Carlisle, Pennsylvania

From the Patriot News of May 31, 2008

Armed homeowner foils invasion

Eugene Johnson reacted in a flash when his wife heard someone kick in the back door of their Carlisle home at 2:30 a.m. Friday.

Johnson, 75, a retired Army sergeant first class who fought in the Korean War, grabbed his pistol. He was ready when a silhouette of a man appeared in the darkened doorway of his bedroom.

“He said, ‘Don’t move, I have a gun,’” Johnson recalled. “I said, ‘Buddy, I’ve got a gun, too, and it’s [aimed] right on you.

“Things got quiet then,” he said.

They got quiet because the would-be home invader had high-tailed it out of there, police said.

Johnson would have been legally justified in pulling the trigger, Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said.

“The homeowner acted appropriately,” Freed said. “Criminals who break into occupied homes assume the risk of being shot by the homeowners.”

Johnson, a 20-year Army veteran who spent nearly three years as a prisoner of war in North Korea, said Friday’s incident occurred two weeks after another burglary at his home in the 1200 block of North West Street.

He and his wife, Bernadine, 71, were away during the May 16 break-in. “They trashed the place and stole money,” Johnson said.

The back door that was damaged in the earlier burglary had not yet been repaired when the invader or invaders kicked it in Friday. Once inside, the culprit or culprits turned off the home’s electricity, he said.

“My wife heard the back door being smashed. All at once the lights went out, and she told me, ‘Get your gun,’” Johnson said.

He said he isn’t sure how many people were involved in the break-in, but he saw only one man and heard one male voice.

Lt. Michael Dzezinski said police don’t know if the May 16 burglary and Friday’s home invasion are connected.

The man who threatened the Johnsons might have been trying to detain them while accomplices rifled through the house, he said.

Police don’t have a description of the burglar who confronted the couple, and no suspects were found during a search of the area immediately after the invasion, Dzezinski said.

Henderson County, North Carolina

From the Times News of May 16, 2008

Man shoots bear in backyard

David Jenkins woke Wednesday morning to the barking of his dog, Sammy. He soon discovered the cause of the commotion ? a black bear in the backyard of his Henderson County home.

Jenkins said he grabbed his shotgun for protection. He told his wife to stay in the house as he went to try to scare the bear and rescue his dog.

?The bear was standing up on his hind legs and I knew it was going to kill my dog. … I had to do something,? Jenkins said.

After an attempt to scare off the bear failed, Jenkins said he knew he had to protect his dog and himself.

So Jenkins fired his shotgun in the direction of the bear. The shot hit the bear.

?The bear started to wander off and I didn?t want to leave a wounded bear wandering around the neighborhood,? he said. ?So I followed the bear and shot him again.?

Jenkins said he immediately alerted the local game warden about what happened. He said a biologist came to his house first and extracted a tooth from the bear to determine its age.

Jenkins said the black bear was about 2 years old. It weighed about 250 pounds, he said.

?When the game warden arrived he said that I was fully justified in the shooting because I had attempted to scare the bear away before firing my first shot,? he said. ?It was a very unfortunate situation.?

Times-News efforts to contact Henderson County authorities with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission were unsuccessful Thursday.

Jenkins said he has never seen a bear in his neighborhood off Howard Gap Road, though he has seen deer, coyote and wild turkeys.

?I was scared to death of the thing,? he said.

Boise, Idaho

From KTVB of May 30, 2008

Man shoots, kills agressive pit bull

Police say a Boise man shot a pit bull with a shotgun after the man says the animal was being threatening towards him.

It happened on the 2700 block of Westland Place in Boise near Ustick and Cole.

Officers say Dave Davies called police just before 8:00 p.m., saying his neighbor?s pit bull was being aggressive toward him. Two minutes later ? Davies called back and said he shot the dog.

Davies said he was outside working on his motorcycle when the dog jumped a fence and came toward him in an ?aggressive? manner. When Davies was inside calling police, he grabbed his shotgun.

Police say he went back outside and shot the animal. Boise Police Lt. Ron Winegar said the man may have a warranted defense.

“We would never advocate it happening within the city limits in this kind of a neighborhood can be very dangerous,? Winegar said. ?At the same time, depending on the circumstances, we always have the right to defend ourselves.”

Davies says he has reported the pit bull in the past ? and said he was told he has the right to defend himself on his property if an animal is being aggressive.

Other neighbors said they have not had problems with the animal.

The dog?s owner was not at home at the time of the incident.

Fort Worth, Texas

From WFAA of May 23, 2008

Guard shoots man at FW grocery store

A man suspected of stealing may have been fatally shot outside a Fort Worth grocery store after he was followed to his car.

The incident began after a Sack ‘n Save manager became suspicious of a man exiting the store who he believed was carrying stolen merchandise at around 8:25 p.m., authorities said.

The manager followed the man into the store’s parking lot in the 3400 block of Altamesa Boulevard and confronted him as he got into a white truck.

As the manager attempted to detain the man, the suspect began to drive off. A security guard, who had walked outside to check on the manager, said the truck drove straight towards him, which was when he fired a shot at the vehicle. The truck fled the scene.

Authorities later discovered a man was admitted with a gunshot wound to the Huguley Hospital in Fort Worth. The man, who police believe may have been the driver of the white truck, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Sumpter County, South Carolina

From WLTX of May 25, 2008

Store Owner Shoots Robbery Suspects

After a weekend full of robberies in Sumter County, deputies are investigating another incident that they don’t believe are related to the other four.

Deputies say that early Saturday morning, two teenagers broke in to Dixon’s Grocery on Highway 261 in Rembert.

Authorities say that the owner of the store arrived and was able to shoot two of the suspects with bird shots, who were attempting to steal alcohol. When Sumter County deputies arrived at Dixon’s, the suspects had taken off.

An incident report says that Sumter dispatch received a call from 17-year-old Philip Steinle, who said he was on his way to the hospital with two people who had been shot in a neighborhood behind Wal-Mart on Broad Street.

Steinle was pulled over by a city police officer, who discovered that the two passengers had apparently been shot by a shotgun with a bird shot. The city officer was then notified by a Sumter County deputy of the incident at Dixon’s Grocery.

One of the teens, a 16-year-old from Hopkins, is at Sumter’s Tuomey Hospital in fair condition, while the other, 17-year-old Dontrell Jenkins, was airlifted to Palmetto Richland.

Steinle admitted to authorities that he waited in a car while Jenkins and the 16-year-old attempted to break in to Dixon’s. Steinle said that both teens ran back to the car, injured.

Steinle was taken to the Sumter County jail, where he is being charged with burglary and larceny.

Houston, Texas

From the Houston Chronicle of May 23, 2008

Store clerk fatally shoots robbery suspect in N. Houston

As a gas station attendant, “Ash” Hussain had heard the horror stories about convenience store robberies and deadly shootings. On Friday afternoon, he would find himself in just that situation.

Loaded with cash taken from the Texaco gas station in the 9400 block of North Freeway, the robbers left the store headed for their getaway car. The 22-year-old clerk had followed with his own pistol, hoping to get the vehicle’s license plate number. Then one gunman turned and pointed his pistol at Hussain.

The clerk fatally shot him ? something he thought he’d never have to do.

“This is a day I’ll never forget,” said Hussain, who has worked at the store for about a year and a half. “I wish it hadn’t happened, but it did.”

Authorities have not identified the dead man, who was found in a field about a quarter-mile from the store. Police dogs found his alleged accomplice hiding in a nearby abandoned trailer, said Houston Police Department Homicide Division investigator Dan Arnold.

…

No charges have been filed against Hussain.

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Kalispell, Montana

From ABC Montana of May 29, 2008

Montana hunter shoots wolf in self defense

A man hunting black bear shot and killed a wolf near Olney, northwest of Whitefish.

Zachary Harms of Kalispell was driving his truck up a forest road Tuesday when he saw movement. He walked along the road with his rifle, thinking he may have seen a black bear. Two wolves then ran out from the side of the road. One ran across the road and up the hillside. The other ran down the road towards Harms. The wolf closed to approximately 10 feet and Harms fired, hitting the female wolf in the front of the head.

The hunter contacted the sheriff’s office later that day and reported he had killed a wolf. Two state game wardens investigated, and determined the shooting was in self-defense and was allowed under state law.

Spartanburg County, South Carolina

From WYFF4 of May 28, 2008

Homeowner Wounds Burglary Suspect

A homeowner told deputies that when he saw a burglar breaking into his outbuilding Tuesday morning, he grabbed his shotgun and fired a couple rounds. Deputies said the wounded suspect was found a couple miles away.

Spartanburg sheriff?s Maj. Dan Johnson said the man lives on Bellew Carver Road off Blackstock Road. He said he saw the burglar trying to break into the building at about 6:30 a.m.

Johnson said the wounded suspect ran about two miles to a Chevron Gas Station on New Cut Road off Interstate 26, where deputies found him about 40 minutes later.

The man was transported to a hospital for treatment of superficial wounds.

Spartanburg School District 6 officials said that Arcadia and Fairforest Elementary schools and Fairforest Middle, were put on lockdown as a precaution as a precaution as deputies searched for the would-be robber, but officials stressed that students were never in danger.

Johnson said that there are charges pending in connection with the incident.

From GoUpstate.com of May 29, 2008

Go Upstate Police Blotter

On Wednesday at about 6:30 a.m. a 54-year-old Spartanburg man told officers he shot at a man attempting to steal from a building outside his home.

Andre Maurice Curenton, 17, of 425 King Court, Inman, was later charged with third- degree burglary.

The homeowner said a motion alarm from the building woke him up, and he saw a man inside the shop. He said he shot into the shop toward the ground, and Curenton came out with his hands up. The homeowner then shot at the man’s legs.

Maj. Dan Johnson of the sheriff’s office said Curenton was treated for minor injuries resulting from shotgun pellets.

Spartanburg, South Carolina

From The State of May 24, 2008

No charges expected in fatal Spartanburg County shooting

Authorities say they don’t plan to charge a man who shot another man who tried to hit his estranged wife with his truck.

The coroner’s office told WSPA-TV that 36-year-old Kenneth Ross Jr. of Greer was shot several times early Saturday morning and died at the hospital.

Deputies say Ross confronted his estranged wife and a male friend at her Spartanburg home and tried to hit the woman with his truck, but struck her car instead.

Authorities say Ross then started coming toward his estranged wife. The man got his gun and ordered Ross to stop.

Deputies say Ross kept getting closer, so the man fired.

Investigators say they consulted with prosecutors and decided not to charge the shooter because he was acting in self defense.

Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

From KDKA of May 29, 2008

Suspect Shot During Burglary Attempt Faces Charges

A man is in the hospital and facing multiple charges today after police say he and another man broke into a South Side home in a burglary attempt.

Police say Dale Boehm, 19, is facing charges of burglary, robbery, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and criminal conspiracy.

According to police, the owner of the Josephine Street home was watching television when he heard breaking glass and his back door being kicked in around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Authorities say that’s when the homeowner retrieved his weapon and then found two men in his kitchen. Officials report that the men fired at one another.

Authorities say one of the suspects fled the scene after the gunfire. He has not been found, but police say they recovered a baseball bat and firearm while searching in the woods.

Police report that Boehm suffered a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

He is listed in critical condition, officials say.

Police say they have questioned the resident. Meanwhile, Boehm will be taken to the Allegheny County Jail when he is released from the hospital.

Akron, Ohio

From the Beacon Journal of May 27, 2008

Akron robbery suspect shot in chest

Akron police are investigating a home invasion in which one of two suspects was shot in the chest.

The 20-year-old resident told police he shot one of two men with a rifle Monday night as they were entering his home in the 700 block of Fultz Street in West Akron after kicking in the front door.

Police responded to a call about the incident about 10:15 p.m.

Police said the suspect who was shot is Tyler McCraney, 19, of Akron. He remains at an area hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound.

The other suspect, Aharon Pittman, 18, is in the Summit County Jail.

Police charged both suspects with aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

From the Greenbay Press Gazette of May 28, 2008

Chased by armed homeowner, would-be thief drops plasma TV

A burglar stole a big-screen TV from a town of Sheboygan home this morning but abandoned the item while fleeing an armed homeowner, according to the Sheboygan County Sheriff?s Department.

The incident occurred about 3:30 a.m. at a home on Hunter?s Glen Drive, Capt. Dave Adams said.

According to Adams:

The homeowner’s wife woke up when she heard the burglary and roused her husband, who armed himself with a handgun and went to investigate. The burglar or burglars were gone by the time the man reached the living room and discovered his 42-inch plasma TV was missing.

Deputies used a police dog to track the suspect south from the home. The TV was found nearby in a line of trees, but the dog lost the scent soon after.

Fort Worth, Texas

From NBC5i of May 28, 2008

14-Year-Old Shoots, Kills Teenage Neighbor

Police said a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed by a visiting teen in his south Fort Worth home shot and killed the boy on Wednesday.

Investigators said the 14-year-old told police Danny Allen, 13, was visiting his house on Buffalo Springs Drive near Interstate 35 when he began stabbing him at about 5:30 p.m.

According to police, the two teenagers struggled before the 14-year-old grabbed his father’s gun and shot Allen.

Neighbor Charles McDonald found the 14-year-old outside his house covered in blood.

“Blake come running out the door and run across the street, and I got him stopped,” McDonald said. “He was bleeding all over; (his) head and shoulders were completely saturated in blood.”

McDonald said he tried to keep the teenager calm.

The 14-year-old was taken to the hospital. His family told NBC 5 the boy was out of surgery and in stable condition on Wednesday night.

When asked if he thought his 14-year-old neighbor did the right thing, McDonald said the boy “probably” did.

“I don’t know the circumstances. Probably. I would say so. He’s not the kind to go around beating people up,” McDonald said.

Police said they do not expect to file charges in the case.

Dallas, Texas

From WFAA of May 21, 2008

Duncanville woman shoots would-be burglar

Officers covered the lawn of a Duncanville home Tuesday afternoon as they investigated the shooting of a suspected burglar.

Authorities said a woman called 911 after she heard a man breaking into her home in the 300 block of Partridge Run.

When officers arrived on the scene, they said they found the suspect shot in the abdomen on the lawn of a nearby driveway and a gun in the yard of the woman’s home. Authorities said the woman shot the would-be burglar.

“I looked out the window and there were people yelling and screaming,” said Wallis Young, a witness. “Then, the lady in green ran back inside, got a gun and started running down the street.”

The shooting victim was taken to a nearby hospital. Neither his condition nor his identity have been released.

Akron, Ohio

From the Beacon Journal of May 15, 2008

Second Akron store worker fires on robbers

For the second straight night, an Akron convenience store clerk opened fire on would-be robbers.

The latest shooting occured Wednesday night at the Delia Market where police say a clerk wounded one of the three armed robbers.

Gerald Arnold, 17, of Akron was arrested by police at Akron General Medical Center where he was being treated for a gunshot wound to the leg about 10 minutes after the robbery.

Arnold was charged as a juvenile with robbery.

Also arrested in connection with the Delia robbery is 18-year-old William Oldham of Alkron. A third suspect is being sought by Akron police detectives.

Police Lt. Rick Edwards said three men entered the Delia Market at about 8 p.m. All were armed with handguns. One robber put his weapon to the head of a clerk and demaded money.

Another clerk appeared and fired several shots. The clerk told police he believed he shot one of the suspects before the trio fled without any money.

Police received a call from hospital workers a short time later.

Edwards said police do not believe the robber was connected to Tuesday’s attempted heist at a West Market Street store where a clerk fired a pistol at two would-be robbers.