Kenner, Louisiana

From WRNO of January 30, 2010

Kenner Business Owner Shoots and Kills Robber

Incident occurred Friday night outside check-cashing establishment on Williams Boulevard

The owner of a Kenner check-cashing store shot and killed an alleged robber Friday night outside of his establishment in the 3200 block of Williams Boulevard.

Investigators say the man was approached in a parking lot by three men as he left his business just before 9pm.

One member of the trio produced a gun and struck the man in the head and then grabbed a backpack the victim had in his possession. The intended victim retrieved the backpack, pulled a gun from it and shot two of the suspects.

One of the would-be robbers was pronouced dead on the scene and the other was taken to a hospital for treatment. The third man fled before police arrived.

Authorities say the two men who were shot carried identification cards from Honduras.

Thanks to James for the tip!

Phoenix, Arizona

From ABC15 of January 29, 2010

Police ID robbery suspect shot, killed by Phoenix homeowner

Police have identified a man who died after he was shot while trying to rob a Phoenix homeowner Wednesday afternoon.

Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said 26-year-old Rudolph Gomes was seen breaking into a coin operated car wash machine near Tatum Boulevard and Union Hills Drive around 12:30 p.m.

A witness apparently followed Gomes and called police. At one point, Gomes reportedly struck a stop sign, damaging his vehicle.

Thompson said he parked his Jeep Cherokee in the parking lot of Foothills Elementary School near Grovers Avenue and 44th Street and ran into the neighborhood, according to witnesses.

Officers arrived on the scene and as they set up a perimeter and began searching the neighborhood they heard a ‘pop.’

Police then received a call that a homeowner had shot an armed intruder, Thompson said.

According to Thompson, the 59-year-old homeowner told police Gomes tried to rob him at gunpoint and at some point he was able to get a shotgun and shoot the intruder.

The injured Gomes was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries, Thompson said.

There is no word yet if the homeowner will be charged in the shooting. He was not injured, according to police.

The shooting and robberies are under investigation.

Thanks to Justin for the tip!

Lexington, Kentucky

From WKYT of January 29, 2010

Suspect shot during attempted robbery

A delivery driver turned the tables on a couple of would-be robbers late Thursday night.

Lexington Police say two juveniles jumped the worker for China King outside an apartment building on Laketower Drive, near Lakeshore Drive around 9:15 p.m.

The delivery man then pulled out a handgun, shooting one of the kids in the abdomen.

He went to the hospital to be treated for non life-threatening injuries, according to police.

The other suspect was taken into custody.

Police say the delivery driver hasn’t been charged.

Thanks to Carlos for the tip!

Cincinnati, Ohio

From WKRC of January 28, 2010

Elderly Man Shoots Intruder

Emergency rooms around the Tri-State are on alert, waiting for a suspect police believe was shot by a 77 year old Avondale man in self-defense.

“I shot because he was going to shoot me. I could have shot him two or three times.”

Clyde Tucker says two men broke down his door at the Hale Apartments on Tuesday. Tucker says lately, residents of his building have been victims of the same kind of crime-thugs who break down doors and rob them. So Tucker says, he was ready. “The guy was knocking on my door and I didn’t respond so I got my pistol out.”

Tucker fired, and the men ran out of the building. A witness, Eric Hamilton, saw the men run out and says it was clear one of the suspects had been hit by a bullet. He was holding his torso. Police found a trail of blood coming out of the apartment building. “I could have shot him if I wanted to kill the guy or something but I don’t want to do nothing like that. They’ll get their lesson though.”

Police say the suspect will likely show up for treatment of his wound and when he does, they’ll be ready to arrest him.

If you can help solve this crime, call Crimestoppers at 352-3040. You don’t have to give your name and you could get cash for your clues.

Spartanburg, South Carolina

From WSPA of January 26, 2010

Burglary Suspect Shot by Homeowner in Spartanburg County

A burglar was shot Tuesday morning by a homeowner in Spartanburg County.

The incident happened at a home at 632 Nodding Hill Road about 9:30 Tuesday morning. According to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found Rick Clary standing in the driveway of his home, shotgun in hand. Clary told investigators that he was asleep inside the home when he heard the sound of breaking glass. He then said he grabbed his shotgun, went to the backdoor, and saw someone reaching through the broken door window, trying to unlock the door. Clary fired one shot at the suspect, saying he believed he hit the suspect with the shot.

Two suspects fled on foot, but left a car registered to Apple Auto Rental, along with a 9mm pistol. The pistol turned out to be stolen.

Soon afterwards, a 16-year-old male juvenile arrived at a local emergency room, suffering from shotgun wounds to his hand and forearm. Investigators were able to determine that the teen was one of the individuals involved in the break-in. The juvenile, identified as Jamarous Rogers, has been charged as an adult, with one count each of Burglary 1st Degree and Possession of a Weapon during a Violent Crime. Investigators are searching for two more suspects.

Orlando, Florida

From WESH of January 24, 2010

Store Employee Holds Would-Be Robber For Police

A store employee managed to disarm a would-be robber and hold him for police, authorities said.

Capt. Debra Doub, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, said the incident happened at the Island Food Store at 301 N. Goldenrod Road on Saturday at about 11:33 p.m.

She said a man dressed in black went behind the counter and put his finger, which was wrapped in a T-shirt, to an employee’s head and demanded money, Doub said.

“The victim grabbed the suspect and body slammed him to the floor,” she said. “While on the floor, the suspect tried to reach inside his jacket. The victim reached inside first, removing a 6 inch butcher knife. The victim held the suspect for our arrival.”

No injuries were reported in the attempted robbery.

Columbus, Ohio

From WBNS of January 23, 2010

West Side Resident Shoots Would-Be Robber

Police said a would-be robber was shot Saturday while trying to hold up a family on the city’s west side.

The shooting happened at a home in the 900-block of Harris Avenue at about 11:30 a.m.

The homeowner said two acquaintances held his family at gunpoint, demanding cash and prescription painkillers, 10TV News reported.

The homeowner said that’s when his mother came out of a room with a handgun and opened fire, hitting one of the men.

The man, whose identity was not immediately released by police, was taken to Mount Carmel West Hospital.

There were no details on his condition.

The other alleged robber was later apprehended, police said. He has yet to be identified.

No other injuries were reported.

Norristown, Pennsylvania

From the Times Herald of January 22, 2010

Man shoots at dog, owner cited for leash law

A dog owner was cited for not having his dog on a leash after a pedestrian on the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown shot at the animal claiming it had charged at him Sunday morning.

After Cpl. David Brooke heard gunfire around 6:12 a.m., he went to the trail near Markley Street and encountered 27-year-old William Lee Bennett, who admitted shooting at a dog, according to Norristown Police Department.

Bennett said after he crossed the bridge over Markley Street on the way to the Norristown Transportation Center, he spotted a dog running free that was growling in a threatening manner and headed in his direction. Fearing he would be attacked, he fired at the animal with a Glock brand handgun.

Shooting at a dog or other animals threatening to attack a domestic pet or person is legal in Pennsylvania; however, as a precaution, Brooke took the man’s gun and pepper spray he was carrying.

Seconds after the dog’s owner heard gunfire, Kenyatta Spruill, 33, told police his Shepherd mix dog came running back to him near the path; however, Bennett didn’t see Spruill until after firing at the animal, according to police.

While interviewing Bennett, Brooke saw the dog on Barbadoes Street running loose and coming toward them. Though the animal wasn’t charging them, it barked and growled at them.

The Spruill appeared and said he owned the dog and was told he was required to have the dog on a leash. Brooke ordered the man to take control of the animal and detained him.

When Officer Charles Douglas arrived, he was directed to talk to Spruill while Brooke continued to talk to Bennett.

Spruill, who admitted he didn’t have a leash, said he had just walked his wife to work and was on his way home in Norristown.

Ultimately, police gave Bennett back his firearm and pepper spray and Spruill was told to expect a citation in the mail for violating the law that prohibits dogs from running loose.

Crest Hill, Illinois

From January 22, 2010 CBS channel 2 Chicago:

A 27-year-old man was fatally shot by a clerk while trying to rob a southwest suburban liquor store Thursday night, the Herald-News is reporting.

About 10 p.m., the suspect, whose identity has not been released, came into S and A Liquor at 1480 Cedarwood Dr. in Crest Hill and demanded money, police said.

“There was a struggle and the clerk fired a shot which appears to have hit the robber before he ran out,” Crest Hill Police Chief Dwayne Wilkerson said.

Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet later contacted police after a man arrived with a gunshot wound and investigators were able to identify him as the robber.

“He later succumbed to his injuries,” Wilkerson said.

Little Rock, Arkansas

From the January 21, 2010 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

LITTLE ROCK — A Little Rock man who was shot by a liquor store owner during an armed robbery of the business was arrested Wednesday after being released from the hospital, police said.

Christopher D. Williams, 19, is scheduled to make an initial court appearance today on charges of aggravated robbery and theft of property.

Police located Williams soon after the Friday morning robbery, but he was first taken to UAMS to be treated for a gunshot wound to the back of his shoulder. He was released from the hospital Wednesday and immediately booked into the Pulaski County Detention Facility, said Little Rock Police Department Lt. Terry Hastings.

The robbery occurred about 8:15 a.m. when a man entered Bopp Liquor, 1021 E. 9th St., pointed a gun at the owner and demanded money, according to a police report written by Detective Charles G. Eason.

The owner reportedly handed over cash from the register but then grabbed his handgun as the robber was leaving. The robber turned back once before going, at which point the owner fired one time in his direction, according to the report. The owner was unsure whether the shot actually hit the man.

Williams was stopped moments later when an officer responding to the robbery spotted a maroon Lincoln matching one the robber was reported to have left the scene in. He was a passenger in the vehicle, which was stopped in a gas station parking lot near 9th Street and Interstate 30.

Niagara Falls, New York

From the Buffalo News of January 21, 2010

Falls man shoots burglar, Falls police say

A 52-year-old city man shot a 22-year-old man in the chest Wednesday evening, but police said he is not expected to be charged after investigators learned he was likely defending himself from a burglar.

The younger man, Parrish C. Spencer Jr., of Falls Street, broke the window of a side door and kicked in the door about 5:30 p.m. to get inside the two-story home of Willie J. Carson in the 500 block of 25th Street, police said.

After Spencer got inside and went upstairs, Carson shot him, police said.

Spencer is in stable condition today at Erie County Medical Center.

Investigators found broken plexiglass at the scene.

Captain Ernest C. Palmer, chief of detectives, said Carson was not charged but the case has been turned over to the Niagara County district attorney’s office for further investigation.

Charges may be filed against Spencer, Palmer added.

Greene County, Tennessee

From the Knoxville News Sentinel of January 22, 2010

Teen, 17, Dies In Shooting By Homeowner

A 17-year-old youth was fatally shot during an apparent burglary of a Houston Valley Road mobile home shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday.

Sheriff Steve Burns identified the youth as Michael E.A. Banner, 17, of Wykle Road.

Greene County sheriff’s deputies were notified of the incident at 10:55 p.m. and subsequently were told by Alan Burch, 53, who resides in a mobile home at 2235 Houston Valley Road, that he had been awakened by the sound of someone kicking open the door of his residence, Sheriff Burns said.

Burch told officers that he fired shots toward the entrance to the mobile home and subsequently found that at least one of the shots had struck a youth later identified as Banner.

Sheriff Burns said three other suspects were believed to have fled the shooting scene and were still being sought this morning.

“We believe we know their identities, and it’s just a matter of time before we find them,” Burns said. Read the rest of this entry

Port St. Lucie, Florida

From WPBF of January 22, 2010

Homeowner Killed Would-Be Burglar

Police said a homeowner shot and killed a would-be burglar Friday.

The incident occurred at 2168 SW Pruitt St. shortly after 3 p.m.

Port St. Lucie police said a man arrived at the home and tried to force his way inside.

The homeowner, identified as Josh Moore, went to the bedroom and got a shotgun. Moore and the intruder fought over the gun, which discharged and hit the intruder in the chest, investigators said.

Police got a search warrant to go into the house where the victim was discovered.

Authorities said no criminal charges are pending at this time and that an autopsy is scheduled.

The victim’s identity was not released pending notification of his next of kin.

Detectives were interviewing a woman at the scene.

Harbor Creek, Pennsylvania

From the Publication of January 20, 2010

NE Pa. Man Checking For Intruder Shoots Self, Dies

A northeastern Pennsylvania man is dead after police say he accidentally shot himself in the chest while checking for an intruder.

State Police say 61-year-old David Swope accidentally killed himself shortly before 5 a.m. Wednesday while checking for an intruder in is home in Harborcreek, just outside of Erie.

Investigators say Swope was carrying a gun when he fell down and the gun fired, striking him in the chest. He was transported to a hospital where he died.

Kansas City, Kansas

From the January 20, 2010 Kansas City Star:

A man who put a container on a pharmacy counter, claimed it was a bomb and demanded prescription drugs left after the pharmacist wielded a shotgun.

The pharmacist at the Kansas City, Kan., pharmacy at 4501 Rainbow Blvd. fired at the would-be robber as he drove off in a car, police said.

It is not know if the robber or his car was hit in the incident about 11:30 a.m., they said. The bomb squad soon determined that the package was not a bomb.

The crime is similar to another incident Jan. 4 in Overland Park where a robber put a clock taped to a box on a pharmacy counter, said it was a bomb and left with a small amount of drugs.

…

He drove an early 2000 model, four-door Ford Taurus that was either blue or gray with Johnson County tags.

Shotgun fire might have damaged the car’s right rear quarter panel, they said.