The Shot Heard Around the Country: TX Cop Kills Active Shooter from 104 Yards

Authors Defensive Use of Firearms S.H. Blannelberry This Week

A domestic terrorist who had plans of committing mass murder last Friday was stopped dead in his tracks by a Austin police officer who managed to fatally wound the suspect with a handgun from approximately 104 yards, reports local media.

Steve McQuilliams began his politically and religiously-motivated rampage by shooting four different buildings in downtown Austin: the Austin Police Department, Federal Courthouse, Mexican Consulate and a local bank.

According to Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, “Hate was in his heart. He is a homegrown American terrorist trying to terrorize our people.”

Thankfully, he didn’t succeed in bringing his terror campaign to fruition. He killed no one. McQuilliams mission was cut short by Sergeant Adam Johnson, a 15-year veteran of the force.

While Johnson was loading up horses for the department’s mounted division, he heard gunshots ring out. He went to investigate, while holding on to two horses. He saw McQuilliams and opened fire, shooting the terrorist in the heart and killing him. He was reportedly 312 feet away. Quite a shot with a handgun.

What handgun? Well, according to Acevedo, it was his Smith & Wesson M&P .40-caliber pistol.

“For a guy to keep his composure, holding two horses with one hand and taking a one hand shot with the other hand just says a lot about the training and professionalism of our police department,” said Acevedo last Friday while commending Sgt. Johnson for his exemplary marksmanship.

Sgt. Johnson, meanwhile, said the credit should go to the other officers who were closing in on McQuilliams and chalked up his role in the matter to “divine intervention.”

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  • Frank Romo December 25, 2017, 10:43 am

    You’d better check your sources, either this article is a hoax or it’s from over a year ago. Reason being, that Austin Police Chief can’t be in two places at the same time, Art Acevedo is now the Houston Police Chief since last year. So, either the story is an old one and now coming to light or the source is incorrect of when this event took place….

    • Frank Romo December 25, 2017, 10:47 am

      My bad, I didn’t check the date of this article, it was written in 2014, so, my correction, I’m the bonehead with a knee-jerk response to this article, sorry….

  • Dave December 26, 2016, 4:50 pm

    As usual with Gunsamerica, there are a plethora of anti-police, anarchy-inspired posts. The thin blue line keeps the law-abiding safe and secure. They don’t want to disarm you, no matter what you think. The anti-cop attitudes of this website keep me away. Plenty of pro-gun, pro-law and order sites to peruse. Continue with the cop bashing.

  • Steve Johnson May 7, 2016, 11:55 pm

    I do it while walking with a Kimber 4″ 1911. 100 yards at a 10″ piece of steel….. Just saying : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fBYMfhxPYOc&feature=youtu.be

  • Hugh Jorgan July 31, 2015, 10:09 pm

    A 300 ft shot with a pistol, especially a .40 cal is not all that miraculous. In fact here is a 65 year old man hitting a target at over twice that. 230 yards to be exact.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmMEg4y54Dk

  • Kristie January 8, 2015, 7:42 am

    and where was this mentioned in the news??? I will give that officer a big old ‘atta boy’. Our rural officers do shoot at a man sized target and one hundred yards and will not complete qualifications till they hit it. Most will start by saying “I can’t hit that!” but once they figure it out, you can’t get them to stop. It can be done with all pistol calibers including a 22 short or long rifle. The trajectory on a 40 Smith & Wesson cartridge is flatter than other rounds like a 45 acp and requires less elevation to hit the target at that distance. Obviously that officer had experience with his handgun and with shooting under pressure. Good going!!!

  • carcrusher January 6, 2015, 11:06 pm

    GIVE THAT MAN CREDIT! He knew it was a ONE SHOT proposition. He probably braced against something with his arm,
    figured for drop, and slowly squeezed off that critical shot. He knew HE was a target once that shot gave him away. Give those horses credit (they’re trained too) for staying composed when the SHTF. That’s one well trained, disciplined shooter. If he were my fellow officer, he’d get treated to a steak dinner;)

  • crybaby January 5, 2015, 8:43 pm

    The officer indicating it was “divine intervention” shows he knows the probability of doing it again. For all the dumbasses saying the officer had no regard for bystanders i say the active shooter had already scared them to the ground, so shut up you fucktards.

    • Russ January 6, 2015, 6:05 am

      (well said)

  • neo January 5, 2015, 8:27 am

    All I can say is THATS A ONE FREAKIN HELL OF A SHOT DUDE!!!!!..maybe the horses help too..:)).

  • Bob January 4, 2015, 11:40 pm

    This comment is dirccted at copsandrobbers stupid input, next time someone breaks into your house armed with the intent to murder you and your family, who are you going to call? That is just another example of someone who has no idea what a police officer is up against and the dangers they face every day. I’m a retired cop with almost 30 years of experience so I do have a little idea what these brave men and women are up against on a daily basis.

    • Dave October 9, 2017, 5:03 pm

      Of course your a retired cop and I bet you pat yourself on the back every day as you believe you were a hero on a daily basis.
      You did it because it was a paycheck and you loved the power trip. That shot was good, the one hand was either BS or irresponsible, but anyone who carry’s a gun for a living should be able to do the same. And no I have never, and will never call 911, just means more guns that may point at me.

  • Bob January 4, 2015, 11:28 pm

    First of all, congrats to that brave police officer…second someone should use Hussein as target practice for his stupid comment!

    • BHO January 5, 2015, 10:27 pm

      Don’t you know Bobby that Hussein is you messiahs middle name?

    • Russ January 6, 2015, 6:01 am

      I’m with you Bob.
      Some real clueless goofy as anti-gunners infiltrating the forum with nonsense.
      I will in your honor, put some name tags on my targets when I go out shooting.
      “ch”— “Boo-Boo” —“Hussein” — “winston” & “Larry Case”
      This will be done with my .40 @ the 103 yard mark, and they will all be zombies with melon heads.
      Wish me luck and may the lord save my ammo.

  • CopsAndRobbers January 4, 2015, 9:03 pm

    Ya gotta wonder what the F went through that pigs mind to think it ok to attempt a 103yd shot, single handed with a .40cal pistol? The odds of making that shot are astronomical, yet in this pigs mind (showcasing the supposed ‘discretion’ they use) he deems it appropriate to take the shot? If this story isn’t fabricated, this pig is lucky beyond belief and I’d bet $100 bill he couldn’t do it again if he tried again 50x. How could he justify taking a 103yd shot with a friggin pistol?!?! Somebody please tell me how this pig can cowboy up single handed with a pistol, a shot that would require a precision trained sniper with a freakin rifle to get that accuracy. I question the authenticity of the story, and if he did actually do it, I question that pigs judgement even more…hit his target or not, that was some grossly negligent shat right there!!

  • MSgt AC January 4, 2015, 8:11 pm

    This is the first time the word domestic terrorist was used to describe a gunman.
    When a muslum kills Americans, they call them “Lone Wolves”…..
    Any chance a sniper was in place, and it’s being omitted from the story?
    A heart shot kill, from 103 yards? I suppose these should be now known as “Jesus bullets.”
    …..Just saying, and just inquiring as to who gets to decide who is a domestic terrorist and who is a “Lone Wolf.”

  • Andrew N. January 4, 2015, 6:51 pm

    The officer also saved the State a lot of money for the trial. Good job!

  • jedagi January 4, 2015, 5:14 pm

    Some of the doubters should watch a few youtube videos. There are plenty of ordinary people on there that can wear out a 12″ target @100 yards with a handgun.

  • GodWasHisCopilot January 4, 2015, 4:58 pm

    If there was a reliable witness to the shot, then we should take the report at face value. IIRC, the History Channel had a story about one of the Wild West’s gunslingers returning the shot of an opponent and hitting him in the heart at 75 yards! And that was in the “Black Powder, Cap and Ball” days! Some shots are pure luck, others are a mix of luck and skill, and perhaps a very accurate weapon.

  • law dawg January 4, 2015, 4:01 pm

    Read these comments…. It never seizes to amaze me how people can make judgments on situations or incidents they have not witnessed or actually been involved in. God bless that officer for doing what had to be done. Whether it was luck, sharpshooting, and/or divine intervention a candle of the wicked was put out. A lot of folks out there don’t like policemen… That’s their problem.. We all have had negative contacts with the law…tickets, arguments, arrestes (most likely justified) at sometime or another. We as a nation have to come together to keep our constitution a live and work ing for all…we should direct our attentions on the Soros’, bloombergs, and Obama’s of this country who are desperately trying to disarm the law abiding people…. If we don’t the only one that will be armed is the government and criminals…. Think they could be one on the same? God bless you all and the true Americans.

  • silvestris January 4, 2015, 3:25 pm

    Yet, one must ponder whether the perp would have acted in this manner if the government had only vigorously enforced the immigration laws.

  • Bill January 4, 2015, 3:11 pm

    A 100 yard shot to the body is perfectly doable and reasonable with most service pistols. I’m only a practiced enthusiast and can consistently hit a 15″x 24″ target squarely at a 100 yards all the time with a a number of handguns. A shot to a vital area on a consistent basis however would be a quite another challenge not to mention while engaged in a firefight. No matter, Sgt. Johnson fulfilled his duty and is to be thanked for his service to the community. Great work here.

  • gary January 4, 2015, 2:03 pm

    Good shot, officer. Thank you for your initiative and competence.
    I didn’t realize there were so many anti-gun folks on this site… geeeezzzzzzzz! Either anti-gun, jealous, ignorant, or incompetent with their own pistols. 2″ at 50 is not uncommon with decent shooters. Check out the old ‘Bullseye’ matches that were shot one handed with a .45 revolver.

  • Boo-Boo January 4, 2015, 1:17 pm

    “According to Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, “Hate was in his heart. He is a homegrown American terrorist trying to terrorize our people.””

    Apparently he had to bring a terrorist in, because his cops weren’t doing an adequate job of terrorizing the citizenry.

    I call BS on this alleged 104 yr. shot with a .40S&W, one handed while holding the horses. It’s just not possible. The horses are not going to just stand there while all this is going on, they are going to get excited, move around, scan for predators, etc. Once the weapon was discharged, the horses would take off for the next state. I’ve never encountered a real life horse that would hold still while someone discharged a firearm under their noses. The bullet drop and energy depletion at that distance would be major factors. I don’t buy that you could make the shot one handed at that distance, even without an distractions. It just didn’t happen.

  • Lee January 4, 2015, 12:54 pm

    If you have confidence in your training and weapon, a 100 yard shot is very do able. Start at 10 yards shoot at an 18″ target. Move back in 10 yard intervals and keep going until you miss three in a row. You will be surprised. Oh if you dry fire before each shot, well you will be amazed. Hots off to the officer. We need him/her and more like them that believe in a divine intervention.

  • Hussein January 4, 2015, 12:46 pm

    Why all the praise for another police assassination of a U.S. citizen. The poor guy was sick of the Mexican invasion that is going on under satan obama. He was a patriot, not a terrorist.

  • John January 4, 2015, 12:13 pm

    Ten years in the Marine Corps with a tour in Vietnam, 18 years as a peace officer with a master peace officer certification. Masters degree in psychology and a law degree are all part of my background plus a few experiences that could only be divine intervention tell me that everybody has an opinion but the man that shot someone that apparently was intent on taking innocent lives did his job. Did it with what he had at hand to do it with and did it in a way that no one got hurt but the one who needed the hurting. I’d say he went home safe and so did a lot of others who would not have but for his action. From my point of view he did one fine job and deserves to be proud but my experience tells me he is not the kind to let pride affect him. Just doing my job is probably the only statement you could get out of him…. If that. We are fortunate to have men like that willing to carry a badge and gun in today’s times. Wish we had a lot more like that. Anybody that wants to critize is welcome to file an application with his/her local police department. Take the cut in pay and the criticism from arm chair experts that are not willing to do the job they so joyfully criticize There are those who do and those who think they can do. I tend to be partial to those who do as they tend to be a lot more comfortable to be around especially when things get rough

  • Ken January 4, 2015, 12:02 pm

    Give the officer some credit, wether her could do it a second time isn’t important. He made the shot when it counted. These men and women put their safety on the line every single day and never seem to get the respect and credit they deserve.
    I say thank you to him and all the other men and women in uniform for doing a hard and seemingly thankless job.
    Great shot sir, I for one am glad that you were in the right place at the right time.

  • harleyzone January 4, 2015, 11:30 am

    Try not to question how but realize the Officer did what he was trained to do and did it well. The shooter is dead, no trial, no public defenders and no prison term just a body bag. Thank You!

  • Kick Buttowski January 4, 2015, 11:21 am

    Far too many arm chair haters commenting. Great shooters and great people do exist. Contrary to the mediocre haters that dirty up the world with their negativity.

  • Brian LEO January 4, 2015, 10:59 am

    I’m shocked at all the negative comments on this incident. It sounds a lot like high school! People are so jealous of an accomplishment that they put the story and writer down and call it BS. Obviously it happened. It’s a big claim and nobody has disproved it, so be it.
    As a LEO Firearm Instructor and CCW instructor, I would say most coppers could not make that shot. But, some of you sheeple think you are gods gift to firearms like none of us shoot. There are a lot of LEOs that teach shooting and a lot of you know-it-alls seek training from us. Close your pie holes and go back to your tacticool internet browsing young web commandos.
    Also, the horses are trained around gunfire. They don’t do anything but stand there after a shot.

  • Larry January 4, 2015, 10:46 am

    Congratulations to Sergeant Williams for his fine shot and saving the tax payers money.
    Seems like there are a lot of un informed people. A hundred yard shot is completely doable with a 40 cal and with a few pistol manufacturers. I didn’t recall seeing anything about the horses were restless or causing a commotion. Being able to unload a magazine on a silhouette at 7 or 10 yards does not make you an accomplished shooter. Yes there are a few that regularly shoot 100 yards and more.

  • William Tiewater January 4, 2015, 10:41 am

    104 Yards with a handgun, this guy deserves a raise in pay and a job as training officer.

  • Tom January 4, 2015, 9:44 am

    The man is obviously a farm boy, loading and tending horses is not for the city folk. firing a gun while holding them is an art form in itself. Kids in the country grow up taking hundred yard pot shots and betting against each other and tend to be humble.
    I would not lay a dollar against a repeat performance!

  • john creveling January 4, 2015, 9:06 am

    Well luck or not he stopped the bad guy while holding two horses.Great job.

    • judgebill January 4, 2015, 1:25 pm

      Isn’t this the point of the exercise? The officer perceived a danger, recognized what was happening and reacted as he had been trained. In fact, the scenario was what he had been training for. Were there risks presented? Of course. But he reallyl didn’t have much time to analyze the situation and make a formal plan of attack. People were being shot at by a bad guy. The officer acted to save lives. As it turns out, his reaction was appropriate and the results were also appropriate. We can analyze anything to death and always find elements of any situation to criticize. But the outcome of the situation was what we all would desire. Let’s thank the officer and commend him for his competence, however it was achieved.

  • Fred Flint January 4, 2015, 8:58 am

    Hitting a torso at 100 meters is about 50% for most experienced shooters in good light. I am glad he got him, but some luck seem evident. The sick racist scum bag and deserved a bullet in the chest before he killed some little girl, etc while shooting up Austin Texas. He sure got what he deserved.

  • VAling January 4, 2015, 7:31 am

    Ladies and Gentlemen,
    100 yard kill shot was a certainly immaculate and heroic deed.
    We should applaud the Sgt. Johnson for doing his trained duty.
    The accuracy and training go in hand in hand and I have done and seen
    100 yard pistol shots. The match shooting(in the 2700, that is) regularly
    uses 50 yard bulls eye slow fire courses and it is one handed. I have done
    an occasional 100 yard shoots in the rifle range with the pistol. Not easy
    but not impossible. I am betting that Sgt. Johnson is in an expert class
    with his service pistol. Good Job, Sgt!

  • Mudman January 4, 2015, 7:21 am

    Why all the negative comments? On the matter of collateral damage, don’t you think the previous shots had probably caused people to seek cover? On the matter of the fatal shot, people who view handguns as an inaccurate weapon just don’t understand that most firearms are capable of better accuracy than the person holding the weapon. Get a decent handgun and learn how to shoot, you’ll be surprised.

  • Mike Washburn January 4, 2015, 6:54 am

    I am a range officer for a local range here in Idaho and have seen shooters repeatedly make shots like hitting a gong at 200 yds (standing) five out of six rounds but, I hasten to add, not many can do this. Also, don’t forget that you do hear of people that were in an immediate threat of being eaten, bit, clawed or whatever and if they can manage to not panic, they really concentrate and make the shot. Devine intervention? Hey, I would welcome all the help I can get.

  • Peppergun January 4, 2015, 6:10 am

    Doesn’t matter luck or not. One damn good shot. Well done. We need more like you.

  • chris December 9, 2014, 11:40 pm

    It is absolutely possible to make that shot. The amazing part is doing under the duress of the moment. The other day, I shot 3 rounds at 100 yards at a metal ipsc type target and hit it all 3 times. The three shots printed right in the chest making a 6″ group. There were witnesses. About a month ago, I shot at the same type target at 200 yards and put 3 right in the chest making a 10″ group. Again, there was a witness. This was done with a 1911 .45. Shooting at 100 yards was from standing, and the 200 yard shooting was from sitting. This was shooting. The officer wasn’t shooting. He was killing. There is a big difference in the two.

    • Scouse January 4, 2015, 8:16 am

      Well said, from prone I hit 3 out of 3, at 100 yards, a 2′ hanging plate, with a Glock 17, using hard ball ammo.

      Just aimed right at it, no hold over. Mil-spec ammo.

      I bet the good Sgt. had two lively horses to hold after breaking that shot! Good shooting Sgt.

      • james c fairbanks January 4, 2015, 2:42 pm

        any decent horse can be taught to stand still no matter what, some people don’t know there buts from a hole in the ground.
        wake up and learn, gal in Iraq shot a sniper at 1mile(5280 ft.) top that if your mouth can.

  • Russell Thomas December 9, 2014, 3:45 pm

    I’ve seen some amazing X and 10 ring groups on 50 yard Silhouette Targets, and back in the day, fired a few myself, in NRA Police Combat matches, with a custom built/tuned revolver. I also once shot a sitting up woodchuck/ground hog, at 76 paces with a .357 mag 6″ Colt Python, tuned up by Colt’s top gunsmith at the time, last name Tedford.. And I once with one shot (again with the same Python) shot a 4 foot or more snake out of tree vines at about 40 yards. BUT, I think it HAD TO BE LUCK, and TAKING A VERY DANGEROUS CHANCE to shoot the “terrorist” in the “heart” at the distance described. What were the conditions? Did ballistics confirm the officer named, .40 cal S&W M&P was the gun that fired the shot? What was the 15 year veteran’s firearms background? Was he a competitive shooter? With all due respect to the officer and reporting “Chief” most of the 15 year veteran LEO I knew in my 27 years as a LEO and NRA Police Combat Competitor/Firearms Instructor, couldn’t pull that feet off at 25 yards! Sadly, most LEO’s with out routine practice and using only one hand, would likely miss the Silhouette at that distance. Too many variables and not enough information!

  • Russell Thomas December 9, 2014, 3:44 pm

    I’ve seen some amazing X and 10 ring groups on 50 yard Silhouette Targets, and back in the day, fired a few myself, in NRA Police Combat matches, with a custom built/tuned revolver. I also once shot a sitting up woodchuck/ground hog, at 76 paces with a .357 mag 6″ Colt Python, tuned up by Colt’s top gunsmith at the time, last name Tedford.. And I once with one shot (again with the same Python) shot a 4 foot or more snake out of tree vines at about 40 yards. BUT, I think it HAD TO BE LUCK, and TAKING A VERY DANGEROUS CHANCE to shoot the “terrorist” in the “heart” at the distance described. What were the conditions? Did ballistics confirm the officer named, .40 cal S&W M&P was the gun that fired the shot? What was the 15 year veteran’s firearms background? Was he a competitive shooter? With all due respect to the officer and reporting “Chief” most of the 15 year veteran LEO I knew in my 27 years as a LEO and NRA Police Combat Competitor/Firearms Instructor, couldn’t pull that feet off at 25 yards! Sadly, most LEO’s with out routine practice and using only one hand, would likely miss the Silhouette at that distance. Too many variables and not enough information!

  • Bill December 9, 2014, 11:10 am

    I think some of you folks go to a good pistol match and watch happens with a good shooter and a worked over service pistol!

  • ch December 9, 2014, 9:06 am

    VERY RECKLESS USE OF A FIREARM. NO CONCERN FOR BYSTANDERS. NOT A HERO BUT AN IDIOT. I WOULDN’T WANT HIS POOR JUDGEMENT ON MY POLICE FORCE.

    • Al Soto January 4, 2015, 10:57 am

      Ch,

      Poor judgment? That “idiot” stopped a potential killer in a situation where I am 1000% confident you would never be able to replicate even at a range and holding a pair of merry round horses…

      • ssgt james fairbanks January 4, 2015, 2:50 pm

        by your attitude I’d say your a candidate for the same.

    • hmorgan January 4, 2015, 3:38 pm

      Exactly how many bystanders do you think would be standing around an idiot that has been popping off that many rounds?

    • hmorgan January 4, 2015, 3:41 pm

      Not to to mention the fact that this was a 15 year veteran of the force…

  • thoffmann December 8, 2014, 10:26 pm

    yes..a possible shot… i have seen this many times at the range…with auto’s and rev….and with 3.5 in. barrels….train and go to the range and shoot….that’s what training does…..

  • Bob December 8, 2014, 2:21 pm

    Now thats gun control !!!! Good for him, his training paid off. Good kill.

  • Andy December 8, 2014, 2:04 pm

    I am disappointed. The fact that the author chose to parrot the use of “terrorist” shows exactly where his/her heart lies. That word is used to paint the whole gun issue a certain color and this sad author fell right in line. The shooter was a nut with a gun – “homegrown terrorist” is bullcrap. Words matter and using “their” language in this forum is troubling. It shows the author to be either a fool or a stooge.

    • Joe McHugh December 9, 2014, 7:14 pm

      Andy, I respectfully beg to differ. Steve McQuilliams was wildly shooting everywhere in a downtown location. The fact that he didn’t kill anybody probably was due to lack of time. Sergeant Adam Johnson certainly understood the extreme danger to innocent people and made the decision to shoot.

      A fifteen year police veteran would not have fired if the terrorist was surrounded by bystanders. And yes, I would have been terrorized by McQuilliams if I was in his immediate vicinity. If “nut with a gun” was pointing his weapon at you, I’m almost positive that you would feel mortal terror too. A person doesn’t have to be a Muslim warrior to act like a terrorist, he is a terrorist because he is threatening others with a gun, knife, axe, etc. etc.

  • Ross Walters December 8, 2014, 1:10 pm

    Wasn’t Annie Oakley once married to a guy named Johnson? Apparently the apples didn’t fall far from the tree.

    • winston December 8, 2014, 1:47 pm

      Irresponsible and disregard for others to fire from a distance of 104 yards with a handgun while ” holding two horses “. What was behind/ beside the law breaker in metro Austin? This was not out on open prairie. Self centered and foolish to have hero on the brain.

      • harleyzone January 4, 2015, 11:43 am

        Taking out the shooter is primary before the situation escalates is protocol and standard procedure. One will always have comments from those far removed from the frontline. This Officer acted and performed his duty well. Unlike your arm chaired TV watchers attempting to call the plays while eating potato chips couch sitting in their living room.

  • Ronald Mammen December 8, 2014, 12:24 pm

    I shoot a 1911 45ACP regularly at a man torso from 100 yards and have no trouble making kill shots 9 out of 10 times. It can be done if you practice.

    • bill johnson January 4, 2015, 5:40 am

      well that is good, don’t know if I believe it or not, but how about shooting an mi rifle 30 cal garand at 500 yrds at a 10 inch bulleyes, you probably coud not even see it, good shooting .

      • Don January 4, 2015, 11:10 pm

        You ought to try a B target at 1000 meters with iron sights. I did at the A/N matches in New Jersey with an 03A3. All twenty rounds in the bull, 18 in the 10″ V-ring. It’s doable if you practice regularly. Granted, it was an Army rifle, but still, it can be done regularly, 20 for 20. That was in 1962, and I still practice a lot with rifles and handguns, just for the fun of it.

  • Daddio7 December 8, 2014, 10:43 am

    My father in law was an MP in post war Japan. One night he and his lieutenant came up on a fight where one GI had knifed another. They saw someone in the distance running down a street and the lieutenant order my father in law to shoot. One round from his 1911 and the guy goes down. His right foot had been severed at the ankle.

    • Jim December 8, 2014, 11:50 am

      Why would anyone shoot at an unidentified person that was running away and wasn’t an immediate threat to anyone?

      • Richard January 4, 2015, 12:09 pm

        There’s the Right Way, the Wrong Way and then there’s the Army Way..esp. back then in the old brown boot days!

  • R. Maser December 8, 2014, 10:33 am

    Was it luck? Or was it that the officer and handgun were married? Its an old school expression that has long drifted into the mist of times past. This gun is his life or death response to armed danger. Example, Wild Bill Hickok unloaded his revolvers daily. Practice makes perfect. Hickok and his revolvers were married. I suspect this may have been more than just a lucky case of suppression fire.

    Feel free to disagree, for I agree that we disagree, so walk on and just leave me be.

  • Al Joy December 8, 2014, 9:46 am

    The small bore silhouette .22 hand gun ram target is set at 100 yds. Although it is difficult for anyone to hit 10 in a row, most adverage shooters can hit 4 or 5. If anyone wants to put up 5 to 1 odds against hitting a man sized target at 100 yds, I’m sure thre would be thousands of takers. Admittedly most silhouette shooters do not hold two horses while shooting, but the horses reaction wold not come untill after the shot.
    There is a vidio on U tube showing a man hitting a baloon a 1000 yds with a 9mm (took him 2 shots) so a 100 yd shot with a service pistol is more than possible. In the hans of a person that has actually shot at a 100 yd target before, probable.

    • TTB December 11, 2014, 3:15 pm

      I agree. If the sergeant practices fairly regularly at that range, solidly hitting a torso size target at a hundred yards on the range/gravel pit is not at all a big deal. Hitting under the stress of that street situation, one handed, while holding the reins of two horses, was a fantastic shot. Hitting dead center…under those circumstances that was probably mostly chance.

      Few people, even shooters, understand just what decent handguns can do in fairly practiced hands. Not highly practiced, just fairly practiced.

      Under the circumstances, though, it was a great shot.

      It would be interesting to know if the sergeant does practice at long range. If he doesn’t, guessing how high to hold the front sight would be just that: guesswork.

      • hodag January 4, 2015, 4:45 pm

        Thank you so much for the “just fairly practiced” comment. I practice regularly at a local indoor range. I do well enough there but take me outside and I’m lucky if I can find the damn thing much less hit the target. I’ve gotten better and the first time at 100 I managed 3 out of 10; then I had the magical day when everything came together – 10/10. Still, this was in a controlled environment where I could take my time essentially, I wasn’t holding a pair of horses and reacting to the stress of the situation. Divine intervention my ass, that was a superb shot by a marksman using the ‘point and shoot’ technique

    • ballistichabit January 4, 2015, 6:11 pm

      I can repeatedly hit clay pigeons at 50 yards with a simple .22 pistol not intended for target shooting. Increase the caliber of the pistol and an experienced shooter, a 312ft shot is not only possible, but repeatable.

  • Dan Crocker December 8, 2014, 9:44 am

    This was extremely good luck with some divine intervention thrown in for good measure. I have shot (and hit) the torso on a man size target at a hundred yards with a Beretta 92 with target sights, but there’s no way I could hit a heart sized target at that range. So, yes, there was divine intervention guiding Johnson’s hand that day.

    • Ben mendoza January 4, 2015, 9:52 am

      No luck just training. With my xd 40 I was hitting a 4*12 at 107 yards with Winchester target ammo 12″ spread. So yeah he was lucky to hit the hart but anyone with training could hit a target at that range.

  • Sidney December 8, 2014, 9:00 am

    Yes, it’s unlikely your average guy would make that shot given a case of ammunition but, a real marksman will. I’ve seen it before with a 1911 and revolver.

  • gary December 8, 2014, 8:51 am

    Gotta be a rigged event (whatever rigged means)…. A mini Sandy Hook story comes to mind…..The two horses were stomping their hooves with glee.

  • Sargint Rock December 8, 2014, 8:25 am

    I cringe at anything Chief (Gun Grabber) Acevedo has to say. Did everyone not catch his parroting of the DHS push to proclaim all Vets, pro-lifers and born again Christians as Homegrown Terrorists! They are priming the pump in preparation of the Big Push to throttle any American who stands for Constitutional rights and Freedoms! p.s. Yes it was a great shot.

    • Jack January 4, 2015, 10:37 am

      Good point about the chief. I also remember him immorally supporting an officer that went to the wrong house and shot a dog that was playing catch with its owner. There was no way to spin this right but APD tried instead of being accountable.

  • Frank the Tank December 8, 2014, 7:52 am

    Luck or good shooting? I’d say a little bit of both.

    • Rocketgeezer January 4, 2015, 10:13 am

      This is also my first thought, or course its possible or even at further distance, its a decent shot with a open sight rifle, let alone a 4 inch barrel pistol, but lucky or skill or both, at least the one who needed it most got the bullit……………

  • Ryan December 8, 2014, 7:49 am

    100 yard kill shot with a 40 cal service gun, shooting single handed? TOTAL LUCK.
    At that distance it would be very difficult to see what was surrounding and or behind your intended target. Another being perhaps.
    Therefore I agree whit Don and be the couldn’t do it again if he tried.
    But, sometimes luck is all you need and it just so happened to be I. His favor that day.

    • Ralph January 4, 2015, 10:50 am

      Luck my ass. This guy knew what he was intent on doing and got it done. Don’t mess with cowboys. Did you ever hear of Bob Munden? He would repeatedly take a factory gun and shoot ballons out beyond this distance.

    • JW January 4, 2015, 1:14 pm

      What does it matter whether he could make that shot again or not? Who cares? Most of you couldn’t make that shot from less than half that distance. The fact is he did it! That’s all that matters and I’m giving credit where credit is due. You should don’t he same and keep your stupid comments to yourselves.

  • Michael E. Hensley December 8, 2014, 7:28 am

    Very impressive shooting indeed!
    I probably would have hit everyone else but the intended target at that range

    • Roadkill January 4, 2015, 2:14 pm

      I cannot believe all the talk. I say, nice shot, job well done….

      • Russ January 4, 2015, 3:58 pm

        I’m with you Roadkill
        We all make great & sitty shots.
        I think these naysayers are just shooting crappy lately and are jealous.
        Sgt. Johnson wasn’t bragging, he called it Divine Intervention, and doesn’t deserve others disdain or criticism.
        I say HOLY SHIT what a great shot!
        One handed two horse holding 312 ft. heart shot!
        OMG people congratulate him.

        Thanks and WTG Sgt Johnson, that’s greatly insane.

  • don December 8, 2014, 6:01 am

    i’ll go with DIVINE INTERVENTION–i bet a 10 spot he can not put 1 shot in a 10 inch pie plate at 103 yards out of 5 shots

    • skipNclair December 8, 2014, 9:42 am

      Totally agree, and I would hope the officer would also.

    • Larry Case January 4, 2015, 6:28 am

      I bet he can’t do it in 100 shots. Most people don’t know how inept most police officers are at shooting, especially local police.

      • gholfstra January 4, 2015, 8:57 am

        if he’s so friggin’ inept how’d he do it? you’re a dumbass. lets see how you shoot somewhere other than the range environment bigshot. gfy.

        • Casper the Friendly Ghost January 4, 2015, 1:22 pm

          He didn’t consciously do it. He pointed his pistol and fired. The bullet just happened to hit the right target. If he can’t duplicate this feat in the same or similar circumstances, repeatedly, when it was just a lucky shot. This is like standing on one end of a football field and shooting the quarterback while he’s wondering around the end zone. This was pure luck.

          • Patrick Henry January 5, 2015, 10:19 am

            Like a bunch of old ladies. Nah, Nah, Nah, it was luck, it was skill, it was divine. He did it under pressure, one hand, holding two horses. I think he hit the jack pot as well probably from having a pure heart. We can guess all we want but what counts is he held up his end. Obviously the idiot that got shot didn’t think he could do it either.

      • BullpenBill January 4, 2015, 10:13 am

        My son, in the Air Force hit 2out of 5 in a 12 in square at 100 yes. I, in a Texas Competition, put 3 rnds in a group of about 12 in at 50 yds. Both of us used Berreta 92fs. And any regular shooter should be able to fairly easily, maybe not one handed and holding 2 horses but…. You will surprise yourself. Note that this type of shot should only be used in an emergency situation like ‘active shooter’. I’m not taking away that this was a very good shot which the officer individually knew it was at least probable.

        • oh, yess. January 4, 2015, 10:41 am

          In competition… thats easy. Give some credit to that cop, he did something great and out of the range controlled envinronment…

      • B-Man January 5, 2015, 3:36 pm

        Had an uncle in the DEA and he was the same, couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with a 12 gauge from 10 feet…

      • Chris January 10, 2015, 2:12 pm

        Your a pbrain

    • tim January 4, 2015, 9:49 am

      I would bet on the cop. If I can hit a soda can at 50 tards with my Sig 40SW I am sure that a cop could hit a human head at 100 yards. I did have to adjust my aim since I was new to the gun but I wanted to see what it would do at a distance of more than 25 yards. I have watched some REALLY good shots from law enforcement and I would pay to see some of them shoot…..they were that good. I wonder…..would any of you like to stand at 100 yards and let the cop shoot at YOU? Nuff said.

      • steve January 4, 2015, 12:08 pm

        No…but then do we have volunteers to stand at 100 yards in front of any practiced shooter?

        • berferd January 5, 2015, 4:44 pm

          . . . . crickets . . . .

    • Newell Anderson January 4, 2015, 2:04 pm

      The 1873 colt single action, by Gocernment Spec., had the sights regulated to shoot dead on at 100 Yds.!! The Mod. 1911’s “Small”sights will alow one to draw a bead on a 5 Gal. Bucket at 100 Yds. The Theory with the 1973 was to kill a running Indian pony! The 1911 sights carried that theory forward.
      If you can’t do this it is because you have listened to BS, & haven’t tried for your self!!

    • Newell Anderson January 4, 2015, 2:05 pm

      The 1873 colt single action, by Gocernment Spec., had the sights regulated to shoot dead on at 100 Yds.!! The Mod. 1911’s “Small”sights will alow one to draw a bead on a 5 Gal. Bucket at 100 Yds. The Theory with the 1973 was to kill a running Indian pony! The 1911 sights carried that theory forward.
      If you can’t do this it is because you have listened to BS, & haven’t tried for your self!!

    • Patrick Henry January 5, 2015, 3:50 pm

      Like a bunch of old ladies. Nah, Nah, Nah, it was luck, it was skill, it was divine. He did it under pressure, one hand, holding two horses. I think he hit the jack pot as well probably from having a pure heart. We can guess all we want but what counts is he held up his end. He tried and was successful, I would rather be lucky than good any day. Obviously the idiot that got shot didn’t think he could do it either.

    • mathew t January 7, 2015, 6:57 pm

      Igot a twenty that says the same lucky shot

  • David December 7, 2014, 9:27 pm

    Was this story on the gun-grabbers’ corporate news? Would surprise me if it aired; to the elitist plutocrats, guns and gun owners only cause bad news. Good that reality proves them wrong so often.

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