Gillespie County, Texas

From the October 31, 2006 WOAI:

Investigators want to know why a man who was shot and killed was in a family?s home.

It’s the first deadly shooting in Gillespie county in ten years. Deputies say it appears 30-year-old Dan Speight broke into the homeowners garage. That homeowner woke up, walked up to Speight and asked what he was doing.

The homeowner told deputies Speight didn’t answer, but ran towards him. Investigators say the homeowner shot Speight twice.

Dan Speight did have a criminal history in Gillespie County. He?d been arrested and convicted for burglary.

Nashville, Tennessee

From the October 30, 2006 Tennesseean:

The shooting death of a man in north Nashville late Sunday night is being investigated as a justifiable homicide, Metro Police said Monday.

Ronnie Hubert Tucker, 48, was shot around 11 p.m. inside his home on Boyd Drive. Joseph Bond shot Tucker, police said, after Tucker hit his niece with a golf club and then attacked Bond. Tucker?s daughter told police that Tucker attacked Stokes and Bond without provocation.

The niece, Tanisha Stokes, 20, was treated for a bruise to the head at Centennial Medical Center. Bond was treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after he accidently shot himself in the arm while shooting at Tucker, police said.

Tucker?s arrest history showed a number of assault charges.

Jacksonville, Florida

From WJXT channel 4 October 21, 2006:

A man who could have spent his life behind bars for the 2005 kidnapping of a 10-year-old boy pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to 30 years on Friday. Last October, David Nieves broke into a Westside home and grabbed the child from his bedroom. Police credit the boy’s father with saving his son.

…

During his testimony, the victim’s father also said that he had stopped Nieves and had a gun to his head and held him there for 35 minutes until police arrived. He said during that time he considered shooting the kidnapper, then looked at the judge, saying, ‘It’s not my job to punish him, it’s your job.”

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

From the October 27, 2006 Tuscaloosa News:

TUSCALOOSA | Police say the man who shot and killed another man at A-1 Auto Supply Wednesday may have been acting in self-defense.

The man?s name has not been released because he has not been charged with a crime. Any charges that could be filed will be decided by a grand jury, said Lt. Loyd Baker, commander of the Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit.

The man acknowledged that he shot and killed Tim Parker III, an employee of Parker Wrecker Service, at the business around noon Wednesday. Parker Wrecker rents building space from A-1.

…

?We interviewed the shooter at length [Wednesday] night and discussed the case with the district attorney and decided that it will be forwarded to a grand jury,” Baker said.

Employees at the business said they heard the two men arguing before hearing a gunshot shortly after noon.

Muncie, Indiana

From Muncie?s The Star Press of October 31, 2006

Police: Woman fired gunshot at fleeing intruder

A 41-year-old Muncie woman fired a gun at a man who had tried to break into her house, she told police.

The thwarted burglary comes less than a week after another Muncie woman beat a suspected burglar with a cooking pot.

The woman was asleep early Saturday morning in her home in the 1300 block of East Fifth Street when she heard noises and saw a figure outside her bedroom window, she told police.

She went to her front door with her .38-caliber revolver and fired a shot in the direction of the burglar as he ran eastward from her home, according to police reports that documented her story.

Responding officers checked her gun and found a spent round in one of the revolver’s six chambers.

The woman had a valid handgun permit.

No arrests had been made in connection with the would-be burglary as of late Monday.

Last Tuesday, Sabrena Davis, 36, whacked Timothy A. Simison, 27, Hartford City, with a 10-inch cooking pot after he broke into her enclosed porch, police said.

Simison was arrested that morning.

Augusta, Georgia

From Augusta?s WRDW.com of October 30, 2006

Babysitting grandma pulls gun on robber

It was supposed to be one of those quick and easy armed robberies.

Quick, because the robber was alone and on foot.

Easy, because of the victim he singled out for the crime.

But it didn’t turn out that way.

Instead, a grandmother was able to turn the tables on a man with a gun…with her 13-month-old grandbaby in her arms!

Deputies say Lawrence Woolfolk went into Paulos Cleaners on Peach Orchard Road a little after 10 o’clock this morning.

68-year-old Janis Butler, the assistant manager, was busy pressing clothes and trying to calm down a fussy baby.

So she wasn’t in the mood to put up with a thief.

“And then he put the pistol–cocked the pistol and put it in the child’s face,” Janis told News 12. “Then he put it in my face and said he wanted the money.”

Janis told him to go ahead and take the money while she got the baby to calm down.

But when he went for the money, she went for something else.

“”I said, ‘The money’s under the desk; let me get this baby calm.’ And he went to get the money out from under the counter,” Janis said. “And then I pulled out my .38 revolver and cocked it, and I was going to shoot…but I happened to think that it will devastate the baby, because she was already crying and hollering and carrying on.”

The gunman was devastated enough.

Without managing to grab a cent, he hit the door running, and Janis called 911.

Police made a quick arrest, because the suspect and his pistol both fit the description Janis gave them. He is 21-year-old Lawrence Woolfolk.

Janis was carrying that gun legally. Granny’s got a gun, and she’s not afraid to use it.

The suspect’s lucky she was babysitting at the time and didn’t want to upset the child.

Fulton County, Georgia

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution of October 30, 2006

Man shot by intruder posing as FBI agent

A south Fulton County homeowner was shot early Monday by a masked intruder claiming to be an FBI agent, police said.

The suspect kicked in the back door of the home on Hidden Court, in a subdivision off Welcome All Road, about 4 a.m., setting off the home’s burglar alarm, Fulton police Cpl. Gary Syblis said.

The 53-year-old victim told police he got out of bed and heard the suspect coming up the stairs, yelling, “FBI, FBI, FBI,” Syblis said.

Syblis said the homeowner confronted the suspect, who was wearing a ski mask and dark clothing.

The suspect fired four times, striking the victim once in the stomach. The victim returned fire, but apparently did not hit the suspect, who fled the home after the shooting.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. His condition was not immediately available.

Jackson, Mississippi

From Jackson?s WLBT.com of October 24, 2006

Carjacking Case Tests New ‘Castle’ Doctrine

The limits of a new law are in question this week after a weekend shooting, where a carjacking victim took revenge on his attacker.

The new Castle doctrine that went into effect this summer is designed to give people more rights to protect themselves. That includes using a deadly weapon.

Madison-Rankin County District Attorney David Clark says he doesn’t believe the man who shot accused carjacker, Clinton Pierre, in Jackson Saturday will face any charges.

Clark says that man will be protected under the Castle doctrine law, which gives people rights to used deadly force to protect their properties and more.

Representative John Reeves says, “Cars and their businesses. This fella that I read in the paper today that stole somebody’s car got shot, thats going to be too bad, the guy who did the shooting is not going to be in trouble for that.”

David Clark says, “The only way were going to stop crime is to take tough measures against criminals and the people of this country here the right to protect their home and their cars and their property. That’s what this law does, and I strongly favor it.”

Whether the Castle doctrine deters crime remains to be seen. Until then, it’s giving criminals a hard lesson on why you shouldn’t commit crimes.

Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson says the shooting case involving Clinton Pierre will be brought before a grand jury.

La Porte, Texas

From the Houston Chronicle of October 28, 2006

Couple’s dispute ends in slaying

A La Porte pawnshop worker fatally shot a man who arrived at the business Saturday morning and shot his own wife, who worked there. The woman, who was not identified, was taken via Life Flight to UTMB Galveston, where she underwent surgery and was listed in good condition. Shortly after the woman arrived for work at the store in the 200 block of South Highway 146, about 9 a.m., her estranged husband showed up and the two began arguing. The woman’s male co-worker, who was not identified, intervened and the two men began fighting. Store employees retreated inside, as did the woman’s husband, who pulled a pistol and shot his wife once in the abdomen. The worker got a store gun and shot the man in the chest. The man died at the scene. The worker had facial injuries and was treated at a local hospital.

Amite, Louisiana

From the Baton Rouge Advocate of October 28, 2006

Report shows shooting appears to be self-defense

A preliminary autopsy report indicates that a former Department of Public Safety employee allegedly shot and killed her stepfather in self-defense, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards said Friday.

The formal report on the autopsy performed Friday on Halsel Canavier, 63, of Tickfaw won?t be completed until next week, Edwards said.

But from what his detectives have seen from the autopsy, Edwards said that Katherine Favre, 35, of Tickfaw, appeared to have shot Canavier in self-defense, as she told deputies on Thursday.

Edwards emphasized that the shooting remains under investigation.

The case will be turned over to the 21st Judicial District Attorney?s Office to determine whether charges should be pressed, Edwards said.

(More)

Kingsport, Tennessee

From the Kingsport Times-News of October 28, 2006

Business owner fires shot at burglar, suspects flee

A business owner who decided to stay at his establishment overnight had an unwelcome visitor early this morning.

According to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Kenneth Harville, owner of Kenny’s Bait and Tackle on state Highway 75, was awakened by the sound of breaking glass about 3 a.m. He reached the front of his store as a white male was climbing through a broken window near the cash register.

The burglar then started yelling to someone outside the business that someone was in the store. As the suspect crawled out the window, Harville fired one round towards him.

According to police, the unknown white male got into a light colored vehicle that someone else was driving and fled towards Blountville. Though several officers responded, they were unable to locate the vehicle or suspects.

Vallejo, California

From the Vallejo Times-Herald of October 28, 2006

Abduction interrupted

Oakland Hills home invasion ends in shootout; women safe; police seek suspect

A masked man abducted an Oakland Hills woman and her maid at gunpoint Friday before driving the pair to a Vallejo marsh, where authorities speculate he was about to kill them when a property caretaker interrupted the crime.

The suspect had just forced one of the women to lie down in a ditch when the caretaker, armed with a shotgun for protection against thieves, arrived around 2 p.m., authorities said. The suspect and caretaker exchanged shots before the suspect sped away in the Oakland woman’s Lexus sport-utility vehicle.

No one was hit, and the women were not injured, though they had been bound and gagged. Tape could still be seen around one woman’s neck as investigators questioned her at the Highway 37 scene.

The suspect had unsuccessfully robbed the women, and authorities suspect he was trying to find an isolated spot to kill them.

“I don’t know why else he would take her over there and make her lie in the ditch,” Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Brackett said.

The shaken-up caretaker, Doug Paul of Vallejo, said: “I think he was doing something bad. It’s pretty f—ed up to have a woman gagged and bound.”

Authorities are on the lookout for the dark gray 2006 Lexus RX 400H Hybrid with California license plate number

(More)

Orlando, Florida

From Orlando?s WFTV.com of October 27, 2006

Elderly Orlando Man Stops Home Invasion

An elderly Orlando man was nearly the victim of a home invasion, but then took matters into his own hands.

Four teens reportedly rang the doorbell of 73-year-old Harold Murphy?s home on Signal Hill road, Thursday night. When they tried to break in, he was waiting.

?Having been in the military for 30-years and in situations where I was shot at, I?m no stranger to danger,? said Harold Murphy.

Murphy served in the Navy fifty years ago and has a concealed weapons permit. So when someone started knocking on his door, he got ready.

?I just picked up my gun and stood in the bathroom door so I could watch my front door, in case someone kicked it in,? said Harold Murphy.

A few seconds later, he saw a shadow in the back of his home. Then, someone tried to pry open the window.

?I pulled the drape back and pointed the gun at them,? said Harold Murphy.

The suspects took off. Orlando police looked for the four men, but couldn’t find them.

Murphy says this is the second time he’s confronted burglars. In 1983, another burglar came through his front door. Murphy was again waiting with a gun.

Murphy says it doesn’t matter that he’s in his 70’s, if you are an intruder you better watch out.

?I won?t shoot them outside the house. If they come inside, that’s my castle, not theirs,? said Harold Murphy.

Orlando police say the four suspects were all wearing dark clothing. They are described as four black teenagers.

Jackson, Mississippi

From the Jackson Clarion Ledger of October 27, 2006

Suspect shot, killed in home invasion attempt

A Jackson man was shot and killed earlier this afternoon in an apparent home invasion attempt on Houston Avenue, said Cmdr. Lee Vance, a spokesman for the Jackson Police Department.

Ronnie Chambers, 29, died at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, following an attempt to forcibly enter an apartment at 593 Houston Ave. about 12:53 p.m. today, Vance said.

No charges will be filed against the resident, whom Vance would not identify. ?Apparently the shooting was justified,? he said.

Since no charges will be filed, the department will not release the 30-year-old man?s name, he said.

Charlotte, North Carolina

From the Charlotte Observer of October 28, 2006

Again, clerk fights back during robbery attempt

73-year-old ‘Miss Ruth’ in critical condition after exchanging gunfire

Ruth Robinson is a fighter.

When she was 67, she shot and killed a teenager who’d pointed a gun at her husband during a robbery attempt at their northwest Charlotte convenience store.

Another man tried to rob Robinson on Thursday night.

She shot at him, too.

But this time, Robinson, now 73, was struck in the neck by a bullet.

She was at Carolinas Medical Center in critical condition late Friday. Family members said she had surgery in the late afternoon and is expected to recover.

Robinson, whose husband died several years ago, works part time at the Convenience Shop-Mart on Beatties Ford Road at Lasalle Street.

She was behind the counter about 10:30 p.m. Thursday; her sister was in the cooler stocking shelves.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said a man entered the west Charlotte store and attempted to hold up Robinson. The two exchanged gunfire, then she fell to the floor and he ran off.

Capt. Sean Mulhall said investigators have not yet been able to interview Robinson.

Police don’t know who fired first or whether the man was hit. They do not have a good description of him, Mulhall said.