Concealed Weapon

When Carrying A Concealed Weapon Gets You Killed

By John Amato

The Las Vegas shootings carried out by Amanda and Jerad Miller was horrific in and of itself when they killed two police officers, but it was also awful when Joseph Robert Wilcox was gunned, down trying to come to the rescue of those in the Wal-Mart that the couple had entered.

The couple walked to a nearby Wal-Mart, where Jerad Miller told shoppers to run because the police were coming, and fired a shot in the air. "The revolution is about to start," one shopper heard him shout. Amanda Miller placed the backpacks the couple had been carrying into a shopping cart, police said. Then one shopper attempted an ill-fated act of bravery. 

Joseph Robert Wilcox, 31, of Las Vegas pulled out a concealed weapon and confronted Jerad Miller, apparently unaware that Miller had a companion. Amanda Miller fired into Wilcox's ribs and he collapsed, fatally wounded, police said.

Here's a lovely piece on Mr. Wilcox in the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Joseph Robert Wilcox wasn’t one for the limelight. 

And yet the 31-year-old Las Vegan is being heralded as a hero for giving his life while trying to stop Jerad and Amanda Miller in the midst of their shooting spree in the east valley late Sunday morning. 

After executing two Las Vegas police officers at CiCi’s Pizza, Jerad Miller entered a nearby Wal-Mart, at Nellis Boulevard and Stewart Avenue, fired a round in the air and ordered everyone to leave, setting off a panic. It was at that point, instead of running, Wilcox approached Jerad Miller from behind. 

Law enforcement sources said Wilcox, who had a concealed weapons permit and carried a handgun, was ready to “end it” when Amanda Miller, who was behind Wilcox, shot and killed him.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends. An incident like this is so tragic. Joseph wasn't a gun-toting NRA member, but a concerned man who wanted to do something.

Debra Wilcox said her son in recent months had stopped carrying his handgun with him. “Only 10 out of 100 times he would take it with him. I don’t know why he took it with him yesterday,” she said.