Case Study: Man Shoots at Crazed Driver Who Attacked Him With Jeep

As concealed carriers, one of the best training tools we have is to study a variety of self-defense cases and learn from them.

By evaluating these situations and looking at what went wrong, what went right, and how it might have been handled differently, we gain a better understanding of how these incidents unfold and become better prepared to defend ourselves.

On August 16, 2022, an off-duty police officer fired at a man who repeatedly tried to run him over in his own driveway – once successfully. Let’s break it down.

Incident Breakdown

In a quiet neighborhood in Decatur, Alabama, Ring doorbell footage captured a strange scene in which an off-duty police officer fired shots at a man who ran over him with his Jeep.

The original Ring doorbell footage can be viewed here, so you can see what happened for yourself. Warning: the video may be disturbing to some viewers.

According to a source close to the investigation who wished to remain anonymous, on the evening of August 16, off-duty Decatur police officer Jack Brown was at home with his family when he heard a vehicle coming down the street with its engine revving and gears grinding.

Heading outside to see what was going on, Brown saw a black 2012 Jeep Wrangler whose driver stared at him a moment before driving forward, making a U-turn, and driving toward the officer’s driveway. When the Jeep stopped behind Brown’s parked police cruiser, he decided to approach the driver and ask if everything was okay.

The driver, later identified as 54-year-old Gregory Martin Hill of Decatur, swore at Brown before abruptly pulling forward and crashing into a vehicle that was passing by, totaling it, according to the source.

Brown quickly jumped into action, checking on the woman in the other vehicle to see if she was alright and calling police dispatch to report the incident and give a description of the Jeep and driver.

Case Note: Noting the physical details of an assailant and their belongings can go a long way in a police investigation. Always practice situational awareness so you can provide as much detail as possible in the event your attacker flees the scene.

While Brown was talking to the woman in the vehicle, Hill allegedly drove back down the street, made another U-turn, and started speeding directly toward the off-duty officer, which is about where the video begins.

In the Ring doorbell footage, Brown is seen quickly jumping out of the way of the vehicle. The Jeep slams into a tree, and Brown runs back toward the house. He takes a quick spill in the driveway and then continues to run toward the home, where his kids were waiting inside.

In the video, you can hear Brown shouting his address to dispatch before he throws his phone onto a camping chair on the front porch. He then dashes inside to grab his duty gun and handcuffs, AL.com reports.

Case Note: Any time you’re confronting a situation that makes you suspicious or uncomfortable, you should have your gun with you. It doesn’t do you any good if you don’t have it!

Once Brown is inside, you can see Hill get out of his vehicle and start running up the driveway after him. He stops when he gets to the porch, looks at the phone, which still has dispatch on speaker, turns around, and walks back toward his Jeep.

Case Note: When you’re on the phone with dispatch, it’s a good idea to stay on the phone with dispatch. It’s important that you stay on the line so you can communicate what’s going on and help clarify any important details they may have misheard or misunderstood – like your address. That being said, in this situation, it appears that having dispatch on speaker may have caused Hill to think twice about following Brown into the house.

Just before Hill re-enters his vehicle, Brown is seen on camera running back outside toward Hill with his pistol pointed at him. He can be heard yelling at Hill, commanding him to show his hands and “get on the ground right now.”

Despite the officer’s repeated commands, Hill gets back in his Jeep. Brown follows him to the driver’s side of the vehicle and continues pointing his gun at Hill and yelling at him.

That’s when things get really crazy.

The video shows the Jeep backing into the road, losing its bumper in the process. Brown, who is left standing in the driveway, continues pointing at the Jeep with his gun. He then takes a moment to kick the bumper out of his way and briefly lowers his weapon. 

Case Note: When dealing with an attacker, seek cover whenever possible. Your safety should be your main priority, and remaining out in the open could be detrimental.

It’s at that moment that Brown notices the Jeep barreling toward him. He immediately raises his firearm and begins shooting at the vehicle, which slams into him. Fortunately, Brown was able to push off of the hood with his hand and roll before the Jeep ran over his left thigh.

Brown fired eight shots in total, four of which struck the windshield of the Jeep. None of the bullets penetrated the glass, so Hill was not struck in the incident.

Despite having just been hit, Brown manages to stand up, point his gun at Hill, and, once again, command him to show his hands. This is where the video ends. According to our source, Hill continued to defy Brown’s demands and stuck his hands into his pockets, quickly pulling them out as if he had a weapon.

By the time Brown realized Hill was unarmed, Hill had run around a tree and back to his Jeep. He tried to back the vehicle up to leave, but its multiple collisions had caused some damage, and he was unable to turn the wheels. Brown opened the door to the Jeep, and Hill allegedly lunged for his weapon. To prevent him from taking it, Brown dropped the magazine and threw it out of reach.

Case Note: It’s not uncommon for assailants to reach for your gun to try to use it against you. Always be aware of their body language and be ready to react quickly. In this case, it was better for nobody to have a weapon than for the bad guy to have the only one.

That’s when Brown’s neighbor came out and tackled Hill. Together, they fought him until police arrived and apprehended Hill, taking him into custody.

The Aftermath

Once Hill was arrested, Brown was transported to the local hospital for evaluation and treatment. Luckily, it was found that he was not seriously injured, suffering from a strained ACL, dislocated knee cap, and a busted lip, and he was released later that same night.

An investigation into the incident revealed that there was no apparent connection between the two men, according to AL.com

Following his arrest, Hill was booked into the Morgan County Jail. He was initially charged with second-degree assault for his alleged actions and was held on a $50,000 cash bond, Decatur Daily reported.

A few days later, the charges were upgraded to attempted murder, and his bond was increased to $1 million cash with the condition that he remain under house arrest with GPS monitoring and supervision and no access to alcohol or firearms. He was also ordered not to have contact with Brown or the Decatur Police Department, according to News19. His court date is unknown.

Reflection

After learning the details of the encounter, it’s time to reflect on what happened and how you might have handled the same situation.

Do you think the off-duty officer handled the incident correctly? Why or why not? Do you think there was anything that could or should have been done differently? How would you have handled the same situation? Be sure to share your thoughts on this case with us on social media @VedderHolsters.

Knowledge is power, and analyzing incidents like these can only serve to better prepare you to respond appropriately in the event you are faced with a similar situation. For more resources on training, information on local gun control and concealed carry laws, and general CCW tips, check out the U.S. Concealed Carry Association.

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*NOTE: This article was updated on January 16, 2024, to include additional details from a source close to the investigation.