Tuesday, July 31, 2007



Gunman killed after firing shots in California hospital: "A 75-year-old California man walked into a medical building on Monday and started shooting, but was killed by a highway patrolman, authorities said. No other injuries were reported. The man fired one shot on the grounds of Ridgecrest Regional Hospital in the Mojave Desert and entered a medical office building, where he fired several other shots, Police Chief Mike Avery said. Officers told the man to drop his shotgun, but he did not, authorities said. The man was shot and killed by California Highway Patrol Officer Brad Degeus, a six-year member of the force, said Paul Salazar of the patrol. The patrol said Degeus had been backing up another law enforcement agency." [Lucky that someone present was armed]


Alabama blacks arrested for stealing garbage: "Two men were arrested for trying to steal garbage. 24 year old Timothy Darnell Maynor and 20 year old Shaun Christopher Holley targeted the home of a disabled Limestone County man, apparently trying to steal the aluminum cans he collected for supplemental income. The men didn't get the cans, but they did get a big surprise. Robert Shoulder proved that he may be down, but certainly don't count him out. "The next day I come back by there and I caught these boys stealing my cans," says Shoulder. He immediately called the Limestone County Sheriff's Department. "Well I was out there in the yard. They thought we had gone. I was sitting in the truck and they walked back up, cause they were going to try to get in the car and get away," says Shoulder. : "The one guy, he started towards me and I told him to stop and he kept coming, so I pulled my gun out on him and he was made to lay down on the ground." The partner was also made to wait for law enforcement. Sheriff's officials say they also cleared up another burglary case with these arrests".


South Carolina Hispanics Fight Black attackers: "A string of armed robberies targeting Hispanics ends with gunfire. Charleston County deputies arrested three men and a woman Monday morning. Authorities arrested 26 Year-Old Issac Alston, 19 Year-Old Montrell Perry and 18 Year-Old Zarel Isadore. Deputies have not released the woman's name because she has not yet been charged, although witnesses say she served as a look-out. The violence started inside a mobile home on Tedder Street around 1:30 Monday morning. Count on 2' Crimetracker Jenny Fisher said, "When Roberto Flores answered a knock at his door, he was punched in the face. Once he was on the ground, someone continued to punch and kick him and stole $200 from his wallet." The suspect, who had a knife, also injured Flores' roommate and took $15. Afterwards, police say the group drove to a Hess gas station on Dorchester road. Police say the suspects took Noe Perez's wallet at gunpoint. They wanted his keys, but a nearby car distracted them. Perez took off in his truck, but the suspects followed in a dark car. They fired a shot, but eventually turned away. Deputies say that's when the group stopped at the corner of Nelson and Leslie Street to lure a group of Hispanics to their car. Yet, this time, things turned out differently. A victim was shot in the knee, but a suspect was also on the receiving end of the gunfire. Captain Benton said, "The pellets from the shotgun ricocheted and hit one of the suspects in the foot." That's when other Latinos heard the commotion and rushed outside to help their own. They broke the glass out of the suspects' car, pulled a few punches of their own and detained the four suspects until authorities arrived."

Monday, July 30, 2007



Missouri Driver Fears Carjacking, Shoots Man: "An Army veteran who believed he was being carjacked shot a man late Tuesday night, police said. It happened at about 11 p.m. near 40th Street and Warwick Boulevard. The veteran said he drove to the area to help a friend move. Police said the veteran and a friend were in a car when another man walked up and offered to sell them drugs. When they refused, the drug dealer punched one of the men in the mouth and then reached for what they believed was a gun, the veteran said. "Pulling up shirt as if he had something underneath, and with the other hand he socked me in the face," said the veteran, who didn't want to be identified. The veteran pulled his own gun and shot the man in the stomach, according to investigators. The veteran said he was trying to disable the man long enough so he and his friend could escape. "I decided to go ahead and shoot him in the lower left and try to avoid any major organs," the veteran said. The 29-year-old shooting victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. He is expected to recover. The 49-year-old disabled Army veteran said he can't protect himself with his fists, so he got a concealed weapons permit six months ago. Police said he had a license for the gun. The veteran said last night was the first time he pulled out his .40-caliber gun. "I feel disgusted that I had to use it on a human being, but I'm not going to be the victim who can't defend himself anymore," the veteran said. So far, no charges have been filed.


Louisiana: NO car owner exchanges gunfire with suspected car thief: "A percussion of gunshots woke residents near the corner of Palmyra and S. Gayoso streets in Mid-City early Friday morning after a neighbor found a man attempting to break into his car. Hours later, New Orleans police charged Lester Worthy, 40, with several counts of vehicular burglary - more charges could follow. The victim and Worthy exchanged gunfire, though no one was injured in the shootout. Several vehicles sustained damage after being broken into. “That's what I think happened - the guy noticed it and he just came out here and just started shooting at the guy,” Tyrus Morris said. Neighbor Patsy Fluker went outside her home after hearing gunshots. What she saw made her feel uneasy. “I heard six gunshots, and when I woke up and came outside, I noticed my car was broken into and there was a lot of blood everywhere on all the seats,” Fluker said. “It's terrifying because I have three kids, and it could've come into my house. So I'm real scared.” Morris sees a situation brewing where residents are beginning to “take matters into their own hands.” He said he believes crime is getting worse and people are fighting back."


Tennessee Senior Citizen Fights Back Against Burglar: "Just after 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 26, 2007, a burglar tried to break into Arthur Thornton's home at 332 Essex in South Memphis. Thornton is legally blind and lives alone. The guy tried to get in through the front window. He even cut out the screen. But little did he know, Mr. Thornton was waiting for him behind the door with his rifle. He said, “I'd do it again if it happened tonight, and I would hope I wouldn't miss. I would like to be around to tell the story like I am today, cause it's going to be me or you.” Thornton said he was in bed when he heard a noise up in the front room, “I heard this zip, zip and I thought what kind of noise is that, but I found he was cutting the screen with a knife.” Thornton grabbed his gun and got into position. He said, “I said he'll break through there and I'll hit him across the head with this rifle, and split his head. I have the evil spirit when somebody trying to do something to me.” But the man never came through the window. Thornton said, “So I opened the wood door and peeped out. He was at the door, and I said get away from my window. When he started across the driveway I shot down towards his feet. When he got out to the sidewalk I shot again.” He missed, but as you heard him say, Mr. Thornton has absolutely no regrets about pulling the trigger. He said at 4 am, there is no question, it's him or me. Police did respond to Thornton's house. Unfortunately, because of his poor vision, he wasn't able to get a very good look at the burglar."

Sunday, July 29, 2007



Protecting Police Officers More Important Than Helping Political Donors, Group Says

Congress should not put the lives of law enforcement officials at risk to benefit its trial lawyer contributors, says Deneen Borelli of the national black group Project 21.

Congress is now considering overturning the Tiahrt Amendment, a measure that restricts certain gun data from being shared outside of the law enforcement community. Project 21 members are opposing any action that allows trial lawyers, politicians, criminals and others from accessing federal gun trace information.

"The only possible purpose served by overturning the Tiahrt Amendment is to aid the anti-gun lobby and make it easier for trial lawyers to sue gun manufacturers," said Project 21 fellow Deneen Borelli. "Killing the Tiahrt Amendment would also be a great thing for criminals. Not only could they learn they are the subject of an investigation, but also the identity of special agents and informants."

The Tiahrt Amendment - named after its chief sponsor, Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) - was first enacted in 2003. It amends the appropriations legislation that funds the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to restrict the sharing of the contents of the Firearms Trace System that is administered by the BATFE's National Trace Center. Under the terms of the amendment, data regarding guns involved in crimes is restricted to domestic and foreign law enforcement and prosecutors as it relates to the investigation and prosecution of specific crimes and for national security, intelligence and counterterrorism purposes. Trace data is also inadmissible in evidence and cannot be subpoenaed.

Project 21's Borelli added: "I am a gun owner. I was appalled when a local newspaper decided to publish my name and the names of other registered gun owners in my area. It was an outrageous violation of my privacy rights. Overturning the Tiahrt Amendment could allow this violation of privacy and safety to occur on a larger and more dangerous scale."

Source





California: Pistol Packing Pastor Nabs Theft Suspect: "A former Bakersfield police officer turned pastor helped nab a man who allegedly stole a car from his church's parking lot. James Kilgore, pastor at Taft Free Will Baptist Church, said he always keeps a gun and handcuffs in his fanny pack. They came in handy on Tuesday, when one of his elderly parishioners left Bible study to find his car had vanished. Kilgore and Walter Brenton, 72, drove around looking for Brenton's 1986 Ford Crown Victoria, and spotted the alleged thief driving it a few blocks away. The pastor followed the driver until he crashed, tackled him as he crawled out of the car and then handcuffed him until police arrived on the scene. Ronald Lee Allen, 46, of Taft, was arrested on suspicion of grand theft auto and being in possession of stolen property, said Kern County sheriff's Sgt. Martin Downs. "We don't recommend that people try to apprehend suspects, although in this case it worked out really well," Downs said. Kilgore said he was glad to put his law enforcement training to use, but said it was likely God had a role in helping him restrain the suspect.


Alabama homeowner holds thieves at gunpoint until officers arrive: "Stealing three bags of aluminum cans worth a total of $25 can cost more than it pays. That’s what two Athens men learned Friday. Timothy Darnell Maynor, 24, of 17356 Lucas Ferry Road, and Shaun Christopher Holley, 20, of 1703 Edward St., were arrested after the owner of the cans held the two at gunpoint until sheriff’s deputies arrived. “The homeowner came home and found these two guys in his yard stealing the aluminum cans he had collected,” said Limestone County Chief Investigator Stanley McNatt. “He pulled a gun on them and held them until Investigator Josh McLaughlin and Deputy Tim Craig got there.” The arrests led investigators to other thefts the duo may have committed, McNatt said. “When we were questioning them, Investigator Brian Ruble was working a burglary on Poff Lane where two rifles and a back pack were stolen,” he said. “We searched their car and found those stolen items inside the vehicle.” He said the two men were also charged for theft in another home burglary on Poff Lane. Maynor and a companion, Erica King, 31, of 19472 Heron Drive, Athens, are also charged with the burglary of a home last October. Maynor was being held in the Limestone County Jail Friday night on charges of third-degree theft and three counts of third-degree burglary. Holley is charged with third-degree theft and two counts of third-degree burglary. King is charged with third-degree burglary.

Saturday, July 28, 2007



Blog scares off pathetic gunshop inspectors

A team of inspectors from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives fled an Idaho gun shop where they were inspecting sales records when they learned their actions were being recorded on a blog. The federal agency and Red's Trading Post of Twin Falls, Idaho, have been disputing for six years already over the store's license to sell firearms, with regulators using rules infractions such as a missing poster to attack Red's business operations.

WND documented earlier how the store appears to be caught up in a new campaign for gun control, focusing on the elimination of retail outlets through technical rules infractions. Now the federal agency has gone to court with a report that its inspectors "suspended" their work at the store recently because of the "threat to the inspectors' safety created by Ryan Horsley, the Manager of Red's."

Sometime during the agency's visit to his store on July 17, he updated his blog, which he's been using to chronicle for readers his encounters with the federal bureaucracy. "AFT Area Supervisor Linda Young came in today from Spokane, Washington (567.72 miles; 9 hour drive) along with Industry Operations Inspectors Calvin Pavey and Mike Gorewicz from Portland, Oregon (570.96 miles; 9 hour drive) at around 9:45am. They showed up in a rented newer model Chrsyler . [it] appears they are staying at Best America Suites, which I have to compliment them on their taste, that is a very nice hotel for this area," he wrote. He went on to describe how the inspectors were looking through the store's books and one of the store's supporters arrived with a camera and started taking some photos. "We had been recording the audit because of some of the statements that Linda Young had made in the past," he wrote.

The inspectors, however, suddenly left, and within days, the federal agency's version arrived in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. "[The federal agency] notifies the court than an inspection of Red's Trading Post . was initiated on July 17, 2007. The inspection was suspended due to the threat to the inspectors' safety created by Ryan Horsley, the Manager of Red's," the court filing said.

The filing documented how some unidentified person had taken pictures of the inspectors at work. "At about this time, Supervisor Young's assistant from the Spokane office contacted her and advised that Mr. Horsley had updated his internet blog (http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/) to include the information that ATF, and Supervisor Young personally, was at the store conducting an inspection," the filing said. So Young contacted others. "The Director of Industry Operations, Richard Van Loan, agreed with Supervisor Young's assessment that the photographing of the rental car used by ATF personnel, coupled with the instantaneous posting on the internet of ATF's presence . posed a credible threat to their safety and was designed to harass and intimidate," the court filing said.

The court filing noted two other times when the inspectors had been photographed, including once by a news team. "The ATF has resorted to a smear campaign on my character to present before the judge, they are now spinning the fact that I wrote a recap of the events on our blog." Horsley said in an update. "My point was to show the excess spending of the ATF, many of you know that in our 2005 audit the ATF brought in one inspector to cover five years. I was merely pointing out that they were flying in two inspectors and a supervisor from out of state to cover three weeks worth of paperwork," Horsley said. "The person in question who photographed them was a 70-year-old man in a Hawaiian shirt who is balding (Sorry, Al) and has a broken foot. Yet three inspectors felt that they were in danger," he said.

"Continue to pray for myself and my family during these attacks, also pray for these people at the ATF. I mean that honestly, Luke 6:27-28," Horsley said. A writer, David Codrea, of The War on Guns documented the court filing. He reported that Horsley had asked him to hold the information for a time. "BATFU had threatened him that he needed to cease all blogging and keep their agents and inspectors free from being photographed or observed, or they would go to the judge and file a complaint of harassment," Codrea wrote. "The new complaint is calculated to be a death blow to Red's - both financially with additional legal expenses they cannot afford, and by giving the judge an excuse to side with thugs portraying themselves as victims," he said. .

"I repeat my call for a rapid response team of 'minuteman' volunteers to make themselves available via a phone tree to go to gun stores being audited, and audit/document/photograph the auditors," he wrote. "Don't let creatures of the shadows hide there - expose them to the light and make them live there - or cravenly slink back under the baseboards where they belong."

Larry Pratt of Gun Owners of America told WND that as recently as 15 or 20 years ago, there were 250,000 licensed gun dealers in the United States. The federal government confirms there are only about 108,000 now.

The saga with Red's began when the ATF inspection in 2000 discovered various paperwork violations, Horsley said, just shortly after he arrived to take over the store, mistakes such as a customer failing to write down the county in which he lived. In 2001, "they couldn't find any violations," he told WND. A few other minor problems were found later, including a failure to put up a poster. "I wasn't alarmed because this agent . had told us we were one of the best small gun shops he'd ever seen," Horsley told WND. Then early in 2006, "We get a letter that 'We're [ATF] revoking your license,'" Horsley said. "I just came unglued. I couldn't believe it." After an expensive appeal process within ATF, he ended up with the same result, and sought out a lawyer for the federal court challenge, a challenge which now is pending

Source




7-11 says clerks must not have guns -- and must not get shot at either!

We read here:

Some years ago The Southland Corporation, owner of 7/11 stores, fired a clerk after he successfully defended himself by shooting and killing an armed robber. The shooting was ruled justifiable self defense. Southland had a policy of prohibiting employees from being armed and he was fired for violating the policy, even though he would most likely have been shot and maybe killed if he had not been armed. This somehow became a widely reported news story, and a spokesman for Southland made a point to state emphatically that Southland had a no-gun policy for its employees.

But we now have a new extreme from 7-11:

Bruno Kirchenwitz was fired Monday from his job at the Basalt 7-Eleven. The firing came nearly two weeks after Kirchenwitz may have been the target of a person or persons who fired five shots from a rifle into the store. Kirchenwitz said a 7-Eleven official who called to inform him of his dismissal claimed it was unrelated to the shooting incident.

He isn't buying it. Kirchenwitz believes he was fired because his presence as a clerk at the store could be bad for business. He is an outspoken critic of illegal immigration. "Freedom of speech takes a back seat to profits," he said.

Margaret Chabris, a 7-Eleven spokeswoman, declined comment Monday because it is a personnel issue, citing corporate policy. In general, she said, employees can be terminated after an investigation explores their relations with customers and fellow workers.

Kirchenwitz was on duty as a cashier June 26 when two Latino men entered the store and asked if he is the man who wears a "U.S. Border Patrol" baseball hat. He acknowledged he was, although he wasn't wearing it at the time. He said he wears the hat to and from work but never on the job. The men threatened to show him what they thought about the hat. "I smiled and laughed and made jokes, then shooed them out the door," Kirchenwitz said. The men said they would wait for him outside to get off work. They left a short time later, at about 6:30 p.m.



Kirchenwitz got off duty at 10 p.m. and left the store to catch a bus about 15 minutes later. The shots blasted through a front plate glass window in front of the cashier's station at about 11:10 p.m. Another cashier and four customers, including a family with a baby, escaped injury. Basalt Police Chief Keith Ikeda said it was fortunate no one was killed or hurt.

Kirchenwitz was placed on paid leave shortly after the incident while 7-Eleven officials were in town investigating the shooting. He was told late Monday afternoon he was being let go because of a customer service incident that allegedly occurred on June 9.

Kirchenwitz said someone apparently lodged a complaint about an incident with him after it was publicized that he was placed on leave. He said he remembered no altercation with a customer and that the official who fired him was vague on details.

Kirchenwitz started as a cashier with 7-Eleven on April 18. He said he never received a written or verbal reprimand and was complimented for his performance by the Basalt store's manager. The firing didn't surprise him. "In the back of my mind, it was expected," he said. On one hand, it makes sense, he said. About 75 percent of 7-Eleven's customers in Basalt are Latino, he said, so his presence could be bad for business, at least among anyone in the country illegally. But Kirchenwitz was angry that 7-Eleven wouldn't admit what he believes is the obvious reason for his firing. "That sucks canal water," he said.

When asked if he would appeal within 7-Eleven's system or discuss his firing with the American Civil Liberties Union, Kirchenwitz said he would like to seek help from a different source - conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

Kirchenwitz, an outspoken critic of President Bush, said illegal immigration is about the only issue where he sees eye-to-eye with conservatives. If he got a chance to speak to Limbaugh, he said, he would sum up his situation as: "Poor white boy get shot at then gets fired."

Source





Arkansas oldster fights back: "An elderly man beaten unconscious by an assailant wielding a soda can later awoke and shot the man during an attempted robbery, police said. Willie Lee Hill, 93, told police he saw the robber while in his bedroom Wednesday night. Hill confronted Douglas B. Williams Jr., 24, of El Dorado, who struck the elderly man at least 50 times, knocking him out, police said. Hill, covered in blood from the attack, regained consciousness and pulled a .38-caliber handgun on Williams. Williams saw the gun and charged Hill, who fired one round, police said. The bullet struck Williams in the throat. When police arrived, officers said Williams told them, "I can't feel my legs and I got what I deserved." Paramedics took Hill and Williams to the Medical Center of South Arkansas for treatment. Doctors later sent Williams to the Louisiana State University Medical Center at Shreveport, where he was listed in critical condition Friday."

Friday, July 27, 2007



Kansas: Robbery Foiled When Clerk Got to His Gun Sooner: "A robbery quickly turned sour for the robber late Wednesday night when the cashier got to his gun faster than he could. According to Jim Cormier, who was working the register that night, the man came into Cormier Liquor, 2611 SE California, around eleven o'clock carrying a black gym bag. When the man reached into the bag and began to reach for his gun, Mr. Cormier showed his own. The suspect took off running and headed south down the alleyway. Police described the suspect as a black male, 5'4", 135 lbs., wearing a black doo rag and a black silky scarf around the lower half of his face."


Mississippi: Clerk, robber exchange gunfire: "Ridgeland police are searching for a man who opened fire on a store clerk during an attempted armed robbery Wednesday night. Just after dark, a man entered the North Park Package Store at 134 Dyess Road, and pointed a gun at a clerk, Ridgeland Police Department Lt. John Neal said. The clerk then pulled out a gun and pointed it at the robber, he said. It is unclear who shot first, but both the robber and clerk fired shots at each other, Neal said. Neither was hit. The suspect fled the scene empty-handed in a tan sedan"


Tennessee: Pets Help Resident Fight Back Intruder: "Police said a mother and her family pets fought back a gunman who tried to rob her at her south Nashville home. The incident happened on Martin Street, just a few blocks from the state fairgrounds around 10 p.m. Tuesday. Ronda Hill said she, her 2-year-old son and her mother were walking inside their house when a man jumped a fence, pointed a gun at them and demanded their belongings. Hill said her dogs then went after the intruder. "When they attacked him, he dropped the gun, and I picked it up, and I fired at him. He then took off running," said Hill. She said she fired the gun two times and is not sure if any of the bullets struck the robber. Police are still searching for the intruder"

Thursday, July 26, 2007



CA: Cop kills aggressive fruitcake: "The Sacramento County sheriff's deputy who shot and killed a 21-year-old man in Elverta early Tuesday was likely justified in his actions because the young man was carrying a pair of kitchen knives as he approached the deputy in a threatening manner, Sheriff John McGinness said. While sheriff's detectives are in the early stages of their investigation, McGinness said the fact the deputy tried to subdue the man with his Taser before shooting him "shows a mindset in which he was not inclined to resort to deadly force prematurely."... The deputy arrived at the home on the 8900 block of El Verano Avenue just after 12:30 a.m. Authorities had been called to the house by a woman saying her son was threatening to kill her with a knife, officials said. When the deputy arrived, he heard yelling coming from the rear of the home, authorities said. As the officer walked alongside the home toward the sound of the screaming, he was confronted by a man carrying two knives. The deputy ordered the man - identified by coroner's officials as Miles Salter - to drop the knives, authorities said. When Salter refused and moved toward the deputy "in a threatening manner," the deputy fired his Taser, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. Salter continued at the deputy after being struck by the Taser, authorities said. The deputy fired one shot from his handgun, striking Salter in the upper body."


Missouri man kills deranged grandson in self-defense: "A man shot and killed his grandson this morning after the teenager began stabbing him and his wife, authorities said. William Andrew Nation, 18, came to his sleeping grandparents' bedroom in their home about 20 miles south of Ava. He shouted that he couldn't take it anymore and then started stabbing them with a kitchen knife, said Chief Deputy Trampus Taylor of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Jerry Garrison, took a handgun he kept by the side of his bed and shot his grandson several times, killing him, authorities said. Garrison was stabbed in the head, shoulder and back, and his wife, Katie, was stabbed in the face. Jerry Garrison was treated at a hospital and released, while his wife was in fair condition Wednesday afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman said. Taylor said a review could take several weeks, but it appeared that the shooting would be ruled justifiable. The teen had lived with his grandparents about a year. They said he had been hearing voices and had seen a psychiatrist on Monday, Taylor said. He was scheduled to return to the psychiatrist in a couple weeks.


Washington State: Feisty householder sends armed robbers running: "A 57-year-old Leavenworth man turned the tables on two armed robbers who invaded his home Tuesday. Authorities say that when two masked men armed with handguns got into the man's home Tuesday night, he confronted them, grabbed one of their guns and shot one in the hand. The two masked men then fled, said Chelan County Undersheriff Greg Meinzer. Two men from Snohomish County were later arrested after one of them flagged down an ambulance. The wounded man, 24, from Everett, was treated at Central Washington Hospital. The other suspect, a 24-year-old Lake Stevens man, is charged with first-degree assault and burglary. The wounded man was not immediately charged. Meinzer did not release the homeowner's name and says he isn't sure whether the homeowner knew the masked men or if the attempted robbery was a random crime."

Wednesday, July 25, 2007



Virginia: Would-be Thief Ends Up in Hospital: "An overnight robbery attempt landed a gunman not in jail but in a hospital. Shortly before midnight, according to Danville Police Lt. Tommy Merricks, a gunman approached two men on Rocklawn Drive and attempted to rob them. One of the men grabbed the gun, however, and tried to take it away. The gun went off and struck the would-be robber in the head. He fled the scene. Shortly afterwards, the police heard of a man being taken from Glenn Street to Danville Regional Medical Center. He was later transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center with a reported gunshot wound to the head that likely fractured his skull, according to the police."


Colorado Business Owner Holds Crook At Gunpoint: "A business owner takes the law into his own hands and holds a suspected crook at gunpoint until police arrive. The suspect was allegedly breaking into cars at a business complex on North Cascade. Just after midnight, something strange was going on outside the businesses. "He had taken a transformer off of Roger's truck and was beating on a car window. That was thumping noise I heard," Kristi Lyons told 11 News. Her husband, Mike, grabbed his gun and ran outside. They knew there was an intruder when they saw the plastic window on their car sliced open. Kristi said the suspect was caught red-handed, hiding behind and underneath cars in the parking lot. "Mike had him at gunpoint. He said, `We can do this the easy way or the hard way.' I called police." She was on the phone for about 5 minutes while she watched Mike go after the suspect. "Mike had the kid at gunpoint. He started advancing toward Mike with a knife and Mike fired off a shot to let him know that he wasn't kidding." Police arrested 24-year-old Richard Richardson. "I wish he would've shot the guy," said Lisa Yunker who owns the business next door. She said the row of businesses has been broken into several times. "Everyone is sick of it, this whole complex. We don't know why we're targeted." Richard Richardon is behind bars charged with criminal mischief, trespassing and assault. Police said they had been looking for him earlier in the night for allegedly attacking a kid with a baseball bat."


Texas Homeowner Shoots Drunken Intruder: "A homeowner shot a man who broke into his Atascocita home early Tuesday, officials told KPRC Local 2. Harris County Precinct 4 deputy constables said the homeowner's wife heard a noise outside their home on Devlin Drive near Match Play Drive at about 2:45 a.m. Detectives said the man, who is partially blind and hearing impaired, appeared to be intoxicated. The man claimed the home was his and argued with the homeowner, officials said. "The homeowner discharged one round from a shotgun with a birdshot, giving the intruder a superficial wound to the side of the head," Lt. Michael Young said. Deputies said the man lives in the area and this was not the first time he has entered a wrong house. "Apparently this individual has done this before, based on some statements from his family members," Young said. The man, believed to be in his 40s, was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. Investigators have not said what charges the man may face. The homeowner, his wife and two daughters were not injured.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007



North Carolina: Female clerk shoots robber: "Robberies and assaults are not new in Charlotte's Hidden Valley Community. During the past year and a half, the area has been hit hard by crime. On Monday, a suspected thief was shot to death at a convenience store on Tom Hunter Road. According to police, a man entered the Fast Mart just after 10 a.m. He indicated that he had a weapon and demanded money from the female clerk. Police say the clerk then confronted the would-be robber. She allegedly fired one shot as the robber came toward her. As WBTV's Steve Crump reports, police and the district attorney must now determine if this was a case of self-defense."


Oklahoma: Five invaders; One shot: "Five people are accused of attempting a home invasion robbery Thursday morning that went awry when one of the alleged robbers was shot, police said. A resident of Almonte Apartments, 5901 S May Ave., in Oklahoma City was also shot during the break-in, which occurred about 5:30 a.m. The wound suffered by the resident, Antwaine Williams, 19, was not life threatening, Sgt. Paco Balderrama said. One of the alleged robbers is in critical condition following surgery for a gunshot wound at Integris Southwest Medical Center, police said. Police think Williams shot the accused robber, Darrell Gatewood, 18, but aren't sure who shot Williams. Minutes after police responded to the shooting, Gatewood was dropped off at the hospital, wounded, with his girlfriend, Chrise Thomas, 23. Thomas also is accused of participating in the home invasion. Also arrested are Christopher Hill, 18, Samuel Carolina, 17, and Randale Whitemore, 18."


California: Inquiry finds shooter acted in self-defense: "A 31-year-old man will not be charged in the shooting death of a 25-year-old man in June, officials said. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced last week that it will not file a murder charge against Carlos Salazar in the death of Angel Aguayo of Pomona. Salazar was arrested June 11, three days after Aguayo was shot multiple times in the 400 block of West Grand Avenue, according to a police statement. Salazar is being held without bail at California Institution for Men in Chino, where he awaits a court appearance on a charge of being a felon in possession of a gun. The district attorney's investigation found that Salazar acted in self-defense when he shot Aguayo, according to the office's statement. Aguayo died as he was being placed in the ambulance, police said."

Monday, July 23, 2007



Texas homeowner shoots teen burglar with shotgun: "A property owner fired a 12-gauge shotgun at a 16-year-old boy Saturday, who had just broken into the man's rental house, police said. "The owner is inside and the 16-year-old breaks in the front window," explained Midland Police Department spokeswoman Tina Jauz. "And the homeowner confronts the suspect in the hallway and shoots him with a 12-gauge shotgun." After being shot, police said the boy fled the 204 South Jefferson St. residence in a van, and then flagged down officers at Louisiana Avenue and Main Street at about 1:15 p.m. The gunfire grazed the boy's shoulder and neck, police said. He was seen wearing a bloody white T-shirt just before being transported to Midland Memorial Hospital, where police said he was listed in serious condition late Saturday. Neither police nor the homeowner knew if the juvenile was armed, Jauz said, noting the boy immediately left the scene.... Jauz said charges were pending against the juvenile, whose name was not released, but no charges were expected against the homeowner, whose name also was not released."


Texas man catches boy breaking into truck: "Robert Trammell, of Anna, said his son woke him up Thursday morning after he saw someone breaking into his truck. “My son come running in here and hollered at me and said, ‘Daddy, get up, get up, someone just broke in the truck,’” Trammell said. “So I jump up and he said they took off running so I didn’t know if it was an adult or who it was, so I grab my shotgun and went to chase him.” ... “We come out and got in the car and went to chase after him,” Robert said. “At that time, he came running back around the corner and my son almost run into him with the car.” Robert said he pointed the shotgun at him and ordered him to lie on the ground. “He kept sticking his hand in his pocket, and I didn’t know if he had a gun or not,” Robert said. “I had the operator on the phone from 911 and she said do you feel like you’re in danger? And I said, to be honest with you ma’am, I don’t know what he keeps trying to put his hand on and she said by all means you could shoot him to defend yourself if you want to.” The suspect eventually got on the ground, Robert said.... He kept talking to the suspect until police arrived. He said he was shocked when he learned the guy who tried to break into his truck was only 13 years old. “I asked him if you’re 13 years old, what are you doing out at 2 in the morning?” Robert said."


Texas: Man questioned in fatal Dallas shooting: "One person is dead and another was being questioned Sunday afternoon after a confrontation reportedly led to a shooting in north Dallas. Dallas police say a couple was moving out of their apartment in the 9500 block of Forest Lane when the wife saw “an individual” [Is that the latest code for "black"?] walking down the street. She told her husband that the person had robbed her of her cell phone on Saturday, Dallas police spokesman Jamie Matthews said in a statement. The husband told police that he confronted the alleged robber on the street and that the person reached for a gun. The husband pulled his own gun and shot the victim in the head, he told police. The victim was pronounced dead at Medical City hospital. Police have been unable to identify the individual. No arrests had been made as of Sunday evening.

Sunday, July 22, 2007



Texas homeowner shoots trespasser twice in legs: "A northwest Harris County homeowner says he shot a man in the legs on Friday because the man trespassed on his property. The homeowner told deputies he heard dogs barking so he went outside and saw a man in his backyard. He confronted the suspect and that's when the suspect pulled out some type of hammer or ax. The homeowner then shot the suspect twice in the legs. The suspect jumped the fence and ran off into some nearby woods. A police dog found him a short time later. He was taken into custody on a stretcher."


PA: Low-life mother and son are found not guilty of murder: "A Johnstown mother and son – both facing counts of first-degree murder and life in prison – instead were convicted Friday of less serious manslaughter charges in an Oct. 15 shooting death. Blake Donald, 20, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for firing the single shot that killed 24-year-old Stephen “Travis” Smith at a ramshackle roominghouse in the city’s Hornerstown section. His mother, Jacqueline Webb – whom prosecutors contended had plotting the killing – was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Leiden said, “The manslaughter verdicts essentially said we didn’t prove they went there with the intent to murder Travis Smith. That’s their decision, and I can’t quarrel with it.” Prosecutors contended the 41-year-old Webb, who had been assaulted by Smith prior to the shooting, had called upon her son to “take care of the problem.” But Donald testified he shot in self-defense when Smith charged at him with a sharp weapon in his hand. Webb had repeatedly denied that she had said – as witnesses testified – that she had repeatedly urged her son to shoot Smith in the head after Smith had been shot once. Voluntary manslaughter is a killing done in a moment of passion when a person believes – even unreasonably – he’s in immediate danger of death or serious bodily injury. Involuntary manslaughter is a death resulting from another person’s reckless or grossly negligent conduct." [More details here. It was drug-related]

Saturday, July 21, 2007



Stupid Ohio prosecution defeated: "Kevin Teague acted in self defense when he shot a fellow Mansfield teenager in the face, according to Richland County Juvenile Court Judge Ron Spon. The judge on Thursday acquitted the 15-year-old Teague of attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault. Spon found him guilty of carrying a concealed weapon. The decision followed a three-day trial during which the Richland County Prosecutor's Office argued Teague shot and intended to kill Jacques Sutton outside MedCentral/ Mansfield Hospital on Feb. 18. "The defense ... successfully argued their case that what Kevin did was in self-defense," Spon said, claiming defense attorney Ralph Bove proved three specific points: First, Teague was not at fault in creating the altercation between himself, the victim and four other juveniles accompanying the victim. Spon cited testimony from witnesses saying the victim and his friends antagonized and bullied Teague for a lengthy period of time. On the day in question, one of the victim's friends got Teague to let his guard down, then punched him. Testimony and evidence indicated five juveniles pursued Teague and his acquaintance for at least one city block before getting to MedCentral. From there, security video shows five juveniles attempting to surround Teague to keep him from entering the hospital. "The video was chilling," Spon said. "It was like watching sharks circle in for the kill. Frankly, the line (Sutton) said that they were only going to the hospital because they were hungry and wanted to use the vending machines to get something to eat was a ploy." Third, the defense proved Teague did all he could to retreat from the altercation. "In short, Kevin was being relentlessly pursued by five people with the intent to cause bodily harm," he said. "The defense proved in that moment, his only means at hand was the use of force."


Florida homeowner shoots at burglars: "Leon County Sheriff's deputies have not filed charges against a homeowner who fired shots at burglars Monday afternoon. The man received a call from his alarm company around 1:45 p.m. that something tripped his alarm; the alarm company also contacted LCSO, said Lt. Rory Robbins. The man arrived at his home on Seasons Lane before deputies did and found a car behind his mobile home. He took the keys out of his car and drew his handgun when he heard a crash. He saw two men running away from the home and shot at them once. The men split up and the homeowner followed one around his trailer, Robbins said. He took three more shots at the fleeing man, who fell to the ground, but got up and continued running. Deputies think he fell because of the rough terrain, not because he was shot. There was no blood at the scene."


DC to appeal overthrow of their gun ban: "The DC government will appeal to the Supreme Court to defend its 30-year-old ban on most handguns. Mayor Adrian Fenty's office says the city's ban on most handguns can and should be defended. Washington's gun law bars residents from keeping handguns in their homes and carrying a gun without a license. Registered firearms must be kept unloaded and disassembled. In March, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals sided with six district residents who sued to be able to keep their guns for self defense. The decision repealed much of the city's handgun ban, but the ban stays in place through the appeals process. The city's sweeping gun ban is matched only by Chicago among large U.S. cities. If the high court takes up the case, it would mark the first time in 70 years that justices will consider the breadth of the Second Amendment."


CA: Armchair police criticize real police: "Civil rights activists are calling for a federal investigation into a weekend police shooting that left two suspected burglars dead. The Torrance Police Department has said that neither suspect was carrying a gun, but that they touched off the shooting by moving "aggressively" toward officers with "sharp yard tools" after investigators opened the door of the shed where they were hiding. Police officials have refused to say what tools the suspects had or how close they got to police. "You don't take two human lives and just say we have nothing else to say about it," said Eddie Jones, president of the Los Angeles Civil Rights Association, during a Thursday news conference with other activists. Jones questioned why police opened fire on the two men, who were cornered in the shed after a nearly four-hour search that ended mid-afternoon Saturday. He said police could have subdued the suspected home burglars with a police dog, tear gas or a baton, or brought in a special negotiator. The department said its officers called out to the suspects in the shed numerous times to surrender before the confrontation."

Friday, July 20, 2007



Florida check cashing store manager exchanges gunfire with armed robbers: "Miami-Dade Police are searching for two armed men who shot at a check cashing store employee. Police say the suspects approached one of the managers of a check cashing store, located at 140 W. Dixie Highway, as she attempted to open the store Thursday morning. According to the store manager, as soon as she put the key in the lock, the suspects approached her with a gun. "Some words were exchanged and according to the victim, the black male holding the firearm fired a shot at her," said Lieutenant Neal Cuevas of the North Miami Police Department. "She returned fire." Police found one round of bullets in the store when they arrived. The store's windows remain boarded up because the windows were shattered during the shootout. The suspects fled the scene uninjured. Police describe the suspects as two black males, 140 pounds and five feet five inches tall each. Police also say one of the suspects wore business attire: suit coat, blue tie and crisp white shirt, during the attempted robbery."


Indiana: Nutcase shot: "While calling police for help quelling a nasty fight between her two grown sons Monday evening, Kathleen Strickland heard a gunshot. Her older son, Archie Strickland Jr., 30, was shot. Her younger son, Andre Strickland, 22, was gone. Archie died a short time later at Methodist Hospitals Northlake emergency room with a gunshot wound to his thigh. He was pronounced dead at 8:14 p.m., Lake County Coroner's Chief Investigator Paul Castro said. Andre was arrested at his girlfriend's house in Brunswick on Monday night, but was released Tuesday by police after he was questioned. Cmdr. Samuel Roberts said investigators believe Andre fired after his older brother, who suffered from bipolar personality and was recently released from a rehabilitation program, wouldn't stop his attack. "There's an element of self- defense," Roberts said. Lake County prosecutors are reviewing the evidence, but no charges are expected to be filed against the younger Strickland brother. Their mother, a radio dispatcher for the Gary Police Department, told investigators her sons were arguing downstairs in their Tolleston home when Archie began hitting Andre with his fists. Despite her efforts to intervene, the battle continued. She went upstairs to call police when she heard the single gunshot, police said."


California: Medical marijuana defended: "After further investigation: authorities said Wednesday that no criminal charges will be filed against a Helltown Road man who held a gun on two teenagers he suspected of trying to steal his medical marijuana. "I think he was in the right; justice has been done" said the father of the arrested homeowner, Carl Coleman Jr., 37. The younger Coleman was arrested early Monday morning after one of the two youths he caught on his property and held at gunpoint, fled and later claimed Coleman had assaulted them. District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Wednesday further investigation by the Butte County Sheriff's Office was unable to disprove Coleman's claims he was lawfully protecting his property. Gordon Dise, a self-professed "legal strategy consultant" and local medical marijuana proponent who accompanied several of Coleman's relatives and friends to court Wednesday afternoon, praised the decision not to prosecute the homeowner. "I think the district attorney is doing the right thing and pursuing the thieves, instead of the victims, who are medical marijuana patients," the local activist stated. "You have an absolute right to defend your life, your liberty or property with all force necessary," added Dise, even to the point of pursuing a suspected felon who tries to avoid being turned over to the police.

Thursday, July 19, 2007



HR 2640 (One More Time)

There has been some rather alarming commentary about this bill but it is a bit hard to sort the wheat from the chaff so I reproduce below the very well-informed Clayton Cramer's post on the matter

Gun Owners of America points to an incident in Pennsylvania that they say is the reason that we shouldn't pass HR 2640:
Newspapers last month reported that Horatio Miller allegedly said that it could be "worse than Virginia Tech" if someone broke into his car, because there were guns there. It is not clear whether he was making a threat against a person who might burglarize his car, or if he was simply saying that the bad guy could do a lot of damage because of the guns he would find there. Nevertheless, Miller wasarrested, but not charged with anything.

The comment Miller made was certainly not the smartest thing to say. But realize, we don't incarcerate people for making stupid statements in this country -- at least not yet. Miller was a concealed carry permit holder who, as such, had passed vigorous background checks into his past history. Miller does not have a criminal record.

Regardless, the county district attorney did not like what he had said, so, according to the Harrisburg Patriot News on June 20, "I contacted the sheriff and had his license to carry a firearm revoked. And I asked police to commit him under Section 302 of the mental health procedures act and that was done. He is now ineligible to possess firearms [for life] because he was committed involuntarily."

Get that?

Pennsylvania is operating exactly the way Rep. McCarthy's bill (HR 2640) could treat all Americans. You might be thinking, I've never had a mental illness... I'm not a military veteran... I've never been on Ritalin... hey, I have nothing to worry about under the McCarthy bill. Right?
There are several problems with this:

1. Current law and regulation (as I have previously discussed) required a person to be adjudicated by a court or other due process situation. The D.A. calling the police and telling them, "lock this guy up" doesn't qualify. At a minimum, this guy may have some trouble getting his carry permit back, but if the D.A. thinks this makes him permanently ineligible to own a gun, he better go check the federal statutes and regulations on this.

2. HR 2640 hasn't been passed--and yet this guy has already been disarmed for life, according to Gun Owners of America. HR 2640 doesn't change the existing law at all about what categories of commitment disable you from gun ownership. It only expands the reporting. Let's say that somehow the D.A. managed to persuade a court (not the police) to involuntarily commit this guy. Anywhere in America, under the current federal law, he can't own a gun. Since many states are failing to report this, he might pass the federal background check, and be able to buy a gun. But if he comes to the attention of authorities, he's now in the same pile of trouble as a convicted felon in possession. HR 2640 doesn't change anything in terms of legality.

3. However: HR 2640 provides a procedure by which someone involuntarily committed might be able to get his rights back again (assuming that Congress funds the program, which they might or might not do). Right now, once you have been adjudicated mentally incompetent or involuntarily committed with appropriate due process, you are unable to ever own a gun. There is no procedure for getting this straightened out--ever. HR 2640 makes it at least possible.





Florida: Naked Man shot dead: "A naked man was shot to death in West Palm Beach as he lunged at a resident who was trying to protect a woman and her children. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Jonas Morisma may have been under the influence of drugs when he ended up at the woman's apartment complex early Tuesday. Witnesses told police Morisma first attacked a tow truck, banging on the driver's windows and tearing off its lights. He then reportedly began banging on apartment doors and punching through windows. Police say Morisma was disrobing while doing all this. A resident came out of his apartment with a gun and told Morisma to leave as the woman and her children sought cover nearby. According to authorities, that's when Morisma lunged at the resident, who fired one shot. Police have not released the name of the man who shot Morisma to protect him from retaliation."


Mississippi: Black thug shot in guts: "A man Jackson County deputies found shot in the stomach Saturday has been charged with burglary and attempted aggravated assault. Deputies responded to call at 4317 Knowlcrest drive in reference to a possible intruder, according to a news release from Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd. Deputies discovered Shontile Leprice Keys, 24, 5119 Meridian, Moss Point, with a gunshot to the stomach. Keys was take to Singing River Hospital, Pascagoula. It was determined Keys had broken into the residence to await the arrival of the homeowners, according to the report. When the homeowners arrived, Keys attacked them but he was eventually shot, the report said. No bond has been set and Keys remains in the hospital, according to the report. "

Wednesday, July 18, 2007



Arizona homeowner shoots invader: "A suspected burglar was shot during an attempted break-in at a Tempe home Tuesday afternoon. Two males in their 20s knocked on the door of a home in the 1500 block of South River Drive, near Price and Broadway roads, at about 12:30 p.m. There were two people home at the time. One looked through the peephole but chose not to answer the door when he didn't recognize the suspects. He later heard the suspects forcing their way into the home and grabbed his handgun. He saw the suspects in the living room, and noticed one of them was holding an object that he thought might have been a weapon. The homeowner shot at the suspects, hitting one of them. Both suspects then ran from the home. Shortly after, Tempe Police received a call from Banner Desert Hospital saying that a man with a gunshot wound had been dropped off at the hospital. He was transferred to another hospital for surgery. His condition was unavailable. The other suspect has not been caught. The case is still under investigation."


South Carolina Hotel Clerk Shoots Suspect: "A motel clerk turned the tables on an armed robbery suspect, shooting him instead of handing over cash. Authorities are calling it a case of self defense. A clerk at the America's Best Inn and Suites on Fain Drive in North Charleston says the suspect, identified as 20-year-old James Johnson, ran into the lobby and pointed something at him, demanding money. The clerk told police he kept a small pistol in his left pocket for protection, and that he pulled out the gun and fired twice. It was the clerk who called 911 from the motel right after he shot the robbery suspect. Police say the hotel employee had a legal right to carry the gun and defend himself. "It's not something we would want to encourage. Not only they put themselves in danger, but they can put other folks in danger as well," North Charleston Police Spokesman Spencer Pryor said. The clerk told cops he had a good reason to carry a pistol. Just nine days ago, the motel was robbed, possibly by the same suspect. That time the robber got away with some cash. In this case, he was lucky to get away with his life."


Florida: Clerk Shoots Robber During Holdup: "Two men jumped the counter of a Northside gas station, pointed guns at the owner and forced him to empty the cash register. They got more than what they wanted. One robber left with a bullet in his leg. Police said the BP station on Broward Road was robbed in broad daylight. They just want to get money," owner Vijay Patel said. "That's what they just keep telling me, just 'Give me money, whatever you got, from the cash registers and safe.'" Surveillance cameras caught the whole crime on tape, including when Patel grabbed his own gun and fired. "I just ... take my gun out and shot him on his leg," Patel said. The injury didn't stop the robbers. The video shows one of them hold a gun on Patel while the other makes him open the register. The robbers then ran outside and took off in a white van. Detectives found several spots of blood near the door. Patel's nose was bruised in the struggle but did not require medical treatment... Patel told Channel 4's Emily Pantelides that until the robbers are caught, he's going to be extra careful."

Tuesday, July 17, 2007



Kentucky women with guns discourage home invaders: "Lexington police are looking for two men wanted for a home invasion over-night and one of the suspects should be easy to spot. He's wearing only one shoe. Police say the two men kicked the door open and rushed inside. Two armed women residents confronted the intruders and ordered them to their knees. The shirtless men were not fools. They fled on their knees as fast as they could crawl. That's when one of them lost a shoe. A police dog sniffed the shoe, but no arrests were reported as officers searched the area."


North Carolina black killed in robbery attempt outside club: "A 26-year-old man was killed this morning in the parking lot of a strip club, Greensboro police said. About 4 a.m. Monday, three men attempted to rob two pepole in the parking lot of Lost Dimensions at 510 Farragut St., Capt. Gary Hastings said. During the robbery attempt, one victim fired a weapon at the three men, Hastings said. When police arrived, they found a 26-year-old man - one of the three alleged robbers - dead of a gunshot wound in the woods on the edge of the parking lot, Hastings said. Police late Monday afternoon identified him as Victor Lamont Adams, of 1502 Pickard St. in Greensboro. The other two men involved in the attempted robbery are in police custody, Hastings said. Roland Lashawn Cole, 19, and Maurice Dontay Wilson, 19, are each charged with two counts of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon. Police are also interviewing the man who fired the fatal shot."


California: Burglars pursued and shot: "Even before the night he shot and nearly killed two burglars, Chris Drake was a man who liked to keep a firearm within easy reach. Like many residents of this rural part of northern San Diego County, Drake, 48, owns a gun – several, actually. The nearest sheriff's substation is some 20 miles away. As a business owner, he says, he would feel vulnerable without a pistol tucked into his waistband. The store has been burglarized four times since his wife, Sheri, bought it in 2001. The early hours of March 6 were clear and frigid, the kind of morning when a person curls up under a second blanket. The moon was bright and nearly full. At 4 a.m., Drake woke up to go to the bathroom. The store alarm went off. In less than a minute, Drake estimates, they grabbed the car keys and the loaded .38-caliber revolver he keeps by his bed. They ran out the door, got into their black Cadillac Escalade, drove around the back of the store and edged into the front parking lot. Drake circled his SUV to the edge of the parking lot, keeping a safe distance. As he did so, two other men lugging merchandise ran out of the store. They got into the Toyota, which took off north on Highway 79. He pulled his SUV onto the highway and stepped on the gas. Finally, the two cars stopped and faced each other. According to Drake, his SUV became stuck on the shoulder of the road, where he had pulled over so the Toyota wouldn't hit him. At that point, he said, the driver of the Toyota began ramming the Drakes' front fender and driver-side door. So he grabbed his five-shot pistol, leaned out the driver's window and fired until his gun was empty. Two shots hit the grille of the Toyota, and three went through the windshield.... After reviewing the evidence, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office made a decision: The two suspects would be charged with burglary. The Drakes would be charged with nothing. The third person in the Toyota hasn't been charged yet, but investigators say they know who he is."

Monday, July 16, 2007



California robber injured: "A robbery suspect wound up at NorthBay Medical Center Friday night, according to Fairfield police, who report that he was shot with his own gun. The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Vedell Chew, a Fairfield resident. At approximately 6:30 p.m., the suspect reportedly approached a group of people who were gambling in the backyard of a residence in the 1800 block of Barbour Drive, according to police. Police allege that as he attempted a robbery, one of the people in the group struggled with the suspect and grabbed his gun. Meanwhile, several of the gamblers hit and kicked the suspect, according to police. During the struggle, the suspect was shot in the leg with his own gun by one of his intended victims, according to police. He was transported to NorthBay Medical Center by a waiting car. The suspect's injuries are reportedly not life-threatening, and police intend to charge Chew with counts of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, police said."


Tennessee Convenience Store Owner Shoots Robber: "After two previous hold-ups 67 year-old Boonie Crawford decided enough is enough. Crawford went out and got a permit and bought a gun. On Sunday, July 15, 2007, that weapon came in handy. His store is KC's Market and Deli in the 4900 block of Austin Peay Highway just outside Raleigh. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office says Crawford used his new gun to shoot an armed robber. Police identified the guy as 24-year-old Aaron Thomas. Thomas was rushed to a local hospital with a gun wound. This is the third time this store has been robbed since last December 2006. The last time the store was robbed was on May 25, 2007. Right now police are investigating if Aaron Thomas was involved in those robberies."


Pennsylvania: Black robber killed by clerk: "Police continue their investigation after a would-be robber’s night of crime was brought to an end when he was fatally shot on Saturday night. Now, officials are asking for your help in identifying the man who was shot and killed. He is described as a black male, about 25 to 30 years of age, about six feet tall, weighs around 161 pounds, with a well-groomed beard and has multiple, distinctive tattoos. Police say at the time of the robbery he was wearing a white t-shirt, black shorts, gray tennis shoes, a black skull cap and a black and white bandana on his face. Authorities say the alleged suspect first entered a Co-Go’s on Mount Washington, demanded money and was able to get away. Investigators tell us that the man later attempted to rob a BP along Route 51 just before midnight. Police say the man entered the convenience store with a handgun and demanded money and tobacco products. According to authorities, the clerk handed the would-be robber a bag of cigarettes and cigars. Then, the clerk pulled a gun, shot twice and hit the man in the chest, police add. Officials have not yet identified the would-be robber or the clerk, but say the suspect died on the floor of the store. Sources who have seen the surveillance tape of the incident tell KDKA’s Ross Guidotti that it appears to be a self-defense shooting."

Sunday, July 15, 2007



Texas: 1 dead, 3 jailed after scuffle inside RV: "Charles Oxner doesn't drink, smoke or dip, he says. He has never been in trouble with the law. On Wednesday night, three men he worked with forced their way into his recreational vehicle and began beating him, he says. He shot one of them, and now he's charged with murder. Dale McGee, 46, died two hours later at Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital. Argyle police charged the other two men with burglary with intent to assault. "I never had no dealings with the law, not even a speeding ticket in the last 15 years," Mr. Oxner, 38, said Thursday afternoon at the Denton County Jail. "I walked out of that trailer of my own free will. They handcuffed me and stuck me in a car, and here I am now." Mr. Oxner's bail has been set at $100,000. He has a black eye he says one of the other men inflicted with a boot. He has visible bumps on his forehead and says there are many more on the back of his head. Under a bandage on his left hand is a bite wound. "There was three of them whalin' on me, and I don't know what I was supposed to do," he said. "I sure didn't invite them in there." Texas Ranger Tracy Murphree, who helped with the investigation, said Thursday that a decision was made to jail everyone. "We had a mobile crime scene. We had people who live in other states. We had a man who was dead and a man who shot him," he said. "It is not the duty of police to decide whether it was justified. Lawyers and judges make those decisions."


Houston, Texas robber killed: "A robber was killed when one of his victims shot him early Saturday, officials told KPRC Local 2. Houston police said two armed men jumped out of a car and tried to rob four men at a home on Keel Street near O'Donnell Drive at about 1:30 a.m. One of the victims pulled out a gun and a shootout ensued, officials said. Investigators said both of the robbers were shot. Detectives said one robber was shot in the torso and transported to Doctor's Hospital. He was later transported by helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he died. His identity was not released. The second robber was shot in the leg and was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital. One of the robbery victims was also shot and transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in stable condition.


Texas mishap: "A northwest Harris County business owner trying to prevent a robbery accidentally shot and killed a customer. Late Friday night at a shop on Gears and Walters, the business owner told authorities he would not let a man in because he looked suspicious and was carrying a gun. "The business owner believed he was going to rob the business, so he took action to prevent that. It resulted in the death of one of his patrons," explained Sgt R. Nelson with the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The owner says he shot at the robber but accidentally hit the woman. The stranger who tried to get in ran away. Investigators found a pistol on the ground. They're treating the shooting as an accident. It will be up to the district attorney to determine if charges will be filed."

Saturday, July 14, 2007



Airman shot by Leftist fruitcake is recovering: "A Reynoldsburg High School alumnus serving in the U.S. Air Force is recovering after he was shot in New Jersey on July 4. Senior Airman Jonathan Schrieken, 22, said from a hospital bed tonight that he’s still too tired to discuss the shooting, in which he was targeted, apparently at random, by a suicidal gunman, authorities said. But Schrieken said he was recuperating and resting with relatives from Ohio at his side. He was in serious but stable condition at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J., said Senior Airman Danielle Johnson, a spokeswoman at McGuire Air Force Base. Johnson refused to elaborate. He was critically injured in the shooting, which occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Independence Day in Willingboro Township, N.J., about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. Schrieken had walked out of his house to get something out of his car when a man approached and shot him once in the chest with a small-caliber handgun and then turned the gun on himself, said First Assistant Prosecutor Raymond Milavsky of Burlington County, N.J. The shooter, identified as Matthew Marren, 22, of Pennsauken, N.J., was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital that night". [More here]


Florida clerk shoots robber: "Police say a store employee has shot a robber on East Lake Avenue. It happened around 3 p.m. at the Yasmin Food Mart. That's at the intersection with Potter Street. Detectives say 17-year-old Xavier Pierre Whitehead came into the store with a gun and was wearing a Spiderman mask. "He demanded money, told them to open the till and get all the money out and that's when the struggle started, and the struggle over the gun and the shot was fired," said Tampa police spokesperson Andrea Davis. Whitehead was taken to Tampa General Hospital. There's no word yet on his condition."


Texas carjacker killed: "The suspect in a carjacking was killed after one of the victims he kidnapped shot him Friday morning at the victim's house. A man described as a 25 year-old Hispanic male carjacked the couple at a nightclub, according to Bexar County deputies. The suspect then demanded money from the couple, but they told the suspect that they did not have any cash. Then, the suspect demanded to be taken to the victims' home in the 1100 block of Buckskin Bend. One of the victims said that as the suspect was loading items from the house into a suitcase, he got a gun and shot the suspect in the head. Deputies were called to the scene of the shooting about 4:30 this morning. Deputies do not believe the couple will be arrested. They will be taken downtown to give statements."

Friday, July 13, 2007



Ohio owner foils clothing store robbery: "Two women and a girl from Dayton, Ohio were arrested Wednesday after they allegedly stole clothing from a store and tried to run over the owner with a car, according to Springfield Township police. Toya Heard, 20, Raytona Glenn, 22, and a 14-year-old girl were charged with aggravated robbery. Around 5:10 p.m., officers arrived at Casablanca, a clothing store in the 11000 block of Hamilton Avenue, and were told two females ran from the store with a large amount of clothing. away and the three females were arrested nearby. When the owner saw them climb into a getaway car, he told them to stop but the driver tried to run him over and struck him in the leg, police said. The owner then fired one shot from a handgun and hit the car’s front right tire. The car was found a short distance away and the three females were arrested nearby."


Texas homeowner shoots robber: "A homeowner who caught a man in his yard with an armful of tools shot and seriously wounded him Wednesday night when the man would not stop walking toward the resident, Irving police said. The unidentified man is an 18-year-old Irving resident, police said. He was shot in the torso and was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. He is expected to survive, but his condition was unavailable Thursday morning, police said. The shooting happened about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of Tucker Street. The 34-year-old homeowner told police that he heard noises in his backyard, and believing someone was stealing his property he grabbed his shotgun. Once outside, the homeowner found a man walking out of his backyard with an armful of tools, police said. The resident ordered the suspect to lay on the ground, police said. The suspect put the tools down and began to walk toward the homeowner, police said. After the homeowner repeatedly warned him to stop and get down, the suspect was shot, police said. The resident was not arrested, police said."


North Caronlina homeowner shoots alleged armed intruder: "An alleged intruder is listed in critical condition at Carolinas Medical Center after police say a homeowner shot him. Police from the North Tryon Division responded to a call around 8:45 Tuesday night at a home in the 5800 block of Eastbrook Road in east Charlotte. The homeowner told investigators an armed man, who he did not know, walked into his home. He also said he and other residents of the house fought with the man and during the struggle the alleged intruder was shot. Police have not released his identity, pending notification of his family. The case now goes to the district attorney’s office which will determine whether the homeowner was justified in shooting the man."

Thursday, July 12, 2007



Florida Homeowner Shoots Intruder: "A 24-year-old man was shot several times in an exchange of gunfire with a Panama Park homeowner Wednesday morning during what police described as a home invasion robbery. Just after 9 a.m., police responding to a burglar alarm at 7100 block of Elwood Avenue found the door of kicked in and Jonathan Comas shot several times. Investigators said Comas and Donovan Thomas, 21, broke into the house, waking up Johnny Johnson. Johnson grabbed his gun and got to the living room in time to see two men turning around to leave. "I was the first person to shoot, I guarantee it, because they were in my house," Johnson said. "I look up, see the guy and I shoot twice, then I start hearing shots." Johnson said he fired five or six shots, then dived for cover when he heard gunfire coming from outside. Police said Comas, who was shot several times, was taken to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center by Thomas and Sandra Flood, 27, who officers said was driving the vehicle used in the incident. Comas remains in critical condition. "I'm lucky to be alive," Johnson said. "Somebody could have died, and I could have been me." Police said Comas, Thomas and Flood will be arrested and charged with home-invasion robbery".


Texas: Rabid skunk shot: "Comal County recently reported its second documented case of rabies in 2007, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The incident was the 37th case in Region 8. A rabid skunk walked into the yard of a home about half a mile east of downtown Bulverde and sprayed the home owner’s chocolate Labrador Retriever on June 21. The owner then shot and transported the skunk to Country Hills Veterinary Clinic for a rabies submission. The dog, which was current on vaccinations, was boostered according to protocol the next day and began a 45-day isolation period, the report said. This incident followed a rabies case involving a raccoon and another chocolate Labrador Retriever in Bulverde on May 17, according to Zoonosis Control."


Tennessee: One Robber Killed, Another In Hospital: "Two men, who tried to rob a patio party, found themselves looking down the end of the apartment owner’s gun barrel. According to witnesses, two men walked up and asked if they were having a party. The men then left and returned with guns and tried to rob the party. Witnesses say the apartment owner then got his gun and told the robbers to put down their guns. When the robbers didn’t, the apartment owner shot both robbers. One robber was shot in the head and killed; the other is in critical condition at the MED with a gun shot wound. Police say they are still investigating the shooting and no charges have been filed."

Wednesday, July 11, 2007



Arizona resident faces intruders with rifle: "When Ahwatukee Ryan Altieri heard knocking at the door of his quiet townhouse Monday evening he thought it might be a salesman. Turns out it wasn't anything nearly as innocent. At about 6:45, two men kicked in the door at Altieri's townhouse on Piedmont Road, near Guadalupe and 48th Street. Instead of an empty home, however, the intruders came face to face with Altieri - holding a cellphone and a rifle. "I was in the bathroom when I thought I heard a knock," Altieri said. "They knocked for about three minutes, I guess trying to make sure nobody was home, then they started kicking the door in. So I got my cellphone and went into my bedroom and loaded my rifle." Altieri, 27, said he was on the phone with the 911 operator when two intruders burst through the door. The intruders walked in on Altieri kneeling with his rifle trained on them and the cellphone at his ear. "They saw me and started stuttering," Altieri said. "I said, 'One more step and you're done.'" The men ran away, leaving their car behind. One suspect, a 17-year-old, was caught soon afterward. Police are still looking for the second intruder, a man believed to be in his 30s, according to Phoenix police Sgt. Leonard Pinuelas. Nothing was taken from the home."


Idaho Man Shoots Burglar: "Everyone wants to think their neighborhood is peaceful. That's what many thought about one Nampa street until early this morning. Around 2:30 in the morning, shots rang out outside a home on Jerry Lee Lane. The man accused of firing the shots lives there. Police say, he was the victim of two prior robberies over the weekend. The man waited up all night for the suspects to appear again, and when they did, he shot one of them in the legs with a pellet gun. The case will be forwarded to the Canyon County Prosecutor's Office. No charges have been filed yet."

Police harassment of Australian gun shop: "New details have emerged about the seizure of hundreds of guns from a Wagga Wagga address in southern New South Wales last week. A well-placed local source says there were over 500 guns taken from the address, which is a shop called the Wagga Wagga Boat and Sports Centre. The 310 guns were taken as exhibits while 200 other guns were seized for 'safekeeping'. Around 25,000 rounds of ammunition were also taken during the 14-hour operation involving 10 officers. The source says the man being interviewed by police is actually a licensed gun dealer and had a permit for the guns, and that the shop was raided because authorities were concerned about the storage of the items.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007



California burglar surprised by armed owner: "A Newbury Park homeowner foiled a burglar's plans early Monday morning when he greeted him with a gun, authorities said. The confrontation occurred about 1 a.m. when the burglar stole a garage door opener from a car on the 200 block of Deerwalk Place and used it to get into a home's garage, said Capt. Ross Bonfiglio of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. When the burglar walked into the carport, the homeowner was waiting for him with a firearm, Bonfiglio said. The homeowner chased the burglar down the street and called police after the suspect escaped by climbing over a fence. After searching the area, Sheriff's Deputies arrested Enrique Guzman Juarez, 20, of Newbury Park, Bonfiglio said. Juarez was booked into Ventura County Jail, where he was being held this morning in lieu of $70,000 bail. He is facing charges of vehicle burglary and residential burglary in connection with today's incident, as well as a previous charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Hypocritical Texas Democrat shoots would-be thief: "A state lawmaker who opposed a bill giving Texans stronger right to defend themselves with deadly force pulled a gun and shot a man he says was trying to steal copper wiring from a construction site, police said Monday. Rep. Borris Miles told police he was fixing a leak on the second floor of the Houston house he's building Sunday night when he heard a noise downstairs and saw two men trying to steal the copper. After Miles confronted the pair, one of the men threw a pocketknife at him, Houston Police spokesman Victor Senties. Miles, a former law enforcement officer, shot the man in the left leg, police said. The wounded suspect was being treated at a Houston hospital. Police were trying to identify the other suspect. Charges of aggravated robbery are pending against the wounded suspect, Senties said. Police said Miles, who is in his freshman term, is licensed to carry a concealed weapon. No charges have been filed against Miles, Senties said. Miles, a Democrat, voted against a bill that gives Texans stronger legal right to defend themselves with deadly force in their homes, vehicles, and workplaces."


Fruitcake shoots soldier -- kills himself: "My son’s best friend, Jon, who’s in the Air Force stationed in New Jersey at Fort Dix/McGuire Air Force Base was shot by a crazed anti-military white guy on Independence Day and he remains in critical condition. He had been on leave here in Ohio and got back to his home off base and was unpacking stuff from his car when this 22 year old guy walked up to him and asked him if he lived in the house. When Jon said yes, the guy said “not any more” and shot him point blank in the chest. He tried to shoot him again, but his gun jammed. Jonathan made it into the house. The guy then shot himself. Turns out the guy left a couple of suicide notes stating how much he hated the military and he wanted to go out making a statement, so he chose to make his statement on Independence Day trying to kill a soldier. We are very worried about our Airman. He’s the sweetest, nicest, do anything for ya kid and he’s like a son to me. He’s been to Iraq and Afghanistan on our behalf and then gets shot in his own driveway here in the U.S by an anti-war, anti-American lunatic"

Monday, July 09, 2007



Texas icehouse owner fatally shoots burglar: "Jesse Elizondo had only meant to scare the intruder away. He had spent the night lying in wait at his business, an icehouse just north of downtown, determined not to let another burglar on his property after a string of break-ins this year that cost him thousands of dollars and put his nerves on edge constantly. He had been asleep well before dawn Saturday when he awoke to the sound of rustling outside the icehouse, followed by a loud bang. Then he saw a hand coming through a window. Fearing for his life, Elizondo popped off one quick shot from his Beretta semiautomatic in the direction of the intruder's hand. Then he heard a man moan. "I knew I'd hit him," said Elizondo, hours after the man, identified as 24-year-old Michael Adam Eden, died from a gunshot wound to the chest in the icehouse parking lot. Elizondo later learned the bang he heard was from a rock Eden had thrown through the front window. "I was scared," said Elizondo, who estimates burglars have broken into his business close to 20 times in less than a dozen years. "It could have been me laying there on the floor." Police found Eden's body, his ankle still in a cast from a recent fracture, several feet from the front door of the icehouse. No charges had been filed against Elizondo. Texas law allows homeowners and business owners to use force to defend their lives or property. A recent bill signed by Gov. Rick Perry will expand those protections so victims no longer have to retreat before they can fire on intruders or attackers."


Nevada: Store Clerk Shoots & Kills Suspected Robber: "North Las Vegas police say a suspected robber has been shot and killed. It happened around 5 AM. Police say the armed man tried to rob the Korner Store II on Camino Al Norte and Lone Mountain. The suspect allegedly produced a firearm and threatened the clerk. The store clerk shot him. The suspect was taken to UMC, but later died. At this point it does not appear that the clerk will face any charges in this incident. The deceased suspect has not yet been identified.


Ohio push: "Trying to build on success that began in Florida and spread to 17 other states, the National Rifle Association started a push in Ohio on Wednesday that would give people more authority to use deadly force to defend themselves both in and outside their homes. People who injure or kill an attacker in self-defense no longer would shoulder the burden to prove their actions were justifiable under a bill introduced Wednesday by Republican lawmakers. The proposal also would protect people who justifiably kill someone in self-defense from civil lawsuits that could require them to pay damages. The first similar law passed in Florida in 2005, and Ohio is one of 16 states where the NRA is pushing the legislation. The NRA also was responsible for pushing an Ohio law that enabled concealed carry permits for guns."

Sunday, July 08, 2007



Kentucky: Shot shooter may be charged: "A Park City man may face charges after police said he shot into a home Wednesday - if he survives several gunshot wounds suffered when the person inside the home returned fire. Conwell, 33, of Park City arrived at the residence and began shooting at the house with an AK 47, Holder said. Conwell then broke into the house by shooting off the doorknob. When inside, Conwell continued shooting and Matthew Pulley, 20, of Bowling Green returned fire striking Conwell several times, Holder said. Conwell was removed from the scene, initially taken to The Medical Center and then transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he is in critical but stable condition, Holder said. Conwell could face anticipated charges of attempted murder and first-degree burglary, according to state police. There will be no charges filed against Pulley, Holder said. Monica Wilson, 19, and Joyce Davidson, 42, both of Park City, were inside the house as well when shots were fired. Pulley, Wilson and Davidson were not injured, according to state police. Conwell was attempting to get into the house because of an ongoing domestic situation, Holder said".


Wyoming man cleared in grizzly killing: "Ken Meade agrees it's fair to say he's relieved he was not charged with killing an endangered species. Federal officials recently determined the 65-year-old Lander man killed a grizzly bear in self-defense last fall. The case marks what is perhaps the last time a federal agency will be involved with investigating a grizzly killing. The bears were removed from federal protection earlier this year, and control of the animals now rests with the state. Meade said the one shot he fired to kill the 4-year-old, 350- to 400-pound male grizzly in October was "the luckiest shot of my life." On Oct. 11, Meade was hunting elk on Togwotee Pass with his chocolate Lab, Clementine. He was camping in a camper, less than 50 yards from U.S. Highway 26/287, he said this week, two weeks after he received word his case had been ruled to be self-defense."


North Carolina 5-year-old pins rabid fox during family cookout to protect brother; stepfather kills animal: "A 5-year-old boy grabbed a rabid fox by the neck and pinned it to the ground during a family cookout, protecting six other children before his stepfather could kill the animal. "I wanted to protect my little brother," said Rayshun McDowell, who battled the fox in the front yard of his home Sunday in Kingstown, a town about 50 miles west of Charlotte. The fox bit Rayshun in the leg, but the 61-pound-boy held the animal down for more than a minute. Animal control officials said Tuesday that test results confirmed the fox had rabies, which is fatal unless treated before symptoms appear. Rayshun is undergoing treatment. Rayshun's stepfather, Ryan Thompson, pulled the boy off the animal and kicked it. A neighbor fired a handgun three times but the fox continued to advance. Thompson, wearing a cast because of a broken leg, said he used a stick and his crutch to beat the fox to death."

Saturday, July 07, 2007



Idaho: Drunk invader: "Imagine checking on your 5-year-old daughter in the night and finding a complete stranger sprawled out on the floor next to her. That's exactly what happened to an Idaho Falls family Thursday night. "Went in kids bathroom and his hat and his shorts were on the floor and I thought that's weird and so I ran to my husband and I said Brock there's someone in the house," said Shannon Hayward. A stranger was out cold on the floor, sleeping next to Hayward's 5-year-old step daughter. While Shannon spoke with 911 dispatchers, her husband grabbed a rifle and ordered Stanton out of the room at gun point. "He kept saying I don't know where I am, my husband kept saying what are you doing in my house? He was out of it, really out of it," she said. The police report says Stanton's blood alcohol was nearly twice the limit at 8 in the morning. The Hayward's think he was partying at a house nearby. They say the experience was enough to triple check their locks every night before bed. Daniel Stanton was cited for unlawful entry and released."


Kentucky: Double shooting kills both: "Police are calling the causes of death for two people found dead together in an apartment at the 1000 block of Muhammad Ali Boulevard a double homicide. Metro police said a mother, Bonnie Porter, 45, and her son, Leon Porter, 28, were found dead in the apartment Thursday. Investigators said the son fired several rounds at the mother and, while defending herself, she shot him in the head, resulting in both their deaths. Family members said Leon was being treated for mental illness."


Florida: Clerk shoots hardware store robber: "An armed hardware store heist in Hialeah was foiled Friday when a clerk pulled his own gun and shot the robber twice, police said. Hialeah Police say 22-year-old Carlos Isaac was buying tools around 2:30 p.m. at the store on East 25th Street. When the clerk opened the cash register to give him change, Isaac pulled a handgun, started to pistol-whip the clerk and tried to take the money, said Hialeah police spokesman Frank Gonzalez. The clerk, who Gonzalez said ''feared for his life,'' then shot Isaac twice. Isaac was later found at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he had checked in with two gunshot wounds, police said. He was arrested and charged with armed robbery."

Friday, July 06, 2007



British Keystone cops raid white kid with toy gun -- miss heaps of black kids with real guns: "Armed police confronted a ten-year-old boy who was showing his friend a plastic toy gun at his home. Two officers armed with machineguns and others handling dogs went to the house in Cradley Heath, Staffordshire, after police received a report about groups of youths, some with firearms, in the area. They found Brodie-Cian showing off his new 18-inch black plastic gun to a friend. Gail Pearsall, his mother, was also present. She said: “I suddenly saw the officers. They were saying, ‘Go, go go, move it’. Then they said, ‘Is that Brodie?’ I was so shocked I thought, ‘What on earth has my son done?’ “I just couldn’t believe it. There were ten of them in total. They then said they wanted the gun and they took it away into one of the cars and looked at it for half an hour.” Brodie has been banned from taking the 10 pounds gun, bought from a market stall, out in public. He said: “I was very frightened. There were loads of officers with guns and dogs. I thought maybe it was the gun.”


Arkansas home invader shot: "Little Rock police are investigating a home invasion in which 1 of the suspects was shot dead by 1 of the victims. Police say the incident began early this morning when someone banged on the apartment door of 27-year-old Julian Armstrong and demanded to see someone named "Steve." Armstrong told the person he had the wrong apartment. A while later, the man returned with a second person. Armstrong told police the men kicked in his door and that he exchanged gunfire with the second suspect. Police say Armstrong sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen and that the suspect was shot dead. Police say Armstrong's injury isn't life-threatening. No name has been released for the dead suspect, and police said they have not been able to find the other assailant. Police say the shooting at southwest Little Rock apartment occurred at 2:20 a.m.


Michigan man shoots rottweiler: "A Redford man shot and killed an 100-pound rottweiler as it ran toward a 10-year-old neighbor boy late Sunday afternoon. The dog had been seen loose in the neighborhood, and the shooter told police he feared it was going to attack the boy, according to a Redford Township police report. The man had walked the boy to his house because of the dog, and they were waiting for the boy's mother to open the side door when the dog ran, he said. The incident occurred on Riverdale Street south of Plymouth Road. The dog came from a house on Virgil Street, one block to the west. Police said the shooter had a valid concealed weapons permit. Police requested followup by the animal control department on possible dog ordinance violations by the dog's owner."