70-Year-Old Granny Shoots Armed Robber at Columbus, Ohio Hotel

• Iknow this woman! My mom works for her son and I have met her. She is a darling woman, kind, very grandmotherly. If she hadn't shot that man he would have shot her. and her family. and then my family would have no income. What she did was brave. SHE is the fine upstanding citizen, not the robber.

• If an adult member of my family went around robbing others, especially Grandmas or kids, I would be totally embarrased, have to make sure that thug was stopped, and provide restitution to the victims. That thug's actions are disgraceful and make the whole family look bad. Grandma's deserve more respect than that. I would be so embarrased.

• Winston Family Member I don't know what your family has gone through specifically with Wayne, but I have a brother-in-law that is involved with drugs. He is in his 50's now and living with his elderly mother and his young daughter. Joe has been on and off coke, heroin, and prescription drugs for the past 15 years. He is paranoid and sometimes violent. Most of the time he can't even get his ass off the couch though. He was functional enough for several years to go to a job and at least help his mother a little but he lost his job 4 years ago and makes no attempt to do anything except obtain more drugs. If he can't steal the money from his mom's purse, he begs for the money, or scams people... if he can't find it that way then I believe he would do what your cousin did. He is paranoid and keeps guns around. We have taken his guns, when we find them and turn them into the police at buy backs. We don't know where he keeps getting others from. His siblings have tried to force him into treatment facilities but he keeps coming out and going right back on the drugs. Part of the problem is his mother refuses to give up on him and kick him out on the street. She enables him to stay the way he is instead of allowing him to hit rock bottom. This is the only way he will have any incentive to get better. He has a precious little daughter and he won't even do it for her. Poor child's mother is just as addicted as her dad. She lives with her pimp. Grandma takes care of the child because the mom is also a drug whore. So yes, many families are going through what you have been through with Wayne. We expect to find Joe either dead on his mother's couch, murdered by dealers, killed during the commission of a crime, or arrested-which is what we are really hoping for. Everyone has the right to make their own choices in life. Your loved one and ours have chosen the wrong path. You probably could not have changed that or made it better. I'm sorry for your lose but I bet it wasn't too unexpected. As bad as you feel about losing Wayne (RIP), I bet you would have felt way more guilt if he would have killed this victimized family. The hardships in anyones life is no excuse for victimizing others. To the family that was the crime victim... Please get a counselor or clergy member to speak to your Grandma. She was totally within her rights to do what she did. If she had not shot to kill, then Wayne may have shot back and killed a child or another member of your family. She will be feeling a lot of guilt anyhow and sadness over living 70 years and now being forced to take a human life. PTSD will shorten what remains of her life if she doesn't seek help. God bless you all. Don't give up your guns over this incident. There are a lot more people, making bad decisions in this country... never know when you may have to defend your family again. I've often worried that we might have to defend one of our family members from my brother-in-law Joe...

• None of us can judge any one. we are all the lords creations so we cannot judge another because they are his creation as are you.we don't know why he did what he did,we don't know how he was raised. what he did was wrong and he found out the hard way the worst possibile outcome. It is also wrong to gossip about people period. it is a destructive behavior. it only causes fueding. all said and done it was an unfortunate event someone did one thing and another person did another. one truth here that we can all agree on is for every action there is a reaction.

• And Winston Family...You should be ashamed to call these people "gun toting hicks".At age 2 I knew never to steal,rob people, and dont go waving and putting a gun in someones face.ITS WRONG!!!..At 25,there is NO excuse for what youre loved one did.If you loved him so damm much,why was he on the street doing this kind of stuff?...And that bad hand delt thing,sorry,ANYONE can do right, and make a life...

• I agree with My Uncle Jim...Well said ...The people this happened to are some of the finest folks you would ever meet,I have known them all my life,The kind of people that would GIVE you some cash to help you,feed you,whatever, if you just asked,They would help anybody.However,You should not pull weapons on people where we come from..She is a AMERICAN HERO!!!!!! If this was my family,Trust me,And my dad Gus will tell ya this..I would do the same thing and not think twice about it.Anyone in Our rather large extended family would do it.Give "G-Ma" a big hug for me!!!!...Glad you all are safe!!

• colonial girl.. because we mourn our loved one that means we taught him permitted negative behavior? Because we love our family and will miss him that means we taught him that negative behavior is okay? your what if scenerios mean nothing and naturally if you were a person with any type of common sense you would be aware most families have someone who goes down the wrong path. This is just life, but does that determine who the remaining family is? what is it that you are teaching your family? are you all perfect? should I judge the rest of your family based on your pure ignorance? The point my post was making was that wayne winston was someones family. So while its easy for you judgemental, ignorant, and silly people to sit on your computers on voice your petty opinions theres a family that has lost someone here. Again, we feel no ill will towards this family but naturally we are saddened by our loss. I guess we shouldnt feel that because of the choices he made huh? you fools are not even worth the computer keys your typing on. Sorry but your ignorance cant cause me to feel hatred or anger in my heart. I pity you all. Now sit and pass judgement talk your shit and down my cousin, true he was a criminal, true he did wrong, and true he was wrong for trying to rob that woman and her family. thank god he didnt hurt any of them. Unfortuanlty he paid with his life. If that is what yuo all believe should have happened so be it. but how would you feel if it had been your son, brother, cousin, uncle, grandson? see to actually understand this you would have to honest. Im sure this is impossible for most of you. Why shoot to kill? Thats my only question. So while you all sit around in your cowboy boots, drinking your beers, high 5ing each other our family is heartbroken. You see times this is when you reflect on what you could have done differently. Wayne was my first cousin and I am hurting because I know that I could have done more to be supportive in his life. I know what he came from. I know who he was. I dont condone violence at all which was why I wasnt the best family member I could have been to him and it was easier to go with my life then to deal with him. His sudden death has taught me something. Your family is your family regardless of their actions. I wish I had one more time to tell wayne I love him and we do care about him. i wish he had more support throughout his life maybe things would have turned out differently. At 25 years old he should not be laying in a morgue, we should not be planning his funeral, and our family should not be regretting what we did not do for him. This is life though. To my family- We are a family and we will learn from this. We will be made a closer family from this. What you read on these blogs ignore its pure ignorance. Its far easier to judge. Allow these wierd ass people to applaud our loved one being killed but reprimand him for his violent acts. I guess thats the way we should all be huh? gun totin pistal poopin fools. sounds like a bunch of hicks to me. But im sure most of you would differ. Rest in peace wayne maurice winston. you will be missed.

• To the Winston Family: It's your attitude that resulted in this relative getting killed, you forgave and permitted each of his transgressions all through life and he learnt from YOU, that whatever evil he did was "okay" because he was poor, misunderstood, "dealt a poor hand" yada yada and other nonsense. What would you have said IF he had killed one of these innocent people/ Probably the same garbage. It's a good thing he died, he saved the taxpayers a ton of medical expenses, a trial and then probably supporting him in prison for life. Winston family, learn from this death and teach and insist your remaining kids and relatives act like responsible citizens. Way to go Grandma, I'm right behind you at 69, but my eyesight is good and my pistol is loaded and handy.

• I am sorry this man died, but he is the one that threatened my family! Mawmaw had to do what she had to do..he could have went into the ajoining room where two young girls were. his face was not covered so he was there to rob and not leave witnesses. mawmaw is not being prosceuted. I am sorry to the family. Mawmaw is grieving because she had to take a life. This family were law abidding citizens who worked hard to be able to be in columbus for a chance that many horse people do not get to do...Please do not judge the women, she had to do what she had to do to protect her family. I could have lost 8 people in my life.

• Winston family - you started out good - you understand why Gran blew your loved one away... But to make excuses - MANY people are not dealt a good hand at life... yet still manage to live a lawful and productive life. STOP making excuses - and save the rest of your family from this end.

• The second part of this story goes like this: The family moves on to a different hotel. The next night their car is broken into and their credit cards are stolen. There were 3 generations of a family in that room and the room adjoining it as well as 2 unrelated teenage girls. One of those girls was my cousin and her mother was 2 minutes from walking into the room herself. The door was left open for her arrival. This granny gets my heartfelt appreciation for saving the lives of my cousins and their friends.

• jt gardiner said: Another testimony to banning guns in America. Where does this 70 year old murderer get off shooting one of our fine up standing citizens. A world were love and understanding prevails should never need guns. Down deep I feel this was a set up. They left door open to draw in the poor unsuspecting gentleman just to shoot him. Shame, shame, shame on you granny. Posted 10/23/2009 at 11:03:07 PM Had there been these tough gun laws you speak of sir, only Winston would have had a gun, innocent people may have been murdered instead of defended. As for the party at least claiming to be a family member.. There is no justification for the robbing, looting, and killing that happens world wide. Winston was a predator, and thief, to blame others for not being his victim would say that you condone his actions and would prefer that he be allowed to have continued victimizing others. Hogwash, we must all be capable of self defense. Andy Anderson Yuma Arizona

• Thats 1 kick-ass GRANNY.

• These folks are dear friends and decent, caring, law abiding citizens. The trama of having to shoot that young person will never leave them. The whole deal can only be palced at the feet of the criminal. Period. I spent 20 plus years in the military. These family members are civilians. It would bother me, OK? God's peace to all involved. And thank you "G-maw" for being smart enough to be armed. You may have saved 6 precious lives.

• to Winston family member - Wayne was not "murdered" - he was killed while commiting a felony. I don't disagree that you'll miss hime but he put himself in a position that ended with his own death. Justifiable shooting in every sense.

• To the Winston family member who thinks that Wayne Winston didn't get what he deserved...YOU'RE WRONG! He was the one that decided to do WRONG! He was the one that decided to go in POINTING A GUN first...you never point a gun at people unless you plan on using it...that's one of the first things they teach you in gun safety. If more people packed guns and were able to defend themselves against these crackheads and dopers/drug dealers, there'd probably be a lot less of them on the street...and a lot less that my HARD EARNED taxes are having to pay for in these prisons! Evidently Winston didn't CARE about what he was about to do to these people...so why should anyone CARE that he's dead? Just another scumbag off the street.

• Poor Wayne, too lazy to work, too stupid to get a job. So why not just take someone else's hard earned money and threaten their life while breaking into their house. Many people haven't been dealt a great hand and did not threaten to kill a family.

• Our family understands that our loved threatened the well being of these individuals and when one feels threatened a natural response is to protect yourself and your loved ones. We feel no ill will towards this woman. However, our grief intensifies because of the lack of caring for another humans life by people appreciating the fact that our loved one is dead. WAYNE WINSTON was someones brother, son, cousin, grandson, uncle, nephew, and so on. our family hurts and we mourn his loss. you cruel and judgemental people have no clue who he was, what he endured in his short life, or where he came from. Wayne made some poor choices but he wasnt exactly dealt the best hand in life. He will be missed dearly by a host of family members who regret the emptiness and lonliness he felt for so many years. may god have mercy on your soul if you believe my cousin deserved to die. to celebrate someone being murdered is a disgrace to mankind. This man was a human being and if you knew even a fragment of what he went through in his life then mayb you could allow your heart to feel a real emotion.

• Go GRANNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Another testimony to banning guns in America. Where does this 70 year old murderer get off shooting one of our fine up standing citizens. A world were love and understanding prevails should never need guns. Down deep I feel this was a set up. They left door open to draw in the poor unsuspecting gentleman just to shoot him. Shame, shame, shame on you granny.

• I think the point Pete meant was that no one got hurt (maybe shit themselves, but that's it), and the bad guy is dead. Now he can't rob anyone else... Pete - Nice use of photoshop on the picture too, putting an old ladies head on a mans body. Oh btw, that's not a .357 =]

• Sigh. Gun-toting grannies and "Reclining While Intoxicated" stories... Steve, I miss you.

• "As a general rule, it's always wise to be kind to your elders -- especially when they're tougher than you are" ..because guns make you tougher?

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