Criminals are not always the smartest people on the planet.
There is a reason so many of them get caught in the act.
And a robber from Chicago clearly did not understand he was in Florida after a store clerk turned the tables on him in one massive way.
A man wielding a shotgun strolled into a Florida convenience store, intent on a successful armed robbery.
Florida man turns the tables on Chicago criminal
But the would-be armed robber instead made a hasty exit once the store clerk pulled out his own weapon.
Rakim Stephen Tate, 32, strolled into a convenience store in Pensacola, Florida, last September 9, wielding a large and very visible shotgun at his side.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Tate has been charged with attempted robbery and openly carrying a prohibited firearm.
Tate tried to explain his attempt to rob the store using his shotgun by simply saying he was from Chicago.
The video of the incident shows Tate walking around and inspecting the store before a clerk, who was out of view of the security camera, began a dialogue with the out-of-town suspect.
Apparently, the store clerk had spotted Tate arming himself outside.
He then ran to the back room to arm himself with his personal weapon.
Noticing the clerk was armed, Tate then began stammering and sputtering about being from Chicago.
“I don’t mean no harm; I’m just not from around here,” Tate said.
“I got a big (expletive) (expletive) gun, but I’m not from around here is what I’m saying. I’m from Chicago bro,” he continued.
Would-be robber resorts to meaningless babble about Chicago
Tate then amazingly asked the clerk what kind of weapon he had on him in an apparent attempt to disarm the situation.
The clerk responds, and then Tate makes his quick exit from the store.
Pensacola authorities recovered the Benelli shotgun Tate was carrying during the aborted robbery.
A statement from the Escambia County sheriff’s office described the incident and said, “He then fumbles for words, resorting to meaningless babble about being from Chicago.
“Words seem to fail you when your felony attempt is thwarted by lawful and righteous force.”
The statement then went on to mock Tate’s unconvincing excuse for carrying a weapon. “You’re not in Chicago anymore; you’re under arrest,” it read.
Regardless of what his true intentions might have been, two things are clear.
First, the excuse of being from Chicago is ridiculous because given Chicago’s strict gun laws, there is no way Tate would be walking around Chicago brandishing a shotgun.
And second, Tate clearly is from out of town as he did not understand the people and culture of the panhandle of Florida.
There is not much doubt that no matter what store Tate chose to rob, he would have been met by an armed store employee.
That is certainly one reason Tate, being from Chicago, may have weighed into his decision to try and rob a Florida convenience store.
It is unlikely Tate would have faced an armed clerk in Chicago.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
