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I concur with Excalibur's professional evaluation. I certainly don't have his experience dealing with various situations, but in my experience panhandlers approach slowly and ask for help. I would expect a panhandler from across a parking lot to yell something like, "Hey, mister, can you help me?" When they started toward you at a dead run, that was your signal (which you responded to admirably) to react as planned. I pray I can be that alert if similar circumstances ever arise. And I pray a lot more that they never do.