Three men armed with what appeared to be real guns, but were later determined to be air pistols, entered the Concertina Beer Hall in Milwaukee, Wis. and demanded cash. Owner Andy Kochanski responded by retrieving a gun and firing at the criminals, striking one and causing the others to flee. A former firefighter, Kochanski administered CPR to the wounded criminal before authorities could arrive at the scene, but the robber later died. Kochanski later told a media outlet, in regards to his attempt to save the criminal, “That's who I am, you know. I'm a firefighter, even though I don't have my badge anymore. I always will be a firefighter.”
The following night Kochanski reopened his bar and was greeted by a throng of well-wishers. Milwaukee Country prosecutors have noted that Kochanski will not face charges.
The incident was the second time in five years that Kochanski was forced to protect himself, his customers and his bar. At a 2008 Christmas party at the beer hall Kochanski was forced to fire a .45-caliber pistol at a pair of robbers toting a sawed-off shotgun. (The Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Wis. 08/16/13 and 12/21/08, TMJ4, Milwaukee, Wis. 08/20/13)