Other-defense against a knife?

[JusticeZero]

Bystanders fight off man who snatched boy, held knife to his throat

" A man is behind bars after grabbing an 11-year-old boy away from his mother Thursday in downtown Anchorage, holding the boy at knife point until good Samaritans fought off the attacker, police say."

Yikes! This turned out pretty well, considering. I note that the comments had people thinking that a gun would have been more dangerous - I can't see how. This is a pretty bad situation either way.

That said, does anyone have any thoughts on how best to deal with a situation of this sort?

I don't think I could have suggested the tackle so much as gesturing "Throw him the money" and pointing at the GROUND a ways away. he'll have to move to get it, and then crouch down to pick it up, and both of those things will make opportunities to get the guy clear of his hostage if he hasn't already.

If he doesn't break up, and tries to move to a second location, follow closely. I'm not sure whether it's advisable to pull the trigger on the reasonable full escalation of a "second location" attempt if it's someone else who has to suffer the effects.

I'm not sure what others think, though.

Honestly, I think this guy got exactly what he wanted: To get put back in jail. Society isn't really supportive of former inmates, so high recidivism is to be expected when they get hungry and can't find work.

[sensei8]

Call the police!!

[xo-karate]

What will happen if you try something and he will cut the boy?

Would it be better to give the money and let him go --- and let police deal with it later?

[JusticeZero]

Yeah, but hostage situations often have a "move victim to second location" baked in. I tell my students that if someone wants to move them to a second crime scene, that if their response results in them dying there, they're still probably better off than if they went to the second location.

[barrypardue]

Pepper Spray and run!!!

[sensei8]

Pepper Spray and run!!!

Hopefully you can, and that's providing the winds don't give you a blast back into your face.

That would not be fun...and it would be my bad luck.