Polk County, Florida

From the Central Florida News of April 28, 2009

Robbery Suspect Dies After Being Shot By Property Owner

A Polk County man shot at two robbery suspects Tuesday morning when he thought they were going to run him down.

One of the suspects was hit in the head and died, and the other is still at large.

The incident happened near a citrus grove on Rifle Range Road in the Wahneta area of Winter Haven.

Property owner Jamie Jones heard a commotion outside while working inside his shed just before dawn.

Jones told detectives a man and woman were driving away in his Land Rover. He said after they saw him, they tried to run him over.

Fearing for his life, Jones pulled the trigger.

One of the bullets hit 21-year-old Nikki McCormick in the head. While she lay bleeding in the passenger seat, the male suspect fled on foot.

McCormick was rushed to the hospital where she later died.

Detectives aren’t sure if the male suspect was hit. The property owner last saw him limping down a nearby street.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office searched for him by air and ground for hours but did not locate him. The sheriff’s office hasn’t been able to identify him.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says Jones likely won’t face charges, and he offers a warning to other would-be robbers.

“The word to the criminal is first — quit being a criminal, quit stealing,” Judd said. “But if you’re breaking into someone’s house, the homeowner is very likely to shoot you.”

Midlothian, Texas

From the Star-Telegram of April 27, 2009

Midlothian man’s fatally shot at Arlington house, police say

A 42-year-old Midlothian man was fatally shot in Friday night by his former father-in-law, Arlington police said.

Police said the shooting appeared to be in self-defense, and that they would turn over evidence to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office for a determination. No one has been arrested.

Rodney Kennedy was at a home in the 1400 block of Pecan Street when he was shot by his former father-in-law, 67, police said. The shooting happened at 10 p.m. during an altercation, according to reports.

The house is near the University of Texas at Arlington.

Passcagoula, Mississippi

From the Sun Herald of April 24, 2009

Son?s 2nd shot kills intruder

A woman, awakened by the sound of someone removing the screen from her bedroom window, got out of her bed at 1 a.m. Friday, walked to her son?s room and quietly woke him.

?She said, ?Snigg get up,?? the son said in an interview later Friday morning.

?I got up, grabbed my gun and went to the corner there by her room,? he said, standing at the door of the apartment, on the bottom floor of the last in a row of Spanish-style buildings in the Granada Apartments on Chicot Road.

It was dark in the apartment, but the window was backlit, Snigg said. He heard the window go up and saw a man coming in.

?He stuck his hand under and pulled the blinds back, the blinds and the curtain,? he said. ?And he eased in like he was attempting to come in.

?I fired two shots, then he ran off,? Snigg said.

Police say they won?t identify the woman or her son, who offered the nickname Snigg, for fear of retribution.

Javorous Darnell Tims, 20, ran about 80 feet from the window, fell to the sidewalk and died of a single gunshot wound, police said Friday.

Pascagoula police said Snigg and his mother acted appropriately, ?taking the actions they felt necessary to protect themselves.? However, because a man died, the case will be presented to a grand jury for review.

Tims, who had at one time lived in apartments not far away, was a familiar face in the parking lot of the Granada Apartments, according to Dustin Clarke, 22, who handles maintenance and courtesy security at the apartments.

Not many people in the complex heard the shots, said Clarke, who was at the scene when police investigated the shooting and talked with residents and investigators.

Clarke said Tims had gotten his head through the window when Snigg fired the first shot and missed. That shot hit the wall under the window, Clarke said. By the time Snigg fired the second shot, Tims had turned. The bullet went through Tims? upper body, he said.

?The blinds were down. And the bullet hole in the blinds supported his (Snigg?s) story,? Clarke said.

(More)

Stites, Idaho

From KLEW of April 24, 2009

Kamiah man shot and killed during alleged break-in in Stites

The FBI and Nez Perce Tribal Police are investigating a fatal shooting at that took place at a grocery store in Stites early Thursday morning.

It happened during an apparent attempted break-in

The Idaho County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a 21-year-old Kamiah man was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity was being withheld until family was notified.

He was one of two men who were reportedly trying to break into the Stites Grocery Store. He was shot and killed during the alleged break-in. The Sheriff’s Office says the other suspect ran from the scene. Witnesses say the pair came in through a fan vent in the back of the store.

The grocery store owner, who asked to not be identified, said a man was working on an upstairs computer at the store when he heard a noise. She said that’s when one of the alleged would-be burglars “came at” the man who then shot the alleged burglar in the leg. She says when the alleged burglar didn’t stop, the man fired a second shot into his chest.

The Idaho County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center said the call came in at 3:24 a.m. from the man who had done the shooting, saying he had shot an intruder in the store.

It was unknown if either alleged intruder was armed.

Upon arrival, deputies secured the scene while the Clearwater Valley Ambulance stood by.

The FBI is leading the investigation because the man who was killed is believed to be a Nez Perce Tribal member and the shooting took place on reservation land.

Pittsburg, California

From the San Jose Mercury News of April 24, 2009

Man wrestles gun from intruder in Pittsburg home invasion

A Pittsburg man fought off two men who broke into his home early Friday morning, wrestled away a shotgun and shot one of the suspects with it as he fled, according to the victim and police.

The wounded suspect left the scene but was arrested after being treated at a hospital, said Sgt. Steve Albanese. Police also arrested a second suspect and are still searching for more people connected with the home invasion.

The incident happened just after midnight when two men with guns broke down the front door and entered the home on Calistoga Drive.

The male homeowner, who declined to be named, said he was awakened and came out of his bedroom to investigate the noise. He said he was confronted by one man with a sawed-off shotgun and a second man with a handgun. He wrestled the shotgun out of the suspect’s hand, and the man fell on him, he said.

The second suspect then reportedly shot at the victim’s wife but did not hit her. The victim, whose stepson was also in the home, said he got up, recovered the shotgun and began shooting in the direction of the suspects.

The suspects fled, and the victim fired one round as they ran across a neighbor’s driveway, hitting one man in the upper torso, Albanese said.

The victim said there was nothing in his house worth stealing and guessed that the suspects may have targeted the wrong address.

“We don’t have valuables or anything,” he said.

Police could not release further details because they are still investigating the incident, Albanese said.

Tucson, Arizona

From the April 24, 2009 Arizona Daily Star:

A woman who tried to carjack a man at gunpoint outside a North Side Walgreens early Thursday was shot and wounded by the man, police said.

The man called police around 12:30 a.m. to report he had just shot one of two women who tried to take his car as he waited in the pharmacy drive-through near East Grant and North Swan roads, said Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.

Pacheco gave this account:

The 26-year-old man, whose name was not released, had just left Tucson Medical Center and went to fill a prescription.

When he drove back to the drugstore to check on his prescription, two women came up to his car. One was armed with a gun.

The woman tried to shoot the man, but he pulled his own gun while she was trying to pull the trigger. Her gun didn’t fire for an unknown reason.

The man fired his gun twice. One shot grazed her head, and the other struck her in the shoulder.

The woman fell to the ground, and the man took her gun away.

Lakeland, Florida

From The Ledger of April 23, 2009

Homeowner Cleared in Shooting

Prosecutors have concluded a Lake Wales security guard who shot a man who was breaking into his home was justified in using deadly force.

Assistant State Attorney Robert Antonello wrote a letter with his findings about the March 18, nonfatal shooting to the Lake Wales Police Department.

In the letter released Thursday, Antonello said William Cornwell, a hospital security guard, was protecting himself and his young children.

Cornwell arrived at his Grove Avenue home just before 7 a.m. His wife left for work, and he was alone with his 3 1/2-month-old son and 3 1/2-year-old daughter.

A noise awoke him from his sleep and, armed with a semi-automatic pistol, he went to find out what was happening, Antonello wrote.

Cornwell came “face-to-face” in the hallway of his home with Michael Collins who swung a crowbar at Cornwell’s head. Cornwell chased Collins out the back door and fired two shots, Antonello wrote.

Collins ran to his vehicle parked in the house’s driveway, Antonello wrote. Cornwell ran back through his house, out the front door, and “instinctively opened fire on the vehicle (at the tires and body) in an attempt to disable it and prevent the intruder from leaving.”

Collins drove about 200 feet up the road to an orange grove where his vehicle overturned, and he was captured.

Lake Wales police say Collins, 45, was struck in the head and left arm by the gunfire, but survived.

Collins was flown to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment.

He is charged with armed burglary and possession of burglary tools. He remains in the Polk County Jail and is being held without bail on the burglary charge.

Brainerd, Tennessee

From the Chattanoogan of April 21, 2009

Brainerd Man Shoots 2 Dogs Attacking Neighbor’s Dogs

A Brainerd man shot and killed two pit bull dogs attacking a neighbor’s pit bull in an incident on Sunday.

The case was turned over by Chattanooga Police to the McKamey Animal Trust.

McKamey officials have charged the owner of the two dogs, Walter Pitmon, for letting his dogs run at large.

Police Officer Brian Blumenberg said he responded to 108 S. Howell Ave. and spoke with Stephen Hooper, who said two pit bulls attacked his pit bull who was chained in the back yard.

He said while the attack was going on, his neighbor, James Klassen, came out of his house at 106 S. Howell Ave. with his pistol and shot the attacking dogs an unknown amount of times.

Mr. Hooper said after the dogs were shot, they ran off. The dogs were later taken by McKamey officers to an animal clinic on Amnicola Highway. They were later put down.

Officer Blumenberg said Mr. Pitmon arrived at the scene and identified himself as the owner of the two dogs. He said he was trying to feed the dogs at his residence at 113 Spring Creek Road when they got out. He said that was about an hour before the attack.

He said he went looking for them, then saw a number of officers at the house on South Howell and suspected that it involved the two dogs.

A neighbor, Matthew Overby, said he was playing with his four-year-old cousin less than 100 feet from where he heard six or seven shots.

He said he put the cousin inside and went looking in his truck to find who was firing shots in the neighborhood.

He said he found a pit bull with a bullet wound that severed its spine. He said he then saw the second dog that had also been shot.

Mr. Overby said he waited on Conner Street “with several more Good Samaritans who had stopped to help these two dying, bleeding dogs.”

He said the owner eventually showed up “and was initially upset with them for getting out in the first place. His anger quickly turned to tears as he just held his dogs.”

Spartanburg, South Carolina

From the Spartanburg Herald-Journal of April 22, 2009

Shootings found to be self-defense

Spartanburg County deputies determined that a man who shot two people Monday night outside his residence was acting in self-defense and charged the two men on Tuesday.

Daniel Scott Byrd, 22, of 115 Keith Street, Greer and Josh Duncan, 24, of 207 Church St., Wellford were each charged with one count of assault and battery.

Byrd’s stomach was grazed by a bullet and Duncan was struck in the buttocks during a fight Monday night outside a Keith Street residence.

Larry James Pruitt Jr., 41, told deputies that a group of people were causing “a bad ruckus” outside his home and he asked them to keep it down. Pruitt said Byrd and Duncan then came into his yard and began choking and assaulting him.

Pruitt said he pulled a revolver from his pocket and fired several times, then ran into his home, reloaded his gun and waited for deputies.

Multiple people who said they witnessed the incident told deputies Pruitt was truthful about what happened.

When the deputy arrived, Duncan and Byrd were still on the ground outside of Pruitt’s home.

**Note**
Potential criminals beware, this is the third incident of self-defense in Spartanburg, SC in the past month alone.

Missoula, Montana

From KPAX of April 21, 2009

Man shoots wolf for threatening cattle

A landowner shot and killed a wolf on private property near Hamilton over the weekend after he said he saw the animal chasing his cattle.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigated Saturday’s incident and said the man’s actions were warranted. Federal rules say wolves in the experimental wolf population area of Montana – which includes much of the southern half of the state – can legally be killed if they are seen killing or threatening to kill dogs or livestock. All incidents must be reported to FWP within 24 hours.

Wolves are expected to be removed from the federal Endangered Species List on May 4, after which they will become reclassified under state law as a species in need of management. The flexibility to protect livestock and domestic dogs will be provided in Montana law and will apply to the entire state.

Springfield, Oregon

From KTMR of April 22, 2009

Springfield police say fatal shooting was self-defense

Police say a fatal shooting in Springfield was an act of self-defense.

The shooting happened Monday night at a home on the 2300 block of E Street. Investigators say Rodolfo Baldenegro, 47, went to the home looking for his estranged girlfriend. Investigators say the woman had filed a restraining order against him.

Police say Baldenegro forced his way into the residence and got into a fight with the woman and another man. Police say the other man shot Baldenegro in self-defense. Baldenegro died at the hospital.

Columbus, Ohio

From 10TV.com of April XX, 2009

Clerk Opens Fire On Would-Be Robber

Two men were hospitalized on Wednesday after they were shot during a hold up at a drive-thru on the city’s northeast side, 10TV News reported.

The shooting occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at Dani’s Drive-Thru, located near the corner of Westerville and Agler roads.

Investigators said a man walked inside and tried to rob the clerk, but the clerk produced a gun and opened fire, wounding the man in the legs, 10TV News reported.

The man was apprehended about a block away near a home on Cleveland Avenue.

The other person wounded in the shooting may have been an innocent bystander, police said.

The injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

No other injuries were reported.

Charlotte, North Carolina

From the Charlotte Observer of April 22, 2009

Home invasion … kids, adults not hurt

Police are looking for three suspects wanted in connection with a home invasion overnight in northwest Charlotte.

The incident ended with the homeowner firing shots at the fleeing attackers.

It started about 11 p.m. at a residence in the 2700 block of Kendrick Drive, in the Coulwood area.

Police say three men kicked in the front door of the home, where three adults and two children were living. The attackers took money and fled.

While they were fleeing, police say, one of the adult residents fired shots at them. It is not known if the suspects were hit by the gunfire.

The getaway vehicle was described as a white Ford Contour or a Ford Taurus.

The suspects were described as short and thin black males, who covered their faces with shirts.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers, 704-334-1600.

Augusta, Georgia

From April 20, 2009 WRDW channel 12:

AUGUSTA, Ga.—An 18-year-old was shot after investigators say he tried to rob a pizza deliveryman at an empty house.

if (self['plpm'] && plpm['Mid-Story Ad']) document.write(‘

‘);if (self['plpm'] && plpm['Mid-Story Ad']){ document.write(plpm['Mid-Story Ad']);} else { if(self['plurp'] && plurp['97']){} else {document.write(”); } }if (self['plpm'] && plpm['Mid-Story Ad']) document.write(‘

‘);

A delivery in Augusta turned into a crime scene Sunday for Papa Johns Driver Tavarius Lewis. When he tried to deliver a pizza to this house on Dent Street Sunday night, investigators say Kevin Martin pulled a BB gun and tried to rob Lewis.

“[Lewis] started backing up, reached in his pocket and pulled out a .40 caliber handgun and shot the suspect,” said Sgt. Blaise Dresser, of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Dresser says Lewis shot in self-defense, not realizing Martin’s weapon was only a BB gun.

It’s a scary situation for neighbor Oscar Lacey, who lives just across the street and heard the shots.

“With things like this happening it means I have to lock up my house. You don’t have the freedom on your own property anymore. You could get hit by a stray bullet,” says Lacey.

Investigators believe this was not Martin’s first robbery. Less than 24 hours before the shooting on Dent street a similar robbery happened just a few streets over, on Truxton Road. Martin lives just a few houses down from there.

**Note from the Owners**
Ladies and gentlemen, Clayton Cramer and David Burnett are proud to present the 4,000th documented story of self-defense with a firearm. On a simple average, that is a little more than two defensive gun uses per day in the United States, but research tells us this number is far higher. We want to thank all of our loyal readers, and especially our advertisers and donors. There are greater goals with this website than money, but we are greatly encouraged whenever a reader sees fit to reward us for our work to promote education on gun rights, and it provides an extra incentive to continue providing the best, most updated, most comprehensive armed citizen archive on the internet. Please take a second to share these 4000 stories with your friends, both pro-gun and anti-gun, and keep coming back for more!

Sincerely,
Clayton Cramer and David Burnett
Civilian Gun Defense

Kingsport, Tennessee

From the April 13, 2009 Kingsport (Tenn.) Times-News:

A Kingsport man used his concealed handgun to protect himself during an alleged road rage incident on Sunday.

According to Kingsport Police, the incident occurred about 1:58 a.m. on Harris Avenue.

Michael Salyer told police he was headed home when a yellow Ford Probe in front of him started weaving from left to right.

The driver, later identified as Jonathan Lee Adams, 28, 1630 Spruce St., stopped in the middle of the road, jumped out and started screaming at him, Salyer said.

When Adams tried to get in his car, Salyer said, that’s when he pulled out his handgun and ordered him to stop.

Adams’ passenger, later identified by police as his girlfriend Laura Kathleen Cain, 42, same address, then yelled at Adams, and he ran back toward the Probe and the pair drove off, Salyer said.

Police later found the Probe at the couple’s home.

The pair initially denied having the car out, saying they’d been home since 7 p.m.

Adams eventually admitted being involved in an argument with Salyer on Harris Avenue.