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During Radio Interview, Carson Claims He Was Held At Gun Point In Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Maryland's Ben Carson says his remarks about the Oregon community college massacre—which have caused some back lash—was taken out of context.

WJZ's Pat Warren has more.

In commenting about the massacre at Umpqua Community College, Maryland neurosurgeon and GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson is accused of criticizing the victims who were asked if they were Christians and were systematically shot.

"Not only would I probably not cooperate with him, I would not just stand there and let him shoot me. I would say hey guys, everybody attack him. He may shoot me but he can't get us all," said Carson.

Some took that to mean the victims should have done more.

The mother of survivor Mathew Downing explained how he was forced to watch.

"Mathew said that he froze. He didn't make a single move. He was afraid to look away that if he did anything to make the shooter notice him that he would be shot," she said.

In a Facebook message about Carson's comment Downing wrote, "I'm fairly upset he said that. Nobody could truly understand what actions they would take like that in a situation unless they lived it."

Carson says his remark was taken out of context.

"What the original question was, 'If you were there and someone was holding a gun to you and asking you about your religion and they had shot other people what would you do?' And knowing you were next to be killed and they were continuing down the line killing people I would much rather go down fighting," Carson said.

Carson says the media is trying to make it sound like he was criticizing the victims, when he was not.

The presidential hopeful has also said it was wrong for President Obama to call for gun control on the same day as the shooting, calling it politicizing.

The Carson comments don't stop there.

During an interview on Wednesday with Sirius XM Radio's Karen Hunter, Carson recounts a time when he was held  at gunpoint at a Popeye's business in Baltimore.

"Guy comes in, put the gun in my ribs. And I just said, 'I believe that you want the guy behind the counter,'" Carson said during the interview.

On Thursday Carson was asked about the resolution to the Baltimore incident on the same station.

"The resolution was. said, 'Oh, sorry,' and then he went to the appropriate person behind the register who gave him the money, and he left the store running before the police got there," Carson said.

During the interview the radio host asks Carson to explain his actions and why he was willing to deflect the gunman to someone else.

Carson says, "They're two very different situations" when he's asked compare his Baltimore incident with the Oregon shooting.

LISTEN TO CARSON ON XM RADIO HERE

According to the Baltimore Police, there was not enough information to identify a police report in reference to the incident Carson described.

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