east st. louis...christmas eve's eve...Archived Message
Posted by Liberal on December 25, 2010, 2:08 pm
was riding the metrolink back to gc, train was running late because blues game just got out and it was overcrowded...it caused me to miss the #5 bus that runs from east STL to granite city.
they only run once an hour, so i had to wait an hour in esl at night...no biggie. i usually see students or a familiar face, but this i did not...still struck up conversation with 2 guys also waiting...talking politics with random ppl at the bus is interesting...
either way...mid-conversation 2 guys come around and one of them sits on the bench in between me and the other guy...and his friend blocked the entrance.
the man who sat down in between me and the other guy then pulled a loaded silver .22 revolver out of his pocket and said to give him all of my money.
my wallet was in my front coat pocket, and i had some money and my credit cards in it...and i had a paycheck - but i told the guy i had no money. he then started grabbing my front pant pockets, then my back pocket. i said all i had was my cell phone and i offered it to him. he refused it.
he then turned his back to me and pointed the gun at the guy on the other side of him. he took his new ipod and his bus money. the 3rd guy was a large white guy, offered his cigs and a few bucks...and then they left.
it was frightening being in illinois and not being armed and having a gun shoved in my face...but he did not find my wallet, i lost nothing, and no one got hurt.
i almost bowed him in the ear and grabbed his wrist when he turned his back on me, but i did not know if his friend was armed, and the .22 revolver will bounce around your skull...i didnt feel like dying over an ipod and a few bucks. had he found my wallet i already decided i was going to act...or if he shot or hurt one of the other guys i was going to act.
the guy who lost his ipod said after that he had a knife, and almost stabbed him when he was grabbing my pant pockets...
we couldve rolled the guys...as me and the other white guy were much bigger than them.
but...ultimately...no big loss and no one hurt.
there was no cop on duty (usually always is a cop there) and there is no camera on that spot.
the 3rd white guy was related to a granite cop. had an interesting conversation with the cops.
apparently in the last week a woman was raped by that bus stop and an 80 some odd year old man was beaten to near-death. dislocated his jaw and cracked some ribs. despite these recent actions, they have not increased security. they seem practically unconcerned.
the cop also said that they are soon laying off 19 officers, so it will only get worse.
the problem with the layout of this bus stop, is that is right next to 5th street, and 5th street goes straight into the gumpers which is 3 blocks away, and the gumpers is a bad and dangerous place to be at night time. bad bad projects...
so they can walk down mug and rape and beat and then walk to the gumpers before the cops get there.
no cameras. and the cop who is supposed to be there even said he doesnt hang out down near that booth.
just glad to be alive. learned a few lessons.
1 - always lie to someone if they are trying to rob you...and always insist you have nothing to give up
2 - when riding the bus at night, stay on the metrolink platform until the bus arrives, and then walk to the bus. it is much safer that way.
3 - i really wish illinois was a conceal carry state like MO...