i need help from some of my police /lounge/rs.

story time

a few nights ago some kids skipped out on a bill at my job, basically i knew one of the kids, so i reported it considering the server has to pay that money out of their own pocket and that server was my friend. so today i get a call saying that the person talking was the brother of the kid i reported, and he was going to find me and kill me. with his "gang". am i worried theyll actually kill me? no, but i do think they will try and find me and hurt me bad. heres the catch, i have this 16 inch retractable steel baton that i bought about a year ago just for fun, but now im thinking i might actually carry it for protection. lets say these guys do find me, can i be charged in anyway for using the weapon in self defense? i dont plan on killing these guys, i know to avoid contact with the head, just aim strictly for the backs of the legs, arms and such, but i really need to know. btw i live in new york i know laws are different in some places