Law Student of the Day: Shady Yassin

When talking about instances of normal people exhibiting superhuman strength and bravery, the most common example is the mother who lifts a car when her child is trapped beneath it, thanks to an adrenaline rush. It seems that law school students are similarly inspired by threats to their laptops.
Thomas M. Cooley 3L Shady Yassin was studying at a coffee shop in Grand Rapids, Michigan last week. A would-be robber walked in with a hunting rifle, according to the Grand Rapid Press, and demanded that all the patrons give him their laptops and valuables.
That’s when Yassin morphed into a coffeehouse superhero. Like a former Law Student of the Day, Arizona State’s Alex Botsios, Yassin decided to fight off the laptop-stealing villain.


From the Grand Rapids Press:

Suburban Chicago native Yassin — who said he has no military or police training — managed to get a hold of the man, slamming him against the wall while at the same time snatching the rifle from his grasp.
After Yassin took the gun, the man took off and Yassin — still holding the gun — and another patron chased him. The man eventually made his escape, disappearing around Butterworth Street SW and Indiana Avenue.
“I didn’t want to be running around the street at night with a gun,” said Yassin.

Actually, the gun wasn’t loaded. Making this story slightly less cool.
But this is great:

Yassin said he plans to take the bar exam this summer and hopes to specialize in criminal defense.
“It’s funny because, someday, I’m going to be defending guys like this,” Yassin said.

If that doesn’t work out, Yassin could definitely get a job as a security guard.
Here’s news footage with blurry scenes from the coffeehouse’s security cameras:

Cooley Law student describes how he disarmed gunman at Grand Rapids coffeehouse [Grand Rapids Press]
Earlier: Law Student of the Day: Alex Botsios

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