Former Marine fends off four robbers, kills one

updated 1:42 p.m. ET May 30, 2006

ATLANTA - A group of robbers in Atlanta picked the wrong victim.

Police say former Marine Thomas Autry fought off four attackers on Monday night with a pocket knife. They say he killed one and seriously wounded another.

Detective Danny Stephens said Autry was walking home from his waiter job when attackers armed with a shotgun and a pistol chased him. The detective said Autry pulled the knife out of his backpack when the group caught him.

Stephens said the 36-year-old’s “training kicked in and he knew what to do.” He kicked the shotgun out of one attacker’s hands and stabbed a 17-year-old girl who jumped on him, as well as a man who also attacked.

The suspects fled, but police said they found them at a hospital, where the girl was pronounced dead.

Stephens said they face robbery and aggravated assault charges and are suspected in other robberies over the past week. Autry will not be charged.

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