I completely blew it. I saw a guy running with a shirt and an axe and called out to him. Then another guy came around a corner with fatigues on. I had my M4 right on him. I should have just shot. If you are wearing military fatigues, you have been to a place with military weapons!
From this point on, if it is green and looking at me, it is dead. I don't want to be a KOS type, but I spent two hours regearing today. All for trying to be nice! And I got my partner killed when he came out to get revenge. We were both totally kitted too!
I am on a server with like 2 people right now. Balota is PRIME for bandits. It isn't a good place to hang out for long. I only saw one guy and I just hid in a bush until he went to the jail. I raided the barracks and then bugged out!