Orland Park shooting highlights role of concealed carry in self-defense
[September 28, 2026]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – The shooting of an alleged armed robber by an
Illinois concealed-carry license holder at an Orland Park gas station
highlights the potential role of lawfully armed citizens during violent
encounters, according to John Boch of Guns Save Life.
Boch said the surveillance video made the circumstances particularly
clear to him.
“The thug thought he was going to win the confrontation, and he thought
wrong, because of course the victim, he had a gun too, and he got a vote
in the matter,” Boch said.
“Instead of being a victim, the concealed-carry holder ended up just
being a witness and survived it uninjured,” he said.
Orland Park police said a citizen was pumping gas at a Shell station in
the 15100 block of Harlem Avenue around 9 a.m. Tuesday when an
individual attempted an armed robbery. The CCL holder fired a handgun,
striking the suspect. The citizen was not injured and cooperated with
investigators.
The suspect was taken to a hospital.
Boch said the incident demonstrates why he believes concealed carry can
provide an option for people confronted by an armed attacker.
“It means they're not a defenseless victim and the bad guys don't get a
run rough shot over them without fear of meaningful resistance,” Boch
said.
“The gun obviously provided the good guy in this case, meaningful
resistance against a criminal attack,” he said.
Illinois law permits deadly force when a person reasonably believes it
is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to
themselves or another person, or the commission of a forcible felony.
Boch said understanding those legal requirements is an important part of
concealed-carry training.
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“Basically, if you have a reasonable fear of death or great bodily
injury at that particular moment, you can use lethal force to
protect yourself or another innocent,” he said.
Whether deadly force is legally justified depends on the
circumstances of each case. The Orland Park investigation remains
ongoing.
Boch said Illinois’ concealed-carry training framework addresses the
use of force but said the quality of instruction can vary.
“Officially, yes, it does,” Boch said when asked whether the
framework prepares license holders for armed attacks. “In the real
world, it depends on how good your instructor or instructors are
that are delivering the material.”
He also warned Illinois gun owners about misconceptions surrounding
self-defense law.
“There are a lot of misconceptions by people who aren't educated in
what the law is,” Boch said.
Boch said the surveillance video also appeared to show the CCL
holder paying attention to his surroundings before the confrontation
escalated.
“To the good guy's credit, he was paying attention to his
surroundings,” Boch said.
“Crime happens everywhere,” Boch added. “It doesn't matter how nice
your neighborhood is or, you know, how you perceive it. It's
everywhere.”
The incident has renewed discussion about concealed carry and
self-defense in Illinois as police continue investigating the
circumstances surrounding the shooting.
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