Danville, Indiana

From the Indianapolis Star of April 30, 2005

Jury acquits woman of attempted murder

A Hendricks County jury has acquitted a woman accused of attempting to murder her estranged girlfriend.

After a two-day trial and three hours’ deliberation, jurors Thursday night found Cheryl Mize, 47, not guilty of attempted murder. However, the jury found Mize guilty of invasion of privacy and battery, both misdemeanors.

Hendricks Superior Court Judge David Coleman has set sentencing for 2:30 p.m. May 24.

According to court documents, Mize was arrested and jailed without bond shortly after violating a Marion County-issued restraining order prohibiting her from approaching Marie Dean.

Dean and her then-girlfriend, Janet Lee, noticed a 2004 white Chevy Malibu parked near their driveway in the 10000 block of East Eagle Eye Way on Feb. 19. The documents say Mize jumped out of the car, got into a scuffle with Lee, then lunged at Dean with what was described as a pair of hedge clippers.

Dean shot Mize three times. She told investigators Mize yelled, “I’m going to kill you.”A bond hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to determine whether Mize can be released from jail.

“The prosecutor presented the case well,” said Mize’s Indianapolis-based attorney, David Seiter. “But ultimately the jurors found that there was reasonable doubt that my client had the intent to kill even though she had been violating the protective order.”

Nashville, Tennessee

From the Nashville Commercial-Appeal of April 29, 2005

Store owner shoots robber, police say

A man was wounded yesterday when he tried to rob a Nashville market, Metro police said.

Ralph W. Fleming, 35, of 210 Old Hickory Blvd., broke the front glass door and demanded all the money at the Lewis Country Store, 5106 Old Hickory Blvd., police said.

Store owner Brad Lewis thought Fleming had a gun, police said, so Lewis pulled a pistol and shot Fleming, wounding him in the right arm and right leg.

Fleming attempted to flee but collapsed nearby. He was treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Arrest warrants charging attempted aggravated robbery and burglary were issued in the case.

Columbus, Ohio

From Columbus’ NBC4i.com of April 28, 2005

Police: Shots Fired After Man Fights Off Intruders Inside Home

Pair Allegedly Broke Into House

Police continue to search for the people who on Thursday morning broke into a home on the city’s northeast side, NBC 4’s Elizabeth Scarborough reported.

According to police, a couple was inside a home on Gatewood Court with their two children when two or three people came into the house and started shooting.

The parents of the children fought back, and police said one of the intruders was hurt, Scarborough reported.

Police said a 9-month-old child was inside the home, along with a 4 ½-year-old brother.

The parents, who are boyfriend and girlfriend, were in a bathroom at the time of the shooting, Scarborough reported.

Early reports indicated that the criminals entered the house through a back door and began shooting. One of them might have been wearing a security uniform, Scarborough reported.

Either the boyfriend or girlfriend returned fire, Scarborough reported. One bullet went through the wall into a next-door apartment, Scarborough reported.

At least one of the intruders was hurt, but they fled the home, police said.

Houston, Texas

From Houston’s Click2Houston.com of April 28, 2005

Wrecker Driver Opens Fire On 2 Men

Man Tells Police Men Tried To Steal Truck

A wrecker driver opened fire Thursday morning outside a southwest Houston restaurant after he said two men tried to steal his truck.

Police said the wrecker driver claimed the two men jumped into his tow truck at about 12:30 a.m. when he stopped at a restaurant on Richmond at Fondren.

The wrecker driver told police that was when he pulled out his gun and shot at the men. Neither man was injured.

Police questioned the wrecker driver and the two men but did not arrest anyone.

Nashville, Tennessee

From Nashville’s WSMV.com of April 28, 2005

Store owner shoots suspected robber

A suspected robber is recovering at Vanderbilt Medical Center after being shot by a store owner who is also a former Army Ranger. The incident happened in Scottsboro at a family run country store.

Owner Brad Lewis, his fiancee, and another clerk were working late checking inventory when they heard a crash at the front door of their business around 1am.

The owner’s brother says Brad tried to protect his loved ones.

“[Brad came out and saw] the perpetrator who had made his way into the store. He had a hood over his head, hands in pocket and told Brad to give him all his money. At that point Brad feared for his life, and that’s when he started firing,” said Bryan Lewis, Owner’s brother.

Police say convicted felon Ralph Wade Flemming was hit twice, once in the leg and once in the arm. He ran across the street where he collapsed. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Flemming is familiar with police having been arrested 69 times in Davidson County. Police say he may not have been working alone.

“We have not found a car, and we don’t know if he walked or was dropped off. Maybe someone was waiting on him and heard the shots and fled,” said Metro Detective Robert Swisher.

Police say the store owner had a permit for his handgun and will not be charged. His brother says it is the first incident at the store since opening in February. Just a few hours after the shooting, the store was back open for business.

Reno, Nevada

From the Reno Gazette-Journal of April 26, 2005

Newspaper carrier shoots teenager who tried to steal his vehicle, authorities say

A 17-year-old shot by a newspaper carrier after allegedly trying to steal his delivery vehicle also is suspected of being involved in two separate shootings 48 hours apart.

The teenage boy, whose name was not released because he is a minor, is being treated at Washoe Medical Center for a gunshot wound to his stomach and two to his arm, Reno police said.

What started the boy’s wild weekend ride was a fight about 11:45 p.m. Friday at the Frog Pond Bar, 1601 Lewis St.

Lt. Ron Donnelly said the friend of the boy fought in the bar about a woman. The fight spilled into the parking lot, he said, and the boy allegedly fired shots into the air and at the man’s vehicle, damaging its windows. The boy and his friend fled.

Gang-related fight

About 2:15 a.m. Sunday two groups of people had a gang-related fight at a downtown Reno bar, Donnelly said. The boy is suspected to have been involved.

Shortly after at a downtown parking garage, the groups shot at each other and drove away in two vehicles: a silver sports utility vehicle and red pickup.

Donnelly said the groups continued to shoot at each other as they drove throughout the city. The pickup struck the SUV, causing the engine to ignite and disabling it. The occupants of both vehicles fled.

About 4 a.m., the 17-year-old’s parents called police and said he dropped off the red pickup in their driveway and it was laden with bullet holes, Donnelly said.

Thirty minutes later, Jonathan Hafalla, 34, an independent contractor, was filling newspaper boxes in the 1300 block of Carville Drive with copies of the Reno Gazette-Journal. He had left the engine running while he filled the boxes.

Tried to drive away

Donnelly said the 17-year-old got inside Hafalla’s vehicle and tried to drive away. Hafalla, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, fired at the vehicle and commanded the boy to stop. At one point, the boy put the vehicle in reverse, nearly striking the man, Donnelly said.

The boy was shot three times. He stumbled out of the vehicle and Hafalla held him at gunpoint while police were en route, Donnelly said. Hafalla has not been charged with a crime.

Donnelly said when the teen is released from the hospital he will be arrested on felony charges related to the attempted theft of Hafalla’s vehicle and possible charges from the other shootings.

Savannah, Georgia

From the Tallahassee Democrat of April 27, 2005

Police: Woman stops rape by shooting attacker

A woman who was being raped ended the assault by shooting her attacker, police said.

The woman told officers she was sitting in a car with her boyfriend Monday night when two men came up to the parked car with a handgun and ordered them out of the car, according to a Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police report.

The two men took a purse and wallet from the couple and then approached the woman. They ripped her pants off and began sexually assaulting her, the report said.

But when one of the men put his gun down, the woman grabbed it and fired four shots. One of the shots struck one of the attackers in the neck, causing him to fall over.

The woman and her boyfriend jumped back into their car and drove off. The men followed and, using the gun, broke the car’s rear windshield, the report said.

But the couple got away and went to a home where they called police.

Officers later found Eric Easterling bleeding on a porch.

Easterling, 20, was taken to a hospital and faces charges of armed robbery and sexual assault-related charges, said police spokesman Sgt. Mike Wilson.

Police said they were still looking for the second suspect, whom Easterling said was his brother.

The woman was treated and released at a hospital.

Aiken, Georgia

From the Augusta Chronicle of April 27, 2005

Burglary suspects are shot

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that it will seek warrants for the arrest of two Trenton men in connection with a convenience store burglary Monday night.

Efrem L. Nipper, 37, of Jacob Mackie Road, and Trah Best, 25, of Lloyd Road, face charges of second-degree burglary, sheriff’s Lt. Michael Frank said in a news release.

Robert McFerrin, the owner of Twin Lakes Food Mart at 1230 Bettis Academy Road, shot both men with a shotgun after they kicked open the front door of the store and tried to remove seven cases of beer at about 10:45 p.m., police said.

“The store owner has a butler’s building directly beside his store where he stays at night and heard the men go running by,” Lt. Frank said.

Deputies found one of the men lying on the ground near the store. He had been shot in the left shoulder, Lt. Frank said.

The Aiken Bloodhound Team traced the second man to a car that he had driven to Edgefield County. The man had called 911 to report that he had been shot, police said.

Houston, Texas

From Houston’s KHOU.com of April 13, 2005

Store clerk helps capture attempted robbers

A store clerk’s quick thinking helped Houston police capture two men who tried to rob his convenience store.

The two suspects went into the store on Centerwood and the East Freeway around 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said the clerk was shot in the shoulder. But he somehow grabbed his own gun, distracted the suspects by shooting in the air, then pistol-whipped one of them.

A second clerk called police from a back room.

The clerk and one of the suspects were taken to Ben Taub Hospital. The other was arrested.

Nashville, Tennessesee

From Nashville‘s WSMV.com of April 25, 2005

Security guard shoots suspected robber

A suspected robber was shot early Monday morning in the chest by a security guard at the Welch Bend Apartments off Harding Road in South Nashville.

Police say the security guard was talking at 1:30am to some of the residents of the complex when a car load of people pulled into a parking lot.

Metro Police say Courtney Robertson, 18, got out of the car and walked up the security guard’s unmarked vehicle and started yelling, “Don’t Move”. The guard then un-holstered his weapon.

“Robertson had no idea that the person who was seated in the vehicle was a security guard. Robertson kept looking at his accomplice, back and forth, to make sure he could control the entire situation. As he kept glancing back and forth, the security guard saw an opportunity, pulled his gun and actually opened fire on Robertson from inside the car through the windshield,” said Don Aaron, Police Spokesman.

Robertson was hit in the chest and two of the people with him in the car took him to Baptist Hospital. Those two men have fully cooperated with the police investigation and likely will not be charged.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Robertson including for aggravated assault and two counts of attempted aggravated robbery.

An accomplice who left the scene of the shooting is still at large. Robertson had to have surgery on his wounds Monday at Baptist Hospital.

Lyons, Oregon

From Portland’s KOIN.com of April 24, 2005

Man Shot After Forcing Way Into Home

Victim Apparently Knew Woman Living There

Linn County detectives are investigating a fatal shooting early Sunday morning.

A home invasion in Lyons ended with the shooting death of the intruder.

Investigators say it all started when a woman called 9-1-1 to say that a man she knew was forcing his way into her home.

A man inside the home and the woman fought with the intruder. The intruder was eventually shot and killed.

Detectives are not releasing the names of the victim or the people involved until all of the parties can be identified.

Walker, Michigan

From Grand Rapids’ WOODtv.com of April 24, 2005

Home invasion ends when homeowner shoots robber

In Walker, police are investigating a break-in that ended with a homeowner shooting one of the robbers.

It happened at a home in the 1400 block of Wilson SW in Walker.

Police say the suspects broke into the home around 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning. The homeowner woke up, confronted them, shooting one suspect with a handgun.

Police say the suspects ran, and according to witnesses, dropped several items from the home along the way. Police are still looking for the intruders.

Richmond, Virginia

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch of April 22, 2005

Ex-NFL player killed in city

Police say the former VUU standout was in dispute over a woman

Former Virginia Union University standout cornerback Michael Brim survived eight seasons in the violent world of the NFL before suffering a career-ending injury in 1995.

On Tuesday, his life ended in violence on a quiet, residential street in South Richmond after a shootout with another man.

Richmond police said yesterday that Brim, 39, had been involved in a dispute with Gary Miles, 42, over a woman.

Police found Brim about 10 p.m. with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest on the driveway of a home owned by Miles’ brother. Miles was found behind the house with a gunshot wound to the leg. He was listed in serious condition yesterday at VCU Medical Center.

Investigators yesterday did not release details on the duration or specifics of the dispute over the woman. But police spokeswoman Cynthia Price said a preliminary investigation reveals that the fatal sequence of events began earlier in the evening at the American Karate Center on Huguenot Road in Chesterfield County.

She said Brim went to the center, where Miles works, and got into an argument. After the initial disagreement, Price said, Miles “got worried and decided to go see his brother,” who lives on Pineway Drive near the Westover Hills neighborhood.

According to police, Brim followed Miles in his car to the house, and fired several times at him as he got out of his car. Miles, who police said was also armed, returned fire, police said, fatally wounding Brim with a shot to the torso.

When Miles’ brother returned to his home, he saw both vehicles running and two wounded men on the ground, Price said.

Price said that as of yesterday, no charges have been filed in the case, which is under investigation and is being reviewed by the commonwealth’s attorney’s office.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

From Oklahoma City‘s ChannelOklahoma.com of April 21, 2005

Teen Shot During Alleged Burglary Attempt

Second Teen Arrested; Police Still Looking For Man Who Fired Shots

Police said a teenage boy was shot Thursday when he and another teenager allegedly invaded a home.

Officers said the alleged burglary attempt happened at 1425 N.W. 105th St. on Thursday morning. According to police, the wounded suspect and his accomplice forced their way into the home but were fought off by a man inside, who fired shots at both teenagers.

Officers said the teenagers tried to break into the home for the second time in 10 days. The second teenager fled the scene but was eventually arrested on Thursday afternoon.

The suspects’ names have not been released.

Homeowner LaSautee Nichols said she arrived home to find numerous police cars parked in front of her yard.

“I’ve never had a problem in this neighborhood before,” Nichols said. “I’ve been here almost three years, and I’ve never had this kind of problem before. It’s just shocking they tried it again.”

Nichols said she was scared by the first break-in attempt and had asked two friends to watch the house while she was at work.

“I have an alarm, it’s been set … but I was just wanting to take extra precautions because I don’t have any dogs or anything like that,” she said. “So I’ve been having someone stay here while I’m at work, until I get home, and then they leave or whatever.”

The person who shot the suspect could not be located on Thursday afternoon, police said. Nichols and a second man who was inside the home at the time of the shooting were cooperating with police.

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Phoenix, Arizona

From The Arizona Republic of April 21, 2005

Reservist who held migrants at gunpoint won’t be prosecuted

No criminal charges will be filed against an Army reservist who held seven undocumented immigrants at gunpoint this month at an Arizona rest stop.

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said Thursday that Sgt. Patrick Haab had the legal right to make a citizen’s arrest because the man smuggling the immigrants into the country was committing a felony and the immigrants themselves were conspiring with the coyote to commit a felony.

Arizona law allows a private citizen to make a legal arrest if a felony has been committed and the citizen believes that the person he is arresting committed the felony.

“I do not want the message to go out that people can start rounding up illegal immigrants whether or not they think they’re here legally, whether or not they know all the facts,” Thomas said. “This is a very unusual case with a narrow set of facts and very unusual circumstances that allow Mr. Haab to avoid prosecution.”

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