Draft:2012 Aldi Robbery
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| 2012 Aldi Robbery | |
|---|---|
| Part of Armed robberies in the United States | |
 Dierre Cotton inside the Aldi store during the attempted armed robbery | |
 Location of the Aldi store in Milwaukee where the shooting occurred | |
| Location | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°02′54″N 87°55′12″W / 43.04833°N 87.92000°W |
| Date | January 30, 2012 ~7:00 p.m. (CST) |
| Target | Aldi grocery store and its employees |
Attack type | Armed robbery, self-defense shooting |
| Weapons | Sawed-off shotgun (Cotton), 9mm handgun (Nazir) |
| Victims | Aldi employees and customers |
| Perpetrators | Dierre Cotton (robbery suspect), Edyon Hibbler (accomplice) |
| Assailants | Dierre Cotton |
| Defenders | Nazir Al-Mujaahid |
| Motive | Armed robbery |
| Inquiry | Milwaukee Police Department |
| Accused | Dierre Cotton |
| Convicted | Dierre Cotton |
| Verdict | Guilty plea |
| Convictions | Armed robbery, unlawful possession of short-barreled shotgun |
| Charges | Armed robbery, possession of short-barreled shotgun (Cotton) |
| Litigation | Lawsuit filed by Nazir Al-Mujaahid for firearm return |
The 2012 Aldi Robbery was a notable case of self-defense shooting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, involving an attempted armed robbery at an Aldi grocery store. The incident took place on January 30, 2012, and became one of the first highly publicized examples of a concealed carry license holder using a firearm in self-defense after Wisconsin's concealed carry law went into effect on November 1, 2011.[1]
The incident involved Dierre Cotton, a 20-year-old man armed with a short-barreled shotgun, who attempted to rob the store, and Nazir Al-Mujaahid, a 35-year-old customer who lawfully carried a 9mm handgun and intervened by shooting Cotton in defense of himself and others inside the store.
Background
[edit]The incident occurred during a period of increasing debate in Wisconsin and nationwide about gun rights, concealed carry, and self-defense laws in the United States. Wisconsin's concealed carry permit law had recently been implemented, making it legal for qualified individuals to carry concealed firearms after training and background checks.[2] This shooting became an early and highly publicized test case of the law’s real-world implications.
Robbery and shooting
[edit]
On the evening of January 30, 2012, Dierre Cotton entered the Aldi grocery store located near 76th and Villard streets in Milwaukee.[3] Armed with a sawed-off shotgun, a type of firearm that has a shortened barrel making it easier to conceal but illegal in many jurisdictions, Cotton confronted a cashier and demanded money from the register while threatening employees and customers with the weapon.[3]
Witnesses reported that Cotton appeared agitated and desperate, raising fears among shoppers in the small neighborhood store. At the time, Aldi was a popular budget grocery chain known for no-frills shopping and low prices, with many loyal customers in the area.[4]
Nazir Al-Mujaahid, a legally licensed concealed carry permit holder, was shopping in the store with his wife when he witnessed the robbery unfolding.[5] According to interviews, Al-Mujaahid, a veteran with military experience, quickly assessed the threat and decided to intervene to protect innocent bystanders.
Al-Mujaahid drew his Pistol Auto 9mm 1A and fired 2 shots at Cotton, striking him in the leg and causing a grazing wound to the forehead.[5] The shots caused Cotton to drop his weapon and flee the store. The quick response by Al-Mujaahid likely prevented further harm to store employees and customers.[6]
Cotton’s accomplice, Edyon Hibbler, had been waiting outside the store in a vehicle as the getaway driver. After Cotton fled the store, Hibbler drove him to a nearby hospital to seek medical treatment for his wounds.[7] Both Cotton and Hibbler were arrested shortly afterward by Milwaukee police.
Legal proceedings
[edit]Immediately after the shooting, Nazir Al-Mujaahid was detained and questioned extensively by Milwaukee police.[5][8] Despite the severity of the incident, prosecutors ultimately decided not to press charges against Al-Mujaahid, citing Wisconsin’s self-defense statutes that allow for the use of deadly force when an individual reasonably believes they are in imminent danger.[9][10]
Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm issued a public statement clarifying that Al-Mujaahid’s actions were legally justified, referencing Wisconsin’s legal framework for armed self-defense.[9] This decision sparked discussion about the application of concealed carry permits and the responsibilities of armed citizens under the law.[11][12]
Nazir Al-Mujaahid
[edit]Following the shooting, Nazir Al-Mujaahid was taken into custody for questioning by law enforcement officials to determine if his actions were justified.[5] The Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm reviewed the case thoroughly and ruled that Al-Mujaahid’s use of force was justified under Wisconsin’s self defense laws.[9] The decision highlighted legal protections for concealed carry permit holders acting in defense of themselves and others during violent crimes.
Despite being cleared, Al-Mujaahid’s 9mm handgun was seized as evidence by police and was not immediately returned to him. This led to a legal dispute, with Al-Mujaahid filing a lawsuit against the City of Milwaukee, alleging the firearm seizure violated his Second Amendment rights.[13]
In 2013, a Milwaukee County judge ordered the return of Al-Mujaahid’s firearm after determining that retaining it violated his constitutional rights, setting an important precedent for gun owners involved in self-defense incidents.[14][15] After legal proceedings, a judge ordered the city to return the weapon to Al-Mujaahid in May 2013.[14]
Dierre Cotton and Edyon Hibbler
[edit]Dierre Cotton was formally charged with multiple serious offenses stemming from the January 2012 Aldi armed robbery attempt. These charges included armed robbery, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, a firearm heavily regulated under federal law due to its concealability and additional related criminal violations such as unlawful possession of a firearm and attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon.[16] Cotton ultimately pled guilty to these charges, acknowledging his role in the violent crime. The court sentenced him to 15 years in state prison, a punishment that underscores the harsh consequences faced by individuals convicted of armed robbery in Wisconsin’s legal system, especially when dangerous weapons are involved. The length of the sentence also reflected judicial considerations of public safety and the need to deter similar crimes in the community.
Edyon Hibbler, who was identified as the alleged getaway driver waiting outside the store during the robbery attempt, faced lesser charges related to his involvement. Unlike Cotton, Hibbler did not directly participate in the armed confrontation inside the store but was nonetheless implicated for aiding and abetting the crime. Hibbler accepted a plea bargain agreement, resulting in a significantly reduced sentence of time served combined with probation. This sentence took into account his more peripheral role in the crime and cooperation with law enforcement during the investigation.[7] Despite receiving a lighter sentence, Hibbler’s involvement highlighted the broader criminal network behind the robbery attempt and demonstrated the legal system’s differentiation between principal offenders and accessories.
Aftermath
[edit]The 2012 Aldi shooting became a significant and widely discussed case in the context of gun control debates, concealed carry legislation, and the rights of civilians to defend themselves.[11] It illustrated the real-world complexities and controversies surrounding firearms in public places.
Legal scholars and advocacy groups on both sides of the gun control debate referenced the case extensively, with supporters praising Al-Mujaahid for defending innocent lives and critics expressing concerns over the potential for misuse of firearms by civilians.[17]
In later years, Nazir Al-Mujaahid attracted additional media attention due to unrelated legal troubles, including charges related to federal tax violations in 2014.[18] However, those incidents were distinct from the Aldi shooting.
Media coverage
[edit]The shooting was widely covered by local Milwaukee media and attracted national attention due to the novelty of Wisconsin’s new concealed carry law and the dramatic nature of the armed robbery.[1][3] News outlets released surveillance footage from the Aldi store, which showed the confrontation between Cotton and Al-Mujaahid.[19]
Interviews with Al-Mujaahid, published on platforms such as YouTube and gun advocacy websites, contributed to the ongoing national dialogue about armed self-defense and concealed carry rights.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Wisconsin's First Self-Defense Shooting After CCW Law Passed". Guns.com. January 15, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Wisconsin Concealed Carry Law Takes Effect". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. November 1, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Armed robbery at Milwaukee Aldi". FOX6 Milwaukee. January 30, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Aldi: Budget Shopping in Milwaukee Neighborhoods". Milwaukee Business Journal. January 30, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Man who shot Aldi robber won't face charges". WISN 12 News. February 1, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Self-defense shooting at Aldi store highlights gun law debates". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. February 1, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ a b "Hibbler sentenced to time served, probation for [[armed robbery]]". FOX6 Milwaukee. April 16, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
{{cite news}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "Milwaukee police interview shooter after Aldi robbery". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. February 1, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c "DA John Chisholm: No charges in Aldi shooting". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. February 2, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 939 – Criminal Code". Wisconsin State Legislature. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ a b "Nazir Al-Mujaahid: A Hero Ignored by the Media". Bearing Arms. January 16, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Wisconsin CCW and the limits of self-defense". Gun Laws Debate. March 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Man who shot Aldi robbery suspect will get gun back". FOX6 Milwaukee. April 30, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
GunReturnwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Template:Cite legal
- ^ "Man sentenced to 15 years in armed robbery attempt at Aldi". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. April 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ Smith, John (2015). "Self-Defense and Gun Control: The Aldi Shooting Case Study". Journal of Criminal Law and Policy. 45 (2): 234–260.
- ^ "Milwaukee man who shot robber charged with federal tax crimes". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. September 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Aldi shooting CCTV footage released". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. February 5, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
External links
[edit]Interview with Nazir Al-Mujaahid