The Other Side Of The Robinson Story

Tuesday morning, just before we opened at 10:00 am, I took my Glock (the gun is licensed and registered to me), out of the cash drawer where I had stored it overnight. I do not keep a loaded gun in my store during the day when I am in and out of the store. I took the clip out of the gun and then pulled back the slide to clear the chamber of any round. While doing so, I kept the gun pointed down and slightly away. Obviously, I did not clear the chamber properly because I fired a single round into the floor.

Lauren Porter who helps us out part time was behind me as I had turned my back to her. She was only 3 feet away from me at the computer when I fired the gun. The bullet disintegrated on contact into the carpet and concrete. Some concrete did fly off the floor. The entire gunshot area was not even the size of a quarter, and the concrete that chipped away was less than the depth of a quarter lying flat.

I immediately checked Lauren who said she was OK. She had NO signs of any injuries at all and had NO marks at all in or on her clothing. I told her to go to the restroom and check herself. She did so and said other than her ears ringing she was fine. I went to Wal-Mart to get some supplies and came back. I asked Lauren if her ears were still ringing and she replied, “a little.”

Howard Shockley, a clockmaker that does clock work for us was here the entire time. Also, Cindy, who does engraving for us came in at 10:30ish and she worked all day. We had a normal day at work. At 11:30ish Lauren went out and got a hotdog from Elliott’s. Then around 2:15ish I made Lauren leave so she would not miss her class at Wor-Wic. She said good-bye and left.

Around 3:15, Lauren’s Uncle “Hank” came in the store irate at what happened, screaming like a lunatic. I told him to calm down and come in the back so I could tell him what happened. He came around the counter hit me with two fists, spit on me and threatened to burn down my house since he said he knew where I lived. I had 5 customers in the store at this time that can verify this if need be.

Then after telling him I was going to call the police and have him arrested he said he was calling them to report the incident. This was around 3:30. The Salisbury Police immediately called me and told me Deputies were in Route. The Guy “Hank” then proceeded to spit on my front door and scream more threats. A male customer told him to leave and made sure he went outside of the store where he drove his truck around and eventually pulled up on the sidewalk and left his vehicle running there until just before the police arrived.

It was at this point, about 6 hours after discharging my gun into the floor that Lauren apparently discovered some injuries and went to the hospital to be checked. I do not know if she was injured or not and have not heard from her or her family since. She NEVER told me all day she was injured in any way shape or form. She did tell Howard she was hit by some concrete, something I learned the next day, but she also told him she was “Fine.” She never told Cindy of the incident or of any injuries, at all.

I obviously feel terrible about the entire ordeal but at no time would I ever intentionally put Lauren or anyone, in harms way. In fact, I have been very kind to Lauren giving her money to pay her cell phone bill and just last week I gave her a tanning bed for helping us out. She is also helping out at the store to pay off a ring she still owes money on. I do know she is currently on medicine for psychological problems and is going to counseling. Something she openly told us within the past few weeks. I have already and do again express my sincerest apologies for the incident as I know how it was a shock for all involved.

John D. Robinson, Sr.
This is a copy of statment of facts. Given to police