Hilton Head, South Carolina

From the Island Packet of September 23, 2009

Robber ends up running for his life after Hilton Head home owner shoots at him

A man stealing a coin collection in a Hilton Head Plantation home at noon Wednesday found himself running for his life after the homeowner shot at him and chased him out of the house.

The unidentified man, who was armed with a large stick or club, broke into a house on Teal Lane while the residents were inside, according to a news release from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

The intruder entered through the unlocked front door and walked down the hall into a bedroom, where he started stealing a coin collection, according to the release. The owner confronted the robber, who threatened the owner and kept taking the coins, according to the release.

The owner ran to another room, grabbed a handgun and chased the robber. The owner fired a shot and missed, and the robber drove off in an SUV. Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Cpl. Robin McIntosh said she did not know if the shot was fired while they were inside or outside the home.

The homeowner fell while chasing the robber and suffered minor injuries. His wife, who also was home, was not injured, according to the release.

The homeowner told Hilton Head Plantation security officers the robber fled in a 1990 or 1991 green or turquoise Ford Explorer driven by a second person.

The intruder dropped some of the stolen coins as he ran off, according to the release. The collection was estimated to be worth about $150, a Hilton Head Plantation official said.

The robber is described as white, in his mid-20s, about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, with light brown hair, according to the release. He was last seen wearing khaki cargo shorts and a white, long-sleeved shirt with multi-colored stripes.

A car matching the description of the SUV was caught on video exiting the community’s Cypress Gate around noon, according to a Hilton Head Plantation release.

Roadblocks were set up at that gate and the main gate, but security officials believe the robber had already left, the release said.

Peter Kristian, general manager of Hilton Head Plantation, said Wednesday afternoon it’s not clear how the suspects got inside the gated community.

He said no guest passes had been issued Wednesday for Teal Lane, and the robber might be a contractor or plantation employee.

Plantation security officials were cross-referencing employee decals and gate passes with the getaway vehicle’s description Wednesday afternoon, Kristian said. They also were searching surveillance tapes, he said.

Security officials suspect the intruder was trying to open unlocked doors in the neighborhood and thought the Teal Lane home was empty, Kristian said.

New Eagle, Pennsylvania

From the September 26, 2009 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

The victim of a robbery attempt shot and killed one of the robbers in New Eagle early yesterday, state police said.

Police said William Eyles, 25, of Monongahela, and Cole MacFarlane, 25, of New Eagle, tried to rob Joseph Gallick, who pulled a gun and shot Mr. Eyles.

Mr. Gallick was treated at Monongahela Hospital for injuries incurred during the crime. Mr. MacFarlane was charged with homicide, attempted robbery, conspiracy and criminal mischief and is in the Washington County Correctional Facility.

Detroit, Michigan

From the September 25, 2009 Lansing (Michigan) State-Journal:

DETROIT – A 43-year-old woman shot and killed a suspected purse snatcher who confronted her at a northwest Detroit gas station this morning, according to police.

Two men approached the Detroit woman at about 5:30 a.m. at the Schoolcraft and Southfield Mobil station, Detroit Police spokesman John Roach said. The woman is licensed to legally carry a gun for self-defense, he said.

“They didn’t realize she has a CCW (license), so she had a weapon of her own,” Roach said. “She fired several rounds at the suspects and they fled.”

The pair made off with the woman’s purse. But about a half-hour later, a man with several gunshot wounds went to Sinai-Grace Hospital for treatment and died later this morning.

“At this point, we believe this is one of the individuals in the robbery,” Roach said about the man who was shot.

Billings, Montana

From the September 21, 2009 Billings Gazette:

Houston, Texas

From the September 18, 2009 Houston Chronicle:

A teenage burglary suspect remains hospitalized after he was shot Friday morning while breaking into a home in southeast Houston, authorities said.

The owner of the home in the 8100 block of Gladstone was alone about 10:15 a.m. when he heard noises coming from the side of the house.

After hearing the sound of breaking glass, the homeowner, 42, grabbed his pistol and went to investigate. He pulled back a bedroom curtain and was confronted by the suspect, who was removing shards of the broken glass from the window, police said.

The homeowner was startled and fired a single shot. The suspect was struck but fled along with two other people. All three were taken into custody a short time later, police said.

Charlotte, North Carolina

From the Charlotte Observer of September 25, 2009

Homeowner opens fire at break-in suspect

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say a man in the University area spotted someone in his garage early Friday morning and opened fire at the suspect.

According to The Observer’s news partner WCNC, the homeowner on Glen Luce Avenue heard a noise around 3:30 a.m.

When the man found the suspect in the garage, police said he shot at the intruder. Investigators found blood outside, but have not located the suspect.

Mount Juliet, Tennessee

From WSMV of September 24, 2009

Woman In Shower Shoots At Intruder

A woman in Mount Juliet got a scare this week when a man broke into her home while she was in the shower.

The intruder quickly ran out, but the woman grabbed her gun and shot at his car.

Police arrested Franklin Fish a short time later. The woman identified him as the burglar.

Detectives believe Fish is wanted for several other home break-ins.

Lexington, Kentucky

From WTVQ of September 24, 2009

Would-Be Burglar Stopped By Homeowner

A Lexington man is behind bars after police say he tried to break into the wrong home overnight.

A man says he was taking a shower early this morning at his home on West Fourth Street, when he heard something just outside his house.

He told police he went around to check it out, and saw a man trying to break in through a window. That’s when the homeowner grabbed a gun and held the would-be burglar at gunpoint, while he called 9-1-1.

Police later caught up with and arrested Donovan Campbell. He’s now in jail, charged with burglary.

That homeowner runs a business out of his home, and he says he was tired of being broken into, so he decided to put a stop to it.

Traverse City, Michigan

From the Record Eagle of September 22, 2009

Resident expels intruder with handgun

An allegedly drunken man who entered a Traverse City home in the middle of the night found himself at gunpoint.

Aaron TwoCrow, 24, of Suttons Bay, allegedly entered a home on the 800 block of Fern Street at about 4:20 a.m. Saturday, police said. A female homeowner was up rocking her 15-month-old child in the living room when she heard her kitchen door open and saw a stranger in the home.

“She’s just sitting there in the dead of night … and this guy comes in and scares the crap out of her,” Traverse City Police Capt. Steve Morgan said.

The woman ran into her bedroom and told her sleeping husband, who retrieved a handgun and confronted TwoCrow. He ran from the house and was arrested without incident as he walked along nearby Hannah Avenue.

TwoCrow allegedly was intoxicated, Morgan said.

Police said TwoCrow has no known past or present connection to the residence, and gave no indication why he decided to go inside.

Such incidents happen occasionally in the city, police said. Homeowners are startled, though it’s the intruders who often face the highest risk.

“That’s a dangerous situation … with an armed homeowner,” Morgan said. “(Homeowners) don’t know what these people’s intent is, and you can only assume the worst when someone is coming into your house.”

TwoCrow allegedly entered through an unlocked door, as did two intoxicated men who entered Traverse City residences in similar incidents in June. Intoxicated individuals who wander around town late at night “do things that are unexpected and often illegal,” Morgan said, and residents are encouraged to lock up before they go to bed.

“The main thing is to keep your door locked,” he said. “That would prevent a lot of this stuff from happening.”

TwoCrow was charged with misdemeanor illegal entry, Grand Traverse Prosecutor Alan Schneider said.

Indianola, Illinois

From the Chicago Tribune of September 22, 2009

Ill. homeowner kills armed robbers

Police say an eastern Illinois man shot two people to death after they forced their way into his home and tried to rob him.

Vermilion County Sheriff Pat Hartshorn says the two masked men held the homeowner on the floor at gunpoint Monday night and choked him while demanding money. The sheriff says the alleged robbers were 22 and 17 but didn’t identify them or the homeowner.

Hartshorn says the men let the homeowner go when his wife said she had expensive jewelry upstairs. While the men focused on a jewelry box, the homeowner grabbed a handgun and shot them.

Hartshorn says another 17-year-old waited in a pickup outside. He drove away but was arrested a short time later.

Indianola is about 10 miles southwest of Danville.

McDonald, Pennsylvania

From WPXI of September 18, 2009

3 Men Force Their Way Into McDonald Home, Homeowner Chases Them Out

Police said three men who forced their way into a Washington County home were greeted by a homeowner with a shotgun.

?It?s not a very nice thing to happen in McDonald, because McDonald is a very quiet town,? said neighbor, Don Feigley.

Police said the homeowner, Joseph Tokarksi, who was one of several people in the house, came down the steps with the weapon in his hand.

?I?m prepared to do what I have to do to protect my home and my family,? said Toarski.

?I?m all for that. I think anybody should be allowed to defend themselves in their homes and defend their neighbors, if they want to,? said Feigley.

Police later caught two suspects whom they indentified as 19-year-old David Carlisle, of Cannonsburg, and 20-year-old Jermell McCullough, of Mt. Pleasant.

Both are being held in the Washington County Jail, each on $50,000 bond.

McDonald police are still looking for the third suspect.

Lemmon Valley, Nevada

From KOLO of September 20, 2009

Attempted Burglary Ends with Shot Fired at Homeowner

Police are investigating after a Lemmon Valley homeowner was shot at by a Sheriff’s Deputy while trying to defend his property from a suspected burglar Saturday night.

Rocky Triplett with the Sparks Police Department says just before midnight Saturday, a drunk man, 35-year-old Christopher Pool, entered his neighbor’s yard at 430 Paramount Ct. in Lemmon Valley. Pool was allegedly trying to either steal a car or burglarize the home. Pool didn?t know that the homeowners were home at the time.

Police say they received a call to respond to the home after it was reported that a suspicious man had climbed a fence, and was trying to steal a car.

The intruder was drunk and uncooperative when police entered the yard and began questioning him.

According to Police, the homeowners, Vince and Veronica Henderson, were aware of an intruder on their property after seeing him in their yard. Mrs. Henderson quickly turned on lights around the garage. Mr. Henderson grabbed his gun and went after Pool.

Deputies say they saw Mr. Henderson coming around the corner of the garage with a gun and a flashlight in his hands. One of the Deputies shouted at Henderson to drop his gun, but then fearing for his safety, fired a shot towards Henderson. Henderson was not hit.

After realizing that police had arrived, Mr. Henderson put his gun down. He and his wife were briefly detained and questioned. Police then arrested Pool.

No one was injured in the incident.

The Reno Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and Sparks Police Department are all investigating the incident. The names of the deputies are not being released at this time

Birmingham, Alabama

From the Montgomery Advertiser of September 18, 2009

Wetumpka man shoots alleged burglar

A Montgomery County man is in a Birmingham hospital with life-threatening injuries after a Wetumpka homeowner shot him during an alleged burglary.

Michael Dale Roberts II, 36, of Hope Hull was in the critical care unit Thursday of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, said Jeremy Amerson, an investigator with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred about 2:15 a.m. Thursday on Nancy Road in Wetumpka, police reports show.

Sheriff Bill Franklin declined to release the homeowner’s name since he hasn’t been charged with a crime in connection with the shooting.

The homeowner was awakened when he heard noises coming from his outside utility shed, Amerson said. The 64-year-old man told deputies he went to investigate and saw Roberts coming out of the shed carrying a grass trimmer and a chain saw.

“The two men got into a struggle, and then Roberts went to his car to try and get away, but the car wouldn’t start,” Amerson said. “He then got out of the car and told the homeowner he was going to shoot him.”

Amerson said the homeowner went inside the house, and Roberts yelled from the yard that he was going to shoot him.

The homeowner then got a 20-gauge shotgun and shot Roberts in the chest, Amerson said.

Roberts faces three counts of theft, two counts of breaking and entering, and one count of burglary, court records show. Bond hasn’t been set since he is in the hospital.

The homeowner acted within his rights, said District Attorney Randall Houston.

“The bad people need to realize that folks in Elmore County have guns and aren’t afraid to use them,” Houston said. “A man has the right to protect his life and his property, and all the evidence gathered in this case shows that’s just what happened.”

Houston said his office will present the case to a future session of the Elmore County grand jury, but he didn’t expect any charges would be filed against the homeowner.

Knoxville, Tennessee

From WBIR of September 19, 2009

Homeowner shoots teenager in his driveway

Investigators are trying to piece together the series of events that led to a teenager being shot by a homeowner in South Knox county.

Deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting at 837 Lester Road, shortly before 11 p.m. Friday night.

Jonathan and Kara Stevens told investigators they were at home when they heard their pit bulls barking.

They armed themselves with a pistol and flashlight as they went outside to investigate.

The couple told detectives a teenager jumped out from behind a car in their driveway and pointed gun a 12 gauge shotgun at them.

Jonathan Stevens said he shot the 15 year old twice and believes the teenager shot at them twice before they ran back into their home.

Neighbors say the suspect collapsed in their driveway after the shooting.

Deputies found the teenager laying in the road with two gun shot wounds in his upper torso.

Rural Metro took the suspect to UT Medical Center.

The homeowners were not hurt.

Deputies said three other juveniles got away in a car. One has been questioned, but no arrests have been made and no charges have been filed

Detectives say Stevens and the teenager knew each other and they believe the motive was robbery.

They are not releasing the name or condition of the teenager.

Knoxville, Tennessee

From WBIR of September 18, 2009

Burglary/assault suspect shot by victim’s mother

A burglary suspect is recovering from a gunshot wound near his groin–a wound 75-year-old Ruth Robbins gave him after he fought with her son and then got in a scuffle with her.

Jesse Williams, 28, sits in the Morgan County jail, charged with burglary, aggravated assault, and simple assault, as he nurses a gunshot wound to his leg. He was taken there after being treated and released at UT Medical Center.

According to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Williams broke into David Brandenburg’s Petros home Thursday night. Brandenburg, 43, and Williams fought, eventually making their way out into the yard.

Ruth Robbins came over from her home next door and tried to intervene to help Brandenburg, who is her son. At that point, authorities say Williams turned his attack on her–so she shot him.

The shooting happened at 9:03 Thursday night.

Brandenburg was injured in the fight but declined treatment. No charges have been filed against Robbins.