Civilian Gun Self-Defense Blog

Alaska: Juneau man shoots bear who enters home

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:53:00 +0000

Juneau, Alaska

From KTUU of July 24, 2008

Juneau man shoots bear who enters home

A Juneau man shot and injured a bear who he says had entered his residence.

Local olice haven't identified him.

They say the man shot the bear in the face with a .45 semiautomatic handgun.

Officers have been unable to locate the injured bear.

Sergeant Chris Burke says the man reported being woken up by a noise in his residence.

The man told authorities that when he got out of bed the bear was about four feet into the home.

The bear turned and ran back toward the porch.

When the man yelled at the bear to encourage it to leave, the bear turned around and lunged and that's when the man shot it.

Sergeant Burke says officers tracked a blood trail for the bear, but haven't found it.

Texas: Sheriff: Immigrant shot burglar teen

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:23:00 +0000

Mercedes, Texas

From The Monitor of July 21, 2008

Sheriff: Immigrant shot burglar teen

An illegal immigrant tasked with guarding a convenience store shot and killed a teenager who attempted to burglarize it, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said Monday.

Silvestre Delgadillo, 28, remained on the run and authorities had "no idea" whether he fled to Mexico, Treviño said.

Delgadillo, who was convicted in 2005 on a felony drug charge, has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a third-degree felony.

But the actual homicide is complicated by Texas' castle law, which allows people to use lethal force to defend themselves and their property.

Delgadillo is accused of shooting Roberto Garcia, 17, late Friday night.

"He is there to protect his residence - protect the business - under the direction of the owner," Treviño said.

He said he will submit the case to the District Attorney's office, which will then present it to a grand jury. The grand jury will determine whether to charge Delgadillo in connection with the homicide.

Delgadillo, who was deported after being released from prison earlier this year, could also be charged with a felony for illegally re-entering the country.

The shooting occurred late Friday or early Saturday, Treviño said, when Garcia and Ramiro Garza and Eloy Santana, both 17, tried to burglarize Valeria's Drive Thru convenience store by breaking through its roof.

Delgadillo was living inside the business, though, and had been told by store owner Olivia Lopez, 34, to guard it with a gun she provided, Treviño said. Delgadillo shot Garcia during the burglary, hitting him in the lung and artery, Treviño said. The wound killed Garcia within minutes.

Lopez, the storeowner, will be charged with failure to report a felony because she was not candid with police about the shooting, Treviño said. A grand jury would also have to decide whether she could face any sort of homicide charges.

"Ms. Lopez gave a convicted felon a firearm," Treviño said. "That's against the law. She lied to us from the onset of the investigation. That's against the law."

Garcia's accomplices will also be charged with burglary, Treviño said.

**Note**
While there were illegal actions that led up to this defensive gun use, the defense itself was by all appearances justified, hence our use of it here on the blog.

California: DA declines charges in fatal Marine shooting

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:36:00 +0000

Barstow, California

From the Desert Dispatch of July 22, 2008

DA declines charges in fatal Marine shooting

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office elected not to file charges against Issa Wajeel, 50, the Barstow man who was arrested Friday on suspicion of murder in connection with the shooting death of a Camp Pendleton Marine.

Michael Fermin, supervising deputy district attorney at the Barstow courthouse, said he received the Barstow Police Department report in the case late in the day on Monday. After reviewing the file with Gary Roth, chief deputy district attorney for the Desert-Mountain region of the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, they came to the conclusion Tuesday afternoon that Wajeel acted in self-defense when he shot 20-year-old Michael Firkins, Fermin said.

He would not comment on the evidence that led them to that conclusion.

Police found Firkins with a gunshot wound to the head in a truck parked in front of Wajeel’s house on July 3. He died in the hospital on July 6, and Wajeel was arrested Friday on suspicion of murder. Wajeel, who was in his yard with a gun when police arrived, told investigators that he had confronted a man who may have been trying to break into his house.

Wajeel, a retired Army sergeant first class, worked as a contractor at Fort Irwin and taught administration of justice classes part time at Barstow Community College.

Fermin said the fact that Wajeel was a respected figure in the community did not play into his decision not to file charges.

“We base it on the facts of the law, the facts of what happened and the law that applies in that situation,” he said. “... Sometimes that decision-making process may not be a popular one, but it’s one we believe to be right under the eye of the law and the facts that are available.”

The investigation is still open, and the District Attorney’s Office could elect to file charges in the future if new evidence surfaces, he said.

As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, West Valley Detention Center still listed Wajeel as an inmate.

Kentucky: Man Shot & Killed in Self-Defense

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:31:00 +0000

Pulaski County, Kentucky

From WTVQ of July 24, 2008

Man Shot & Killed in Self-Defense

Police have not filed any charges against a Pulaski County man who they say shot and killed someone in self-defense.

Last night, officers were called to a home on West Highway, in Science Hill, to investigate a shooting.

They say three people, one armed with wooden club, went to the home to start a fight -- which they did.

After a short time, police say the homeowner, Joshua Pyles, got a shotgun and asked the suspects to leave his home and property.

They refused and continued to make threats, so Pyles fired one shot.

One of the suspects, 34-year-old Jim Goff, was hit.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The two other suspects, Heather Goff, 29, wife of the deceased, and John Strunk, 46, Heaton Ford Road Science Hill, KY were both arrested at the scene and charged with assault 2nd degree.

Pyles has not yet been charged in the shooting.

The preliminary investigation indicates that Pyles was acting in self-defense in protecting himself and his family.

The results of the investigation will be presented to the Pulaski County Grand Jury.

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

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:01:00 +0000

Ocala, Florida

From the Star-Banner of July 23, 2008

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.

Ohio: Moving men best would-be robber

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:57:00 +0000

East Price Hill, Ohio

From the Cincinnati Enquirer of July 23, 2008

Moving men best would-be robber

One determined store owner. Eleven bulky employees to back him up. And a nervous would-be robber pointing a gun at them.

The result?

A very bad attempt at robbery, said Raymond Palma, 37, owner of D& R Moving.

The botched robbery Wednesday morning sent the alleged robber to the hospital with two self-inflicted gunshot wounds, no money and a charge of aggravated robbery.

“This ought to be on ‘Dumbest Criminals,’ Palma said. “To come into a moving company with men who lift and haul things for a living – 12 guys, five or six bullets. You do the math.”

The robber, identified as Ahmad Parker, 21, of Roselawn, was in surgery at University Hospital Wednesday evening for gunshot wounds to the leg and arm, Cincinnati police said.

Palma said when Parker walked into the business, 465 Elberon Ave., around 9 a.m. and pointed a .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol, demanding everyone empty their pockets, Palma thought he was joking.

“Then he said it again and put the gun right to my head and that’s when I knew he’s not kidding anymore,” Palma said. “But you could just tell he was a rookie. He hesitated for a couple seconds and he didn’t know what the heck he was doing, apparently.”

The handgun’s safety was still on until Parker noticed it halfway through the robbery, Palma said.

He said he waited until Parker turned his head then grabbed the gun. Four employees joined in. During the scuffle, the gun went off several times, striking Parker twice and an employee once.

Employees held Parker down until police arrived.

The employee, William Davis, 31, Palma’s brother, was grazed in the leg and refused medical treatment, police said. Palma suffered minor cuts and scrapes.

“To be honest, I was scared the entire time,” he said. “I don’t recommend anybody doing that because when I did it, I put everybody’s life in there at risk. If it happened again, I don’t think I would handle it that way.”

Palma said it was the first time there has been an attempted robbery at his business and hopes it’s the last. He plans to install security cameras and an ATM to store his money.

“Everybody tells me I shouldn’t, but I feel bad for that young fella,” Palma said. “He’s 21 and he made the worst mistake of his life. I don’t feel angry no more.

“But I’m disappointed and upset.”

Missouri: Neighbor Fights off Would-be Grocery Store Burglars

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:33:00 +0000

Poplar Bluff, Missouri

From KFVS of July 22, 2008

Neighbor Fights off Would-be Grocery Store Burglars

Surveillance video shows a bizarre "break-in" at a grocery store in Butler County. Thieves try to cash in fast by taking off with an ATM.

The crooks tried using a truck as a battering ram, and brought down the front of the store.

But owners say thanks to a quick thinking neighbor, those would-be burglars left empty handed.

When the owners of the Green Forest Grocery Store put up security cameras, they had no idea what kind of video they would end up seeing.

"You can't prepare for someone to come in and knock the whole front door into the building," Jeff Darnell said.

That's exactly what happened as surveillance video shows.

"They stole a truck next door, came in here and ran it through the door. They hit it about three times, first time got it in midway. Then they got the truck completely through the building. They came to steal the ATM," Darnell said.

The crooks plan didn't go quite that way. That's mostly due to a long time shopper and neighbor.

"I heard this loud, excruciatingly loud bang across the street," Robert Chavez said.

That's when he sprang into action.

"I got my gun out of my gun cabinet and told my wife to call 911. I walked outside, and fired a shot in the air just to ruffle their feathers," he said.

It did. The would-be-burglars sped away and investigator Jim Akers says deputies found the truck abandoned on a county road.

Before they left though, Chavez had a scare of his own.

"He pulled out and faced me, the truck did. I felt at that point, I'm in imminent danger, and it scared me. I fired a slug through the windshield of his truck, and put one in the grill and passenger side door," Chavez said.

Store owners say they're grateful to Chavez. They still have some work ahead of them, but the store looks a lot better than it did on Monday.

"You don't expect it in smaller towns like we have. We have seen it on TV of course, but you just deal with what happens," Darnell said.

Store owners say the surveillance video shows the crooks trying to load the ATM onto the truck and dropping it on its side.

The Butler County Sheriff says he believes there were three people in the truck, but investigators have no suspects at this time.

Pennsylvania: Gunman killed in robbery try

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:16:00 +0000

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

From the Intelligencer Journal of July 23, 2008

Gunman killed in robbery try

John Roads believes people should be able to defend themselves against criminals, even if it means using a firearm.

The owner of Power Pro Battery Co., 210 S. Penn St., Manheim, said it was the right to possess a gun that potentially saved the life of his operations manager Tuesday and ended the life of a would-be robber.

Kevin Lee Smith, 19, of Lancaster, was shot and killed by the manager early Tuesday when Smith and an accomplice held up the manager with a semiautomatic weapon, police said. (Police asked that the manager's name not be published, because the accomplice was still at-large Tuesday night.)

Police said the manager acted in self-defense.

"We all have a right to come to work, to do our time and go home to our families," Roads said. "And nobody has a right to take that away from us."

Roads said he was at home when he got a phone call from the alarm company early Tuesday notifying him of a break-in at his business. He later heard from his manager, who told him he had shot a man.

"(The manager) had an angel in his pocket," Roads said, "and I can only hope that I would have been as lucky and as fortunate had it been me."

The manager explained the robbery circumstances to Roads on Tuesday morning, telling him two men were hiding under the wooden steps leading to the front entrance of the building.

According to Roads:

The manager said the two men made a noise under the steps, dropping a cell phone and a backpack and alerting him to their presence.

As the manager put the key in the front door, the two men, wearing black clothing, baseball caps and bandannas over their faces, walked up the stairs and followed him into the business, pointing a TEC-9 semiautomatic weapon at his back.

They pushed him into an office five feet inside the entrance and stayed in the hallway, with a security camera in the hallway catching most of the action.

The two men patted down the manager, taking his wallet and a company cell phone. However, they failed to pat down his other pocket, which contained a small-caliber semiautomatic pistol that he carried for protection.

The manager was told to open the business safe, and as the two men briefly looked toward the door, he pulled the gun from his pocket, firing two shots at Smith, who was holding the TEC-9.

Everything happened in two to three minutes, the manager told Roads.

"They gave (my manager) a split second to defend himself, and he did," Roads said.

The two men ran from the business, dropping the gun near a telephone pole, and they also dropped other items along West Stiegel Street, including hats and a backpack.

Police said a preliminary examination of the TEC-9 showed the weapon was jammed, indicating that the trigger was pulled at some point. Police said they were not sure when it was discharged.

Blood spots were still visible on West Stiegel Street Tuesday afternoon.

Smith collapsed about 400 yards from the business as the other man ran from the scene.

Manheim Borough police were called to the shooting scene near the intersection of South Penn and West Stiegel streets just after 5 a.m., and they found Smith on the street with gunshot wounds to the chest and wrist.

Smith was transported to Lancaster General Hospital, where he died from the chest wound.

Manheim Borough police Chief Barry Weidman said he had never seen a robbery turn so violent in the town.

Weidman said the incident should show criminals that they don't always know who is carrying a gun, and who is willing to use one in self defense.

"It should show criminals that you may get away with things for a while, but it's going to catch up to you," Weidman said.

Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said his office was looking at the evidence.

Stedman said a person has the right to use deadly force if he or she has a reasonable belief that their life is in imminent danger. It does not have to be a crime with a gun involved.

"Obviously, in cases where you have a gun involved, it increases the stakes," Stedman said.

Weidman said the TEC-9, which he called a "street weapon," was one of the first used in a crime in Manheim. It will be sent for analysis and reviewed for evidence of past crimes through ballistic tests.

(More)

Florida: Would-Be Burglar Shot

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:37:00 +0000

Miami-Dade, Florida

From NBC6 of July 20, 2008

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.

Ohio: Man killed trying to rob home, police say

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:25:00 +0000

Franklinton, Ohio

From the Columbus Dispatch of July 21, 2008

Man killed trying to rob home, police say

An 18-year-old man armed with a BB gun was fatally shot while trying to rob the residents of a Franklinton home yesterday afternoon, police said.

Police arrested his two alleged accomplices, one of whom was his brother, and charged them with murder for taking part in a crime that resulted in his death.

The resident who fired the fatal shot was released after questioning by police. A Franklin County grand jury will decide whether he acted in self-defense or should be indicted for a crime, police said.

Terrance W. Jackson, described by police as a college student from out of state, died at Mount Carmel West hospital at 1:51 p.m., about an hour and 40 minutes after the shooting at 641 W. Chapel St.

Police said Jackson was accompanied by his brother Cashius D. Jackson and Cashius' girlfriend, Lucretia D. Fudge, when he attempted to rob Joshua A. LeMaster's home at 12:10 p.m. LeMaster was one of four residents in the home at the time.

LeMaster shot Jackson in the chest and arm. Jackson ran across the street and collapsed on the sidewalk, where he was unresponsive when found by police, Sgt. Joan Schlabach said.

"He's protecting his family. He's protecting my home," said LeMaster's roommate, who was asleep upstairs when the shots were fired. "It's (expletive) when you can't leave your front door open."

Several neighbors said they heard three to five shots and saw two people run toward the Inn Towne Motel, four blocks north at 595 W. Broad St.

Terrance Jackson and three other people were staying in one of two rooms rented under the name Cassius R. Jackson, a manager at the motel confirmed.

Cashius Jackson, 26, faces one count of murder, and Fudge, 17, faces a delinquency count of murder. Police listed Cashius Jackson's address as 1750 Bryden Rd. and Fudge's as 1360 Phale D. Hale Dr.

LeMaster's roommate, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said the intruders didn't know any of the residents, and there was nothing of value in their home. Police said they did not know why the home was targeted.

LeMaster's girlfriend told police that Terrance Jackson held a gun, later identified as a BB gun, to her head. LeMaster pulled out a real gun and shot him in the living room.

An Ohio law taking effect in September will establish a presumption that people who shoot someone invading their home are acting in self-defense.

(More)

Texas: No charges filed against man who shot teen

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:20:00 +0000

El Paso, Texas

From KVIA of July 20, 2008

No charges filed against man who shot teen

Police have hot filed charges against a Northeast resident who allegedly shot a man in self-defense.

The police department's Drive-by-Shooting Response Team (DSRT) was called to assist with a "shots fired" call at the 9500 block of Iris at about one Saturday morning.

Officers discovered a 19-year-old man had been shot in the ankle and forearm at a residence in the area.

An investigation revealed the victim went to a party at the residence and engaged in an argument that escalated into a physical confrontation, police officials said.

Police said a resident of the home grabbed a handgun and fired several shots at the victim in and attempt to protect his home and family.

The victim was transported to Thomason hospital and a further investigation is underway.

North Carolina: Teenager fends off would-be robbers

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:01:00 +0000

Charlotte, North Carolina

From News 14 of July 21, 2008

Teenager fends off would-be robbers

Two suspects are on the run after a teenager in the house they were robbing turned one of the criminals' guns against them.

At about 8:30 a.m. Saturday, police said two robbers broke into Danielle Gardin's home in north Charlotte.

"One guy opened up the garage, let the van in and then they started going upstairs," Gardin said.

Gardin wasn't home, but her 14-year-old son Dante was. He had locked the door to his room at the top of the stairs, called 911 and hid in the closet.

"One of the guys kicked the door in, and then he started going through Dante's stuff," Gardin said.

The teenager had armed himself with a pocket knife. And with the stranger in his room distracted, Dante attacked.

"That's when he came out of the closet and that's when he stabbed the guy in the stomach," Gardin said.

While the two struggled in the room, the robber's gun fell to the floor. Dante picked it up and aimed it at the would-be criminal.

The man then took off down the stairs then sped away with his accomplice in the getaway van, damaging part of Gardin's garage in the process.

"I watch the news all the time and see this on the news all the time," Gardin said. "You just never think that it's going to happen to you, but, hey, you can't ever rule yourself out."

Hours after the ordeal, the damage to the home was already being repaired. And Gardin said she knows it could have been much worse.

"I was scared not knowing if he was OK," she said. "Just to know that he is OK, mentally and physically, was just the most important part for me."

Police said both suspects are black males with dreadlocks. One of the suspects was wearing a long-sleeved black T-shirt and jeans. The other was wearing a blue polo shirt with white stripes.

Florida: St. Pete resident shoots burglar during break-in

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:13:00 +0000

St. Petersburg, Florida

From Tampa Bay 10 of July 18, 2008

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.

New Jersey: Intruder shot by homeowner in critical condition

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:35:00 +0000

Lakewood, New Jersey

From Newsday of July 18, 2008

Intruder shot by homeowner in critical condition

Police say a man who allegedly broke into a Lakewood home and was shot in the head by the owner remains in critical condition.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office says 31-year-old Eric Tucker of Lakewood was shot by an elderly man who confronted him when he broke in through a kitchen window around 5 a.m. Friday.

Police have not released the homeowner's name, but say the gun used in the shooting was registered to him and that he called 911 to report the incident.

Two other men have been arrested and charged with burglary in connection with the break-in.

From Newsday of July 24, 2008

Burglary suspect who was shot in head dies

Authorities say a robbery suspect shot by a Lakewood homeowner last week has died.

Authorities say Eric Ticker was pronounced dead Wednesday, five days after the 31-year-old was shot in the head.

Police say Tucker climbed through a window to get into the home. Because of his injuries, he was not charged.

Two other men are accused of burglary in the incident.

The 66-year-old homeowner who shot Tucker has not been charged with a crime. But authorities in Ocean County say their investigation is continuing.

Mississippi: Suspected Burglar Shot

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:14:00 +0000

Jackson, Mississippi

From WLBT of July 17, 2008

Suspected Burglar Shot

One man is hospitalized after being shot during a home burglary. It happened just after 12 o'clock at the Elton Park Apartments on Elton Road in south Jackson.

Police say a tenant of building eleven came home to find his apartment door kicked in. The man then approached his home and yelled for anyone inside to come out. Authorities say when three men ran out of the apartment, the resident started firing shots. The suspected burglars escaped through a hole in a fence surrounding the complex.

Police later found one of the culprits hiding in a nearby culvert with two gunshot wounds. Paramedics transported him to UMC but the other two suspects got away.

Commander Jeremiah Jones says officers happened to be in the right place at the right time - "The ironic part about it is the same time this was occuring we were doing a sting operation on the other side on Raymond Road, another house burglary suspect that had been breaking into houses attempted to sell things."

Commander Jones says the three burglary suspects had broken into another apartment at Elton Park around the same time.

Authorities have not released the identity of the shooter nor the suspects. At this time, the resident has not been charged in connection with the shooting.

Indiana: Burglar takes gun from Franklin man, wounds him

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:12:00 +0000

Franklin, Indiana

From the Franklin Star of July 17, 2008

Burglar takes gun from Franklin man, wounds him

A Franklin man shot in his garage by an intruder Wednesday night remained at Methodist Hospital today, but Franklin police said the man was believed likely to make a full recovery.

James Duncan, 28, encountered the intruder shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday after he went to investigate a sound in his garage. Duncan lives in the 500 block of Hanna Place in the Canary Creek neighborhood.

After advising his wife to call 911, Duncan took a .22-caliber bolt-action rifle from his home before confronting the intruder. In an ensuing struggle, the intruder grabbed the gun from Duncan and shot him in the shoulder. The suspect then dropped the gun and fled.

"I'd just like to know who did it, and that's what we're working on," said Det. Chris Tennell of the Franklin Police Department.

Police said the man was wearing a T-shirt worn by carnival workers at the Johnson County Fair, which is being held this week in Franklin. But Tennell emphasized that they do not know whether the suspect has any connection to the fair.

Duncan and his family had just returned from the fair themselves and were putting their two children to bed when Duncan heard the noise in his garage, Tennell said.

Doctors opted not to remove the bullet from Duncan's shoulder, Tennell said, fearing they might damage muscle tissue or an artery in trying to extract it.

"Anytime you have a bullet in your body and you're bleeding, that's not good," Tennell said. "But as far as gunshot victims go, they said he should recover fine."

South Carolina: Clerk shoots at man trying to rob store

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:32:00 +0000

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

From Myrtle Beach Online of July 16, 2008

Clerk shoots at man trying to rob store

A clerk at a local convenience store on North Kings Highway shot at a man who tried to rob the store last night, according to Myrtle Beach police officials.

The incident happened around 6 p.m. Tuesday when a man walked into the store and demanded money.

The clerk pulled out a handgun from under the counter, shot at the man, and missed, said Capt. David Knipes, Myrtle Beach Police's public information officer.

The bullet hit a wall, Knipes said. He said the man fled out the door.

The case is under investigation.

Maryland: Burglar shot, killed in Park Heights home

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:01:00 +0000

Park Heights, Maryland

From the Baltimore Sun of July 16, 2008

Burglar shot, killed in Park Heights home

A Park Heights man shot and killed a 45-year-old man who was attempting to burglarize his aunt's home early Wednesday morning, a police spokeswoman said.

Police did not release the name of the man who was killed because next of kin had not been notified. They also did not release the name of the shooter Wednesday.

Several people at the man's house Wednesday declined to speak with a reporter.

Police received a call reporting a shooting at the 3800 block of Hayward Ave. about 1:10 a.m. Wednesday, said police spokeswoman Nicole Monroe.

When officers arrived, they were told that a man had broken into a home. A man living in that house heard someone come into the basement, and he went upstairs to get a his .38-caliber handgun, police said. He was the registered owner of the gun, police said.

The man, armed with the weapon, went to investigate and heard footsteps upstairs. He called out to his aunt to see whether she was walking around the house, Monroe said.

Then he walked up to the first floor and saw the burglar running through the rear door of the kitchen and fired once, striking the burglar in the back, Monroe said.

The burglar ran out the back door and collapsed near a shed, Monroe said. The man called 911, put his handgun on the kitchen table and waited for police to arrive. Medics rushed the burglar to Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:05 a.m.

The state's attorney's office is waiting for the completion of the homicide investigation before reviewing the case to determine whether to press charges, said Margaret Burns, a spokeswoman for the state's attorney's office.

From WBAL of July 17, 2008

Resident's Shooting Of Intruder Justified

The shooting that left an intruder dead at the hands of a west Baltimore resident has been ruled justifiable homicide, and the shooter will not be charged.

The ruling came from the city state's attorney's office on Thursday.

Shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, police were called to a home in the 3800 block of Hayward Street for a home invasion and shooting.

Authorities said an 82-year-old woman and her nephew were inside the home when someone broke in.

Police said the nephew shot the intruder in the back.

South Carolina: Marietta resident shoots suspected rabid fox

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:09:00 +0000

Marietta, South Carolina

From the Greenville News of July 15, 2008

Marietta resident shoots suspected rabid fox

Phillip Bowers said he believes a fox that lunged at him this morning outside his Marietta home was rabid, though he says he managed to shoot the fox in midair just before it reached him.

This morning, Bowers said he went outside and heard a fox clawing at the lattice that stretches across the bottom of the porch of his Marietta home near Hannon Road.

The fox emerged from underneath the porch and appeared to be "staggering" and his eyes were "blurry," Bowers said. "He was just skin and bones," he said, "and he had sores all over him."

Bowers said the fox growled at him and jumped toward him. Bowers, who had grabbed his 40-gauge shotgun when he heard the noise, said he shot the fox in midair about six feet from him.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control told Bowers to dispose of the fox himself because it was on private property and had not bitten him.

The danger of burying a possibly rabid fox and another animal contracting the disease is small, because a rabies virus dies within about 20 minutes after the animal dies, said Peden Cook, director of the Greenville County health department's general sanitation.

"The virus does not last long if the host animal is dead," Cook said.

No public services are available to remove dead animals from private property, Cook said, but health officials will come out and cut off the head of an animal that has bitten someone and will send it to Columbia to be tested for rabies. The disease is detected by examining brain tissue.

Foxes are out and about this time of year because it's breeding season and foxes are often gathering food for their young, Cook said.

Wyoming Man Defends Daughter From Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Clayton) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:01:00 +0000

Powell, Wyoming

From the July 15, 2008 Casper Star-Tribune:

POWELL -- The Park County Sheriff's Office says no charges will be filed against a man who admitted shooting a dog and dumping the remains.

Sheriff's officials say the man told them he shot the dog after it was acting aggressively on his property. They say the man was concerned about his daughter's safety.

The man didn't know who owned the dog, so he dumped the carcass in a pit. He later found out who the owner was and made an anonymous call to tell her where to find the carcass.

Tennessee: Store Clerk Shoots Teen During Robbery in Memphis

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:58:00 +0000

Memphis, Tennessee

From MyEyewitnessNews of July 15, 2008

Store Clerk Shoots Teen During Robbery in Memphis

Police say a Memphis store clerk shot a 17 year-old boy during a robbery.

According investigators, it happened around 8:50 p.m., Monday, July 14, 2008, at the Margarita Market in the 6000 block of Knight Arnold Road.

Police say the teen and three other men were shoplifting at the store when the clerk confronted them. The four suspects, ages 17, 19, 20, and 28, attacked the clerk during the confrontation, according to investigators. Police say that is when the clerk shot the 17 year-old in the leg.

Police say the teen was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition. The store clerk was treated for minor injuries to his face, neck, and arms said police.

Detectives say all four suspects are in custody, but no charges have been filed at this time.

Georgia: Armed man scares away robber

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:37:00 +0000

Bainbridge, Georiga

From the Post-Searchlight of July 15, 2008

Armed man scares away robber

A Bainbridge man refused to be robbed when he was accosted around 5 a.m. Saturday morning.

The complainant, a resident of Spruce Street, told BPS that he was sitting on his front porch smoking a cigar and drinking a cup of coffee. According to the resident, a man wearing a mask and carrying a large knife approached and demanded that he hand over his wallet.

The citizen said he told the masked robber that he had to go inside the house to get the wallet.

The homeowner returned, not with his wallet in hand, but instead wielding a pistol, which sent the robber off running.

Officer Gary Hines attempted to locate a suspect but was unsuccessful.

Georgia is one of several states that does not require people who are attacked or threatened to retreat before using deadly force to protect themselves, other persons or a property, according to Sgt. Ryan Wimberly of BPS. In fact, Georgia law gives legal immunity to people who "stand their ground" in self-defense but does require that a person can only use deadly force if they believe a human life is in danger or to prevent a forcible felony, Sgt. Wimberly said. Forcible felonies, which involve the use or threat of physical force or violence, include crimes ranging from rape to armed robbery.

Virginia: Potential victims turned tables on robbery suspects

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:22:00 +0000

Newport News, Virginia

From the Daily Press of July 10, 2008

Potential victims turned tables on robbery suspects

An armed-robbery suspect was shot by his potential victim Tuesday, the second time in a week where the tables were quickly turned, police said.

Just after 3 p.m. Tuesday, a 16-year-old was shot in his upper right leg as he attempted to rob a man at gunpoint in the backyard of a 25th Street home, police spokesman Harold Eley said.

The teenager, whose name wasn't released by police because he's a juvenile, survived his injury and was released from a local hospital into police custody.

...

Eley said the juvenile shot at 3:10 p.m. Tuesday was attempting to rob a 31-year-old Virginia Beach man, who pulled out his own gun. The 16-year-old fled after being shot but was picked up by police on 25th Street.

After his release from the hospital, the teen was charged with robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Police also charged him with the July 6 robbery and carjacking of an 18-year-old Newport News man on Aqua Vista Drive. He's being held in the city's juvenile detention center.

"It is extremely dangerous for juveniles, or anyone else, to take part in armed robberies," Eley said. "There is always the possibility that the person being robbed is armed, and that was the case in this instance. Juveniles should not have weapons in the first place."

Eley said the man who shot the teen didn't have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The gun was seized, but no charges were filed. Eley said the commonwealth's attorney would decide whether to prosecute the man on any firearms charges.

South Carolina: Man Remodeling Home Kills Intruder, Deputies Say

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Laurens, South Carolina

From Fox Carolina of July 15, 2008

Man Remodeling Home Kills Intruder, Deputies Say

Deputies said a man who was sleeping in a home he was remodeling shot and killed an intruder who woke him up early Tuesday morning.

The shooting happened at ½ Stevens St. just off Watts Street around 12:30 a.m.

Deputies said the man who is remodeling the home actually lives across the street, but had decided to sleep at the project home.

Something woke the homeowner up and he found someone inside the home, deputies said. They said the man fired twice at the intruder, killing him.

Deputies said the case appears to be self defense and that no charges will be filed.

The State Law Enforcement Division was called in to help with the investigation.

Prairie Creek, Arkansas Home Intruder

noreply@blogger.com (Clayton) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:43:00 +0000

Prairie Creek, Arkansas

From the July 10, 2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

A Prairie Creek resident shot and killed a neighbor who had kicked in his door Tuesday evening and tried to assault him, police said.
Johnny Hawthorne shot Mekin Kantaphone with a handgun once in the head in self-defense inside Hawthorne’s home, Benton County sheriff’s Capt. Mike Sydoriak said.
The prosecuting attorney’s office will decide whether the shooting was justified, Sydoriak said.
Kantaphone, 34, sent threatening text and voice messages to Hawthorne, 25, earlier in the day, he said.
“He was threatening to beat him and kill him,” Sydoriak said.
“There was certainly that assumption by the deceased that there was a relationship between the shooter and the deceased’s wife,” said Benton County sheriff’s deputy Doug Gay. “Whether there is any validity to that remains under investigation.” Kantaphone was a weight lifter who was much larger than Hawthorne, Sydoriak said. Kantaphone recently worked as a mechanic for American Airlines. He exercised regularly at World Gym in Bentonville.
...
On Tuesday evening, Kantaphone and his brother, Ole Kantaphone, drove to Hawthorne’s home at 8549 Wild Cherry Drive.
Ole Kantaphone tried to stop his brother from going to the door, but he wouldn’t listen, Sydoriak said.
“He tried to reason with him and stop him, but he couldn’t hold him back,” Sydoriak said.