Double Homicide in "No Guns" Toledo Convenience Store

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Published on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00

Written by Jeff Garvas

The Toledo Blade along with multiple television stations is reporting that a man walked into a "No Guns" convenience store on Friday and fatally shot two people before killing himself. OFCC's news team has been watching this story in hopes that the Toledo media would mention that the shooter in this case walked through a door that was clearly posted with a "No Guns" sign which did nothing to deter him.

It is sad that this tragedy had to happen. What is more sad is that the media failed to mention the fact that the sign on the door prohibiting guns and the policy of Barney's Convenient Marts throughout Toledo failed to protect the workers and patrons from this criminal.

From the story:

Customers and other employees either ran from the store or hid inside, some in a back room, as the gunfire erupted at the busy convenience mart at North Detroit Avenue and Alexis Road, just southeast of Lakeside Centre, the former North Towne Square mall.

The gunman, Archie Cox, 45, of 866 Tralger Drive, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His wife, Susan Cox, 43, also of the Tralger address, and Shantel Hendrix, 27, of 6400 North Dixie Hwy., Bedford Township, both employees at Barney’s Convenience Mart, 5821 North Detroit Ave., died after arriving at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

Mr. Cox entered the store about 11:35 a.m., confronted his wife, produced two semiautomatic handguns, and opened fire, Toledo police Capt. Ron Spann said.

Ms. Cox and Ms. Hendrix were struck numerous times, police said. Dr. James Patrick, Lucas County coroner, ordered autopsies.

Police do have a motive for the shootings, Captain Spann said.

Carol Ostrander and her sister, Lori Ostrander, both of whom live in Michigan, were in the store at the time.

“We ducked and hit the floor when we heard the shooting begin,” Carol Ostrander said. “We crawled into a back room and hid. That saved us. We are lucky to be alive.”

These people are indeed lucky to be alive with no thanks to the advice of Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre. After a recent rash of violent robberies, Chief Navarre said that he "teaches small business owners not to have a gun," and says he "wants owners to comply with criminals because anytime you have more guns in a tense situation, the better the chance of people getting shot and it's just not worth it."

The Toledo Blade story goes on to say:

Bob Richard, co-owner of the Barney’s Convenience Mart chain, said: “I’m sick. I haven’t felt this way since Vietnam.”

Mr. Richard said seven employees were on duty yesterday morning because of the high volume of customers on Fridays.

Employees cried, hugged, and consoled one another as police conducted their investigation.

“This is like the worst nightmare,” Mr. Richard said. “They’re totally devastated.”

He said the store’s employees were a close-knit group. “We have a lot of longevity with our company,” Mr. Richard said. “They’re like your kids. This is the call you never want to get.”

Comments by Larry S. Moore, OFCC, Senate District 10 Coordinator:

The owner's of Barney's suggested their employees are like family. Employees, and customers, thanks to Barney's posting of no guns, were forced to cower in fear, to run and hide, with nothing for their protection except the hiding places.

Is this how family treats family, to render them defenseless in the face of attack? Is this how the head of a household should protect his wife and children?

No species leaves their offspring as defenseless as the Barney's no guns signs left their employees and customers on that fateful day last week. Their emotional sentiments in banning guns is again proven to be seriously flawed and misguided. Once again proving that the statistics continue to grow that the vast majority of multiple victim public shootings occur in places where guns are banned.

How many more "Jeep plant and Barney's" shootings must occur before business owners and our legislators realize that signs banning guns only bans self-defense and survival?

How much longer will people, such as Toledo Police Chief Navarre, continue to dole out the bad advice "to simply dodge the bullets" until the police arrive to clean up in the aftermath of tragedy?

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