A North Carolina man (age 49) delivering a pizza at an apartment complex was approached around midnight by four people (ages 15, 16, 18, and 20) intending to rob him.

They pointed a rifle at his head, which was later discovered to be a toy painted to look like a real gun. In response, the delivery person shot at the group, injuring three of the four suspects. Their injuries were non-life threatening. All four suspects have been charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Intentionality is key here. Whether or not the gun they used was real does not matter in the court of law or in the street.