Civilian Gun Self-Defense Blog

Jewelry store manager fires shot at fleeing thief

Afer her father's store, Bob's Coins & Jewelry, was burglarized twice, and after hearing about jewelry stores being robbed recently in Ocala, Vickie Buxton decided to take precautions.

Buxton, general manager at the store, took concealed weapons classes and armed herself with guns she keeps at the business in case she encounters an intruder.

She did not have to wait long.

While working at the store, at 17860 S.E. 109th Ave., Suite 621, on Thursday, Buxton shot at a thief after the man entered the building with a hammer, broke a glass case and escaped with an official Vatican Treasury gold medallion worth $20,000.

"I hit the back of the truck," Buxton said, describing a bluish-purple sports utility vehicle she said the robber got into.

She said before the robber entered the store, "The vehicle sat in front for several minutes, and then it drove around the parking lot some more."

Then, she said, the suspect approached the business and pulled a bandana up to his face.

"I yell, 'Gun!,' meaning my employees know I'm going for the gun," she said.

As the robber entered the store, Buxton said she told him, "I'm going to shoot."

The man ignored her and smashed a display glass that contained coins.

Buxton tried to fire a .380-caliber handgun, but the weapon misfired.

The robber grabbed the medallion and as he was heading out the door, Buxton again tried to fire the gun, but it misfired a second time.

Buxton successfully fired a third shot, which struck the back of the SUV.

"He dropped the medallion on the ground. He then picked it up, and got in the truck," she said.

Capt. Tommy Bibb said detectives are looking for the suspect, described as a white male approximately 6-foot tall, of medium build, who was wearing a white jacket or long-sleeved shirt and camouflage short pants.

Bibb said he also wants jewelry store owners to be aware of their surroundings and be mindful of anyone who appears to be suspicious. He said the vehicle in Thursday's robbery did not have a tag.

Labels: business robbery, female, FL

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS -- A masked suspect was shot and killed outside an Altamonte Springs home.

Deputies arrived on the scene just before 4 a.m. Friday on the 300 block of Magnolia Street just off of Ronald Regan Boulevard.

A woman woke up when she heard someone trying to kick in the door of her home. Seminole County Sheriff's deputies say that's when her husband went to the door and shot twice at Donald Salaam. Salaam, 21, was hit once in the chest.

The wife was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher when the shots were fired.

Investigators say it appears the homeowner was justified.

“Our homeowner didn't have an obligation to retreat. He is able to protect his property," said Lt. James Clark, of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. "The questions we’re trying to answer: If he was in fear for his life and the life of his wife. If he was, he would be justified in this shooting.”

Detectives are trying to determine if Salaam acted alone.

Seminole County deputies say Salaam has an extensive criminal history involving drugs, fleeing/eluding law enforcement. He was also investigated for a previous armed robbery.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Homeowner shoots would-be intruder

A homeowner confronted a pistol-wielding, bandana-wearing man at his front door, wrestled the weapon away and shot the would-be intruder late Saturday, deputies said.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said Christopher Mullins, 23, answered the door at his Bradenton home about 11 p.m. Saturday and found Tron Calloway, 26, on the doorstep.

The two struggled over Calloway's gun and Calloway fired several shots, wounding Mullins, the sheriff's office said. Mullins got control of the weapon and shot Calloway.

Mullins was treated and released from Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petesrburg, the sheriff's office said.

Calloway was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he is listed in critical but stable condition.

No charges have been filed and the investigation is continuing.

Labels: criminal's gun taken away and used against him, defender shot, FL, residence robbery

Labels: FL, minor offender, street robbery

Burglar chased off by shotgun-wielding homeowner

An unemployed man who reportedly sneaked into a home shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday was chased away by a shotgun-wielding homeowner.

According to officials, Stephen Cody Hand, 18, was later arrested and charged with occupied burglary.

The victim, Harold D. Chick, told officials that he and his wife and daughter were watching television in his bedroom when the women fell asleep. Chick said he had just closed his eyes when he heard the television shut off.

He said he opened his eyes and saw a white man, about 5-foot-7, with dark hair, wearing a white tank top and plaid shorts, standing in the room. Chick said he grabbed his shotgun, which was nearby, and the intruder slowly walked out of the home.

"He was standing there at the foot of the bed, and I was wondering who the hell is standing there," said Chick, 67, in an interview with the Star-Banner.

Chick told deputies the man may have silently entered the home through the unlocked front door. The door was left unsecured so his other daughter, who was visiting a friend, could come in. Chick told the Star-Banner the door is normally secured, but because his daughter did not want to disturb her mother, who is a nurse, he left the door unlocked.

Nothing was taken from the home, located in the 3400 block of Southwest 90th Street, officials said.

Deputies were called and a perimeter was set up. During their search, deputies spotted a man wearing plaid shorts, but no shirt, who fit the description of the man they were looking for.

Authorities brought Chick to the location, where he identified Hand as the man who was inside his home.

Asked by deputies where he was coming from, Hand told them he was sleeping and had been at home all night. Asked about fresh shoe prints in the dirt, he said he was walking down the road.

Officials then arrested him.

And though Hand is in the Marion County Jail, the incident has left Chick searching for answers.

"I would like to know what was he up to. What was he going to do? I don't know if he had a weapon," Chick said.

Hand declined an interview request.

Labels: FL, home invasion

TAMPA, FL -- A Tampa woman refused to be a carjacking victim when she was approached by an armed man who jumped into her car on Thursday.

The woman, who only wants to be identified as Adrianna, pulled out her own gun. "I just leaned forward and punched him in the forehead with my gun," she said. The man "screamed like a girl and almost dropped his gun" as he ran away, she added.

Tampa Police have arrested one suspect so far in what they see as a pattern of carjackings. A-Keem Carr was arrested on related charges, but two others are believed to be preying on motorists in the Westshore area.

Labels: carjacking, concealed carry permit, female, FL

Police: St. Pete homeowner with shotgun confronts burglar

A homeowner confronted a burglar this morning, smashing the intruder across the face with the butt end of a shotgun, St. Petersburg police said.

The burglar, identified by police as Justin Masse, 22, at first fled, then turned around and started toward homeowner Michael Lowry, a U.S. Navy veteran, police said. That's when Lowry fired a shell in the ground, and Masse ran off, police said.

A newspaper delivery person spotted Masse unconscious two blocks away in a front yard, police said. Masse received stitches and was eventually transported to the Pinellas County Jail on a charge of residential burglary, police said.

The attempted break-in occurred about 4 a.m. at Lowry's home, in the 5000 block of Second Avenue South, police said. Lowry spotted Masse in his detached garage and confronted Masse with the 12-gauge shotgun.

During a fight that followed, Masse was struck in the face with the butt of the weapon, apparently considered continuing the struggle and then ran off before falling unconscious, police said.

Labels: FL, residence burglary

Deputies: Armed homeowner stops burglary

Sheriff’s deputies say a 25-year-old Summerfield man accused of burglarizing a home didn’t get very far, as the homeowner retrieved his .45-caliber handgun and held the man at gunpoint until they arrived.

Calvin Crews told deputies on Wednesday he was at his residence in the 10000 block of Southeast 108th Terrace Road when he heard someone calling his name. Crews said he looked outside and saw 25-year-old James Lazarus Wayne Day running toward a truck, according to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office report.

Crews said he got his gun and returned to the window. He said Day drove the truck up to the front porch, ran inside the home, went to a bedroom and removed a five-gallon jug that was filled with about $600 in change.

Crews then held the man at gunpoint and called deputies, according to the report. When they arrived, Crews came out of the home with his gun and told authorities what had happened.

Entering the home, deputies found Day kneeling on the floor next to the five-gallon jug of change. Day told them he went to Crews’ home to ask for a job. He said he had just stuck his head in the door when Crews pulled a gun on him.

Officials said Day used to work for Crews.

Day was then arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail where he was charged with residential burglary and grand theft.

Labels: FL, residence burglary

Robbery Suspect Dies After Being Shot By Property Owner

A Polk County man shot at two robbery suspects Tuesday morning when he thought they were going to run him down.

One of the suspects was hit in the head and died, and the other is still at large.

The incident happened near a citrus grove on Rifle Range Road in the Wahneta area of Winter Haven.

Property owner Jamie Jones heard a commotion outside while working inside his shed just before dawn.

Jones told detectives a man and woman were driving away in his Land Rover. He said after they saw him, they tried to run him over.

Fearing for his life, Jones pulled the trigger.

One of the bullets hit 21-year-old Nikki McCormick in the head. While she lay bleeding in the passenger seat, the male suspect fled on foot.

McCormick was rushed to the hospital where she later died.

Detectives aren't sure if the male suspect was hit. The property owner last saw him limping down a nearby street.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office searched for him by air and ground for hours but did not locate him. The sheriff's office hasn't been able to identify him.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says Jones likely won't face charges, and he offers a warning to other would-be robbers.

"The word to the criminal is first -- quit being a criminal, quit stealing," Judd said. "But if you're breaking into someone's house, the homeowner is very likely to shoot you."

Labels: assault, FL, trespassing

Homeowner Cleared in Shooting

Prosecutors have concluded a Lake Wales security guard who shot a man who was breaking into his home was justified in using deadly force.

Assistant State Attorney Robert Antonello wrote a letter with his findings about the March 18, nonfatal shooting to the Lake Wales Police Department.

In the letter released Thursday, Antonello said William Cornwell, a hospital security guard, was protecting himself and his young children.

Cornwell arrived at his Grove Avenue home just before 7 a.m. His wife left for work, and he was alone with his 3 1/2-month-old son and 3 1/2-year-old daughter.

A noise awoke him from his sleep and, armed with a semi-automatic pistol, he went to find out what was happening, Antonello wrote.

Cornwell came "face-to-face" in the hallway of his home with Michael Collins who swung a crowbar at Cornwell's head. Cornwell chased Collins out the back door and fired two shots, Antonello wrote.

Collins ran to his vehicle parked in the house's driveway, Antonello wrote. Cornwell ran back through his house, out the front door, and "instinctively opened fire on the vehicle (at the tires and body) in an attempt to disable it and prevent the intruder from leaving."

Collins drove about 200 feet up the road to an orange grove where his vehicle overturned, and he was captured.

Lake Wales police say Collins, 45, was struck in the head and left arm by the gunfire, but survived.

Collins was flown to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment.

He is charged with armed burglary and possession of burglary tools. He remains in the Polk County Jail and is being held without bail on the burglary charge.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Palm City Woman Shot In Home Shoots Suspect

A Palm City woman was shot Thursday morning during a home invasion, but she was also able to shoot the suspect, who fled and was apprehended a short time later, neighbors and authorities said.

The incident occurred at a home in the 1500 block of Southwest Crossings Circle shortly before 9 a.m.

Neighbors said they heard a loud noise and came outside to find Linda Schultz, who turned 47 earlier this month, bleeding from a gunshot wound. She was airlifted to St. Mary's Medical Center, but her condition was not immediately available.

According to the Martin County Sheriff's Office, Christopher Reber was arrested in connection with the crime. Deputies located him in a room at the Suburban Lodge in Stuart after one of his family members told them where he was shortly after 10 a.m.

Reber, 23, suffered a gunshot wound and was also airlifted to St. Mary's Medical Center.

Neighbors said Schultz came running out of her home carrying the suspect's gun.

"She was trying to describe to the police what had happened and what the gentleman looked like, what he was driving and that she had shot him," neighbor Linda Smyth told WPBF News 25. "She knew she shot him."

Labels: criminal's gun taken away and used against him, defender shot, female, FL, home invasion

Wife shoots husband in self-defense, Winter Haven police say

A local woman's act of self-defense might have saved her life and the lives of four family members, the Winter Haven Police Department reported.

According to police, a Winter Haven man who threatened early Tuesday to shoot and kill members of his family instead was shot by his wife.

The man, 34-year-old Troy A. Christoff, was treated for multiple gunshot wounds at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, according to a police report. He was charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm and, after being released from the hospital under police custody, was booked without bond into the Polk County Jail in Bartow.

According to the report, Winter Haven police responded around 4 a.m. Tuesday to a reported shooting at 1121 Seventh St., S.W., the home of Troy and Dawn Christoff. When they arrived, police discovered that Troy Christoff had been shot multiple times with a 9mm handgun. The shooter was identified as his wife, 35-year-old Dawn Christoff.

Witness statements and an examination of physical evidence indicate that Troy Christoff intended to shoot several members of his family who lived with him, according to the police report. Prior to the shooting, he had armed himself with a handgun and begun to load the weapon, stating which member of his family each bullet was intended for.

When the handgun was loaded, Troy Christoff raised the weapon and pointed it at his wife, according to the report. The wife, who had armed herself with another handgun to protect herself and other family members, fired multiple shots at her husband, striking him several times.

Troy Christoff was airlifted to the Lakeland hospital to be treated for his gunshot wounds.

According to Polk County Jail records, Troy Christoff has been arrested on four previous occasions going back to July 2004. Past charges included battery, disorderly intoxication, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis, driving under the influence and violation of parole.

Police considered the shooting to be an act of self-defense, but detectives are still investigating, according to the report. Anyone with information to add is asked to call Detective Steve Rusich at 863-291-5304.

Labels: domestic dispute, female, FL

Gunfight breaks out during attempted robbery

A gunfight broke out in a Palm Coast neighborhood early today during an attempted robbery.

Gunfire erupted when a man armed with a silver handgun attempted to rob a man who had just returned home on Folcroft Lane after purchasing a prescription at a local pharmacy, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office investigators said. They are still looking for the gunman.

The resident had just returned from a Walgreens store on Palm Coast Parkway at 1:11 a.m. with his medications. As he was getting out of his car, deputies said the gunman rushed into the garage and demanded the drugs.

In an attempt to scare off the intruder, the man said he yelled as loud as he could. Instead of fleeing, the intruder took a shot at him., deputies said.

The resident wasn’t hit but quickly retrieved his own handgun and began shooting back at his assailant.

Nobody was hurt, although a car parked in the neighbor’s driveway was hit with one of the rounds, according to a news release.

"We need to identify this individual and get him off the streets," said Sheriff Donald Fleming.

The intruder is described as a black male, 5-foot-7, wearing a white shirt and dark pants. He fled the area in a green Dodge Caravan, deputies said.

Anyone with information is being asked to call the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at 386-313-4911 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).

Labels: FL, street robbery

Orange Blossom Trail pharmacist kills armed robber

A pharmacist shot an armed robber dead Tuesday at a drugstore off South Orange Blossom Trail, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

It was at least the fourth time this year that a robber was killed at a Central Florida business and was the second drugstore holdup that ended in death.

The shooting happened about 5:15 p.m. at JR Pharmacy, 2160 Whispering Lakes Blvd.

The man came into the shop with a handgun and, after a brief confrontation, was shot to death, sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said. Investigators would not release names, where the body was found or what the man tried to steal.

The drugstore caters to the heavily Hispanic clientele in the neighborhood, customer Evette Luciano said.

"They're very honest people," she said of the owners.

"They go out of their way to help the customers," said her twin sister, Jeanette Luciano, who also lives nearby.

Evette Luciano said she spoke to one of the partner's wives and was told that the shooting happened in the front of the store while two owners were in the back. The worker who did the shooting formerly worked across the street at Walgreens, customers said.

Several customers said they thought three partners owned the store, including the man who shot the robber.

But corporate documents show only two names. Neither man was the shooter, Evette Luciano said. Reached at home, Joshua Adedoyin and Rojer Tewari would not comment. They are listed on documents as "managing members" of the business.

There was another armed robbery at JR Pharmacy in April 2007, Solomons said. There are no laws preventing people from defending themselves with guns at home or at work.

"The Legislature has empowered people to protect themselves," said sheriff's Cmdr. Paul "Spike" Hopkins. "People are tired of being victims."

There have been 25 calls to law enforcement from JR Pharmacy since 2003, but most were routine, Solomons said. Details were not immediately available, and it's not clear when the shop opened.

On Feb. 7, a security guard shot and killed an armed robber at The Medicine Shoppe in New Smyrna Beach. Investigators said the guard, a retired law-enforcement officer, was justified. The robber had pointed a gun at a pharmacist and demanded oxycodone pills.

In January, a customer at a carwash on South Orange Blossom Trail shot a suspected robber dead. The same week, a customer shot to death a man who police said was trying to rob a Kangaroo Express in Ocoee.

Labels: business robbery, FL

1 dead, one injured in Miami Burger King shooting

One man was killed and another seriously wounded in a shootout inside a Miami Burger King on Tuesday, officials said.

Police said a man wearing a ski mask walked into the store at Biscayne Boulevard and 54th Street and demanded money from a clerk.

A customer, who has a concealed weapons permit, pulled a gun, said Officer Jeff Giordano, a Miami police spokesman.

The customer and robber exchanged fire.

The robber was shot dead at the scene.

The customer, who had several gunshot wounds, was taken to Ryder Trauma Center in serious but stable condition, said Lt. Ignatius Carroll, a Miami Fire Rescue spokesman.

At about 4 p.m., officials got several 911 calls reporting people shot inside the Burger King.

Labels: business robbery, concealed carry permit, defender shot, FL

Burglar shot and killed in North Naples, authorities say

Collier County deputies are investigating an apparent burglary in progress that turned deadly this morning in North Naples.

Witnesses say a resident of 91 Willoughby Drive confronted a suspect who was on his property shortly after 4 a.m. and shot him. The suspect died, according to reports.

The burglar did not enter the home. The homeowner caught him exiting the family camper which was parked in the driveway, according to a Collier County Sheriff’s spokeswoman. The burglary suspect then lunged at the homeowner and that’s when the owner shot the suspect.

(More)

Labels: FL, trespassing

Armed Homeowner Drives Away Intruder, Police Say

A Tampa man faces felony armed burglary charges after a home invasion in Lake Wales this morning.

Police said two children, ages 3 and 3 months, were inside the home at 1261 Grove Ave. about 10:30 a.m. when a burglar pried open a rear sliding glass door with a crowbar. The startled homeowner fired off seven rounds from a .380 handgun.

"It's a disturbing scene especially with children inside. I know the homeowner is shaken up right now," said Lake Wales Assistant Police Chief Christopher Velasquez.

The bullets hit the suspect, 45-year-old Michael Collins, in the head and arm, police said. Collins had parked his van in the home's driveway and tried to drive away but crashed a couple hundred feet away in an orange grove, they added.

Officers apprehended Collins, who was airlifted to Lakeland Regional Hospital for treatment for his injuries. He is expected to recover.

Collins is charged with first-degree felony armed burglary and possession of burglary tools.

Detectives said the homeowner did not know Collins prior to the home invasion.

Neighbor Luis Hernandez praised the homeowner for taking swift action to protect his family.

"We're glad because he's not going to come back here," Hernandez said.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Shooting death ruled self-defense

A deadly shooting in an Orange County neighborhood was determined to be self-defense, records released Friday show. Investigators say the shooter, 35-year-old Willie Busby, was cooperative during the investigation and was acting in self-defense when he shot a man on his mother's property Thursday afternoon. After the shooting, Busby ran into a patch of woods near the home at 1372 Clarcona Road near Apopka. Deputies responded to the shooting before 3p.m. and found Robert Howard, 22, dead.

A deadly shooting in an Orange County neighborhood was determined to be self-defense, according to information released this morning.

Investigators say the shooter, 35-year-old Willie Busby, was cooperative during the investigation and was acting in self-defense when he shot a man on his mother's property Thursday afternoon. After the shooting, Busby ran into a patch of woods near the home at 1372 Claracona Road near Apopka.

Deputies responded to the shooting around 2:57 p.m. and found 22-year-old Robert Howard dead. An arrest warrant had recently been issued for Howard's arrest in connection to an armed burglary case. Howard is alleged to have stolen an AK-47 assault rifle, an AR-15 assault rifle, a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and two shotguns. It's unclear where that burglary took place.

Howard has a long criminal history that includes arrests for trespassing, loitering and several separate arrests for drug possession and intent to distribute charges. His most recent arrest was in November for trespassing.

Labels: FL, trespassing

Homeowner foils burglary attempt in NW Tallahassee

A resident on the 2100 block of Padlock Place heard what appeared to be someone breaking into their home earlier this morning. According to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the homeowner stated a burglar was attempting to break the glass on a window.

“There have been several burglaries in this area in recent weeks,” said Sgt. Tony Drzewiecki, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office said about northwest Tallahassee. “We don’t know if this is related to those recent burglaries; however, we have uniformed deputies in the area now and we are working on any leads.”

Drzewiecki said the resident, armed with a shotgun, investigated. Upon finding an unknown person breaking into the home, the owner fired a shot, which missed, and the suspect fled.

Padlock Place is tucked away next to the Lake Talquin State Recreation Area and about a mile from Maddox Road.

No one was hurt in the incident, and deputies are searching for the persons responsible for the break in.

Anyone who notices anything suspicious or has information about the spate of burglaries in the area has been encouraged to call the Leon County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 922-3300 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-8477.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Armed Clerk Foils Robbery Attempt

Two men wearing ski masks and gloves walked into the Friendly Meat 'N Grocery store Monday evening planning to rob the business, according to Tampa police.

But when one of the men pointed a pistol at Mohammed Abu Sayed, the clerk grabbed a pistol of his own, police say.

The would-be robbers ran out but fired a shot back toward the store, shattering a window. The men drove from the scene in a dark-colored sport utility vehicle, police say.

Police did not have additional descriptions of the suspects.

Sayed, 49, was not hurt during the attempted robbery, which happened about 9 p.m. at 1910 N. 34th St.

Labels: business robbery, FL

Estates homeowner fires gun at attempted robbery suspects

Collier County sheriff’s deputies are on the lookout for three men in a light blue minivan who they say attempted a home invasion Wednesday night in Golden Gate Estates, but fled when the homeowner shot at them.

Around 8:51 p.m. the three men attempted to enter a home in the 3600 block of 36th Avenue Southeast off Everglades Boulevard, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Karie Partington said.

The homeowner saw a light blue minivan pull up in the back yard.

"She gets a shotgun and fires two rounds of birdshot at the van," Partington said.

It is unclear if any of the three men, who were described as Hispanic, were shot, authorities said. Deputies, dogs and a Sheriff’s Office helicopter were all searching for a minivan with damage.

Labels: female, FL, trespassing

A Brantley County jury acquitted a woman of murder and related charges Wednesday in the shooting death of her husband last year.

Teresa McKinney, 47, of Waynesville was found not guilty of malice murder, felony murder and four counts of aggravated assault in the death of Jeffrey McKinney, 45. He was shot in the head with a .22-caliber rifle on Feb. 27 at their home and died a month later.

Jurors deliberated 90 minutes before acquitting her in the death that her attorney, John Thigpen, argued was "justifiable homicide."

"He beat her to pieces, just black and blue," Thigpen told the Times-Union after the verdict. "He beat her like she was a borrowed mule. She acted in self-defense, and it was justifiable homicide."

McKinney, a retired school bus driver, testified she shot her husband after he repeatedly hit her in the head with a broomstick in an attack that began when he started cursing and verbally abusing her. After beating her, he left the house and she locked him out. Mc-Kinney told jurors she warned him that if he returned, she would kill him.

She said he came back and smashed in a window with a bicycle in an effort to force his way into the home.

McKinney said she feared for her life, so she fired several shots with a .30-06 rifle, .410-gauge shotgun and a .22-caliber rifle in an effort to scare him away. She said she didn't aim at him or try to kill her husband, an electrician.

When he was shot, she called 911 for help. He was found wounded in the yard.

Labels: domestic abuse, FL

WELLINGTON - One man is dead and a couple is left shaken after a home-invasion robbery turned deadly early Monday.

The intruder wound up dead after he was shot by Heath Miller, 34, a popular music teacher at Howell L. Watkins MIddle School. The dead man is identified as Robert Rishard Tomlin, 22.

According to Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokesman Pete Palenzuela, Tomlin entered the home Miller was renting through a back sliding-glass door at about at approximately 1:50 a.m. Miller told authorities he saw the silhouette of an individual with a handgun coming through the bedroom door and fired.

Miller and his wife Mirelle were quite shaken and were staying with his parents, said his mother Harma Miller, a former Belle Glade mayor who served for 14 years as a city commissioner.

...

Miller had concealed weapons permits from 1999 to 2003, according to records, which are no longer public.

Labels: concealed carry permit, FL, residence burglary

Local prep athletes face murder charges

Two high school football players have been arrested on charges they killed a 55-year-old woman during a botched home invasion robbery. One of the teenagers is paralyzed after one of the robbery victims shot back, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

Detectives arrested Palmetto High School students Ta Heem Blake, 17, a former running back for the school, and Marquis Sanders, 18, who transferred from Bayshore High School. They face charges in the shooting death of Maria Lerma early Sunday, Bradenton Police Deputy Chief William Tokajer said.

Blake and Sanders are accused of barging into Lerma’s home in the 900 block of 25th Street East just before 6 a.m. Sunday in a robbery attempt.

The teens found Lerma and two men in the home when they entered, and Blake opened fire with an SKS rifle, according to Tokajer. Detectives say he killed Lerma, and shot one of the men in the house in the arm.

Sanders had a pistol in his hand but did not fire, according to Tokajer.

The teens did not count on one of the men in the home pulling his own gun, firing and hitting Blake. Police officers and emergency personnel found Blake shot in the driveway.

Sanders escaped but Blake’s injuries left him paralyzed with a severed spine. Tokajer said detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Blake on a murder charge, and Pinellas County deputies were expected to serve Blake at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg on Monday night.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office would not confirm Monday night if Blake had been served because he is a minor.

(More)

Labels: FL, home invasion, minor offender

Would-Be Robber Shot, Killed In New Smyrna Beach

A would-be robber was shot and killed Saturday morning in New Smyrna Beach as a store owner was opening up his shop.

The robber was shot twice in the chest by a security guard at the Medicine Shoppe pharmacy Saturday at 10:15 a.m.

Police said the masked robber entered the store at 653 N. Dixie Freeway, put a gun to the head of the pharmacist and demanded drugs.

That's when the man with the gun was shot and killed by the security guard.

Neighboring store owners said the Medicine Shoppe had heard rumors lately that they were going to be held up, and as a result had hired the security guard.

"It was kind of chaotic," said neighboring store owner Julie Mokas. "Everyone was peeking out their doors. No one knew what was going on."

According to neighboring shop owners, the security guard is a retired sheriff's deputy who is related to an employee of the Medicine Shoppe. However, police would not confirm that.

"They were tipped off that somebody was gonna rob them, and they had an undercover cop sitting in there," Mokas said.

The shooting is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the state attorney's office but police appear to support the guard's actions.

"The security guard did what he had to do, and he protected the pharmacist," said New Smyrna Beach police Sgt. Michael Brouillette.

The pharmacist and one clerk, who were in the store at the time of the hold-up, were not harmed.

The store had been held up twice before. It was robbed in May 2006 and April 2007. Both were armed hold-ups with suspects looking for drugs. Police have not yet released the name of the victim or of the security guard involved in the shooting.

Labels: business robbery, FL, private security

Police: Man Shoots, Kills Armed Robber At Car Wash

A car wash customer in Orange County shot and killed a man he said was trying to rob him on Friday.

The shooting happened at Mr. Big's Super Car Wash off Orange Blossom Trail.

"During this attempted robbery, the victim, who holds a concealed weapons permit, pulled out his weapon and fired shots into the bad guy," said Orange County Sheriff's Office Commander Paul Hopkins.

The alleged robber was shot in a car wash stall. He ran about 50 feet and fell near some orange cones.

Hopkins said the shooter was washing his car when two men approached him. He said one had a sawed-off shotgun.

Hopkins said that modus operandi fits a series of recent holdups.

"We've responded to about five robberies in the last week where these have been similar types of events, the sawed-off shotguns," Hopkins said.

Hopkins said the most recent shooting at the car wash appears to be similar to an incident in Ocoee, where a man shot a robber who was beating a store clerk.

"For the bad guys out there, you never know who you're dealing with," Hopkins said. "When you go out to commit this crime, you might be the one who's lying dead in the parking lot."

Investigators said there were two suspects. One died in the parking lot and the other is still on the run.

Labels: concealed carry permit, FL, street robbery

West Park homeowner kills robber

An armed robber who held a West Park man at gunpoint outside his home early this morning was killed when his victim pulled out a gun and fired first, the Broward County Sheriff's Office said.

Brian Kelley, 22, was returning to his apartment in the 4100 block of Southwest 19th Street about 4:39 a.m. when he said Kenneth Nelson, 42, came up from behind him and put a gun to his head, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Mike Jachles.

Kelley pulled out his own handgun and fired, striking and killing Nelson, of Hollywood.

Homicides detectives questioned Kelley after the shooting but did not take him into custody. Kelley acted in self-defense, investigators believe, but the sheriff’s office will present the case to the Broward State Attorney's Office for review.

Labels: FL, street robbery

Customer Describes Fatal Shooting Of Robbery Suspect

An eyewitness saw a robber brutally beating a store clerk in Ocoee, so he pulled a gun out of his car at the Kangaroo gas station on Franklin Street and fatally shot the robber.

That witness talked to Eyewitness News about his decision to pull the trigger and said he'd shoot that robber again if he had to.

He's a regular at the store and said he was coming to buy some cigarettes when he heard the clerk screaming. He told Eyewitness News he not only grabbed his cell phone to call 911, but also pulled a loaded handgun out of his car.

"I opened up, popped that out," Chris told Eyewitness News on Tuesday, about 12 hours after the incident.

Eyewitness News agreed to only use his first name, because he's afraid of retaliation, but he showed exactly what he did when he heard the clerk at the Ocoee store being attacked Monday around 11:00pm.

"I pull up like this and said, 'Stop,' and, as he came up, I came straight up, fired, 'Pop, pop,' two shots," Chris said.

Those shots hit and killed 40-year-old Freddie Carson. Public records show he has a rap sheet going back to 1987, including charges like battery and burglary.

"I'm upset. I mean, trust me. I'm not happy about taking a man's life," Chris said.

Police said they're still investigating whether Chris will face any charges by coming to the rescue with a gun. Eyewitness News learned he was been convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession in 2005 and was re-arrested in 2007 for a probation violation.

"I don't do that no more," Chris told Eyewitness News. "You learn your lesson."

This time, the 26-year-old says he was within his rights when he took his gun out of his car to stop a robbery in progress.

"I was not going to sit there and watch a friend get beat to death. Would I do it again? I'm upset, but, yes, I would do it again," he said.

The store clerk was transported to Health Central Hospital with head injuries, but details on her condition were not released.

Investigators are also looking into whether or not there may have been a second robbery suspect who fled the scene.

**Addendum**

Chris did not have a concealed weapons permit, but he was protected by two other laws that allow drivers to carry guns in their cars and allow gun owners to start shooting if they witness a violent felony.

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Labels: assault, business robbery, FL

Police: Convenience Store Clerk Shoots Would-Be Robber

A convenience store clerk in Pembroke Pines gunned down a pair of would-be robbers inside his own store.

According to detectives, four men rushed into the store on the 7700 block of Johnson Street Monday night and one of the men pointed a gun at the clerk demanding cash.

That's when authorities said the clerk ducked for cover under the counter, and unleashed a hail of bullets.

Officers were able to arrest one of the men who was struck in the leg by the clerk's bullet. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Witnesses said the other men were able to get away in what appeared to be a black 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Anyone with information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.

Labels: business robbery, FL

ORLANDO, Fla. - Police continue to search for two men who tried to grab a woman’s purse as she walked toward the Fashion Square Mall on Tuesday.

A third man was shot and arrested, apparently by a bystander who saw the robbery, police said Wednesday. Willie Keys-Fairclough, 29, who is hospitalized with minor injuries, was arrested in connection with the incident.

The incident began about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday when the woman got off a LYNX bus and walked to an ATM to check her balance. She then continued toward the mall.

“She felt people come up to her, maybe one, maybe two,” Sgt. Barb Jones of the Orlando Police Department said. “They tried to grab her purse...She resisted. She started yelling, that's when everything started unfolding."

One shopper, who saw the men with guns, got his own.

“You had a citizen engage the suspects,” Jones said Wednesday. “There were some rounds fired."

The suspects ran across the street, and police said they found one man hiding behind a dumpster. The man had been shot in the leg but didn't know it.

The man, later identified by police as Keys-Fairclough, is charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault with a gun. Two other suspects remain on the run.

Labels: FL, street robbery

DELTONA -- Bullets went flying in Deltona early Sunday morning, after the victim of a chaotic home invasion fought back, apparently shooting one of the suspect's in his groin as he fled the crime scene.

It started just before 1:00am, when three men burst into Julio Blanco's home on Lackland Drive and forced him, his mother and girlfriend to the ground and robbed them. Volusia County sheriff's deputies said the suspects pistol-whipped Blanco and grabbed a safe, loaded it into their dark Ford Explorer and took off.

During the escape, the suspects and Blanco started firing shots back and forth in the middle of the neighborhood. The other victims and neighbors called 911 and Sgt. Thomas Dane quickly spotted the vehicle and initiated a pursuit. Deputies said the suspects crashed within two minutes and the vehicle rolled over and came to rest at Ft. Smith Boluevard and Outrigger Drive.

Deputies found four people in the vehicle. Suspected driver, 17-year-old Brandon Prather, was transported by ambulance to Orange City's Florida Hospital Fish Memorial and released. The passengers, 30-year-old Adam Salgado, and two teen girls were taken into custody for questioning.

A third scene emerged at 1:30am, when deputies received a 911 call reporting a man suffering from a gunshot in a front yard on the 2100 block of Puerto Rico Drive. Deputies identified him as Patrick Lauby, 33, and determined he suffered the gunshot wound during the course of the robbery he was involved in.

Deputies weren't sure if Lauby accidently shot himself during his escape or if Blanco hit him during the gun fight. Lauby was airlifted by Sheriff's helicopter to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

Deputies questioned all five suspects before determining what charges to file. So far, they've charged Prather with home invasion with a firearm, aggravated battery and fleeing and eluding. They believe Prather is the suspect who pistol-whipped Blanco.

As of last check, Lauby was still at Halifax Health Medical Center being treated for his non life-threatening gunshot wound. He is being charged with home invasion and aggravated assault.

Adam Salgado, 30, was also charged with home invasion.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Ocoee man, 91, shoots at, repels home invaders who threatened his wife

Charles Johnson is a man of his word.

On Oct. 4, 1936, then 19, Johnson promised to love and protect his bride, Berlie Mae.

On Tuesday, he did.

Now 91, he scared off two home invaders with his 38-caliber revolver when the men threatened his wife of 72 years at their home east of Ocoee.

"I was going to kill him either way," the retired jack-of-all-trades said Wednesday. "She's all I've got to live for . . . Why would I want to live?"

Terror erupted in the Johnsons' heavily barred house on Lake Stanley Road shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday as the couple watched TV news. She was sitting in her wheelchair. He was sitting nearby on the sofa.

That's when a stranger stepped through the back door.

"What are you doing? What are you doing?" Berlie Mae Johnson, 90, remembered asking as the man stepped on her shiny-clean tile floor. "By then, he had the gun to my head. I don't know what all I said."

The man ordered the couple: "Be quiet. Don't say a word. Don't move."

Overcome by shock and fear, Berlie Mae Johnson said she couldn't move as a second man wearing a stocking over his face started to come through a sliding-glass door from the backyard.

"It's terrible. You don't know what [they're] going to do. You expect at any moment . . ." she said, her voice breaking. "I can't hold up. My nerves are shot. He'd probably have killed me."

But the love of her life was ready.

Her husband, who goes by Johnny, had his stainless-steel Police Special revolver tucked under a cushion on the sofa. He has been protective, she said, ever since they met at a Church of God service in Cocoa during the Great Depression.

"You don't think, man. You do what you have to do," Johnson said of how he grabbed his revolver as the second intruder entered. "He saw the gun and, boy, he was gone."

Shifting his aim, Johnson fired at the man still holding a gun to his wife's head.

"I shot as plain in his middle as I could have," said Johnson, describing how the man jumped and ran out the door. "I think I missed."

Orange County deputy sheriffs began arriving within three minutes of Johnson's 911 call. The response was delayed slightly because the home invaders tore out the Johnsons' telephone, so Johnson had to walk next door to call for help.

A K-9 tracked the home invaders' scent until it disappeared through a neighborhood on the south shore of Lake Stanley. Local hospital emergency rooms were notified to be on the lookout for a man suffering from an unexplained bullet wound.

Johnson bought his revolver for protection decades ago. A former citrus grove manager and plumber, Johnson said, "I'm still active. I still garden. We want to get a message out to other people. Be prepared. Keep your doors locked. And be alert."

His wife added, "And have a gun ready."

The Johnsons weren't worried that the home invaders might return.

"If he comes back he'll be sorry," Johnson said. "I'm ready for him."

Labels: FL, home invasion

Man Uses Would-Be Robber's Gun To Defend Himself

Miami-Dade Police say a resident turned the tables on three home invaders who tried to rob him in Southwest Miami-Dade Monday night.

Out of the three armed men that tried robbing the man, police say one ended up hurt and was dropped off by the other two accomplices at Jackson South Hospital.

They say three Latin males with thin builds attempted to rob the man at Southwest 152nd Street and 93rd Avenue, but they got into a struggle with him instead. The victim was somehow able to get the gun and shot at one of the would-be robbers, critically injuring him.

Police say they fled in a blue or green Chevrolet Astro van, which they used to drop off the injured man at the hospital before taking off.

The man in the house only suffered a bump to his head.

Police are looking for the other two men involved.

Labels: criminal's gun taken away and used against him, FL, home invasion

Armed homeowner runs off burglars

Two masked, armed men broke into an Orange City house but fled empty-handed after the homeowner went after them with his own handgun, officials said Friday.

The 36-year-old husband and his wife, 37, whom officials did not identify, were watching television in their bedroom at their Cedar Avenue home when they heard a loud crash in another part of the house at 9:45 p.m. Thursday. When they investigated, they were met by two armed men in their kitchen, Volusia County sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said.

The couple ran back to their bedroom where the husband grabbed a handgun and went after the armed men, who then bolted through the front door, Haught said.

No one was injured in the incident, Haught said.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Man reports shooting intruder

A Bradenton man reported shooting a man who came into his house and put a gun to his girlfriend’s head early this morning, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report.

The 52-year-old homeowner said his girlfriend, 47, opened the door to their home, in the 6500 block of Wellesley Drive, just before 2 a.m. this morning. The girlfriend told deputies a man at the door tried to push his way in, while a second man with a gun got into the house and put a gun to her head, according to sheriff reports.

The boyfriend said he came back from getting a gun and opened fire on the gunman when he saw the gun to his girlfriend’s head. The boyfriend, who claimed his shot hit the gunman, said he only saw one person in his house, while the girlfriend said two men were there.

Sarasota authorities later reported to Manatee detectives that a gunshot victim had checked into a hospital there. Manatee detectives have interviewed the man, who had a gunshot wound to the hand, but have not confirmed whether he was the man involved in the Manatee shooting. No arrests have yet been made.

Labels: FL, home invasion

St. Pete Storeowner Chases, Shoots At Armed Robbers

When John Silva opened his St. Petersburg variety store about 9 a.m. Sunday, he brought Gertrude with him.

Gertrude, he says, was his grandfather's .22 caliber Sentinel Arms revolver. Silva's other gun, Betsy – a .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol – was taken by St. Petersburg Police Saturday as evidence.

Two men came in to John's Variety, 208 4th St. N., at about 8 p.m. Saturday, says Silva. Their faces were covered with something resembling a ninja mask, he says.

They pointed what looked like a .45 caliber handgun at him.

"They told me and a customer to 'get on the floor, give me your money,'" says Silva on the phone while tending to a customer looking for Tylenol. "I moved as if going down on the floor, reached for my gun, stood back up with the .380 in my hands and they ran like jackrabbits."
Silva, 53, says he followed the men out of the store.

"I let three rounds go," he says. "Unfortunately, I missed them."

Not long after Silva chased the would-be robbers, St. Petersburg police arrested two men they say tried to rob the store.

One, Benjamin Roland Jones, 19, 934 10th Ave. S., was picked up on Central Avenue.

The other, Cory Jay Smith 21, was found hiding in a nearby lake and received a minor bite from a police K-9 dog, police said.

Smith, 985 Melrose Ave. S., is being held in the Pinellas County Jail on a bond of $50,000.
A former cook aboard the submarine U.S.S. Andrew Jackson and, more recently, a Merchant Marine, Silva says his actions were partly the result of his military training, partly instinctual.

"I was taught how to use a gun in the Merchant Marines," he says. "Just how to use and shoot a gun, what to do if we get pirates on board. Nothing like what I had to deal with last night, close, face-to-face contact. I don't consider myself tough. But I can handle myself. I used to be a bouncer."

When the two men pointed a gun at him, Silva says he just reacted.

"I wasn't thinking," he says. "But you ain't getting my money. I instinctively grabbed the gun which I call Betsy. A girl's name, an appropriate name as far as I am concerned."

Gertrude, he says, may be old, but still works.

"It used to be my grandfather's gun, from when he was the harbor master for Provincetown, Mass.," he says.

Silva says he was hoping the guys he shot at were connected to other recent armed robberies in St. Petersburg.

"This would have stopped them and they could go to jail for a long freaking time," he says.

However, after questioning the two men, police say they do not appear to be connected with recent armed robberies that left two brothers – owners of different stores - wounded.

...

Silva says there was no question about opening up his store after the robbery.

"I had no second thoughts," he says. "I just brought another gun from home."

Labels: business robbery, FL

Pizza Man Attacked, Shoots At Attempted Robbers

Titusville Police were searching for a group of robbers who attacked a Dominos Pizza delivery man late Saturday night. The attackers hit Jerry Johnson in the face with a brick, but he scared them off when he pulled out a gun and started shooting.

Johnson said he normally leaves his gun in the car, but when he pulled up to the home on Parkland Street, he knew something was wrong.

"When I pulled up I noticed it was dark. I've been doing this for ten years and this looked fishy so I put my gun in me," he said.

Police dogs searched the area, but didn't find the suspects. A Dominos Pizza manager told Eyewitness News that it's against company policy for employees to carry firearms and doesn't know if Johnson will get in trouble for defending himself.

Labels: FL, pizza delivery driver

Woman shoots home invader through abdomen

Lynn Haven police were looking Friday for two suspects in a home invasion and attempted robbery.

Melissa Galarza, of 817 Bradford Circle, answered a knock on her door Thursday evening, and two white males charged into the home and demanded "the money," a Lynn Haven officer wrote in an incident report.

One of the men punched Galarza in the face twice and knocked her to the floor. The men covered her mouth to keep her from screaming and kept demanding the money, reports said.

While on the floor, Galarza remembered she had a gun within reach on the bottom shelf of her coffee table. She drew the weapon, and the two men backed off before charging at her again. Galarza said she fired in self-defense, and the men fled her home together, report said.

Galarza suffered minor injuries in the incident, officials said.

Galarza's bullet went through the abdomen of one of the suspects, 26-year-old Matthew Andrews, officials said.

Andrews went to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. While at the hospital, Andrews was met by the Panama City Police Department and an investigator questioned him about the wound, said Capt. Mark Aviles.

Andrews told the investigator he was the victim of a robbery on 15th Street but that he did not want to file a police report and did not want to speak with officers further, Aviles said.

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Labels: female, FL, home invasion

Crook Caught After Losing Gun During Robbery

An armed robbery suspect in Tampa learned a valuable lesson on his latest caper – hang onto your gun.

Armed with a pistol Jerome Haggins, 42, burst into a home Saturday evening and demanded the six men inside to lie on the ground, according to police. He then demanded they hand over their wallets and jewelry. Once he had the loot, Haggins reportedly told the men to take off their clothes; that's when he noticed one of the men was still wearing a bracelet.

The men told police Haggins put his gun on a table and then snatched the bracelet off the man's arm. While Haggins was taking the bracelet, police say another man grabbed the gun and turned the tables on Haggins. They then held him at gunpoint until police arrived.

Haggins faces multiple charges, including armed robbery.

Labels: criminal's gun taken away and used against him, FL, home invasion, residence robbery

Coral Springs Man Shot In Groin During Robbery Attempt

A Coral Springs man is recovering after being shot in the groin by a man demanding his wallet, police said.

Mark David Braun was confronted outside his home before dawn Monday, NBC 6 reported.

Braun said he went out for a pack of cigarettes, and as he was coming back home a stranger approached him with a gun and asked for his wallet.

He pushed the would-be robber's gun away, and then the robber saw Braun's gun and ran, but not before firing one shot, Braun said.

Braun was airlifted to North Broward Medical Center. His wife, who was home with their 3-year-old son, saw the shooter run away and get into a car.

Braun was released from the hospital a few hours after being shot.

Police are still searching for the shooter.

Labels: defender shot, FL, street robbery

Father Shoots Neighbor's Pit Bull

A local father shot and killed a neighbor's pit bull. The dog was loose and had followed a child into the dad's home.

Law enforcement says no one will face charges because of the incident-- not the father for shooting the dog in front of children, nor the pit bull's owner for letting the dog get out.

It happened in a quiet neighborhood west of Lantana, the dog shot in the driveway of the home of J.R. Martin. Martin declined comment.

But here's what the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Animal Control say happened. At least two girls were meeting at the Martin home for a ride to school. The pit bull followed one girl into the house and bit Martin's beagle. Martin first tried to scare away the pit bull with a BB gun, but the dog returned, reportedly growling at the children. Martin took out his .9 mm gun and shot the pit bull. The dog then ran down the street and died.

The shooting upset neighbor Ofelia Cravens. Prior to the shooting, Cravens said her daughter found the dog wandering down the street. Cravens said the pit bull was large, but friendly. Cravens said she and her daughter went up and down the street trying to find out who owned the dog. Cravens even put the dog in her garage for awhile.

"The next thing you hear is a shot," said Cravens. "And that was it. I'm very upset, because I could see if he was vicious dog. But he wasn't."

Cravens added, "I like J.R. And I respect him. But I sure as heck didn't know he had a gun."

Another neighbor tells CBS 12, there had to be a reason for Martin to take such an action.

Animal Control says the pit bull belonged to Fernando and Anna Flores, who live on another street. We were unable to reach the couple.

Labels: animal, FL

Brunswick homeowner shoots burglary suspect

A homeowner shot an armed burglary suspect Wednesday morning after a break-in at a house in the Waverly Pines subdivision, police said.

Roderick Manigault, 20, was shot twice in the abdomen about 8:30 a.m. in a hallway of a neighbor's home in the 600 block of Mitscher Drive, Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering said.

Manigault was in fair condition at Southeast Georgia Health System's Brunswick hospital, a medical center spokeswoman said.

Doering said investigators were taking out arrest warrants against Manigault. Police withheld the homeowner's name because the investigation indicates others might have been involved, he said.

"The preliminary investigation shows the homeowner acted properly in self-defense. We have no intention of filing charges against him," Doering said.

Doering would not say how many shots were fired.

Although the burglar was armed, he didn't fire at the homeowner, who was not injured. Police recovered a firearm when Manigault was found wounded in an acquaintance's home about three blocks away from the shooting scene, Doering said.

Doering said the shooting occurred during the second burglary in recent weeks at the home in which guns were stolen.

"The homeowner said he looked down the hallway and saw a burglar who was armed with a gun," Doering said.

After being shot, the burglar fled. Responding to a phone tip, police found Manigault wounded shortly after the shooting, Doering said.

Police recovered some stolen property after Manigault was found, Doering said.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Dog bites man; man shoots at dog

A Labrador mix had its tail nicked by a bullet after the dog attacked a man in a Plantation neighborhood on Wednesday, according to Plantation police.

The man had a concealed weapons permit, said police spokesman Detective Robert Rettig.

The confrontation happened shortly after 3 p.m. in the 10100 block of Southwest Third Street.

The man was walking down a driveway to the street when the dog attacked him, Rettig said.

So the man fired a shot at the dog, nicking its tail.

The man suffered a minor dog bite. The dog had an injured tail. Both are expected to recover.

Labels: animal, concealed carry permit, FL

Hillsborough teacher shoots and kills intruder

A Hillsborough County middle school teacher shot and killed a burglar who burst into her home Friday morning.

Sheriff's deputies say 62-year-old Juanita Enzor was in her bedroom around 5 a.m. when a man kicked in the front door. Detectives say when the man confronted Enzor, she grabbed her gun and fired, shooting the man in the chest.

The bleeding, injured suspect then started attacking Enzor, but she managed to escape and run from her home.

Deputies arrived at the scene on Kirkland Drive and found the suspect dead inside.

Enzor was slightly injured in the attack. She is a 6th grade teacher at Memorial Middle School in Tampa.

The suspect has been identified as 40-year-old Mark C. Johnson.

Labels: female, FL, home invasion

No Charges In Bingo Shooting

No charges will likely be filed against the manager of a Pensacola bingo hall who took the law into his own hands.

Escambia County Sheriff's deputies say Chad England shot and killed an armed robber who stormed into Beachside Bingo on Jackson Street in Pensacola.

Investigators say Alton Prewitt, 20, entered the bingo hall around 10pm Wednesday. According to witnesses, Prewitt demanded money and fired at least one shot in the ceiling before England grabbed his own gun and fired back.

Prewitt was pronounced dead on the scene. No one else in the bingo hall was hurt.

"It looks like a clear case of self defense," says Glenn Austin, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. Austin says he believes England was within his rights to shoot the suspect. "He was defending himself and everyone else in the parlor," he says.

Florida has a law that allows residents to protect themselves when they are attacked. The state's "Stand Your Ground Law" makes it legal to use deadly force against an intruder.

Labels: business robbery, FL

MARION COUNTY, Fla. -- A homeowner apparently wrestled a gun away from a home invader Wednesday afternoon and shot the man, Marion County sheriff's deputies said.

Three males kicked in the door of a home on Pine Run Terrace in Marion County around 1:15 p.m. and beat two residents at gunpoint, deputies said.

The homeowner somehow retrieved the assailant's gun and shot him, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

The culprits, including the one who was shot, then fled the home, deputies said.A short time later, a 19-year-old man identified as Latwain McLaren was dropped off at Munroe Regional Medical Center suffering from a gunshot wound, deputies said. He underwent surgery in critical condition, according to the sheriff's office.

Labels: criminal's gun taken away and used against him, FL, home invasion

Florida Man Shot Entering Home Mistaken as His Own

A 24-year-old Orlando man was shot twice after accidentally entering a neighbor's home, thinking it was his own.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said James Conway was in stable condition Thursday. Deputies were called to a suspected burglary and found Conway moaning on the floor, saying he'd been shot in his own town house.

Investigators said 61-year-old Berty DeGuzman admitted firing at Conway. He said he thought he was being robbed.

Conway was alert, but allegedly told investigators he had been drinking.

Deputies did not immediately recommend charges against either man. In Florida, it is legal to use deadly force if a person feels they are being threatened by an intruder or attacker.

Labels: FL, home invasion, intoxication

Home invader fatally shot in Vero Beach

Last week Thomas Thompson II, 24, was charged with taking copper from a Home Depot store.

Early Thursday, the Vero Beach resident was fatally shot breaking into the home of a woman his pregnant girlfriend knew, said Indian River County sheriff's Detective Chris Cassinari.

Around 5:20 a.m. Thompson, armed with two knives, crawled through a window in a small home south of Vero Beach at the intersection of 47th Avenue and First Street Southwest.

A family dog awakened occupant Francis Hornsby, who found an armed man at the foot of her bed when she turned on a light.

Her screams woke her two sons, 19-year-old Austin Hornsby and 20-year-old Robert Hornsby. From what Cassinari surmises, Thompson apparently didn't know the sons were inside the home.

One son scuffled with Thompson. Finally, the other son, "in defense, fired a shotgun, killing the subject," said sheriff's Lt. Leroy Smith. Investigators haven't yet identified which son fired the shotgun.

Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was at the doorway to a porch. He is survived by a 3-year-old child, officers said.

The investigation is continuing. No charges have been filed in what sheriff's investigators consider a burglary.

"We are not sure what he (Thompson) was after," Cassinari said. So far, investigators said nothing unusual or of great value has been found in the home.

"We do not believe it was a personal vendetta," Cassinari said. "He was after something in the home. He did come there armed."

Neighbor Brandon Hughes said Austin Hornsby talked of someone breaking into the home two days ago. No report was filed.

"There has always been problems at that end of the street," said retiree Don Dupuis, who has lived a block away for 23 years.

Thompson, of the 2400 block of First Place, apparently walked a mile to the home where he was shot, Cassinari said.

Thompson was released Sunday from the Indian River County Jail under a $5,000 bail following his arrest Sept. 12 on a charge of grand theft. Authorities say he took $2,200 in copper wire from a Roseland Home Depot store.

Arrested with Thompson was Anna Stasia Martin, 22, who also was charged with grand theft. She lived with him in the 2400 block of First Place, reports show.

Anyone with more information about the fatal break-in should call the Indian River County Sheriff's Office at (772) 978-6124 or the Crime Stoppers at (800) 273-TIPS (8477).

Labels: FL, home invasion

Man defends family, kills suspect during liquor store robbery attempt

A man defended his family and father-in-law's liquor store Sunday night, shooting and killing a would-be armed robber, said sheriff's officials and family members.

Yamen Fattah stopped an armed man with a fatal shot shortly after 9 Sunday as he was confronted at the counter. He, his wife, Rema Fattah, and their 5-month-old child were behind the counter, brother-in-law Maher Masri said later Sunday night. He drove from Plantation after his brother-in-law's call saying, "I shot a guy."

The family was at A1A Discount Beverage just south of 10th Avenue North, on Military Trail in suburban Lake Worth, when a man with an semi-automatic pistol entered the store, said Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokesmen.

"It appears to me the clerk was as much in fear not only for himself, but for his family and child," Lt. Nick Vassalotti said.

The robber was pointing the gun at his wife and baby and swinging it around at all of them, when Fattah fired, Masri said. He had asked the robber to please leave them alone, he said.

The man's body could be seen lying inside the doorway, glass from the door shattered around him, as detectives interviewed the witnesses. The open sign blinked in red and blue neon.

"He defended himself and he defended his family," Masri said.

Masri said the store had been robbed before.

"We believe the employees of the store got the upper hand on him," Sgt. Rick McAfee said.

Both men had semi-automatic pistols, McAfee said. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday, he said. Although the case will be turned over to the State Attorney's Office, no charges are expected, McAfee said.

Labels: business robbery, FL

OLDSMAR - After he was forced into the back seat of a car at gunpoint, kidnapping victim Gregory Longley saw his opportunity.

When one of the kidnappers - sitting next to Longley - put his gun on his lap to text-message someone, Longley grabbed the gun and killed him, according to the Pinellas sheriff's office. Longley also shot and wounded another kidnapper sitting in the front passenger seat, the sheriff's office said, and told the driver to stop the car.

A clearer picture of the Sunday night kidnapping and shooting – along with the names of those involved – was released this morning by the sheriff's office.

Longley, 20, of 7823 Bay Drive, Tampa, was kidnapped at the Aday Motel, 501 Bayview Blvd., Oldsmar, at about 11 p.m., Sgt. Jim Bordner said. The three suspects were looking for a man with whom there had been a dispute over stolen coins, but they kidnapped Longley instead, believing he could lead them to the man they were seeking, Bordner said.

Longley was forced into the back seat of a white 2000 Chevrolet Malibu at gunpoint, Bordner said. Sitting next to him was Javon Strange, 18, of 4717 N. Habana Ave., Apt 711, Tampa; in the front passenger seat was Juan Carlos Morales, 17, of 12510 Memorial Highway, Tampa; and driving was Abdusbasiyr A. Blake, 18, also of 12510 Memorial Highway, Bordner said.

Near the motel after the kidnapping, Strange laid his handgun in his lap to text-message someone, and Longley grabbed the firearm and fatally shot Strange, Bordner said. Then Longley shot and wounded Morales, Bordner said.

Longley then ordered Blake to stop the car, Bordner said. Longley got out of the car and called 911 to report what happened, the spokesman said, and Blake drove to a nearby McDonald's restaurant at 4085 Tampa Road.

Labels: criminal's gun taken away and used against him, FL, kidnapping

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man on counts of Burglary Monday night. The incident took place just down the street from the burglar’s own home.

Jimmy Miller was arrested at his residence on Blue Gill Drive, only a tenth of a mile away from the victim Bradley Hawthorne’s house, also on Blue Gill Drive.

Hawthorne told police he heard his wife’s car door slam while standing on his porch, and then saw someone running towards the back of his property. He says he went inside his residence to get a gun and says when he came back out the intruder was coming toward him making threats. Hawthorne then fired one shot in the direction of the subject. Police arrested Miller after he was identified as the intruder.

Bay County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jeremy Mathis says this was well within Hawthorne’s rights of protecting himself and his possessions, especially according to a relatively new law.

Labels: FL, residence burglary

Police: Woman Shoots At Men Trying To Break Into Car

Miami-Dade police said a woman opened fire on three men who were trying to break into a car in Miami Lakes early Thursday.

The three men were trying to break into a car outside a home near Northwest 57th Avenue north of the Palmetto Expressway at about 1:30 a.m., police said. Miami-Dade police said they think the men were trying to steal the car's stereo.

A man and a woman who were inside the home came outside. When the man got into a confrontation with the three men, the woman started firing a gun, police said. Neighbors said they heard between four and seven shots.

"These subjects came here to do a crime," said Bobby Williams of the Miami-Dade Police Department. "Once that crime was committed, the boyfriend came out to stop them or at least to talk to them. They attacked him, so she was in fear for her boyfriend's safety and herself."

Ilana Lopez was inside the home at the time of the shooting.

"If he was in my property, burglarizing one of our vehicles, she did what she had to do to protect it," Lopez said.

The three men took off in an SUV, which police said was stolen. Police stopped the suspects outside a nearby CVS store and arrested them.

One of the three men had been shot in the chest and was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital. He was in critical condition, NBC 6's Steve Litz reported.

The investigation continues. The suspects were expected to face charges.

Lopez said the car stereo was stolen once before, about three weeks ago.

"What can I say? I'm just tired of this going on around here," she said.

Florida's "Castle Doctrine" allows a potential victim to respond with deadly force if an intruder or criminal has intentions of death or great bodily harm, Litz reported. If the shooting is justified, the person will not be prosecuted.

Police said the shooting appeared to be justified, so the woman who fired the shots might not face charges.

The woman had no comment for reporters Thursday morning.

The names of those involved have not been released.

Labels: FL, street property theft

2 Dead In Miami Gardens Game Store Shooting

A gun battle erupted in a store at a shopping mall in Miami Gardens that left two people dead and shoppers running for cover.

The Miami-Dade Police Department said three men entered the MultiVest Xtreme Video Games store on 183rd Street and Northwest Seventh Ave. Shortly after, a gun battle erupted between the manager, Corey Robinson, and one of the men, police said. Police said both the manager and one of the men had a weapon. Both men died at the scene, police said.

“The manager managed to shoot one of the subjects, who is now deceased, inside, and the manager was also shot,” Bobby Williams of the Miami-Dade Police Department said.

Michael Robinson’s son was killed in the incident. He said he is in shock.

“I never thought I would live to see the day that I would be burying one of my own children,” Robinson said.

Witnesses, including shopper David Durham, said they heard gunshots coming from store.

“As soon as we got here we heard ‘Bam bam,’ and that was it. People running and going nuts,” he said.

Workers in a pawn shop nearby the strip all said they keep their store doors closed at all times because they fear something may happen to the people in their store.

“There’s always loud noises and stuff,” Matt Furry of AAA Pawnshop said. “We heard a gunshot go off. We went out there, and we just saw some people laying on the ground.”

Police said the other two men fled the scene. One left on foot; the other in a car.

“We just left the hospital,” Corey Robinson’s sister, Qualyn Gibbs, said. “We couldn’t see him or anything because it’s a crime scene going on.”

Police said they are investigating the scene and looking for the other men.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

Labels: business robbery, defender killed, FL

Home Invader Dead: Two On The Run

Two suspects are on the run as deputies in Escambia County, Fla., continue their investigation into a weekend home invasion.

A man who was sleeping inside the home shot and killed one intruder and at first deputies said they were looking for only one other suspect. Now that investigators have had a chance to interview neighbors in the area, one eye-witness tells deputies she saw a man exit and run from the home and she says she saw a woman driving a car, presumably a get away car.

Investigators say when Rodney Allen Williams burst into the home, of former Navy sailor who was in the home with his girlfriend fired four times. William's died and deputies say he had two accomplices, a man and a woman, who are on the run. Lee Tyree says the two suspects will be charged with felony murder.

"You're participating in a crime," Tyree said. "The result of this crime was the death of another and they will be charged with causing the death because they committed the crime."

Resident kills intruder

The resident living on Srant Drive who shot and killed an intruder Saturday afternoon will not be charged, said Glenn Austin, spokesman with the Escambia County Sheriffs Office.

At about 4:30 p.m., two men broke in through the side door of the West Pensacola home. At least one of the men was armed, Austin said.

The man living in the residence heard the disturbance and shot one of the suspects while the other one ran away.

The suspect who was shot, Rodney Allen Williams, 27, staggered out of the house and died, Austin said.

“He was an armed intruder who came in with a weapon. The homeowner saw the threat and defended himself,” Austin said. “When you’re threatened you have the right to defend yourself.”

According to Florida’s “Stand Your Ground Law,” homeowners are entitled to shoot a person who unlawfully and forcibly enters their home.

Officials are looking for another man connected to the break-in, Austin said, but could not provide a description of the man.

Kim Bragg lives five houses away from where the break-in occurred. She hopes this incident makes law enforcement pay attention to the crime in the area.

“Some of these homes have been broken into so many times it’s not even funny,” Bragg said.

The two men who broke into the home were dropped off by a woman driving a car, she said.

Bragg said she’s concerned about the safety of her neighborhood, made up of many children and seniors.

She doesn’t keep a gun at home because she has children but says that doesn’t stop her from encouraging neighbors to keep them.

“We’re going to have to start carrying baseball bats,” Bragg said. “If the police don’t help us, we’re going to be swinging first and asking questions later.”

Labels: FL, home invasion

Would-be pizza parlor robber flees in face of .357 magnum

The owner of a pizza parlor here shot at a would-be robber who came out of the bushes as the proprietor and an older relative were leaving the business, police said this morning.

Manny Manolas, 41, told police that he and Clary Manolas, 63, were closing up Manny's Pizza at 487 S. Nova Road at about 11:40 p.m. Sunday when a man wearing a towel or a T-shirt over his head emerged from the bushes near Manolas' car, according to a report. The stranger brandished a gun and said, "Give me the bag and your money," according to the report.

But Manolas wasn't about to surrender his cash and his receipts.

He pulled out his own weapon, a .357 magnum revolver, and shot at the man, who ran toward a furniture store nearby, the report shows.

Investigators are still looking for the suspect, described as a white male, between 18 and 25 years of age and about 170 pounds with a large circular tattoo -- possibly a sun -- on his right calf, police said.

Anyone with information, should call Ormond Beach police, 386-677-0731, or CrimeStoppers,1-888-277-TIPS (8477). Callers to Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and may be eligible for an award.

Labels: business robbery, FL

Man shoots pit bull attacking his dog

A man shot a pit bull Friday. He says it got loose and attacked his dog.

The man, Anthony Dippolito, 49, will not be cited. The pit bull was euthanized at the owner's request, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.

The pit bull trotted into Dippolito's yard on Northeast 39th Street just before 8:15 a.m., Dippolito said.

He said he saw the pit bull's owner beating on the dog that had latched onto Crystal, Dippolito's 5-year-old mixed-breed boxer.

Dippolito said he picked up a 10-pound satellite dish and bashed the pit bull several times, but the dog shrugged it off.

He rushed into his bedroom and grabbed his .45-caliber handgun, then came back out and shot the pit bull in the rib cage.

Dippolito said he was relieved that his dog suffered only some gashes and a quarter-sized hole in her neck, but he's sorry that he had to resort to shooting its attacker.

It wasn't Dippolito's first pet attacked by a pit bull, he said. In 2007, his cat was torn apart by a pack of pit bulls.

Labels: animal, FL

Clearwater homeowner shoots intruder

A suspected home intruder was taken to the hospital early Tuesday morning, after police say he was shot by a homeowner.

Police say the homeowner awoke to noise coming from the garage of his home on Pennsylvania Avenue. The homeowner went to check it out, found the intruder and shot him.

That man was taken to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment. Police have not said how badly he was injured.

Labels: FL, trespassing

Robber in critical condition after being shot by Jacksonville handyman

A man working on a home just north of Springfield this afternoon shot an armed man who tried to rob him, said Sgt. Derrick Lewis of the Sheriff’s Office.

The shooting occurred about 1:15 p.m. on West 24th Street near North Pearl Street. Police said a man armed with a gun approached the man working on a house and the worker, who was also armed, opened fire. The wounded man fled south on Pearl Street and collapsed outside a music store at West 23rd Street, a witness said.

The wounded man was taken to Shands Jacksonville hospital and listed in critical condition, Lewis said. The worker is being questioned by police, but has not been charged. Their identities have not been released. Police recovered both guns, Lewis said.

Lewis said the worker carried a gun because of his concerns about crime in the area, where shootings and drug deals are common.

A woman walking in the area said she heard about six shots and then saw a bloodied man run and collapse. She said she heard the worker say he shot the man after the man pulled a gun on him.

“He said, ‘He tried to rob me,’” the woman said.

The shooting occurred near the same intersection where a man was killed about two weeks ago after being struck by a police car that was on its way to a shots fired call.

Labels: FL, street robbery

Crawfordville business owner defended himself from would-be robbers

Two men tried to rob the owner of a Crawfordville business earlier this week, but the owner pulled out his gun and scared the would-be robbers away.

It happened about 7:45 p.m. Saturday at Premier Motorcar Gallery, 1468 Crawfordville Highway, according to the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office.

The owner was exiting the front door of the business carrying a small bank bag and had turned around to lock it when one of the men ran up and hit him in the head with a 2-by-6 board.

The owner fell to the ground but was able to get a handgun out of his rear waistband and point it at the robber. Another man was running toward them, but the two turned around and ran to a waiting car when they saw the owner was armed.

The car was described as brown in color, 1984-1986, four-door Chevy Caprice with a lift-kit similar to the photo to the right. The car had 22- to 24-inch chrome rims with wide white walls and an aftermarket chrome grill kit.

The first would-be robber was described as a clean-shaven black man, 18-22 years old, 6 feet, with a thin build and short hair. He had a small notch shaved into his right eyebrow. He was wearing a long-sleeved blue FUBU shirt and Paco jeans.

Only a vague description was available for the second would-be robber.
Anyone with information can call Sgt. Scott DelBeato at 926-0878.

Labels: business robbery, FL, street robbery

Port St. Lucie homeowner shoots man through kitchen window

A Port St. Lucie resident shot a man trying to break into his Northeast Floresta Drive home through the kitchen window Tuesday afternoon, and the bleeding man jumped into his car and drove it into a utility pole, police said.

The injured man was later airlifted to St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach, said Port St. Lucie Police spokesman Officer Robert Vega.

Police are not identifying those involved and no charges have been filed. The condition of the man who was shot wasn't available Tuesday night.

Curious neighbors crowded around the crime scene that was sectioned off with yellow police tape to see what the police cars were doing in their neighborhood. Those questioned did not witness anything and did not know the homeowner.

The shooting occurred around 2 p.m., when the resident, a family friend, the man's two young daughters and niece were in the house at 242 Northeast Floresta Drive.

When the doorbell rang, the family friend went to the front door and saw a man she didn't recognize. She alerted the resident, who was asleep in the back bedroom. After he told her he wasn't expecting anyone, he picked up his gun from his nightstand next to his bed and went to look out the front window, Vega said.

There, the resident saw the man jump his fence leading into his backyard. He said he did not know the man, Vega said.

When the resident took the three girls to a back bedroom, he said he heard the back sliding glass door shaking violently and saw the man shaking it, investigators said. When the man tried to open the kitchen window, the resident shot him, Vega said.

Police said they have no reason to believe the man knew anyone inside the house. The resident told police he called 911 when he saw the man run.

Vega said if someone enters your home, whether it's legal to shoot that person depends on the circumstances.

"I think certain situations would justify it," he said. "Whether or not this is one of those cases, we don't know."

Police on Tuesday night were still piecing together what happened

Vega said he believes the resident really thought he was being robbed, and that he will claim self-defense in the shooting.

There was an ambulance at the crime scene, which Vega said was there to check on the resident after his traumatic situation. He said the girls were pretty shaken up, but they were OK and were speaking with a victims' rights advocate.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Home invasion suspect shot, killed by resident; four others arrested

One of two men who forced their way into a Williston-area home early Wednesday was shot to death by one of the home’s occupants, a shooting that authorities described as self-defense.

The second suspected intruder, along with three alleged accomplices, are in jail after an investigation by Marion County sheriff’s deputies of the attempted home invasion robbery.

Investigators said the home invasion occurred about 2:30 a.m. at the home Roger Dan Garrison, 49, in the 19000 block of Northwest County Road 335.

Two of the suspects, Jonathan Gaal, 19, of Ocala, and Brian Bond, 19, of Summerfield, forced their way inside as three alleged accomplices awaited nearby in a car. According to sheriff’s investigators, Garrison’s brother, Martin Randy Garrison, 54, was asleep on a couch in the living room and had a .25-caliber handgun under the couch. When Gaal pointed a handgun at Martin Garrison, the older man fired three shots at Gaal at point-blank range.

Gaal ran out of the home, but collapsed and died in the front yard.

“I thought it was all a bad dream,” said Roger Garrison later Wednesday, as he cleaned up the house. “I didn’t know what their intentions were. It was scary.”

He said he first realized something was amiss when he heard his dog barking. “We have an American bulldog that stays in the house,” Garrison said. “When Gus barks, somebody is here.”

Garrison went into his living room and saw two men dressed in black with their faces covered, according to the Sheriff’s Office report.

He said he was told to get down on the floor by one of the robbers. At that point, he heard gunshots.

“Boom, boom, boom,” Roger Garrison remembered. “Then I see them running out the back door, and I ran and locked it. I didn’t know if my brother was shot or if they were.

“My brother is still real upset about it. We’ve never been through anything like that before. Robberies are something you hear about, but you never want to go through one. I know that now.”

When deputies arrived, they found Gaal in the yard of the residence with a gun in his hand. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Jennifer Fisher said that Garrison is not facing any immediate charges because he acted in self-defense.

Fisher said that investigators recovered Gaal’s cell phone and answered it when calls came in. That led investigators to the four suspects, who Fisher said cooperated with investigators and gave statements.

“They came in believing that they were just part of a burglary,” Fisher said. “They had no idea about the homicide or that Gaal had died.”

Gaal was the nephew of Jackie Bellomy Jr., 48, of Williston, who investigators believe helped Gaal and Bond get into the home. Wednesday afternoon, sheriff’s officials arrested Bellomy Jr., Bond, Albert Rodriguez, 21, of Belleview, and Richard Bellomy, 24, of Williston, another nephew, for second-degree murder and armed home invasion.

“After hours of questioning all persons involved, detectives were able to piece together a tangled plot to rob the residence in Williston,” Fisher said in a news release. “The Florida State Statute states any person involved in a felony that results in a death can be charged with felony murder.”

Gaal, who lived at 5071 S.E. 70th Loop in Ocala, was released from the Marion County Jail on July 9, after serving about a six-month term for marijuana possession with the intent to sell and for violating his probation from an earlier battery arrest.

The other four suspects were taken to the Marion County Jail.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Would-Be Burglar Shot

A homeowner shot a would-be burglar in Southwest Miami-Dade on Sunday, police said.

Police said the man shot was one of two thieves who tried to burglarize a house in the 2400 block of 117th Avenue about 2 a.m.

He was taken to the hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. The second man apparently got away.

Neighbors said the house, which sits on the side of the street nearest the interstate, has been hit by thieves before.

Police said two children, ages 5 and 9, were inside the house when the culprits tried to break in.

No charges had been filed against the homeowner Sunday.

Labels: FL, residence burglary

St. Pete resident shoots burglar during break-in

St. Pete police say a burglary suspect was shot and killed during a break-in.

Investigators says the resident arrived at his home at 1018 22nd Ave. S. at 12:28pm only to be confronted by a masked man armed with a gun.

The resident fought with the intruder and during the scuffle, the suspect's gun fell to the floor.

That's when detectives say the resident picked up the gun and shot and killed the intruder.

The names of the victim and the suspect have not yet been released.

Man kills burglar in his apartment

A masked intruder was shot dead with his own gun Friday after a struggle with the man whose apartment he was burglarizing, police said.

Jack Donaldson, 27, arrived home about noon to find the burglar inside, armed with a semiautomatic handgun. A struggle ensued, and the burglar dropped the gun.

Donaldson picked it up and shot him dead.

He then saw another man running away from his apartment, located on the west side of a duplex at 1018 22nd Ave. S.

He fired at least once, but apparently missed. He then called police. Donaldson could not provide a detailed description, saying only that the man was wearing all black, police said.

When police arrived at Donaldson's apartment they found the body of Lajuan Dandy, 39, still wearing a cloth mask and gloves, said police spokesman Bill Proffitt.

Dandy, whose last known address is 650 60th Ave. S, has a long criminal history including charges for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and drug possession.

Police aren't sure if anything was taken.

Detective J. De Luca said police will refer the case to prosecutors but probably will not recommend criminal charges.

"It appears to be more of a self-defense," De Luca said.

Police shut down part of 22nd Avenue S during the investigation. Spectators surrounded yellow crime scene tape as word spread about what happened inside the duplex.

"Who's to say they won't hit you?" asked Vincent Jackson, 42, who said he lives about a block away. "It could have happened to anyone. You can never say."

Cecilia Williams said she likes the neighborhood and feels safe despite the shooting. She's raising four children down the street from the duplex.

She hears gunfire and sees suspicious activity sometimes but knows the neighbors on her street are good people, she said.

"It's terrible when anybody dies," she said, adding she also sympathizes with Donaldson. "I wouldn't want to walk into my house and see somebody in my house."

Labels: criminal's gun taken away and used against him, FL, home invasion

Woman, .357 blazing, chases intruders from home

Firing a .357-caliber handgun until it was empty, an Ocala woman chased two intruders from her home in the 3800 block of Southeast 68th Street on Wednesday morning.

Later Wednesday, Marion County sheriff's detectives had one home invasion suspect in custody and were looking for the second. Aaron Scott Beardsley, 25, was charged with armed home invasion robbery. Deputies were still looking for a heavy-set Hispanic male, about 6-foot-1 or 6-feet-2, who was wearing black shorts at the time, a dark T-shirt and a bandana.

Sheriff's Detective Art King, in his report, gave the following account of the crime:

Shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday, 29-year-old Jennifer Ann Hunley; her 27-year-old boyfriend, Michael Joseph Nash; and Hunley's 11-year-old daughter were inside their home when two men entered through the garage door. Nash, who was coming out of a bathroom at the time, saw one of the intruders holding a nail gun near the television set in the living room.

The man demanded money. At the same time Nash saw that the second suspect, armed with a handgun, was also in the living room. The one with the nail gun hit Nash on the head, and when he fell down both men began beating him.

Hunley came into the living room, saw what was happening, returned to her bedroom for a .357-caliber handgun and fired a warning shot into the ceiling.

The intruder with the nail gun ran outside, while the other one ran into a nearby bedroom. He then pointed his weapon, believed to be a small-caliber handgun, and fired at least one shot at Hunley.

Then Hunley, who is 5-foot-3, emptied her handgun, firing four shots at the intruder. The gunman ran out the front door. Neither Hunley nor her daughter were hurt during the exchange of gunfire.

Afterward, sheriff's deputies received calls indicating that the wife of one of the suspects may have driven the getaway vehicle.

And Nash told Detective King that his sister believed Beardsley was responsible for the home invasion because she had had a conversation with him the day before about previous drug activity at her brother's home

King reported that Nash pulled up a picture of Beardsley on the Internet and recognized him as one of the the intruders.

Deputies later found Beardsley and his wife, who is pregnant, and brought them in for an interview. Beardsley said he was innocent, but his wife reportedly told a different story.

She told King that she dropped her husband off close to the Southeast 68th Street address and waited about 20 minutes for him, according to King's report. She said her husband was sweating when he returned to the vehicle. The woman said she didn't ask any questions about what he did or where he went.

Beardsley was then arrested and charged with armed home invasion. He refused an interview request from the Star-Banner.

Labels: assault, female, FL, home invasion

Tunnelling would-be burglar thwarted by homeowner

Police say they've arrested a man who tried to tunnel into his neighbor's home.

It was early Sunday, investigators say, when Mark Mazur snuck into a yard on San Luis and dug a tunnel under the fence.

But his clandestine plan was thwarted by the homeowner's dog. When he heard his dog barking, Robert Cash came outside -- armed with a handgun -- and ordered the intruder to stop.

Mazur, armed with a blowtorch, started towards Cash. Investigators say Cash fired once and missed Mazur, but the shot was enough to convince him to stop and wait for police to arrive.

Mazur, 56, has several prior arrests around the Bay Area. He was charged with burglary and assault.

Labels: FL, trespassing

Would-be Victim Kills Arlington Robbery Suspect

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has identified the man shot to death at an Arlington apartment complex as Robert Pinkney, 20.

Investigators say they were called to the Summer Oak apartments around 11:46 Sunday night.

The apartments are located in the 5300 block of the Arlington Expressway.

Officials say when they arrived they found Pinkney shot dead in the parking lot.

According to police, a man who lives in the apartments says Pinkney tried to rob him. That's when he told police he pulled a gun and shot the would be robber.

The JSO says they are questioning several people at the apartment building.

The State Attorney's Office is investigating whether this was a case of self defense.

Labels: FL, street robbery

Homeowner Shot Would-Be Robbers; 1 Dead

A Hialeah homeowner turned the table on two would-be robbers Wednesday, leaving one of the men dead.

Hialeah police said two men attempted to force their way inside a home at 728 W. 53rd St. shortly before noon.

"The suspects who came to the home … apparently did not know that the home was occupied," said Hialeah police Detective Carl Zogby. "The victim confronted the suspects and shot both of them."

One of the men attempted to get away, but he collapsed a short distance away and died. The second man was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.

Neither man has been identified.

Jose Hernandez was lifting weights in his back yard when he heard the gunshots.

"I heard commotion, right, and I stepped outside and I see a cop telling the owner of the house to put the gun down," said Hernandez. "Yeah, he was upset."

The homeowner, who was not immediately identified, spent several hours being interviewed by detectives before returning home Wednesday afternoon. He declined to speak with Local 10.

Police sources said they are not considering criminal charges against the homeowner, claiming he was acting in self-defense.

Second Intruder Shot By Homeowner Dies

The second of two intruders shot by a Hialeah homeowner during an alleged robbery attempt on Wednesday has died.

Hialeah police said two men attempted to force their way inside a home at 728 W. 53rd St. shortly before noon. That's when the homeowner allegedly confronted the men and shot them.

One of the men attempted to get away, but he collapsed a short distance away and died. The second man was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center where he died on Thursday.

The identities of the alleged robbers has not been released.

No charges were filed against the homeowner.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Shooting in Plant City neighborhood

Dozens of officers responded to a Plant City neighborhood this morning after a wanted felon was spotted there. The search ended with that suspect shot in the foot.

Hillsborough County deputies had issued an alert for Christopher Collins in connection with a robbery and violation of probation. Plant City police say he had also stolen a handgun and bulletproof vests from the homes of deputies.

Police used reverse 911 calls to warn residents that an armed suspect was loose in the area, and based on tips, investigators were able to narrow their search.

It was around 8 a.m. when Collins was spotted running through back yards, and that's when he allegedly broke into a home on Dawnmeadow Court, apparently trying to hide.

The homeowner, upon his return, did not welcome the intruder.

"He came home to check on his daughter when he discovered the window broken out of his house. So he armed himself with his handgun and checked the house, where he was confronted," explained Sgt. Dale Peterson of the Plant City Police Department.

The homeowner -- whose name is not being released -- shot Collins in the foot.

Collins was arrested nearby and taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital.

The 33-year-old has several charges of armed burglary and grand theft on his record.

Labels: FL, fugitive, home invasion

CORAL GABLES, Fla. --A woman said she used a gun to scare away a man who was trying to lure her teenage daughter into a truck.

The mother, who did not wish to be identified, said the man approached her 16-year-old daughter on Alhambra Circle near their home.

“She was walking her dog in the median right out in front of our house here, and a man approached her in a truck and tried to get her to come to the truck,” the woman said.

The teenager ran to nearby Coral Gables Elementary School, calling her mother and 911. The mother confronted the man and showed him her 9-mm gun.

“It’s not until I showed him that I was armed and that I meant business to protect my daughter that he backed off,” she said.

Coral Gables police arrested Ramon del Risco in connection with the incident.

The mother said her gun made the difference in the situation.

“I’m licensed. I shoot almost every week,” she said.The woman said she recommends a day at the shooting range for every parent.

Labels: female, FL, kidnapping

Pawn shop thief shot

Detectives say David Gardner did what he had to do. When a robber barged into his pawnshop with a baseball bat, smashing glass display cases and stealing whatever he could, Gardner grabbed a gun and opened fire.

The 51-year-old storeowner shot the suspect as he ran out the door. Investigators followed the suspect's blood trail through the parking lot, down the street and into the neighborhood nearby.

"It's definitely odd to see something like that around here," said neighbor Miguel Santiago. "When I woke up, I see helicopters everywhere, cops everywhere and they asked, did you see this guy running down?"

"This is very creepy," said neighbor Luz Feldman. "This is scary. Something has to be done."

Detectives scoured the scene and the neighborhood searching for the suspect, but they didn't have to go far. Within a few hours, detectives say the suspect, 20-year-old Willie Clarkson, turned up right across the street. They say he was bleeding from at least two gunshot wounds at the Briar Hill Apartments.

Clarkson's 16-year old girlfriend found him in her apartment, called his sisters, and then called 911.

"I'm glad they caught it before things got out of hand," said Briar Hill Apartments resident, Mary McGriff. "There are a lot of kids here. We have to keep them safe."

Paramedics rushed Clarkson to the hospital where deputies arrested him. He's charged with armed robbery. Detectives say he'll remain in the hospital until he's well enough to be transported to jail.

The owner of the pawnshop says nothing like this has happened before. He wasn't physically hurt but is still badly shaken. Neighbors are just glad he's okay.

"He's such a nice guy. He doesn't hurt nobody, so it's pretty much crazy for him," said neighbor Miguel Santiago.

"It's not fair. No. You should never go into a place and try to take something that doesn't belong to you in the first place," said neighbor Luz Feldman.

Labels: business robbery, FL

Ft. Lauderdale Man Shoots Intruder

A Ft. Lauderdale man shot a man who he claimed was trying to break into his home.

The shooting occurred just after midnight in the 100 block of Southwest 31st Avenue.

The homeowner reportedly told police he charged the would be robber with gun his after noticing that a door to his home which had been broken into. One of the bullets grazed the suspected thief in the leg, he collapsed in a backyard area as he tried to make an escape. He was taken to hospital where he was treated for his wound. Late Monday morning he was transported to the main jail in Broward County.

No one inside the home at the time of the shooting was injured. Police have not said if the homeowner will face any charges.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Would-be robber shot, killed by Seffner clerk

Investigators were called to a Hillsborough County beverage store where a man attempting to rob the store was shot and killed.

It happened shortly after 6:30 Monday evening at the CNK Beverage Pit at 12002 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Seffner.

According to witnesses an unknown suspect went into the store and tried to rob the clerk but was shot multiple times.

The suspect was transported to Brandon Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Family Back At Work After Owner Kills Apparent Robber

Just hours after a store owner shot and killed an apparent robber, the owner's wife and daughter were back at work.

Karla Vigil, 47, said her husband, Cres Vigil, 46, was at home this morning. "He's pretty shaken up," she said. "It's not something he wanted to do."

Vigil said her husband had been working alone about 6:45 p.m. Monday when he was attacked at the CNK Beverage Pit, 12002 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. She said her husband was waiting for a customer's truck to pull farther into the drive-through bay when a masked man ran in through the exit of the drive-through beverage business. The driver took off, she said.

Vigil said the would-be robber swung at her husband, striking him in the head. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said the assailant was unarmed, but Vigil disagreed.

"They found two cans of green beans in a sock. They were dented. That's how hard he hit my husband," she said. Her husband has a knot on his temple and on the back of his head, Vigil said.

Vigil said her husband shot the attacker and didn't know the man had died until this morning. The sheriff's office has not released the man's name.

"My husband is a very good man," she said. "He has a heart of gold."

She said the couple have kept the gun at the business because she was held up at gunpoint a year ago. In that incident, the robber obtained no money because Vigil screamed and homeless people hanging around the retention pond behind the business chased him away.

Despite the two robbery attempts, Vigil says they don't plan to sell the business they've owned for two years. "There are a lot of good people here. We've made a lot of friends. This could happen anywhere," she said.

Labels: business robbery, FL

Widow of shooting victim shot intruder

The widow of a man fatally shot while playing with his baby son shot and killed an intruder Tuesday afternoon, North Miami police said.

Janepsy Cindy Mesa was moving furniture in and out of her Spanish-tiled home, 13365 NW 12th Ave., at about 3:30 pm when a man appeared in her bedroom.

She fatally shot him, then called 911. She was being interviewed by detectives. Details were sketchy surrounding Tuesday's shooting. Police said Noah, the 1-year-old, was not in the house at the time.

Janepsy Mesa's husband, Orlando Mesa, was shot and killed last month as he played with his 1-year-old son, Noah, outside the house. Noah was shot in the arm and leg but survived.

Mesa died on the sidewalk. His murder is unsolved.

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Murder widow shoots intruder in bedroom

North Miami police declined to press charges against a woman who shot an intruder in her home a month after her husband was gunned down in the front yard.

Janepsy Cindy Mesa was in the process of moving out of the ill-fated house when she walked into a bedroom and was confronted by a man.

The man, who turned out to have been an acquaintance of her late husband, was shot several times by Mesa, who then ran screaming outside and called 911. North Miami police deemed the incident a case of self-defense.

"She was not expecting him to be there," said Police Lt. Neal Cuevas.

Mesa's husband had been shot to death outside the home on April 23 by two gunmen who were still at large. The couple's young son was wounded in the arm.

The Miami Herald said police suspected the killing was drug related.

Mrs. Mesa appeared on television three days later to appeal for the public's help in finding the suspects, the newspaper said.

Labels: female, FL, home invasion

Business Owner Shoots At Suspects After Walking In On Robbery

Orange County deputies are searching for one of two armed suspects who got into a shootout with a man when he caught them burglarizing his business and it happened next to a daycare full of children.

The shootout happened at the All Family Chiropractic Center in Pine Hills (see map) and, with bullets flying into a busy street, investigators said it's amazing no one was hit. The suspects never got to fill their U-Haul with any loot. They ditched it a short distance from the office where witnesses heard the owner exchange gunfire with two men who broke into his business.

"I didn't know what was going on. I thought it was firecrackers early in the morning, but it was not," said witness Parker McPhee.

Orange markers in Pine Hills Road marked some of the bullets made it into the street Wednesday morning. Investigators said the owner was checking out a burglar alarm at his office when he caught two men in the act.

"When they see him, they are armed, and they open fire on him. He also was armed and he returns fire on them," said Jeff Williamson, Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies caught one of the men soon after they parked the U-Haul between two houses.

The shootout happened next to the Tiny Praying Hands daycare, where more than 20 kids were already inside. Still, the owner defended her neighbor's decision to shoot back at the burglars.

"I hope they catch the guys who did this. You have a right to protect your business. We get up every morning, work hard and it's not right that people come in and take what we have," Renee Harris said.

Deputies have not identified any of the suspects. Deputies caught one of them, but they're searching for a second man who ran off on foot.

Labels: business burglary, FL

Man Shot, Killed Would-Be Robber

No charges have been filed against a Boca Raton jeweler who shot and killed a would-be robber Wednesday afternoon.

Boca Raton police said four men smashed the windows of H&L Wholesale Jewelry storeowner Leon Rozio's sport utility vehicle at the Town Square Plaza. The SUV had more than $100,000 worth of jewelry in it.

Witnesses said Rozio shot and killed one of the men. The other three got away in a silver van.

Police said Rozio had a concealed weapons permit.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.

Robber fatally shot in Boca Raton jewelry heist

After Leon Rozio got robbed, he vowed never to let it happen again.

Three or four years ago, the 64-year-old owner of Miami-based H&L Wholesale Jewelry Inc. lost some $300,000 in gold and jewelry in a holdup, said his half-brother, Fernando Mirabal.

Soon after, Rozio started bringing a gun on his sales runs, which took him and his priceless jewelry to shops across South Florida.

About 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, not long after Rozio parked his red Ford Explorer outside St. Moritz Jewelers on Boca Raton's west side, four men screamed up behind him in a silver car, boxing him in. They surrounded the Explorer, smashing out all four windows to get at the jewelry inside, witnesses said.

''He opened up like I have never seen,'' said Greg Sanderson, manager of a nearby Omaha Steaks shop, who watched the shooting through the store's plate-glass windows. ``I couldn't believe it. It sounded like the Wild West out there.''

One of the men staggered from the car and ran west through the parking lot toward St. Andrew's Boulevard, Winter said.

Paramedics found the wounded robber bleeding in the car, said Fire Rescue spokesman Frank Correggio. The man was taken to Delray Medical Center, where he died soon after, officials said.

The three other men escaped in a silver van, triggering a manhunt. It wasn't clear whether any of them were wounded, or whether they made off with any gold or jewels, police said.

Investigators still were quizzing Rozio at the police station until about 7 p.m. Rozio's attorney, Bill Mathewman, said his client will not face charges.

Labels: concealed carry permit, FL, street robbery

The robbery happened about 10:45 a.m. at Emily's Jewelry in the 14400 block of Miramar Parkway, police spokesman Bill Robertson said.

The men, one of whom had a gun, barged into the store while owners Rafael and Idia Esquivel were inside.

The armed man pointed the gun at the couple, and the other grabbed a bag of jewelry on the counter, Robertson said.

As the robbers fled into a waiting car, Rafael Esquivel chased them and fired three shots, Robertson said.

Detectives do not know if Esquivel, 61, struck either robber, the spokesman said.

Labels: business robbery, FL

Guard Shoots Man In Run Over Attempt

A security guard at an apartment complex parking lot shot and injured the driver of a vehicle who attempted to run him over, according to police.

Investigators said a Security Staffing Solutions guard became involved in the dispute with three men at the Lake Weston Pointe Apartments located at 2201 Lake Weston Drive on Monday night.

After the argument escalated, one of the men tried to back over the guard, a police report said.

The guard fired several shots into the vehicle, striking the driver in the arm and back.

The driver was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center. He was expected to recover from the injuries.

The two other men with the driver were detained and questioned by police.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting.

Labels: FL, private security

Store Owner Shoots Would-Be Robber

A robbery suspect remained in critical condition after being shot Saturday night by the owner of a grocery store on Old Cheney Highway.

Deputies said three suspects entered the store with weapons, with the intention of robbing the store.

The store owner also pulled out a gun, and shot one of the suspects.

The other two suspects left the store, and got away in dark SUV before deputies arrived.

The investigation, and the search for the other two suspects, continued Sunday.

Labels: business robbery, FL

Man Shoots Self In Leg Defending SUV

A man shot himself in the leg about 6 a.m. today as he wrestled with someone trying to break into his SUV in St. Petersburg, said George Kajtsa of the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Police found Richard X. Summers,39, wounded in the upper leg and holding down 18-year-old Marlos M. Conrad.

Kajtsa said Conrad, of 3801 W. Wallace Ave., Tampa, followed Summers' fiancé into their housing complex at 10265 Gandy Boulevard while she was driving a GMC Yukon Denali. She exited the SUV, someone tripped the alarm and she yelled for Summers.

Police say Summers, armed with a handgun, confronted Conrad inside the SUV. They struggled and the gun went off.

Conrad is being held at Pinellas County Jail on charges of strong-arm robbery and auto burglary.

Labels: defender shot, FL, street property theft

A shooting outside a North Miami-Dade shopping plaza Sunday morning left a security guard wounded, a man dead and another on the run, Miami-Dade police said.

The wild scene played out at around 9 a.m. as early-morning shoppers began arriving at the center anchored by a Winn-Dixie supermarket at Northwest Seventh Avenue and 111th Street.

It's unclear yet what sparked the incident, but it may have been a confrontation between two young men and the guard, and not an attempted robbery.

''There are a lot of customers who did see what happened and we are interviewing them as well,'' said Robert Williams, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department.

An aunt of the dead man said the victim was 19 years old, according to Miami Herald news partner CBS4. She said she did not believe her nephew was involved in a crime.

''I don't know what happened in the parking lot, what went on,'' said Antoinette Cobb, who told the station she was the dead man's aunt. ``I want to know what happened. . . . The police are not giving me any information.''

Witnesses said the security guard appeared to be making his rounds at the center in a golf cart when he was approached by the men.

There was a confrontation that escalated. Investigators said one of the men pulled a gun and shot the guard in the upper chest. The guard returned fire, hitting one of the men, who fell in the parking lot.

The second man took off into a neighborhood just northeast of the shopping center.

The security guard along with the other man were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Hospital, Williams said. The wounded man was declared dead at the hospital. His name has not been released.

SHOT IN TORSO

The security guard, who was shot in the upper torso, was undergoing surgery. He also had not been identified Sunday night.

''Right now we do not have a motive,'' Williams said, adding that homicide investigators are still conducting interviews.

Detectives need to talk to the hospitalized security guard for a clear picture of what sparked the violence.

''We do not know yet if robbery was the motive. We want to make absolutely sure that that was the motive for this so we need to talk to that security guard to get a statement from him,'' Williams said.

Labels: altercation, defender shot, FL, private security

Security Guard Fires Shots At Attempted Robber

Shots ring out outside a Miramar Foot Locker when a security guard strikes a would-be robber.

Police said a Marion security guard was having lunch in front of the Foot Locker at 3194 South University Drive Friday afternoon, when he saw a man covering his face with a bandana and taking out a gun.

That's when the guard fired his gun striking the suspect four times, said police.

Investigators said the injured suspect fled in a wafting white Nissan, but was later found in Miami Gardens at 889 NW 214th Street. The suspect was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Detectives are still looking for the Nissan driven and another passenger they believe was in the car.

Labels: FL, private security

Police: Intruder Shot, Killed In Break-In

A resident might have shot and killed one of two intruders who tried to break into his southwest Miami-Dade County home early Tuesday morning, police said.

The fatal shooting occurred at about 2 a.m. outside 5851 SW 118th Ave.

Miami-Dade police said it appeared two men tried to burglarize the home when the resident fought with them outside and fatally shot one of them. The second intruder fled the scene but was later found west of 118th Avenue, police said. He was detained and is being questioned by police.

Police were also questioning the resident of the home, but it was too early to determine exactly what happened, Miami-Dade police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said.

The resident's family said he was OK and that there had been intruders at the home before.

Labels: FL, residence burglary

Altamonte Springs Homeowner Shoots, Kills Intruder

Seminole County deputies said a homeowner shot and killed a teen who was trying to break into his home overnight.

Deputies said Ryan Realford, 17, approached an undercover deputy's car in the East Altamonte Springs community with an unidentified substance in his hand.

They said when the teen recognized the person in a car was a deputy, he ran into a nearby backyard and tried to break into a home.

A homeowner said Realford removed a locked screen door and was trying to enter his house through a sliding glass door.

The homeowner said he asked Realford to leave. When he would not, the homeowner told deputies he shot him.

Realford was taken to the hospital where he died.

Deputies said it's not likely that the homeowner will face charges.

Labels: FL, home invasion, minor offender

– A suspected burglar who was shot in the hand Tuesday was arrested on Wednesday. Police said a man broke into an apartment in the 700 block of Shearer Avenue, near Interstate 10 and Roosevelt Boulevard. The victim, a 65-year-old man, said he grabbed a revolver near him and fired once at the man. Police said 31-year-old Joseph Brown, who matched the suspect description, was found at Baptist Medical Center being treated for a gunshot wound and was arrested.

Labels: FL, residence burglary

Victim Shoots Getaway Vehicle

A man fired a gun Wednesday at the getaway vehicle of a burglar who had just broken into his home, and he managed to hit a tire, police said. Authorities say they identified and charged the burglar.

Now they are looking for the vehicle, described as a dark blue GMC Envoy, Lt. Mike Loux said.

The burglary victim and his wife arrived home in the 1500 block of North Peaceful Lane and spotted a sport utility vehicle in their driveway, Loux said.

The wife looked into the unfamiliar vehicle to see whether anyone was inside, Loux said. Nobody was.

The husband thought something was wrong and retrieved a .357-caliber firearm from his glove box, Loux said. The man is licensed to carry a concealed firearm.

The husband opened the garage door and at about the same time noticed someone coming from a side yard toward the driveway, Loux said.

The person hopped into the Envoy and began to back out of the driveway, Loux said. The couple's car was behind the Envoy, and the husband thought the Envoy was going to hit him, his wife or their car, Loux said.

The husband shot twice at the driver's side front tire as the Envoy sped away. Investigators determined the driver of the Envoy had burglarized the couple's home, Loux said.

On Thursday, Largo authorities learned of an arrest by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The man, identified by Largo police as Robert Jacobs, 48, told authorities he burglarized the home and was unaware anyone had fired at the Envoy, Loux said.

Authorities, who did not identify the couple, are still looking for the Envoy. Its Florida license plate number is X835WY.

Detectives also are trying to determine whether Jacobs committed any other burglaries, Loux said.

Labels: concealed carry permit, FL, residence burglary

Thonotosassa Man Wounded In Gunfight At His Home

A Thonotosassa man was shot twice early today during a home invasion, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

The gunman has not been caught.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m., a man pushed open a sliding glass door at 3408 Cooper Road and fired a gun, Carter said.

A resident, Grover Cochrane, 59, was shot twice in the arm and pulled out his own gun and fired at the intruder, who escaped, Carter said.

Cochrane's girlfriend saw the shootout, and her name is being withheld by the sheriff's office as a witness.

The victim has been "very uncooperative" with investigators and has not given a description of the attacker, Carter said.

Labels: defender shot, FL

'Sweetest, kindest gentleman' shoots suspect

A white-haired 85-year-old man, rushing to his son's defense, shot and wounded a would-be car thief Monday morning in Little Havana, Miami police said.

The suspect, Norberto Fernandez, 29, had been trying to steal Jorge Jauregui's white Honda Accord in front of his house, 1368 SW 14th St.

Jorge Jauregui, 50, armed with a handgun, ordered Fernandez out of the car, police said.

''I don't care,'' responded the alleged thief, according to Miami police spokesman William Moreno.

The two engaged in a ''vicious fight,'' Moreno said.

Then his father, Florentino Jauregui, also armed, rushed out of the house and ''fearing his grandson was being overpowered,'' shot and wounded Fernandez, Moreno said.

The shooting could be ruled justified under Florida's self-defense law.

''He was not protecting property but was protecting bodily injury to his own grandson. The investigation is preliminary but it appears he might be covered under that law,'' Moreno said.

Fernandez, a felon with a long criminal history, was charged later Monday with burglary to a motor vehicle, aggravated assault and battery, police said.

He was also fingered as the man who robbed a woman of her purse a few blocks away earlier in the morning, police said. In that case, he was charged with strong-armed robbery.

Investigators believe he had escaped in a stolen white Toyota, which was later found nearby with a nail in the tire. He may have been trying to steal another car when confronted by the Jauregui family.

Fernandez was taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition, Moreno said.

A neighbor, Laura George, called grandfather Florentino Jauregui ``the sweetest, kindest gentleman in the neighborhood.''

The shooting happened about 9 a.m. in the 1300 block of Southwest 14th Street, only blocks from where another elderly resident, former 1930s Cuban track star Marta Suarez, helped police nab a purse snatcher in September.

Wearing designer sneakers, the 85-year-old Suarez chased the man into the path of a police cruiser. She got her purse back. He went to jail.

Suarez, still wearing the same Coach sneakers, wandered by the crime scene Monday after the latest confrontation between age and youth.

Labels: altercation, carjacking, FL

Bartow Homeowner Shoots Burglary Suspect

A homeowner shot a burglary suspect who was trying to break into his early today, home, the Bartow Police Department said.

Police said their preliminary investigation indicates the suspect, 37-year-old Shaun Lynn Hause, had reached into the victim’s residence via a broken window in the door. The homeowner saw Hause’s hand on the door knob and fired a shotgun.

Hause was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for gunshot injuries and has been charged with burglary to an occupied structure.

The incident happened about 2:40 a.m..

Labels: FL, home invasion

Orlando victim turns gun on 4 robbers

An armed citizen surprised four men who robbed him at gunpoint last week.

After being ordered to his knees, Russel Olofson warned the men that "they should think about it," according to an Orlando police report released this week.

A private investigator with military training, Olofson, 24, told police the robbers snatched his cell phone and a wallet containing his concealed-weapon permit shortly before 10 p.m. Friday outside Ridge Club Apartments.

After the robbers took his items, Olofson stood up, drew his Springfield XD sub-compact 9 mm handgun "and fired two rounds toward male #1 with the silver handgun, possibly striking him," the report states. "Males #2, #3, and #4 then ran southeast . . . and male #1 ran northeast . . ."

A search by police quickly turned up a pistol likely used in the holdup, the report said.

The .45-caliber Ruger pistol and clothing believed to have been worn by male 1 were found in the backyard of a home on Alrix Drive, reports state. The serial numbers on the pistol had been scratched off, a common sign the weapon may have been stolen.

The cell phone and wallet were not recovered. The wallet contained an Iraq Embassy badge, an Army contractor's ID card, Olofson's drivers license and a credit card. Anyone who finds the wallet or knows the identities of the robbers is asked to call Crimeline at 407-423-8477.

Olofson, who had been conducting an investigation for Briggs Corp. Solutions, was not injured. A check by police of area hospitals did not find any reports of patients treated for gunshot wounds.

Labels: concealed carry permit, FL, street robbery

Intruder Shot Dead on the Southside

Police are investigating a shooting on the Southside that left one man dead.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Officers say the shooting happened at a home on Ivey Road Sunday night.

Authorities say Gary Gene Wright, 25, called 911 and told them he'd shot someone.

Wright told police he believed the man tried to break into his house.

Police found 21-year-old Cordero Duran Jones dead at the scene.

Detectives say there's no sign of forced entry.

Investigators interviewed and released Wright Sunday night. They also questioned his girlfriend, who lives with him.

Wright told First Coast News that he knew the man he shot but he wouldn't elaborate on their relationship.

In a prior police report filed Thursday, Wright told police that someone broke into his home and stole several pistols and a plasma television.

Richard Polke lives a few doors away from Wright. He said that police have been at Wright's home several times and this latest incident makes him feel unsafe.

"It is kind of frightening to see that happen. It surprised me. It took me by surprise," Polke said.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Man kills attacking pit bull

A Tamarac man shot and killed a pit bull named Trouble after the dog escaped from its nearby home and attacked him on Thursday.

Here is what happened, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office:

Around 5:20 p.m. Trouble broke through a screen on the rear patio at a home on the 4500 block of Northwest 16th Way. Children playing nearby screamed, ``Trouble is out.''

Hearing the commotion, Paulo Jean, 35, stepped outside his home next door. Trouble attacked him, biting his buttocks and both arms. Jean pulled a .380 semiautomatic handgun from his pants pocket and fired three shots.

Trouble died at the scene.

Jean was taken to Broward General Medical Center with serious injuries.

Broward County Animal Care and Regulation removed the dead dog and took another dog that also got loose from the same residence. The dogs' owner was not at home when the attack occurred.

Jean had a valid concealed weapons permit.

Further links: Man shoots, kills attacking pit bull named Trouble

Labels: animal, concealed carry permit, FL

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A 52-year-old man fired shots at three men after he was robbed at gunpoint in the driveway of his Orlando home, police said.

The armed robbery took place Monday on Gumwood Court in Orlando.

According to an Orlando police report, the victim pulled into his driveway after cashing a check at a local check-cashing store. Three men approached the man and stole his cash before fleeing in a car, Orlando police said.

The victim fired shots at the getaway car, but it is not known if any of the assailants were struck.

Two of the culprits were described only as in their 20s and the other man was in his 30s, according to the police report.

Orlando police detectives recovered shell casings and confiscated the victim's gun.

Labels: FL, street robbery

Police: Victim Fired AK-47 At Home Invader

A man fired shots from his AK-47 at an armed man who stormed into his house through the garage, interrupted a group of friends playing cards, shot into the ceiling of the home and demanded money.

The incident happened Tuesday morning at 3085 SE 159th Lane Road in Summerfield.

According to Marion County sheriff's deputies, three men, one of whom was armed with a silver revolver, stormed into the home and fired shots into the ceiling while searching for money and weapons.

One of the invaders entered a bedroom where the father of one of the victims playing cards was sleeping, deputies said. The father, who had been awakened by the commotion and gunfire, retrieved his AK-47 from behind his bed, causing two of the assailants to run out of the front door of the house, deputies said.

The invader with the revolver fired shots at the father, who returned fire, according to a Marion County sheriff's report. The culprit ran into a bedroom, broke a window and fled, deputies said. It is not known if he was struck.

The armed assailant was described as a white man wearing blue jeans, a flannel shirt and a blue jean jacket. Deputies said he may be injured and seeking medical treatment. A second culprit had blonde hair and was wearing all dark clothing. The third invader was only described as a Hispanic man.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers. The Marion County Sheriff's Office is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Further links:
Homeowner shoots back at intruders

Labels: assault weapon defense, FL, home invasion, residence robbery

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A Central Florida man who collects cash for parking at a church fought off five armed men who had ambushed him and demanded cash.

The 65-year-old victim, who did not want to be identified, said he was collecting cash in the Parramore area before an Orlando Magic basketball game when someone put a gun to his head.

He noticed that that he was surrounded by four other men as well.

The man said he pretended to reach into his jacket for cash but instead pulled out his hidden gun and opened fire.

The men fled during the shooting and it was not known if any of them were hit by bullets.

The victim said he had a permit for the concealed weapon.

He said he has been a victim of crime before.

"A couple of years ago, eight teens attacked me with a pipe trying to rob me," the man said.

Labels: concealed carry permit, FL, street robbery

Panther kills farm animal, threatens ten year old boy

A Florida Panther is causing trouble for one Golden Gate neighborhood. A Collier County man claims that a panther jumped over his fence, killed a farm animal, and almost attacked a ten year old boy.

Homeowner and Golden Gate resident John Edgar is no stranger to wild animals.

Edgar raises goats, peacocks, and roosters, but Sunday night, he captured pictures of a new, unwelcome gust - a Florida Panther.

Edgar said that he had taken a few kids out for target shooting practice Saturday afternoon and was unaware that a wild animal was following closely behind.

When all of a sudden, Edgar said that a panther jumped over a fence and stood just 50 yards away while crouching down as if it were ready to attack one of the boys that was with the group.

"What I would like to put forth is the fact that it stalked a kid, " Edgar said.

"I thought he was ready to jump so we both shoot, 'pow-pow,' not at the panther, just in the air."

After firing several rounds, the panther then ran away, and so did the little boy and his family.

(More)

Labels: animal, FL

Black driver shot 2 whites in self-defense

With one wielding a knife, two men pounded on Hygens Labidou's roofing truck and shouted racial epithets, authorities said.

''N-----, get out of the truck!'' they allegedly snarled, according to a copy of a 911 tape released Tuesday. One of the men, six feet tall and 350 pounds, tried to pull Labidou from the truck.

Moments later, Labidou, fearing for his life, pulled out his 9mm semiautomatic gun and fired, wounding the two Cooper City men -- one fatally -- in the middle of a busy Deerfield Beach intersection.

Labidou, 49, of Wellington, will not be charged because he acted in self-defense, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.

''These two men approached him with a deadly weapon in an aggressive manner,'' BSO spokesman Mike Jachles said. ``Clearly, he was inside his vehicle, and he was clearly within his right to defend himself.''

Edward Borowsky, 28, died Monday, four days after the shooting. The other man, Steven V. Lonzisero, 43, is under arrest, charged with murder during the commission of a crime. Even though he didn't pull the trigger, under Florida law, a person can be charged with murder if someone dies while the accused is committing a felony.

Lonzisero also will be charged with a hate crime, the BSO said.

Labidou has a concealed weapons permit, officials said.

The 911 tape reveals a hysterical Labidou, screaming to the dispatcher that he had been attacked.

''I shot them! I shot them!'' he yelled during the call, made just after 1 p.m. Thursday.

Labidou apologized to the dispatcher for shouting and then answered her questions.

``Both of them down, both of them are down . . . I knocked 'em both. I'm sorry, ma'am. I was trying to defend myself.''

''They said, n-----, get out of the truck. Both of them,'' Labidou said.

Asked by the dispatcher what he did, he replied: ``I shot 'em! I wanted to defend myself.''

The BSO is considering the case a hate crime because the attackers, who were white, shouted racial epithets at Labidou, who is black.

The BSO originally charged Lonzisero with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony. But just as Lonzisero was set to be released on bond, Borowsky died, escalating the charge to murder.

The incident happened in the middle of the afternoon as the vehicles were driving north on Powerline Road in Deerfield Beach. Lonzisero and Borowsky were in a white Ford pickup truck, along with Lonzisero's 15-year-old daughter. Labidou, who runs a family-owned roofing company, was driving a flatbed truck.

The BSO said Lonzisero and Borowsky were upset with Labidou's driving and began arguing with him. It's not clear where the vehicles were as the drivers were arguing.

But the BSO said the verbal sparring turned violent when Lonzisero stopped his truck at the intersection of Green Road and Powerline in front of Labidou's flatbed truck.

Lonzisero and Borowsky, who was armed with a knife, got out of the pickup, the BSO said.

Borowsky and Lonzisero pounded on Labidou's truck, yelling racial epithets at Labidou and trying to open his door, the BSO said. It's not clear whether Labidou fired from inside his vehicle, but the BSO said he fired several shots, striking both men twice.

The men fell to the pavement, and Labidou and several witnesses called 911.

One caller describes the scene to the 911 dispatcher: ``Two guys on the ground. One guy with the gun. He's on the phone. I don't know what happened. I didn't see what happened, but the guy is very calm.''

The caller pauses to yell, ``Put the gun down.''

''Stay away from him,'' the operator advises.

To which the caller replies: ``I am.''

Tuesday night, the upstairs lights were on in Lonzisero's home in Flamingo Townhomes Phase V. No one answered the door outside the townhome, which had Christmas bells on the door. Neighbors, who asked that their names not be used, said Lonzisero rented the unit and lived there with his three children and their mother, while Borowsky lived downstairs.

Lonzisero was in and out of the family's lives, they said. The few that knew the two men said they were confrontational.

Another said Lonzisero screamed obscenities at her one day when they were both trying to move their cars.

Labidou runs Impact Roofing in Riviera Beach, according to the company's website. It's been around since March 1999.

Further links:
Broward man charged with murder after road rage shooting

Labels: concealed carry permit, FL, hate crime

Not long after Niceville resident Harold Crown fired a handgun at three would-be burglars, a teenager turned up at Twin Cities Hospital with a bullet wound to his torso.

Coincidence?

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office thinks not.

Crown, 64, told authorities someone knocked on his door at about 10 p.m., Tuesday and when he opened it two men wearing hooded sweatshirts and ski masks “rushed in and knocked him down,” a Sheriff’s Office news release said.

The 23rd Street resident said a third man followed the first two into the house and began beating and kicking him.

“Crown grabbed a .45 caliber handgun from a shelf of a bookcase and a struggle ensued over the gun,” the news release said.

The homeowner told deputies he fired once and didn’t hit anything. He fired a second time, the release said, “but wasn’t sure if anyone was struck.”

Crown’s assailants fled the scene after the second shot was fired. He went to a neighbor’s house and called 911, the release said.

“A short time” after the incident a 19-year-old arrived at Niceville’s Twin Cities Hospital wounded from a gunshot to the torso, the release said. He was treated and transferred to West Florida Hospital.

Labels: FL, home invasion

Police: Armed intruder killed by armed resident

A man was shot to death Tuesday night outside a home on Pheasant Drive after a gun battle with a resident of the home, authorities said.

Flagler County sheriff's officials are withholding the name of the slain man, who appears to be in his 20s, until family members can be notified.

Deputies were called to the home at 43 Pheasant Drive shortly before 7 p.m., Chief Deputy Rick Look said.

They found what appeared to be a case of self-defense initiated after the man entered the home "uninvited," Look said.

The two residents, a man and woman whose names were not released, told investigators the man entered their home through the unlocked front door. The male resident "grabbed a gun and fired it at the intruder," Look said.

The intruder ran out the front door, turned around and fired a gun at the residents, Look said they told investigators.

The male resident returned fire, Look said.

Investigators aren't sure which shot was the one that killed the man, causing him to fall outside the home.

Look said they can't be certain until further investigation but investigators don't think the event was random.

"We're trying to determine if there's a relationship between the victims and the suspect," Look said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was called in to assist the Sheriff's Office and process the scene, Look said. And even though the shooting ended outside in plain view of neighboring homes, "neighbors didn't see anything," Look said.

"I heard something," a woman who lives across the street from the home said. "I just thought it was firecrackers, though."

The resident declined to give her name but said the experience was "pretty freaky" for her. She moved to Palm Coast from Miami, and although there's more crime in South Florida, "it was never this close to home," she said.

Investigators are also looking into what a neighbor called a "suspicious silver Hyundai" that was parked across the street from the home for three days.

"It didn't move, and now suddenly it's gone," the woman said.

Further links:
Man Fatally Shoots Home Intruder

Labels: FL, home invasion

Nursing Home Security Guard Shoots Armed Man

A security guard shot a man in the parking lot of a St. Petersburg nursing home after the man retrieved a gun from his vehicle.

Jacob Michaels, 33, drove his girlfriend and friend to their workplace, Bons Secours Maria Manor Nursing Home, 10300 4th St. N., around 11:30 p.m. Saturday so the friend could retrieve her car. Michaels waited in the car, according to a St. Petersburg Police press release.

While he waited, he was approached by Richard Dunn, 41, the nursing home security guard. Michaels, who isn't an employee of the home, became angry and the pair argued. That's when Michaels retrieved a gun from his car and Dunn shot him, twice.

The wounds are not life threatening, according to police.

Charges haven't been filed since the shooting appears justified, the press release stated. The case is being reviewed by homicide detectives.

Labels: altercation, FL, private security

Police: Victim Shoots, Kills Home Invader

A man in Orange County grabbed a shotgun and shot and killed one of three home invaders inside his apartment late Sunday, according to police.

Investigators said three men burst into a home at the Pine Harbor apartments located near state Road 408 and Rouse Road just after 11:30 p.m. Monday.

During the incident, the homeowner fired a shotgun at the men, causing the three men to flee, police said.

A man believed to be involved in the incident later arrived at a hospital and died from a gunshot injury, according to investigators.

Authorities said it did not appear the victim would face criminal charges for the shooting, Local 6 reported.

"Based on the preliminary investigation at this time in reference to trying to break into somebody's house, probably (no charges) but that is all subject to change depending on where the investigation takes us," Orange County sheriff's Cmdr. Rick Luckey said.

Police are trying to determine if the alleged break-in was a random attack.

Two persons of interest were also taken into custody early Monday was it was not determined if they were involved in the incident.

Labels: FL, home invasion