Posted by handyhood on December 30, 2008 at 5:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This was more like an execution than a robbery.

Posted by cadillaczac on December 30, 2008 at 6:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I've noticed an ever growing police presence throughout the week in the area that this happened. I wonder if the police believe the suspects involved are local?

Posted by AnnaWhaat on December 30, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They very well could live near-by. I just hope that someone really needs that money and reports who these scum bags are.
Handyhood, your right it was more like an execution style murder. And for what? They didn't take anything.....not even the money in the cash register. I pray they catch these murder'ers.

Posted by socal2310 on December 30, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What are you going to do with a phone against an armed robber? They can't arrest the perpetrator over the phone! Even if they let him call, they would be gone before the police could respond.

Call 911 when it is safe to do so. This will either be when the robber/s are lying in a pool of their own blood on the floor because you shot first or after they have left.

Robbers are usually better at reading victims than victims are reading robbers. They probably know when you are bluffing, you probably don't know if they are. A determined man with a gun is a deadly threat and most robbers will turn tail and run. A determined man with a phone is a pest to be exterminated.

Ryan

Posted by lawabider on December 30, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Arming all cashier's would be the smartest idea and would prevent just this type of crime -- the bleeding hearts, however, will make certain this does not happen -- and with the Obamanation at hand, you can rest assured that only the criminals will be carrying... too disgusting for words... My heart is very heavy at this story -- I saw the video clip, too, and could not identify the perps at all from that little segment -- the camera needs to be raised a little... I also think that, since they didn't take anything, this must have been personal???

Posted by byteme on December 30, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

in yesterdays article it said they took some beer. They should just close the stores from midnight to 6am when there is very few people around. I went to the Circle K off of Wells Road once after work and for some reason I really got the creeps from the customers, especially the ones that hang out by the phone

Posted by venturadude on December 30, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How long did it take for the police to show up after he called 911?

Posted by AnnaWhaat on December 30, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How about bullet proof glass.......locking the doors after a certain time and using one of those drawers that slide out to collect the money and you get them what they want and put in the drawer? It could save another life.

Posted by gramagracie on December 30, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Socal and lawabider are correct. We all should be armed. In this day and each you really need a gun for your own protection. The bleeding hearts don't realize how many weapons are coming through out borders illegaly...guess who are buying these weapons?

I just read the Nevada news. Apparently an armed robber killed a clerk at a convenience store Sunday night. I felt this punk was just passing through. We may have a serial killer. This happened at the DC Travel Center near Pahrump, Nevada.

Posted by Jenny on December 30, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I live close to this store location and drive by it daily to get to the freeway. They have planted a security guard out there after dark, which is a relief. However what about other store locations? I also wouldn't be opposed to having cashiers at these types of 24- hour stores armed...and I'm a bleeding heart liberal. I knew Sean, he was such a nice guy and this is such a heart-breaking thing that has happened.

Posted by gramagracie on December 30, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jenny sorry about your lose. I totally agree with you and I believe alot of people, both Dems and Reps realize that the law abiding citizens are at a disadvantage. I just hope that the security guard is armed...no sense having someone out their with just a phone/walkie=talkie.

Posted by r_u_serious on December 30, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sounds to me like ventura is becoming like oxnard...Maybe we should have opd patrol ventura since vpd cant seem to handle anything...how many shootings is this now? come on vpd get with the program.

Posted by Logic_andFreedom on December 30, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think that it was a gang initiation. Because these robbers are just so STUPID. Such amateurs. Look at their stance, etc.

They, and the gang that is letting them in should be so "proud of themselves" NOT !!

If you're going to join a gang, be proud and do things with finesse. Geesch!
What kind of a righteous gang employs COWARDS.
Shame on you. You should be laughed OFF the streets !!

Posted by Good_Granny on December 30, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Some people think I'm a bleeding heart liberal, but, I'm a moderate. Arm everyone, I mean it. This rage and maddness has to stop.

It's stupid to think that you can take a knife to a gunfight. If we really want this maddness to stop, we must look a things on the criminals level.

I personally feel robbed of my beliefs when I have to do this sort of thinking. But, I am prepared for the gunfight mentality.

God save us all.

Posted by timbri27 on December 30, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wish I new who this bastards are, I would turn them in a heart beat even if there was no money involved. Better yet I wouldn't turn them in right away, not after we as a community teach them a lesson.

Posted by kind1 on December 30, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If criminals knew that clerk carried a panic button, which locked all exits, while a very loud external alarm started to scream out, the moment clerks were in fear, which could not be unlocked & stopped except by a pin or secret number, then maybe there would be fewer robberies....

How about what kind of rifle? Was it unique? Anything else besides two guys in hoodies? I mean if you told me it was a imported rifle or the shell size, or something, then who knows...
If you want more info, sometimes you have to give more info. I'm glad to see they are offering UP TO 10,000 - but still not enough for a human life.

Posted by BeaHappi on December 30, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Low-life, scum-s*cking maggots! I hope that VPD catches these creeps and catches them fast. Hopefully they will brag about their actions to the wrong person. Let's hope so.

Rest in peace Mr. Odle. My most sincere condolences to your family and friends.

Posted by smithjc on December 30, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i'm wondering if these guys had anything to do with the fillmore robbery of a couple weeks ago. that weapon was also a rifle, which is an odd weapon for this type of "work". perhaps vpd should look at what, if anything, vso has on those guys. it was the first thing i thought of when i saw that ther was a long gun involved in this crime.

we don't have to worry about arming everyone now. when they come to take all the lawfully owned guns, we don't have to be concerned. we have the obamessiah now. he will cure all ills. all praise the obamessiah. obammessiah akbar.

Posted by Mr_E_Man on December 30, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There are always a few out there who think the answer to alll our problems is to arm everyone. Just to bring that half-baked idea into perspective, let's think about this for a minute.

More than 70% of guns used by criminals are stolen from people who buy them through legal channels. That means that despite efforts to arm themselves and thereby reduce crime, lawful handgun owners actually contribute to the mess.

So no, mass armament is not working. The U.S. continues to see far more gun related deaths than any other developed country in the world. Gun laws have no effect, because criminal don't buy guns through legal channels.

The only way to effectively reduce the supply of guns to criminals to close off their source, which happens to be from responsible gun owners.

As a strong advocate of the U.S. Contstitution, I think the second amendment may be doing more harm than good.

Posted by dgonzales121 on December 30, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My Condolences goes out to this family. I can't begin to imagine how awful they must feel after this. I am terrifed to know that I have a relative that works at a local Circle K and also works on the Graveyard shift. It just mortifies me that these scums are still lurking out there. Hopefully sooner than later they are caught and punished for what they did. I pray every night that the good lord brings my family member home safe. I agree that Circle K should have additional employees working on the graveyard shift. Also, they should think about getting that bulletproof glass installed around the cashier for added protection. Unfortunately I don't think that will happen since for years they have had it this way. I am so sorry for your loss and may the good Lord provide comfort through these days. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Posted by smithjc on December 30, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mr_e_man posted: "More than 70% of guns used by criminals are stolen from people who buy them through legal channels. That means that despite efforts to arm themselves and thereby reduce crime, lawful handgun owners actually contribute to the mess."

uh, hello, the guns are STOLEN from lawful owners by CRIMINALS. it's the criminals that contribute to the problem.

many folks are leaving guns at home, where they can be stolen (even from state "approved" gun lockers), because our nanny state won't allow them to exercise their RIGHT (not privelege) to BEAR ARMS. if people had their guns WITH THEM when their houses got broken into, the guns wouldn't be there for criminals to steal.

but, when the obamessiah takes over, we will all be washed of our sins and won't need to protect ourselves. the obamessiah will protect us. all praise the obamessiah. obamessiah akbar!!!

Posted by Mr_E_Man on December 30, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Simple supply and demand. Gun owner make it too easy and true gun collectors have far more than they need. I seriously doubt that any gun owner woul take all ten of his guns with him wherever he goes.

Furthermore, there is no law saying you can't take a gun with you when you leave the house. But there are restrictions about concealment, licensing and transport methods.

Again, the real problem is that there are far too many guns available for people to steal.

Perhaps the real solution is to restrict sales of new firearms by not allowing anyone who has ever had a gun stolen to buy a new one. those who fail to report a firearm theft would not only lose the right to buy them, but would be banned from owning them as well.

That approach might actually make gun owners more vigilant about protecting their collections and still preserve the core principle of the second amendement.

Posted by TiquisiaPrincess on December 30, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They should have a county wide ordinance that says if you stay open 24 hours a day, after dark you must have a armed security at the owners expense.

Posted by eclipsewatcher on December 30, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Guns are falling into the hands of the wrong people -- often children -- with tragic results. Brandon McInerny comes immediately to mind. He was NOT a criminal before he took his father's gun and killed Larry King with it. So, the argument that guns are stolen from responsible gun owners by criminals doesn't always hold water, especially in a case like this one and other high school/middle school shootings, where the shooter is underage and has no criminal history. As for responsible gun ownership, McInerny Senior is exactly the sort of unstable person who makes a good argument for gun control.

Posted by Ironhorse on December 30, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr-E-Man, please source your statement of "70% of all crime guns stolen from legal owners". This sounds like something that comes from Handgun Control, Inc., or Sarah Brady; both of whom I trust even less than O.J.Simpson!
I would like to make two points in rebuttal to your statements.
First, if you were able to wave a magic wand over the United States right now, tonite, this moment, and make every gun disappear; by tomorrow morning, the criminal element would be well on their way to re-armament through the magic of cross-border importation. You cannot and never will dis-arm the thugs!
Second, and more to the point for Sean(God rest his soul), if you dis-arm the citizens, the thugs will not hesitate to run amok; just as the schoolyard bully never fails to find the weakest target on the playground. Sean should have been given the choice to arm himself if he wished to.
My opinion is that 24/7 store robberies would drop tremendously if a sign on the front door proclaimed "Our attendants are armed!"

Posted by Mr_E_Man on December 30, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

U.S. Bureau of Justice statistics and wikipedia both have some interesting information on the subject.

The problem isn't necessarily that we have a right to bear arms, it's more that some gun owners don't act as responsibly as they would have the rest of us believe.

With 500,000 guns stolen each year, there's an aweful lot of weaponry out there for the criminal elements to get their hands on. Add in the state's that have lax laws regarding gun sales and the questionable entrepeneurs who are willing to export those guns into other areas... it should come as no surprise that the bad guys are so well equipped.

The fact is, we live in a nation of fear because the NRA refuses to acknowledge the necessity of strong unilateral firearm regulation.

If gun owners would accept the fact that regulation is needed to keep guns away from criminals, the chances of a senseless act like the one that killed mr. Odle could be seriously reduced.

But no, stubborn protectionsists will continue to argue against regulation, and the problems associated with mass armament will continue to infect our society.

May Sean Odle rest in peace and may the rest of us not have to suffer his fate.

Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on December 30, 2008 at 5:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Only $10,000? That's just coming from Circle K - What about us helping out? Is there a fund where us citizens can donate to so that we can raise the reward? The reason I ask is because this guy must have told one of his "homies" about what he did. If the price is right, hopefully they'll turn him in!!! Also, his family probably has to bury him and everything, please, if anyone knows an account to donate to, let us know! Whether it's for the family or the reward.

Posted by socal2310 on December 30, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. E Man,

I submit the following for your consideration. It's a long, but very illuminating read: http://www.guncite.com/journals/gun_c...

Will you concede that, particularly in the wake of Heller vs. D.C, a total ban on ALL firearms is unrealistic?

Are you aware of the fact that a rifle is somewhere between 5 and 10 times more deadly than a handgun? (ballistic performance is of greater concern than accuracy)

Did you know that a load of double aught buckshot to the center of mass within twenty feet is almost completely unsurvivable?

How would you like to see criminals turning to to sawed off rifles and shotguns instead of handguns? I'd rather be hit by a round fired from a .50 Desert Eagle and certainly prefer the smaller calibers usually employed.

Ryan

Posted by VenturaFamily on December 30, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is the 2nd family that I know of who have lost loved ones behind the counter at a Circle K. It's time for change -- starting with bullet proof glass and a minimum of 2 staff per shift. The Odle's are great people who contribute much to this community. This is a terrible tragedy for them and for this city. Things are changing in Ventura and it's not for the better.

Posted by Mr_E_Man on December 30, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Socal, before even reading the piece I can agree that a total ban would not be a realistic appraoch. On the same note, I did advocate for some changes to gun control that might actually decrease the frequency in which criminals acquire them.

As a former gun owner and a guy who loves to visit the range from time to time, I can tell you that guns are, without a doubt, tools of empowerment. But I have never been in a situation in which owning a firearm made me "safer."

As for your last point, handgun or not, any gun in the wrong hands is dangerous. Making ALL firearms less accessible to irresponsible people would be a benefit to all Americans. By forcing gun owners to take responsibility for their inventory, they are more likely to invest in gun safes and other precautions that might keep their guns in their possession and save someone's life later on.

On a seperate tpoic, someone mentioned the idea of having armed security personnel on duty at 24/7 businesses. Another offered the idea of bullet proof cashier counters. Both seem perfectly reasonable investments for any business that is serious about reducing the risk for their employees.

Posted by socal2310 on December 30, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. E. Man,

Requiring people to lock up their firearms will not prevent them from being stolen. Burglars have been known to show up with dollies to haul off safes to be opened at their leisure and not all of us have the budget for a vault. Furthermore, with all those guns on the street, and considering that guns (particularly revolvers) have a very long shelf life, it is very unlikely that the lack of availability of new firearms is going to have any effect on crime. If domestic guns are rigidly controlled, or confiscated, we will simply see more guns imported. Consider the fact that only a very small percentage of drugs headed for the U.S. are interdicted and add in the fact that dogs can't be used to sniff for firearms (they would alert on the agent's own weapons) and I could easily see gun control being just as effective (in other words, a complete failure).

Even if you somehow managed to eliminate the smuggling problem, any competent machinist could manufacture a rudimentary pistol or revolver as well as ammunition. The gun wouldn't be safe to fire more than a few hundred rounds or be nearly as accurate as what you presently see on the market, but they would work well at the ranges favored by criminals. Heck, I know how to manufacture a "bang stick" which is essentially a short barreled, single shot, shotgun.

Ryan

Posted by sactown on December 30, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This has always been a trouble area for armed robberies, so much so we use to call it stop 'n rob back when it was stop 'n go...I'm sure this isn't the first clerk to be shot or even killed at this location, it's way back behind the gas station which gives it seclusion from people on main st., why is it even open at 4am, it doesn't even sell gas! What a waste of a life, and for a minimum wage job, cicle K owes this family more than just a $10,000 reward. How much do quality video cameras cost anyway? I could get better video from the shelf at best buy!

Posted by n0bonob1 on December 31, 2008 at 12:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

idiots on the loose, like always! taking an innocent person's life away! I hope that they get found and get the max punishment, the
max.................poor man, never the less just working to set food on the table. what a disgrace to this county.

Posted by gramagracie on December 31, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr_E_Man, please check the crime rate in Britian and Australia, who have a ban on any citizen having a weapon. Yet their crime rate has sky rocketed. The criminals somehow happen to get their hands on guns. In our country there are contraband weapons coming in from Mexico and possibly Canada. I think that the banning, locking and all the rules that have been implemented by the Gun Control nuts has caused this problem. Gun Control is not working. We as law abiding citizens should have the right to bare arms! In Arizona, you can obtain a conceal weapon permit with proper class and background check, not only that, but you can strap a holster to your hip and carry your gun anywhere you go. We still have a crime problem but not to the degree that California does.
What should have happened in this robbery was that Sean should have drawn his weapon and shot both of these mokes. You enter my home with or without a weapon, I am not calling 911, I am shooting to eliminate the threat to myself and my family. 911 is great in a medical immergency but when threat of death a gun is much better.

Posted by HughPatterson on December 31, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is Tragic. I knew Sean when I lived in Ventura. Even though I now reside in San Francisco, I consider Ventura my second home and hometown. I lived near the Circle K where this happened and sadly, I am not surprised that this crime took place. There are a large number of drug dealers/users that travel through that intersection. Because the store was open at all hours, it stood out as a place of interest for some of our socially inept elements. I know a bit, first hand, about the madness that drug addiction brings. It turns people into animals and innocent people get hurt, such as Sean. My heart goes out to his family and friends. I think that Circle K needs to hire security people or at least improve their employee security. However, rather than assign blame we need to get Circle K to make changes so this doesn't happen again. You may not be able to stop drug addiction immediately, but you can make it safer for those innocent people who have to cross paths with people engulfed by addictions fast spreading flames. Lets get the Owners of Circle K to fix this problem in all their stores open 24 hours.

Posted by NightLight on December 31, 2008 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Asking for all convenience store clerks to be armed is just nor realistic. Even the most ardent gun advocate would (I hope) acknowledge that gun owners need to at the very least be adequately trained and pass a background check, not likely for a minimum wage job.

Bulletproof glass, more people on duty, closing stores ovenight, all of those are much more realistic and feasible solutions.

Posted by Informationhighway on January 1, 2009 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Everyone being armed is NOT the answer, that will just cause the deaths of more innocent people, someone innocent will be hurt during the process and then what happens?

You have the clerk with the gun, who felt his life was threatened pull a weapon, aim, and shoot, however, missing their intended target, hitting someone innocent, and then being put in jail for killing someone. That is not what is necessary.

Go to Washington Mutual in Oxnard by the big towers, see their security, which I can't believe all banks haven't yet adopted. You go into a locked cube, remove your hat, sunglasses, and they take a photo, and most likely you are going through a metal detector, you then go in to do your banking business.

When you are done, same thing, you leave through the exit and are in a small cube, until the outside door release is pushed, that way, if you have robbed the bank, you are stuck in this cube.

We should do this at stores like CircleK and all banks, making it much safer for the employees.

These are desperate times for a lot of people with the way the economy is, and even before things changed with the economy.

So many people not willing to work, wanting to live by the hands of others, through stealing, robbing, etc. So I say we take the extreme measures above and make it worth everyone's while to be safe than sorry.

I wouldn't mind the inconvenience myself, not if I knew I were safe, as were my loved ones.