Orangeburg, South Carolina

From Orangeburg’s The Times and Democrat of February 20, 2007

'Ain't nobody going to run me over'

WWII vet says he shot man who invaded his home armed with rifle

An Orangeburg man says he shot another man who broke into his home, while the person who was shot is telling another story.

A 24-year-old Minel Street man remains hospitalized at the Regional Medical Center after being shot at least once in the back.

World War II veteran and former Golden Glove boxer Newman Jackson says that if he had it to do all over again -- he would.

"Yes, sir!" Jackson said. "I can't stand that. I worked hard for what I got. I hate a thief, I hate a thief."

No charges were filed against any of the parties believed to have been involved in the incident as of late Tuesday.

Jackson, who fired his weapon from his bed, calls the incident a home invasion.

"You can't do without a gun in Orangeburg," the former WWII destroyer mechanic said. "I don't go around looking for trouble but ain't nobody going to run me over, either."

The wounded man, meanwhile, says it was perhaps a misunderstanding.

He told deputies that he, a friend and a female acquaintance were at the female's house drinking beer early Tuesday. The trio then left because he "needed to talk to the man about some money," according to an Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office incident report.

The wounded man said that while brandishing a gun, his friend kicked in the front door to the residence and ran inside, according to the report.

There, the friend encountered the 80-year-old Jackson. The invader then fled the residence, the report states.

When the second man tried to flee, he was shot in the back and fell, he said.

(More detail, and more versions)

From the Orangeburg Times and Democrat of April 12, 2007

Man glad he didn’t ‘freeze up’ for intruders

A judge has refused to grant bond to two men accused of breaking into a Charleston Highway home in February, including the man deputies say was shot by the homeowner.

“I’m not going to set bond on Mr. Aiken and Mr. Randolph. I’m going to deny bond,” Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein said Wednesday. “I do think the level of danger they are to the community is substantial.”

That decision from the bench came after 1st Circuit Assistant Solicitor Bryan Jeffries asked the court deny bond to the trio accused in the Feb. 20 invasion of the Charleston Highway home of 80-year-old Newman “Ted” Jackson.

Christopher Aiken, 24, of 2088 Muriel St., and Joseph Randolph, 23, of 105 Scarlett Drive, both of Orangeburg; and Lakeisha Rice, 23, of 405 West Pinckney St., Denmark, were charged with first-degree burglary a day later. Deputies say Aiken was shot after he broke into Jackson’s home.

Goodstein set bond on Rice at $25,000 surety with the stipulation that should she make bail, she’s confined to house arrest.

The story of Jackson defending his home became “water cooler” conversation around the community.

Prior to Wednesday’s hearing, Jackson talked about that night and his decision to pull the trigger, which apparently stopped the incident from going further.

“I thought I had about 20 seconds, but I had about five seconds,” Jackson said. “These things happen so fast.”

When deputies arrived on the scene, they were given conflicting reports. One individual told deputies his friend kicked in the front door to the residence and ran inside. A gunshot rang out and he was struck as his friend ran from the residence.

Another version was that the two males were drinking beer earlier and “needed to talk to the man about some money,” according to an Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office incident report.

(Much More)

From the Orangeburg Times and Democrat of August 29, 2007

Burglar shot in home invasion sentenced to 15 years

An Orangeburg man shot during the February home invasion of a World War II veteran was sentenced to 15 years in prison after he entered a guilty plea Tuesday.

Christopher Aiken, 24, of 2088 Muriel Street, was originally charged with first-degree burglary, a charge that after plea negotiations was reduced to second-degree burglary.

"I'm going to commit you to the state Department of Corrections for a period of 15 years," Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein said as Aiken held his head down.

The guilty plea came after two days of negotiations and reconsiderations surrounding the plea. Initially, Aiken was to offer his plea on Monday.

The plea hearing was rescheduled several times while details were worked out. The case would go before the bench, be withdrawn, then go before the bench again.

It finally went through around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Goodstein voiced concerns about the agreement to reduce the charge from first- to second-degree burglary.

"I think that's substantial, substantial," Goodstein said.

However, the case against the Muriel Street man proceeded until the sentence was on the books.

The cases against two co-defendants, Joseph Randolph, 23, of Orangeburg and Lakeisha Rice, 23, of Denmark are still pending.

The charges against Aiken came after the Feb. 20 invasion of the home of Ted Jackson, an 80-year-old World War II veteran and gun enthusiast.

It was about 2 a.m. on that date when the shooting occurred. Jackson said his dog began barking, alerting him that something was amiss.

As Jackson turned on a light, he grabbed a pistol. Seconds later, a man carrying an AK-47 kicked open his bedroom door.

At a bond hearing for Aiken earlier this year, Jackson said he's faced Japanese cannon bigger than a machine gun.

He fired at the intruder, striking the man in the upper shoulder.

Aiken was treated for the gunshot wound and later released.

When told of Aiken's sentence, Jackson said, "Yeah, that's OK, that's good. I'm glad that part's over."

However, Jackson wonders if it really is over. About two weeks ago, someone broke into his home while he was away. He wonders if that latest break-in isn't related to the February shooting.

Since then, the 80-year-old has installed steel plating around his entry ways to bolster the doors -- and make them bulletproof.

"You can run a Jeep through there and you wouldn't get in," Jackson said.

Obviously a no-nonsense individual, Jackson says that given the same circumstances, he'd do it all over again.

"Somebody's coming in my house? You dadblasted right I would," Jackson said. "If my little dog hadn't woke me up, it could have been a lot different. (A deputy) said to me, 'These fellows were going to kill you that night.'"

From the Times and Democrat of August 29, 2007

Burglar shot in home invasion sentenced to 15 years

An Orangeburg man shot during the February home invasion of a World War II veteran was sentenced to 15 years in prison after he entered a guilty plea Tuesday.

Christopher Aiken, 24, of 2088 Muriel Street, was originally charged with first-degree burglary, a charge that after plea negotiations was reduced to second-degree burglary.

...

The charges against Aiken came after the Feb. 20 invasion of the home of Ted Jackson, an 80-year-old World War II veteran and gun enthusiast.

It was about 2 a.m. on that date when the shooting occurred. Jackson said his dog began barking, alerting him that something was amiss.

As Jackson turned on a light, he grabbed a pistol. Seconds later, a man carrying an AK-47 kicked open his bedroom door.

At a bond hearing for Aiken earlier this year, Jackson said he's faced Japanese cannon bigger than a machine gun.

He fired at the intruder, striking the man in the upper shoulder.

Aiken was treated for the gunshot wound and later released.

When told of Aiken's sentence, Jackson said, "Yeah, that's OK, that's good. I'm glad that part's over."

However, Jackson wonders if it really is over. About two weeks ago, someone broke into his home while he was away. He wonders if that latest break-in isn't related to the February shooting.

Since then, the 80-year-old has installed steel plating around his entry ways to bolster the doors -- and make them bulletproof.

"You can run a Jeep through there and you wouldn't get in," Jackson said.

Obviously a no-nonsense individual, Jackson says that given the same circumstances, he'd do it all over again.

"Somebody's coming in my house? You dadblasted right I would," Jackson said. "If my little dog hadn't woke me up, it could have been a lot different. (A deputy) said to me, 'These fellows were going to kill you that night.'"

(More)