Philadelphia, Pennsylvnia

From the Philadelphia Inquirer of March 29, 2006

Would-be victim kills man trying to rob him

A man being mugged on a residential street last night in the city's West Oak Lane section fatally shot the 34-year-old man trying to rob him, authorities said.

The robber approached his would-be victim, who police said may have been a retired SEPTA police officer, about 10:15 p.m. on the 6500 block of North 16th Street and announced a holdup. The victim, who apparently had a handgun on him, shot the man once in the chest, police said. He was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

It was not immediately clear if the would-be robber was armed, police said. The names of the two men were not released.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer of March 30, 2006

Retired SEPTA officer won't be charged in slaying

No charges will be filed against a retired SEPTA police officer who killed a robber who had attacked him at gunpoint demanding money Tuesday night, police said yesterday.

Sgt. Jim Pauley, a police spokesman, said James Johnson, 63, of West Philadelphia, told investigators that he had just gotten out of his car and was crossing the 6500 block of North 16th Street in West Oak Lane about 10:15 p.m. when the robber came up behind him, grabbed him around the neck, and ordered him to the ground at gunpoint, Pauley said.

The man, with a gun pointed at Johnson's head, demanded money, Pauley said. Johnson pulled his own gun and fired several shots, hitting the robber in the chest.

The robber, identified as Shawn Greenwood, 35, of the 1100 block of East Stafford Street, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said a 9mm handgun was found near Greenwood's body. Court records show Greenwood had a lengthy criminal record that includes drug violations and robbery.

Really generous of them under the circumstances, don’t you think?