did to the other guy that willingly surrendered his wallet and phone, I shudder to think what could have happened had I stopped.

This was not fun. I did not sleep a wink last night. I am still shaking and close to tears. I’ve never felt so physically insecure.

[jabberwocky]

Too bad it didn’t end like that attempted mugging in Reading last year.

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=361536

[Mark Blacknell]

@jabberwocky 48187 wrote:

Too bad it didn’t end like that attempted mugging in Reading last year.

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=361536

No, it’s really not too bad.

~

Glad you’re okay, Two Wheels, and thanks for telling us about it.

[MRH5028]

This should really be a catalyst for increased police patrols on the trails. Put some cops on bikes and have them ride the trails.

[Tim Kelley]

@MRH5028 48190 wrote:

This should really be a catalyst for increased police patrols on the trails. Put some cops on bikes and have them ride the trails.

Please share these thoughts with the County and your elected officials.

[Terpfan]

@Two Wheels 48186 wrote:

He was either going to shoot me or not, whether I tried to flee wouldn’t affect that decision. And I figured if he was going to shoot me, I might as well make it hard for him. It is hard as hell to hit a moving target with a handgun especially when you are surprised and excited. And that’s with lots of practice, which I assumed he did not have. It is easy to hit a someone when who is two feet away, on his knees hoping to live, especially when you have all the time in the world to aim. All this popped through my head in 1/100th of a second.

And after hearing what they did to the other guy that willingly surrendered his wallet and phone, I shudder to think what could have happened had I stopped.

This was not fun. I did not sleep a wink last night. I am still shaking and close to tears. I’ve never felt so physically insecure.

That’s quick, but very accurate thinking. Even for a professional, it’s very hard to hit a moving target that’s running at full speed, let alone biking.

How long did the police take to respond?

[Author]

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