The Armed Citizen

Ohio: Soon-to-be Marine Fires At Intruder

David — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:21:08 +0000

Dehli Township, Ohio

From Local12 of March 2, 2010

Soon-to-be Marine Fires At Intruder

A local man fights to protect his home from an intruder who breaks in, in the middle of the night. The Delhi Township man grabbed his gun – and fired two shots at the intruder. The burglar broke into his home off Hillside Avenue early Monday morning. Local 12’s Shawn Ley spoke with the homeowner who was fighting for his safety, just before he leaves to fight for our country.

Kevin Boyle- “I came around the corner and looked down and saw my door was open.”

And that’s when Boyle came face to face with every homeowners fear:an intruder, in his home in the middle of the night. That burglar thought he found the perfect place to rob. Boyle’s home at the end of a steep, private drive – no one around to see or hear him break in. But Boyle was home. And his powerful .45 caliber handgun was right nearby.

“I kind of crouched down like this, I was against the wall … I was looking around and I saw the guy right here. I told him not to move and he reached around and pulled out what looked exactly like a gun, he started bringing it up. I fired two rounds as I was running back to get behind the wall for cover and called the cops.”

“911 emergency dispatcher Rose. I fired two rounds and he took off running into the woods.”

Shots at such close range by such a powerful weapon, it’s hard to believe the burglar wasn’t hit – if he had, a shot from this gun would have done serious damage, perhaps even killed him. That burglar having no idea Boyle was home, was armed, comes from a police family … and has big plans for his future. “Yes, sir. I’m going to be a Marine.”

Boyle ships out for marine training in two months. he got some early training in crime and protection early this morning. “I’m glad no one got hurt, including him. He probably thought he could get in for a quick little burglary and luckily I was ready to keep myself safe.”

A K-9 tracked the burglar to the end of the driveway there on Hillside, indicating to police that a car was there waiting. Tonight police are asking if anyone saw a car speeding off of Hillside Avenue around one this morning to give them a call.

The intruder is described as a white man, six foot tall and 170 pounds. He was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans at the time. Call Crimestoppers if you can help. The number is 352-3040.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City police describe relative’s shooting as self defense

David — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:53:44 +0000

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

From the Oklahoman of March 3, 2010

Oklahoma City police describe relative’s shooting as self defense

A man who police said tried to attack an older relative with a computer monitor was shot by the older man Tuesday in northeast Oklahoma City.

Oscar Jerome Blakely, 30, of 828 NE 69, was taken to OU Medical Center in critical condition after the 5 a.m. shooting, police Master Sgt. Gary Knight said.

The name of the man who fired the shot was not released by police. James E. Blakely is the co-owner of the house where the shooting happened, according to the Oklahoma County Assessor’s Web site.

A man standing outside the house Tuesday afternoon said Oscar Blakely is a grandson of the man who fired the gun.
The shooting appears to have been in self-defense, Knight said.

When Blakely is released from the hospital he is expected to be jailed on complaints of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse, Knight said.

Blakely was in critical condition late Tuesday, an OU Medical Center spokeswoman said.blockquote>

Tennessee: Knife-Wielding Attacker Shot Dead

David — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:50:12 +0000

Memphis, Tennessee

From WREG of March 5, 2010

Knife-Wielding Attacker Shot Dead

Chaos erupted at a Family Dollar store when a man with a knife chased customers and was shot dead.

Witnesses at the store near Delano and North Watkins say the attacker picked the wrong victim.

“He got what he deserved,” says one woman. “It’s as simple as that.”

Police say a man with a knife raced through the parking lot just after 3:00 p.m.. Witnesses say the man chased a delivery driver and others, but was killed when he tried to lunge his knife at one driver leaving the parking lot. The driver pulled a gun and killed his attacker on the spot.

“I just seen him shoot down. I thought he was just shooting in the ground. Obviously, he was shooting the gentleman with the knife,” says Byron Cook who watched the ordeal from start to finish, along with his three year-old grandson.

Witnesses say two little girls were inside the car when the attacker lunged at the driver.

“He had his two step-daughters in the car with him. So, he really was trying to look out for them when he shot him,” says Brandon Jones, who says the girls appeared to be younger than ten. “Yeah, they saw everything that happened. One of them was real shaken.”

Jones heard roughly six shots, then saw the man on the ground with the butcher knife still in hand. Witnesses can’t make sense of the attacker’s motive, but they’re certain the shooting was self-defense.

“He did the right thing by taking care of his business,” says Jones. “The girls are safe.”

“You’ve got to protect yourself,” says Cook. “He had his two kids in the car and they were terrified.”

“Self defense,” says one woman. “That’s what I would have done, the same thing.”

Witnesses say the shooter was stabbed, but appeared to be okay. Police have not released the name of the attacker.

Louisiana: Home invasion: Suspect caught, dead youth ID’d

David — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:43:08 +0000

Shreveport, Louisiana

From the Shreveport Times of March 3, 2010

Home invasion: Suspect caught, dead youth ID’d

Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a home invasion and the coroner has identiifed the 15-year-old who was killed while invading the home.

At about 10 p.m. today, Shreveport police arrested Jeremy Rachal, 18, of the 6200 block of South Crest Drive in Shreveport, on a charge of home invasion, according to Sgt. Bill Goodin, police spokesman.

Dr. Todd Thoma identified the 15-year-old as Gregory N. Graham.

Graham apparently participated in the home invasion at Billy Mayweather’s house in the 6000 block of Fox Chase Trail.

When the 62-year-old’s son, Brandon Mayweather, 31, came by the house shortly after 11 p.m. to check on him, Graham opened fire on Brandon Mayweather, according to police.

But Brandon Mayweather was also armed and returned fire, shooting the 15-year-old twice in the torso and once in an arm. Graham was pronounced dead at LSU Hospital in Shreveport.

Police say Brandon Mayweather, who was accompanied by his mother, was checking up on his father when he stumbled in upon the home invasion. Neither he or his mother live with Billy Mayweather.

By the time they’d arrived, Billy Mayweather had already been awoken by two males as they were restraining his hands and feet with duct tape.

Goodin called this method of restraining the home owner an anomaly — other than a home invasion in Benton during which three intruders used the same variety of extra-strength tape to immobilize the 68-year-old homeowner while they robbed her of her safe just after midnight Feb. 24.

Two guns suspected to be those used in the shoot-out between Brandon Mayweather and Graham were seized.

Anyone who has information should call Shreveport police Detective Lowell Bowen at (318) 673-7016 or Shreveport-Caddo Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373.

California: Man holds suspected burglar at gunpoint until police arrive

David — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:40:37 +0000

Bakersfield, California

From Bakersfield.com of March 3, 2010

Man holds suspected burglar at gunpoint until police arrive

He’s 70 years old, and his health isn’t what it used to be, but Raymond Michel is not someone who should be taken lightly.

The south Bakersfield resident shot at a suspected burglar in his house Wednesday afternoon and held the man at gunpoint until police arrived. The suspect, identified by police as John Jenaro Garner, tried to get up twice, but Michel warned him to stay down.

“I told my wife to call the cops because (the burglar) was staying here one way or another,” Michel said.

Bakersfield police Lt. Andrew Garner, no relation to the supsect, confirmed that Raymond Michel was the man who shot at the suspect.

Michel and his wife, Dawn, had returned home on Ivan Avenue about 1 p.m. after taking their grandson to a doctor’s appointment. The 9-year-old grandson noticed a light on in a downstairs bedroom and asked his grandmother if she had left it on.

Dawn Michel said she looked in the room and noticed some items weren’t where they were supposed to be. Then she and her grandson went outside and saw a garbage bag on the ground, along with a window screen that had been knocked out of a second-floor window. Jewelry and money were in the bag.

Dawn Michel told her husband someone had been in the house. Raymond Michel said he armed himself with a handgun and walked upstairs.

Items from the bedroom closet were strewn about the floor, and Raymond Michel noticed that the bathroom door was almost completely closed. He and his wife always keep that door open.

He kicked the door, and it stopped partway as it struck the intruder, Raymond Michel said. The suspect stepped from behind the door and leveled a rifle at the homeowner, he said.

Raymond Michel, who said he was holding his handgun at waist level, pulled the trigger. The bullet went through the door, shattered the upper left corner of the mirror and entered the wall.

The suspect dropped to the floor, and Raymond Michel at first thought he had hit him. But then the intruder tried to get up, Raymond Michel said.

Raymond Michel said he told him to stay down and kept the gun pointed at him. His wife called 911.

The dispatcher asked Dawn Michel, who was still downstairs, if she could go upstairs and make sure her husband was all right, Dawn Michel said. But she had two grandchildren in the house who she needed to keep safe, and she wasn’t going anywhere until police arrived.

“I said ‘Lady, I’m not going upstairs. You’ve got to be kidding,’” Dawn Michel said.

Police soon arrived and took John Garner into custody. Police said John Garner had drugs in his possession and was wanted on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.

The rifle the suspect had armed himself with was taken from a closet in the house, Raymond Michel said.

Raymond Michel, a retired electrician, was calm as he told his story Wednesday evening, and he said he didn’t seem to be nervous or scared when he confronted the intruder.

Dawn Michel, however, said she was on edge from the ordeal.

“I haven’t eaten yet,” she said.

Thanks to Micah and the folks at CalCCW.com for the tip!

Ohio: Man Fires Shot At Intruder In Delhi Twp.

David — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:59:24 +0000

Cincinnati, Ohio

From WCPO of March 1, 2010

Man Fires Shot At Intruder In Delhi Twp.

A homeowner points and fires a gun at a man who was trying to break inside his home overnight in Delhi Township.

The homeowner says he wasn’t taking any chances.

Police say he fired his gun as the suspect tried to break-in to his home in the 4400 block of Hillside Avenue around 1 a.m. Monday.

It appears the suspect targeted the home, which is located on top of a hill on a secluded lot near the intersection of Riverside and Anderson Ferry Roads.

Police did search the area with the help of K-9’s, but could not find the suspect.

It does not appear the suspect was shot.

If you have any information about this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040 . Text tips to CRIMES (2-7-4-6-3-7) with “CINTip:” at the beginning of the message. You don’t have to give your name and you may be eligible for a reward if your tips lead to an arrest.

Texas: Suspect killed in home invasion gunbattle

David — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:27:16 +0000

Harris County, Texas

From the Houston Chronicle of February 20, 2010

Suspect killed in home invasion gunbattle

A north Harris County man shot a pair of suspected home invaders on Friday, killing one and wounding the other, during a gunbattle outside his house, officials said.

The homeowner was also wounded, authorities said.

“He was shot by one of the suspects,” said Sgt. Craig Clopton with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. His condition was not available.

Gunfire erupted at 11:30 a.m. at a home in the 1300 block of Spring City after two people forced open the front door, officials said. The homeowner and the suspects both were armed and exchanged gunfire, authorities said.

One attacker, an adult, fell to the ground in the yard. He was later pronounced dead at the scene. The wounded juvenile ran to a nearby home in the 14000 block of Coveney and pounded on the front door.

“He told me that he had gotten shot and to call his mother. I thought he was just crazy,” said Pamela Grant, who cares for an elderly woman who lives there.

Grant said he came to the window and showed her his foot, where he had been apparently struck by gunfire. She could tell that he was bleeding.

“I told him to get away, but he wouldn’t leave,” Grant said.

By that time, deputies had arrived. The youth was taken by ambulance to a hospital. His condition was not available.
Courtney Brooks, who lives nearby, was watching television when the commotion started.

“There was shooting, and my dogs were barking,” Brooks said. “A good five minutes later, that’s when I heard the sirens coming.”

Brooks looked outside and saw a pair of Harris County sheriff’s deputies standing over the juvenile lying in the front yard of his neighbor’s house.

He said the deputies tried to question the juvenile about an accomplice.

Irma Miranda, who has been staying at her brother’s home for the last few months, said the area has recently been plagued with crime.

“It seems quiet, but lately there has been a lot of robberies. It’s scary,””she said.

Miranda said someone recently broke into her brother’s home, and she said she knew of at least two other houses on the same street that have been struck by burglars.

“They just kicked it (the door) in, and they went straight for the TV,” Miranda said.

Sheriff’s officials at the scene could not confirm whether Friday’s home invasion suspects could be linked to other crimes in the area.

Thanks to JD and Al for sending in this story!

Georgia: Decatur Man Shoots Burglary Suspect

David — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:55:10 +0000

Decatur, Georgia

From MyFoxAtlanta of February 24, 2010

Decatur Man Shoots Burglary Suspect

A Decatur homeowner will not be charged for shooting an intruder Wednesday morning. DeKalb County police said 40-year-old Dexter Tucker was justified in shooting a 17-year-old who broke into his home.

Tucker said he had run the scenario of an intruder in his mind many times before, but he never thought it would actually happen.

Tucker said he was asleep when he heard knocking at the front door. The Decatur man said he peered through the shades but didn’t answer the door.

“Then he started beating on the door,” Tucker recalled.

Tucker said he saw a young man run to the back door and that’s when he grabbed his gun.

“I couldn’t believe he was kicking in my door and it took him like four kicks to get in so by the time he got in I was ready for him,” Tucker said.

Tucker said he shot the intruder three times, striking him once in the thigh. The homeowner said he then saw another young man running away.

Neighbor Vermail Harris said she saw someone running away and getting into a car down the road.

“He ended up hopping in a car so I gave [the police] a description of the vehicle he got in and they found him later.

Tucker said the teens left their car when they fled. Police later arrested a 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old girl in a stolen car not far away.

Police said they suspect the teens who were arrested might be responsible for other crimes in the area.

The three teens involved face burglary and other charges.

Police said Tucker rightfully defended his home.

Indiana: Neighbor shot intruder during home invasion

David — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:20:18 +0000

Shelburn, Indiana

From WAVE3 of February 23, 2010

Neighbor shot intruder during home invasion

Police say an attacker who had tied up two women inside a rural western Indiana home was stopped when a neighbor shot him in the leg.

The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department says a man broke into the home near the town of Shelburn Sunday morning, tying up a woman and her mother and sexually assaulting the younger woman.

Sgt. William Snead says the older woman was able to send a text message to a neighbor asking for help. The neighbor’s boyfriend, Sonny Osborn, heard the confrontation and went inside with a gun.

Police say Osborn told the attacker to leave before shooting him in the leg three times. The man was treated at a hospital and was being held in the Sullivan County Jail.

Texas: Man Fatally Shoots Intruder

David — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:35:12 +0000

Houston, Texas

From the Click2Houston of February 17, 2010

Man Fatally Shoots Intruder

Houston police said a 23-year-old man tried to break through a window to get into a home on Blueberry Lane near Bluegrass Street at about 9:30 a.m.

Investigators said the homeowner woke up, grabbed his shotgun and fired shots as the man was going through the window.

“The homeowner was awakened by breaking glass and the movement of a dresser in the front window,” said M.F. Waters of HPD Homicide.

“I was walking by and heard ‘boom, boom, boom,’ and saw a guy fall out of the window,” witness Shern Scott said.

The intruder fell out of the window into the yard and died, officials said. His family identified him as Roosevelt Jackson Jr.
Jackson’s pastor said he joined a local church three weeks ago and a Bible study group prayed for positive changes in his life.

“Little did we know this would happen today,” Pastor T. Preston said.

Family and friends described the homeowner as distraught after the shooting.

“It’s going to change his life. I don’t think he’s ever going to be the same,” neighbor Elizabeth Moody “He’s a good person. He’ll imitate anyone and make you laugh. He’s a character. You would like him, too.”

The case will be referred to a Harris County grand jury without charges.

Thanks to Jeff for the link!