North Carolina: Burglar no match for shotgun-toting couple

Gaston, North Carolina

From the Gaston Gazette of November 24, 2008

Burglar no match for shotgun-toting couple

A would-be burglar who'd been scared off from one house by a 70-year-old woman found himself a few minutes later staring down the wrong end of a shotgun at another, police say.

And before the sun rose Sunday, Joshuah Scott Rutledge probably figured out that this northern Gaston County town wasn't ripe for the picking.

"If they think Stanley is sleepy, they've got another thing coming," said 56-year-old Phyllis Osborne, who now calls her 62-year-old husband Richard her "knight in shining armor."

Rutledge, 26, of Oakboro was reportedly climbing through a bathroom window of a woman's home on the 3500 block of N.C. 27 in Stanley at 4:30 a.m. Sunday when the woman, who'd had her 70th birthday the week before, spotted him and scared him away before he could get inside.

He then apparently went to a house across the street off N.C. 27 on Watts Street, this time making it inside.

But once inside he found himself staring at Richard Osborne and an old shotgun that his wife's grandfather had once used to slaughter hogs. Whether the gun would still fire a shot remains in question.

Rutledge had pulled a bedspread down to cover him as he lay in the floor in a guest bedroom, Phyllis Osborne said.

But the couple could see his knuckles poking out.

"We told him, ‘If you don't come out we're going to blow your brains out,'" Phyllis Osborne said Monday. "We had to say it three times, but then he jumped up and said, ‘I'm in the wrong house. I'm in the wrong house.'"

At first Rutledge insisted he'd come to the house looking for a friend. Then he said he was there to meet the Osborne's daughter, whom he claimed to have met on the Internet.

But the Osborne's only daughter lives in Georgia, married to a law enforcement officer.

"I wasn't scared, I was mad," Richard Osborne said. "I was mad because he scared my wife."

The Osbornes have been married 30-plus years. He has a little trouble hearing, she can hear a squirrel walking across the roof.

When she heard something Sunday morning she knew someone had entered their home. Even after a quick lookaround produced nothing, she said she was sure something wasn't right.

Richard Osborne then saw the bedspread pulled down from the bed. Phyllis Osborne keeps an impeccable house.

"I'm very particular," Phyllis Osborne said. "My bed has to be made. Not a wrinkle in it."

Rutledge answered Mrs. Osborne with "Yes, mam," and "No, mam,'" she said.

Mr. Osborne had to punch him once and hit him twice with the gun. One strike with the gun came when Rutledge insisted on lighting up a cigarette while waiting on police to arrive, he said.

The Osbornes praised Stanley Police officers for their quick response and follow-up investigation.

Arresting Officer J.L. Springs said Rutledge has not told them what he was doing in the area. He apparently was walking because police have not been able to find a vehicle.

The incident shook the Osbornes up. The first woman who encountered Rutledge that night could not be reached for comment, but Springs said she was doing OK.

Mrs. Osborne said Monday that she still wasn't ready to go back inside her home unless her husband was with her.

But she also said she was ready to forgive. She's repeated to herself a common phrase from her pastor, Bishop Robert Gittens, at Revival Tabernacle Church.

‘"Love heals and hatred destroys,'" she said, quoting her pastor.

As of Monday night, Rutledge remained in Gaston County Jail under $100,000 bond facing two charges of first-degree burglary.

Mississippi: Burglary suspect dead, shot by business owner

Corinth, Mississippi

From the Daily Journal of November 27, 2008

Burglary suspect dead, shot by business owner

The suspect in a Tuesday break-in at a Corinth business has died from a gunshot wound inflicted by the business owner, police say.

James Thomas Parson, 25, of North Parkway, Corinth, was pronounced dead at Magnolia Regional Health Center on Tuesday, said Corinth Police Chief David Lancaster.

The police department received an emergency call about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday through 911 to go to the scene of a burglary in progress at The Jewelry Box, 706 S. Tate St., Corinth, the chief said.

Responding officers found Parson lying on the floor inside the business with a gunshot wound to the stomach and called emergency services, which transported him to the hospital.

Lancaster said the business owner reported he heard a noise at the front of the store and took his handgun when he went to check it out.

When he saw a man coming through a window, he ordered the intruder to stop, but he did not. Instead, the suspect came inside the business, reached up and ripped down the video surveillance equipment.

The owner said he again told the suspect to stay where he was or get out, but the suspect charged toward him and he fired one shot, which struck the intruder in the abdomen, Lancaster said.

The case remains under investigation, but no charges have been filed.

North Carolina: Burglars Get Into Gunfight With Business Owner

Charlotte, North Carolina

From WSOC of November 17, 2008

Burglars Get Into Gunfight With Business Owner

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police searched for two men Monday morning who broke into a business and got into a gunfight with its owner.

Police said the men broke into Big Rob's Sports Bar on Nevin Road in north Charlotte around 3 a.m. Monday. The burglars tripped the burglar alarm, which alerted police and the bar's owner.

The owner went to the bar and saw the men loading electronics into the back of a truck. When the burglars saw the owner, one burglar shot at him. The owner shot back and the burglars got away.

The owner was not hurt. Police did not release a description of the burglars.

Florida: Coral Springs Man Shot In Groin During Robbery Attempt

Miami, Florida

From NBC6 of November 17, 2008

Coral Springs Man Shot In Groin During Robbery Attempt

A Coral Springs man is recovering after being shot in the groin by a man demanding his wallet, police said.

Mark David Braun was confronted outside his home before dawn Monday, NBC 6 reported.

Braun said he went out for a pack of cigarettes, and as he was coming back home a stranger approached him with a gun and asked for his wallet.

He pushed the would-be robber's gun away, and then the robber saw Braun's gun and ran, but not before firing one shot, Braun said.

Braun was airlifted to North Broward Medical Center. His wife, who was home with their 3-year-old son, saw the shooter run away and get into a car.

Braun was released from the hospital a few hours after being shot.

Police are still searching for the shooter.

South Carolina: Intruder shot while entering house

Green Pond, South Carolina

From the Post and Courier of November 26, 2008

Intruder shot while entering house

A man who was at home when someone tried to break into his residence on Monday apparently shot the burglar as he was coming through a bedroom window, authorities said.

Colleton County deputies arrived about 9:30 a.m. at the home on Turkey Hill Lane and learned that the homeowner had fired his gun at someone coming in the window but found no suspects on the property. They later got a call from a woman nearby who said her 15-year-old grandson had been shot, Sheriff George Malone said.

The boy was taken to Colleton County Regional Medical Center, treated and taken to jail, Malone said. He and a 16-year-old boy and an adult were all charged with second-degree burglary, the sheriff said.

Malone identified the adult as as Larry Speaks, 20, of Green Pond.

Florida: Father Shoots Neighbor's Pit Bull

Lantana, Florida

From CBS12 of November 21, 2008

Father Shoots Neighbor's Pit Bull

A local father shot and killed a neighbor's pit bull. The dog was loose and had followed a child into the dad's home.

Law enforcement says no one will face charges because of the incident-- not the father for shooting the dog in front of children, nor the pit bull's owner for letting the dog get out.

It happened in a quiet neighborhood west of Lantana, the dog shot in the driveway of the home of J.R. Martin. Martin declined comment.

But here's what the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Animal Control say happened. At least two girls were meeting at the Martin home for a ride to school. The pit bull followed one girl into the house and bit Martin's beagle. Martin first tried to scare away the pit bull with a BB gun, but the dog returned, reportedly growling at the children. Martin took out his .9 mm gun and shot the pit bull. The dog then ran down the street and died.

The shooting upset neighbor Ofelia Cravens. Prior to the shooting, Cravens said her daughter found the dog wandering down the street. Cravens said the pit bull was large, but friendly. Cravens said she and her daughter went up and down the street trying to find out who owned the dog. Cravens even put the dog in her garage for awhile.

"The next thing you hear is a shot," said Cravens. "And that was it. I'm very upset, because I could see if he was vicious dog. But he wasn't."

Cravens added, "I like J.R. And I respect him. But I sure as heck didn't know he had a gun."

Another neighbor tells CBS 12, there had to be a reason for Martin to take such an action.

Animal Control says the pit bull belonged to Fernando and Anna Flores, who live on another street. We were unable to reach the couple.

Illinois: Attempted Robbery Ends With Shooting

Rockford, Illinois

From WREX of November 19, 2008

Attempted Robbery Ends With Shooting

A 22-year-old man is under arrest after a morning shooting that started as an armed robbery attempt.

Police say C.L. Phillips got into 29-year-old Antwonne Hudson's car on Searles Avenue, pointed a gun at him, and tried to rob him. Phillips drove the car to Sablewood Drive where there was an altercation, he got his hands on the gun, and shot Phillips in the foot.

Phillips was treated and released at Rockford Memorial Hospital. He is now charged with Unlawful Use of Weapons by Felon and Armed Robbery.

Vermont: North Hero Burglary Suspect Arrested

Burlington, Vermont

From WCAX of November 25, 2008

North Hero Burglary Suspect Arrested

Police say they've arrested the burglar who was shot at by a homeowner Monday in North Hero. It turns out the suspect is a career burglar who is well-known to the police and he has even been interviewed by Channel 3 News several times.

Now Eric Edson, 37, is back behind bars facing new burglary charges. And the police say he made catching him all too easy.

"Through follow-up investigation we learned that he was residing in the Burlington area," said Sgt. Kirk Cooper, of the Vt. State Police.

Police say Edson was arrested sitting outside his mother-in-law's apartment in Burlington. The arrest came less than 20 hours after police say Edson broke into two homes in North Hero for burglaries. But he made a big mistake in the second house when the homeowner caught him red-handed.

"The homeowner went to his residence, had a handgun, entered his residence, and confronted a male subject that was in his residence, and the homeowner fired two rounds from his handgun as the subject fled the area," Cooper said.

Police say Edson escaped uninjured and stole a truck to make his getaway. That triggered a massive manhunt Monday night in Grand Isle. Edson made it easy for the police to figure out who the burglar was because he drove to the homes in his own Blazer and he left it behind.

"Which was good for us," Cooper said. "That was a good clue."

Police say the homeowner who shot at Edson identified him from a photo lineup. And his picture had been in many lineups in the last two decades. He has more than three dozen felony convictions for burglaries and thefts, which have kept him behind bars for most of his adult life. He has been interviewed on Channel 3 several times for his views on prison life, including one month ago, when we did a report about rapes in prison. Edson denied that rapes were being committed in Vermont prisons.

"You're more protected in there than out here. I could leave here today and get shot. The chances of me going to the chow hall and getting shot or stabbed is zero," Edson said.

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Mississippi: Man shot trying to steal SUV

Jackson, Mississippi

From the Clarion Ledger of November 24, 2008

Man shot trying to steal SUV

Jackson police said the property owner who fatally shot a burglary suspect Saturday night had a right to pull the trigger under the Castle Doctrine.

Brandon Lenard, 20, of Jackson was shot outside a row of townhouses on County Cork Road after he allegedly broke into a Cadillac Escalade parked in front, police said.

Police spokesman Lt. Jeffery Scott said no charges will be filed against the owner of the SUV, whose name was not released.

When the police investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to a Hinds County grand jury, Scott said.

Lenard is the fifth burglary or robbery suspect to be shot to death in Jackson by a homeowner, property owner or store employee since the Castle Doctrine law took effect in 2006.

Among other things, the Castle Doctrine says a person has "no duty to retreat" if the person believes he is in imminent danger. The law protects someone who uses deadly force in self-defense from being sued.

Just before 9 p.m. Saturday, Lenard allegedly broke into the Escalade while its owner was inside a townhouse just a few feet away, police said.

"The owner heard something outside, so he stepped out of the house to see what it was. When he saw someone was in his vehicle, he went back inside to retrieve a weapon. He then went back outside to confront the suspect," Scott said.

Scott said there was an exchange of words between Lenard and the vehicle's owner just before Lenard tried to run from the scene.

Police said that as Lenard was leaving, he is believed to have put the SUV owner's life in danger. Scott would not say what he did.

"Our investigation has determined that the owner was in the imminent threat of danger based on items found at the scene, which I cannot elaborate (on)," Scott said. "We have made a determination that the actions of the property owner are in the parameters of the Castle Doctrine."

Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart said Sunday that Lenard did have a gun at the scene.

Lenard was shot once with a shotgun, Grisham-Stewart said. She said the pellets entered the back and side of his head.

Scott said investigators think Lenard was driven to the scene in an unidentified vehicle. Police are trying to find who might have been with Lenard that night.

Neighbors would not comment Sunday about the shooting.

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Kansas: Son Shoots Ex-Stepdad To Protect Her, Mom Says

Leavenworth, Kansas

From KCTV5 of November 21, 2008

Son Shoots Ex-Stepdad To Protect Her, Mom Says

A teen took aim with a gun, his mother said, but it was the shooting victim who was in trouble with the law Friday night.

The teenager's mother, who was caught in the middle, said her son pulled the trigger and shot her ex-husband to save her.

She agreed to talk anonymously to help other women who may be stuck in a domestic violence situation.

The woman's 16-year-old son shot her ex-husband Friday morning on the front lawn of their Leavenworth home, but she said he did it to protect her.

"He started ranting and raving, and I told him he needed to leave and go home, and he got mad," the woman said.

The woman said her ex-husband had been abusive many times before, so she divorced him two years ago.

But at 2:30 a.m., he suddenly barged into her home. She said he pulled out a knife and dragged her into the front yard, and that was when she said her son grabbed a gun from the house and pulled the trigger, hitting his ex-stepfather in the stomach.

"He's a very quiet kid, and he's not the type to do anything like that, but he had had enough," she said.

Her wounded ex-husband jumped into his truck. Instead of heading to either of the two hospitals in Leavenworth, he drove himself all the way to Kansas City, Kan., to Providence Medical Center, where police said he lied about what happened.

"He indicated that he had been shot somewhere else besides Leavenworth," said Chief Pat Kitchens, of the Leavenworth Police Department.

The mother said she was glad her ex-husband survived so her son wouldn't have to deal with that burden for the rest of his life. And she is focused on helping her son and daughter heal from such a traumatic ordeal.

"My kids have been through a lot, you know? They're going through counseling and that's something that's very highly recommended because when you've got family violence, it's not easy, especially on the kids," she said.

Police said the teen was not arrested. He will likely not face any charges because what he did was in self-defense to protect himself and his mother.

In the meantime, the ex-husband is recovering in the hospital. From there, he will be moved to the jail to face possible charges of burglary, kidnapping and assault.

Illinois: R. Kelly's nephew charged in barber shop robbery, shooting

Calumet City, Illinois

From the Chicago Sun-Times of November 21, 2008

R. Kelly's nephew charged in barber shop robbery, shooting

Bond was set at $200,000 Friday for R & B singer R. Kelly’s teenage nephew who allegedly tried to rob a barber shop but was shot by the owner earlier this month.

Cook County Judge Reginald Baker set bond for Brayel Kelly of Calumet City at $200,000, according to Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokesman Andy Conklin.

Kelly was charged as an adult Thursday with attempted armed robbery, attempted murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

On Nov. 6 at about 11:40 a.m., Calumet City police responded to reports of a person shot at 524 155th Pl. Police arrived to find Kelly suffering from a gunshot wound to the back. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment, according to a release from police.

As police were responding, they also received a report of an armed robbery at Marvelous Cuts Barber Shop at 804 Burnham in Calumet City.

The victim told police a male subject came in for a hair cut and afterwards pulled a gun and demanded the victim’s jewelry and money. The robber told the victim --reportedly the shop owner -- to place the items in a plastic bag and the victim complied, police said.

As the victim handed the suspect the bag he grabbed his own weapon, but the suspect fired at him. The victim then shot at the suspect, who fled northbound on Burnham. The victim told police he believed he shot the suspect.

Brayel is the son of R. Kelly’s estranged brother Carey Kelly.

At the time of the shooting, the boy's father told reporters his son may have been a robbery victim, according to Sun-Times reports.

Alan Mayer, a spokesman for the R & B singer said the singer has no comment on the arrest of his nephew.

Brayel Kelly is scheduled to return to court for a Dec. 3 preliminary hearing.

Ohio: Teen shoots burglar

Astabula, Ohio

From the Star Beacon of November 24, 2008

Teen shoots burglar

A 15-year-old shot a burglar late Friday night after the burglar and two cohorts broke into the teen’s West Side home, police said Monday.

The teenager and his 14-year-old brother were home alone when three men came to the house, police said. The teens recognized two out three of the men, according to their mother, who spoke with the Star Beacon Monday.

The identities of the teens is not being disclosed because they are juveniles. The identity of their mother is not being disclosed to protect the teens.

When the boys refused to let the men in the house, one of the men took the butt of a shotgun and smashed the window out of the front door, police said.

That’s when the older boy ran upstairs to retrieve his father’s handgun, his mother said.

In the meantime, the intruders told the younger teen they would kill both of them if he didn’t open the door, the mother said.

“They held a gun to his head,” she said.

Sgt. John Koski said the 15-year-old came down the stairs and shot one of the intruders in the leg. The men then took off.

“The bullet went in the leg and out through his buttocks,” the mother said.

The teens’ parents soon returned home from the store and a relative’s house, and police were called to the scene, the mother said.

In the meantime, police received a call from Ashtabula County Medical Center that a 21-year-old city man showed up with a gunshot wound to the leg, Koski said.

“He said a kid accidentally shot him,” he said. “The wound was in the exact place the 15-year-old said he shot the intruder.”

Police arrested and charged the 21-year-old man with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; attempted felonious assault and having a weapon under disability, Koski said, noting the suspect is a known felon.

The suspect’s name is being withheld until his arraignment.

As of Monday afternoon, police were securing warrants for the other two suspects, Koski said.

Tennessee: 69-Year-Old Shoots Home Intruder

Nashville, Tennessee

From News Channel 15 of November 24, 2008

69-Year-Old Shoots Home Intruder

Metro police said the victim of a home invasion turned the tides on his intruder.

Rather than running, the homeowner shot the burglar.

John Lewis is sick and tired of being the victim. He said burglars have broken into his home four times this year.

Lewis said it was about time the suspect got the raw end of the deal.

"You got to be able to protect yourself," he said.

To a thief, Lewis may look like an easy target. On Sunday, the 69-year-old Air Force veteran shot a hole through that reputation.

"I mean I'm not going to sit here and let somebody rob me over and over and over again," he said.

Around 10:30 p.m., he heard a crash.

"So he started kicking on the door. He made more noise than anybody I've ever dreamed of trying to break into a house," he said.

What he saw was a man holding a flashlight and a pickax.

Lewis was packing a 357 pistol.

"And the pistol went off. I had it cocked. It had a hair trigger and I touched it and it went off," he said.

The bullet hit suspect Jerry Watson in the leg.

Police said Watson, who has a lengthy criminal history, limped to the home next door and lost consciousness.

"What's there to think about? I mean he was going to hurt me or I was going to hurt him. One of the two," he said.

And rather than getting angry, neighbors are celebrating the story.

"I think it's wonderful. Yeah rah for Mr. Lewis. Yeah Rah! You got my vote. Maybe they'll stay away now," said Sarah Pannell.

As the suspect recovers at a local hospital, John wonders if the intruder learned his lesson.

"I don't know. Maybe he did with me. I hope so. Like I said if he didn't I'll teach him again," he said.

No matter the outcome, this pistol packing homeowner has no regrets.

This is the second time Lewis has shot an intruder. He said the first incident was 11 or 12 years ago.

During that break-in he came home and found a man inside his house. Lewis shot the intruder.

That suspect also lived and was later arrested.

Police said Watson has 26 criminal convictions ranging from burglary to drug offenses.

Texas: Homeowner Shoots Intruder Attempting to Break In

Lubbock, Texas

From KCBD of November 24, 2008

Homeowner Shoots Intruder Attempting to Break In

A homeowner got a surprise wakeup call Monday. Gabriel Guzman was in his 59th Street home Monday morning, when he was startled by his doorbell continuously ringing. "They kept ringing the doorbell and it kind of worried me some so I kind of glanced out the window and I didn't see anything," said Guzman.

Guzman kept peering out his windows, and that's when he saw 18-year-old Adrian Hardaway walk towards his backyard. Out of fear Guzman grabbed his gun. "I opened up the door and yelled at him and I just told him to get away. I looked and he was pointing his gun at me and I had mine and I warned him to get away. I looked again and that's when he had his gun and I thought he was going to shoot me - so I shot him," said Guzman.

Guzman backed the suspect up into his backyard, once he shot him, the suspect feel over and Guzman warned the suspect several times to toss the gun away. Once he finally tossed it aside, then he called the police.

Guzman says he doesn't regret his decision. "When it actually happens, you don't know what you are going to do. I didn't intend to look and have a gun pointed back at me. I just did what I thought was right at the time and that's about it," said Guzman.

Lubbock police say they believe the suspect was responsible for two other burglaries in the neighborhood before he was shot. The suspect was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

California: Guard fatally shoots man armed with swords at Scientology building

Hollywood, California

From the LA Times of November 24, 2008

Guard fatally shoots man armed with swords at Scientology building

A security guard at the Church of Scientology's Celebrity Centre in Hollywood on Sunday shot and killed a man wielding two samurai swords, police said.

Police detained the guard for questioning but said that a surveillance tape at the facility backed his claim that he fired his semiautomatic handgun to protect himself and two colleagues.

"The evidence is very clear the security officers were defending their safety," said Deputy Chief Terry S. Hara of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police did not release the name of the guard or the man killed in the shooting, which occurred about noon. An investigator said the man had a history with the church but was not a member now. The tape showed the man arriving at the Celebrity Centre's Bronson Avenue parking lot in a red convertible, getting out of the vehicle and approaching a trio of security guards and waving a sword in each hand, Hara said.

He said the man, who was described as being in his 40s, was "close enough to hurt them" when the guard fired. The man was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Det. Wendi Berndt said the man was involved with the church "a long time ago."

"There was a previous relationship, but it is unclear to what degree," she said.

A teenager who saw the man arrive in the parking lot said he stopped the car abruptly in the driveway and climbed out with a 5-foot sword in his hand and an angry expression on his face.

Tony Marquez, 17, said the man, who was bald and had tattoos on his arms, walked toward the building, then returned to the car to get the other sword.

"I thought it was part of a show," said Marquez, of Ontario. He and his mother entered the building before the shooting began.

Police said the guard worked for a private security company. Detectives cordoned off the Franklin Avenue complex with yellow tape as investigators combed through the man's Toyota Solara. The incident occurred at one of Hollywood's most distinctive landmarks. Originally a luxury hotel, the eight-story building was built in the style of a 17th century French castle with a striking white facade and turrets that loom over the nearby Hollywood Freeway.

The church remade the building into a facility aimed at celebrities 39 years ago. According to a church website, the Celebrity Centre caters to "artists, politicians, leaders of industry, sports figures and anyone with the power and vision to create a better world." The complex includes a restaurant, theater and hotel. Representatives of the church did not return calls.

"I have no information," said a woman who answered the phone at the Celebrity Centre.

The facility is ringed by a fence, and security cameras dot the property's perimeter. Guards on bikes also patrol the area.

"That is one thing about living here, you get free security," said Brant Hoibin, 34, who lives in an apartment adjacent to the Celebrity Centre.

Pennsylvania: Homeowner Shoots and Kills Burglar

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

From NBC Philadelphia of November 21, 2008

Homeowner Shoots and Kills Burglar

he sleeping resident was woken around 1030pm last night after hearing a strange noise in the downstairs of his home in the 1900 block of Montrose Street in South Philadelphia.

After finding an open window on the first floor of his two story row home, the resident started to search the rest of the property from top to bottom, and was startled to find a male hunched up in the corner of a spare bedroom.

The resident pulled his gun and a violent struggle ensued between the robber and resident. During the struggle the robber was shot.

The burglar, a male in his 30’s, was taken to the hospital where he later died.

The homeowner was not injured and will probably not face charges.

Florida: Brunswick homeowner shoots burglary suspect

Brunswick, Florida

From the Florida Times-Union of November 20, 2008

Brunswick homeowner shoots burglary suspect

A homeowner shot an armed burglary suspect Wednesday morning after a break-in at a house in the Waverly Pines subdivision, police said.

Roderick Manigault, 20, was shot twice in the abdomen about 8:30 a.m. in a hallway of a neighbor's home in the 600 block of Mitscher Drive, Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering said.

Manigault was in fair condition at Southeast Georgia Health System's Brunswick hospital, a medical center spokeswoman said.

Doering said investigators were taking out arrest warrants against Manigault. Police withheld the homeowner's name because the investigation indicates others might have been involved, he said.

"The preliminary investigation shows the homeowner acted properly in self-defense. We have no intention of filing charges against him," Doering said.

Doering would not say how many shots were fired.

Although the burglar was armed, he didn't fire at the homeowner, who was not injured. Police recovered a firearm when Manigault was found wounded in an acquaintance's home about three blocks away from the shooting scene, Doering said.

Doering said the shooting occurred during the second burglary in recent weeks at the home in which guns were stolen.

"The homeowner said he looked down the hallway and saw a burglar who was armed with a gun," Doering said.

After being shot, the burglar fled. Responding to a phone tip, police found Manigault wounded shortly after the shooting, Doering said.

Police recovered some stolen property after Manigault was found, Doering said.

Georgia: Cobb store owner shoots would-be thief

Cobb County, Georgia

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution of November 22, 2008

Cobb store owner shoots would-be thief

A would-be robber apparently got more than he bargained for when he tried to rob a Cobb County package store.

When a man wearing a hoodie and carrying a gun tried to rob the Windy Hill Package store, the owner fired a handgun at him, police spokesman Dana Pierce said.

The owner of the store at 2425 Windy Hill Road in Marietta believes he shot the suspect as he ran from the store during the Nov. 15 robbery attempt. A store security camera captured the incident as it unfolded at about 7:30 p.m. at the store near Cobb Parkway.

The suspect is seen on the security camera pointing a gun at the clerk.

The owner, who asked that his name not be used because the suspect is still on the loose, said the robber first asked for a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin.

When he came back to the counter, he pointed his gun at the clerk and gestured toward the cash register.

As the store owner pushed a bag with the bottle in it toward the robber, the robber put his gun in the waistband of his pants. The owner quickly reached under the counter and brought out his own gun —- a .45 caliber —- which he fired at the robber.

The robber appeared to be hit in his right side and staggered as he turned to leave. Pierce said no bullet holes were found in the walls of the store.

Pierce said the suspect left without any money —- or his gin.

When the robbery began to unfold, the owner said, “He was yelling something like he was going to kill me. I didn’t think nothing of him when he came into the store, because we get guys that dress like that in here all the time. It all happened so fast that I didn’t have time to be afraid.”

Police checked local hospitals for patients with gunshot wounds but haven’t turned any up.

No charges are expected to be filed against the store owner. The owner said this was the first time someone has attempted to rob him since he bought the store in December 2007.

Oklahoma: Store Owner Shoots At Would-Be Robber

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

From KOCO of November 20, 2008

Store Owner Shoots At Would-Be Robber

A robber is on the run after narrowly escaping a barrage of bullets at an Oklahoma City convenience store.

Oklahoma County deputies said a man waited for the Buy Fast Foods store at Northeast 23rd and Boyd streets to close and started pistol-whipping the owner in the parking lot.

Deputies said the robber forced the owner to go back into the store and get money. Instead, the owner got a gun and fired several shots at the man.

The robber fled in a newer-model red pickup truck. Police said they're not sure whether any of the shots hit the robber.

Delaware: Police: Robber shot by would-be victim

New Castle, Delaware

From the News Journal of November 25, 2008

Police: Robber shot by would-be victim

An armed robber who tried to stick up a New Castle area man was shot himself when his would-be victim pulled out his own gun and fired at him.

The gunshot victim later reported to police that he was shot during a robbery that went awry.

New Castle County police spokesman Cpl. Trinidad Navarro said the holdup happened at 5:45 p.m. Monday in the first block of Chesterfield Drive in Garfield Park.

A 37-year-old man told officers that he was taking items out of his car when two men walked up to him and stuck an object in his side and attempted to rob him.

The victim said he thought the assailants were going to shoot him, so he pulled out his own 9 mm handgun and fired one round at the suspects.

Navarro said the man was not sure if he hit either of the assailants, although he did hear a loud moaning sound after he fired the shot.

The two would-be robbers ran off in the direction of Bizarre Drive.

While officers were on their way to the first call about the robbery, a second call came in about an 18-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his upper chest.

The shooting victim told the officers he was shot by a group of men who tried to rob him on Briarcliff Drive.

He was admitted to Christiana Hospital in stable condition.

Officers investigating the first case on Chesterfield Road recovered the gun from the victim and are holding it as evidence.

The shooting and attempted robbery remain under investigation.

No charges have been filed pending the outcome of the investigation.

Massachusetts: Clerk with handgun turns tide on would-be robber

New Bedford, Massachusetts

From the South Coast Today of November 25, 2008

Clerk with handgun turns tide on would-be robber

Police said Tyrone Lamb, 26, of New Bedford was armed with a knife when he tried to rob a clerk at a North End convenience store last weekend.

Big mistake.

Around 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Mr. Lamb allegedly walked into the Petro Mart at 171 Coggeshall St.

The suspect wore a gray sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head. He asked for a pack of cigarettes but did not take out cash. He kept his hands in his pockets and skulked around the store.

The clerk, Antoine Khalife, knew something was going to happen.

"I had a bad feeling," said Mr. Khalife, a Petro Mart employee for seven years. "He was really suspicious."

The suspect walked to the counter and pulled a switchblade from his pocket. He held it to Mr. Khalife's face and demanded money, according to police reports.

Unfazed, the clerk stepped back from the counter.

"I was waiting for him," he said.

Instead of opening his register, Mr. Khalife drew a .40-caliber Sig Sauer handgun from a holster hidden in his coat. The tables had turned as the clerk ordered the man to drop his knife.

"I don't think he was expecting that," Mr. Khalife said. "His face lit up like a Christmas tree. His eyes were about three times their size."

The suspect backed off and said, "I'm sorry." He turned around and ran out of the store.

Mr. Khalife said he followed the suspect outside and yelled at the man as he entered his getaway car.

Meanwhile, a man scratching lottery tickets inside a nearby parked car looked outside his window and saw Mr. Khalife walking outside the store, holding a handgun, court records said.

Mr. Khalife saw the suspect leaving in a green Mercury Sable. He noted the vehicle's license plate number and called police. Later, he reflected on the suspect's brazenness.

"The thing that threw me off was that this happened in broad daylight," he said. "People were on the street and pumping their gas. But he didn't care."

Police tracked the suspect's license plate to a Roswell Street residence. Relatives there told police that Mr. Lamb drove the vehicle, according to police reports.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Lamb after Mr. Khalife identified him from a photo array as the robbery suspect, court records said.

Mr. Khalife has a valid license to possess the handgun, police said.

"You can't confuse vigilance with vigilantism," New Bedford police spokesman Lt. Jeffrey P. Silva said.

"This was a lawful gun owner who, when confronted with deadly force, responded to save his life and, in the end, helped us to solve a crime."

Mr. Lamb turned himself in to police Sunday. He told detectives he did not rob the convenience store. He later asked police to explain the legal differences between attempted and actual armed robbery, and if he would serve more time in jail, court records said.

Mr. Lamb has a prior robbery conviction, police said. He was arraigned Monday on charges of armed assault with intent to rob, attempt to commit a crime and assault by a dangerous weapon.

He was held on $7,500 cash bail and ordered to return to court Dec. 22 for a probable cause hearing.

[Emphasis added]

Alaska: Homeowner opens fire on intruder

North Pole, Alaska

From the Anchorage Daily News of November 18, 2008

Homeowner opens fire on intruder

A homeowner interrupting a burglary in progress late last week morning opened fire on the intruder as the burglar approached him and his wife, Alaska State Troopers said.

The burglar was not hit by the shots but did sustain minor injuries when he "went through the window" while fleeing the home, troopers said. Responding officers brought in a dog and tracked down a suspect, Bowen Alexander, 18, a short distance from the home, troopers said.

Troopers say Alexander had been drinking when he crashed his vehicle, broke into a home and entered the homeowner's vehicle. For reasons that were not immediately clear, Alexander then fled to the neighboring home, where the homeowner shot at him, troopers said.

Alexander was booked at the Fairbanks Correctional Center on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, criminal trespass, assault and resisting arrest.

New York: Unarmed, Shop Owner Turned Tables on Gunmen

Brooklyn, New York

From the New York Times of November 18, 2008

Unarmed, Shop Owner Turned Tables on Gunmen

Some would-be robbers picked the wrong shop owner to rob in Brooklyn on Monday night.

Even though he was unarmed, the shop owner, identified by neighbors as Youssouf Drame, 35, wrested a gun away from one of the men and fatally shot two of them. The police say that two other suspects — it’s unclear whether they entered the store — are at large.

Mr. Drame, the owner of the variety store at 1051 Nostrand Avenue in Crown Heights, was also shot multiple times during the struggle and remained in critical condition at Kings County Hospital Center on Tuesday, the police said.

His wife, Soriah Williams, 35, said on Tuesday evening that he had had surgery in the morning but was still in intensive care and not talking.

She said that he had been shot several times and had also been hit in the head.

“Nothing surprised me about what he did,” she said outside of 300 Sullivan Place, about three blocks from the store, where they live with their five children. “The gun would not scare him.”

Drummond Dignott, 19, a clerk, said he was working in the back of the store when the armed intruders entered about 8:20 p.m. He said a customer was also in the store, buying a T-shirt.

“They came in and said, ‘Everybody get down!’ ” Mr. Dignott said. One of the men hit Mr. Drame hard, “and then shots started going off.”

The police identified one of the two men killed as Leon Harris, 26, of 1212 Lincoln Place in Brooklyn. Mr. Harris was pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital Center.

The other man who was shot, whose identity had not yet been released on Tuesday, was dead at the scene, the police said. Both had been shot in the torso, the police said.

The store owner is not expected to face any charges, the police said.

Paul J. Browne, the chief spokesman for the Police Department, said, “Normally we advise people to try to get out of harm’s way, but that is not always possible.” He added that it is unusual for a victim to disarm an attacker.

Mr. Drame is well-known along Nostrand Avenue, a busy commercial strip lined with salons, Caribbean restaurants and 99-cent stores. His store, near Lefferts Avenue, has no sign out front, but it has items for sale displayed in the window and is known as Aliyah’s, according to a neighbor.

Customers who are short of money are often extended credit by Mr. Drame, neighbors said.

He also lets customers duck inside to charge their cellphones, said Troy Wilson, 40, who grew up nearby.

On Tuesday morning, a small, brown-handled pistol lay on the sidewalk against the grate of a beauty salon next door, guarded by the police as they waited for crime scene investigators. One of the store’s windows, which displayed dozens of video game boxes, was broken and shards of glass were scattered in front with splotches of what looked like dried blood.

Neighbors said Mr. Drame opened the store about 10 years ago. Christopher Johnson, 38, who lives on the fifth floor of Mr. Drame’s building, said he has known Mr. Drame for about 12 years.

“A lot of guys try to test him,” Mr. Johnson said. “Why do these guys try to mess with him?”

Louisiana: Woman Shot After Being Mistaken For Intruder

Keithville, Louisiana

From the ArkLaTex of November 13, 2008

Woman Shot After Being Mistaken For Intruder

A Keithville woman is recovering from a gunshot wound after she was mistaken for an intruder at her home.

Denise Giddens, was taken to LSU Health Sciences Center after being shot in the stomach by her brother, Michael Henderson.

Henderson said he'd been staying with his sister at her residence in the 8300 block of Godfrey Road. Two nights ago, someone tried to break into the residence, and Henderson believed the intruder was looking for him.

Henderson obtained a handgun and was sleeping with the gun last night. When Giddens got up during the night to check the locks on the doors, Henderson heard the noise and fired the shot not knowing the target was his sister.

The case remains under investigation by Sheriff's Detective Donnie Laney.

**Note**
Some may object to reporting accidental shootings on a self-defense blog. However, we try to show an accurate sampling of the self-defense shootings that occur on a regular basis across these United States, and the fact that we have seen less then a half-dozen in the past five years is very telling.

- D.B., 11/17/08

California: Man in critical condition after weekend domestic violence attack

Stockton, California

From the Stockton Record of November 10, 2008

Man in critical condition after weekend domestic violence attack

A 60-year-old Stockton man remains in critical condition in an area hospital after he was shot several times early Sunday by a neighbor trying to intervene in a domestic violence attack.

Alcide Doucet, 60, shortly after 1:50 a.m. Sunday allegedly went to the Kelley Drive home of a 43-year-old woman and kicked in the door, according to a police report. Doucet allegedly hit the woman in the head with his fists and a handgun.

A 42-year-old neighbor heard screaming and other noise coming from the woman's house and went to help, according to the report. The neighbor, who police did not identify, apparently knew of the problems between the woman and Doucet, according to the report.

Once inside the woman's home, the neighbor saw Doucet holding the woman by her hair and raising his hand with the gun in it, according to the report. The neighbor told Doucet several times to stop. Doucet allegedly turned the gun on the neighbor and fired once, hitting the man.

The neighbor returned fire with his own gun, hitting Doucet several times in the upper body.

The woman and neighbor were treated for non-life threatening wounds and Doucet was taken to an area hospital and underwent surgery for his wounds.

Doucet likely will face at least felony domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon once released from the hospital. The neighbor will not face charges since he was defending the woman, according to police.

Texas: Attempted carjacker gets shot

Edinberg, Texas

From The Monitor of November 10, 2008

Attempted carjacker gets shot

The clerk warned Alejandro Salinas about the suspicious men who had been hanging out in front of the convenience store for the past hour.

He told Salinas to be careful as he went back out to his Chevrolet Z-71 pickup truck, that he had just filled at the Aziz Convenience Store about 11 a.m. Saturday.

Salinas walked out to his truck and hopped in.

But before he could close the door, 18-year-old Hector Severo Ramos was holding a .25-caliber pistol at Salinas' neck, said Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño.

"He says ‘Get out of the truck. I'm going to take it and I'm going to kill you," Treviño said of Ramos.

Salinas told the gunman to calm down; they could work things out.

Then he pushed Ramos' pistol away, pulled out his own pistol and fired two 9 mm bullets into Ramos' chest.

Ramos fired once into the air and his arms fell onto Salinas.

The two men tumbled to the pavement as blood spilled from Ramos' chest.

Three men who were with Ramos took off from the convenience store at Texas Highway 107 and Alamo Road in a brown Chevrolet Impala, deputies said.

Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene and emergency crews rushed Ramos to McAllen Medical Center, where he died upon arrival.

Salinas had a license to carry a concealed firearm and a clean criminal record, Treviño said.

Ramos, a U.S. citizen who lived in South Alamo, had been arrested for giving a false report to a police officer, aggravated robbery, theft and engaging in organized criminal activity, Treviño said.

Ramos may have been involved with a local gang or attempting to start a new one, Treviño said.

Deputies continue to look for the three men who were with Ramos before he was shot. They could face murder and aggravated robbery charges, Treviño said.

"If they fled knowing (Ramos) was dying at the scene and they were all responsible for the commission of this felony, then they could be held liable for that," Treviño said.

Meanwhile, the sheriff said he would likely not pursue criminal charges against Salinas, who told deputies he killed Ramos in self-defense.

"This is not a murder," Treviño said. "This is a justifiable homicide."

Oklahoma: Homeowner Halts Burglary With Shotgun Blast

Tulsa, Oklahoma

From KTUL of November 12, 2008

Homeowner Halts Burglary With Shotgun Blast

A man sent suspects running after firing a shot from his 12-gauge shotgun to end an attempted burglary overnight.

It happened at about 10:40 p.m. Tuesday night near 45th and South Evanston. The victim told police his estranged wife and ex-girlfriend came to his home with two unknown men.

The victim says his wife broke through the front window and the two men kicked in the front door. The man retreated to his bedroom and got out his shotgun and fired one shot through the front room wall.

All of the suspects ran away from the scene. There were no injuries reported and no arrests have been made.

Pennsylvania: Steelton Man Fires 3 Shots At Burglar

Steelton, Pennsylvania

From WGAL of November 16, 2008

Steelton Man Fires 3 Shots At Burglar

No charges will be filed against a man who shot at a burglar in his home Thursday, Steelton police said.

Officers were called to the 500 block of Lincoln Street just after 3 p.m.

A resident called police and said he was holding a burglar at gunpoint.

The resident had caught the burglar in the second floor of his home, police said.

Before police arrived the burglar placed his hand in his pocket, which made the victim believe he was armed. The victim fired three shots at the burglar who fled.

It's not known if the burglar was injured.

The suspected burglar is a Hispanic male, about 5 foot 7 inches tall with some facial hair and a pony tail.

Pennsylvania: Barbershop Owner Shoots Attempted Armed Robber

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

From MyFoxPhilly of November 13, 2008

Barbershop Owner Shoots Attempted Armed Robber

A barbershop owner fought back against a would-be armed robber in the city's West Oak Lane section.

It happened at 'Cross Cutz', on the 7400 block of Briar Road, around 6:07p.m. Thursday.

Police told Fox 29 News that a man in his early 20s stormed the barbershop with a 9mm gun and demanded cash.

The male shop owner forked over everything he had but he and the suspect still got into an altercation, police said.

Minutes later, the shop owner pulled out his own gun and shot the alleged robber in the head. The suspect collapsed right at the door. Police said all of this took place with a 9-year-old boy playing video games in a back room of the business.

"The owner has a 9-year-old son who was in a back room playing video games, in a room right-next-door to where the robbery occurred at the time of the robbery and shooting. However, the 9-year-old boy did not see the actual robbery or shooting," said Chief Investigator Scott Small of Philadelphia Police.

As police tried to shelter the boy from the scene, medics rushed the wounded suspect to Albert Einstein Hospital where he is in critical condition.

Both weapons were recovered at the scene.

Police are investigating all of the circumstances behind the shooting.

Georiga: Would-be Robber Shot by Gainesville Store Clerk

Gainesville, Georgia

From First Coast News of November 10, 2008

Would-be Robber Shot by Gainesville Store Clerk

A would-be robber was shot by a Gainesville store clerk when he tried to rob a convenience store Sunday night.

The man walked into a West University Avenue business, armed and looking for quick cash.

Instead, he was shot once in the torso and ran from the store.

According to a report, he fired shots at the business as he left. The clerk was not injured during the robbery.

This was the second time the store had been robbed. The first time was on Saturday. Police do not know if that case was linked to Sunday evening's attempted robbery.

The would-be robber went into the store and walked up to the clerk, who was apparently talking on the phone.

That's when the man demanded cash.

The clerk asked him to repeat what he had said. He again demanded cash and this time fired a round from his gun inside the store.

The clerk pulled a gun from under the counter and shot him in the chest.

The Gainesville Police Department spent much of Sunday afternoon searching for the would-be robber.

The man was described as white, in his early to mid 20's with short hair that may have been blonde.

South Carolina: Store Clerk Fires Shot At Would-Be Robber

Sandy Springs, South Carolina

From WYFF of November 12, 2008

Store Clerk Fires Shot At Would-Be Robber

An Anderson County convenience store clerk shot at a would-be robber Wednesday night.

Police said a man tried to rob the Sunoco on Highway 76 and Millwee Creek Road in the Sandy Springs area of Anderson County just before 10 p.m.

Susann Griffin with Anderson County police said the man pointed a gun at the store's clerk and demanded money.

The clerk told the man to hang on a second while he got the money together, and then pulled out a gun and fired a shot at the robber.

Police said they don't think the man was hit, but he fled the scene.

Deputies searched the scene with tracking dogs.

California: Armed Homeowner Kills Suspected Burglar

Sacramento, California

From CBS13 of November 8, 2008

Armed Homeowner Kills Suspected Burglar

An armed homeowner shot and killed a man who was allegedly trying to rob his home, according to authorities.

The Sacramento Police Department says two suspects entered the victim's home on 51st Street Saturday morning and confronted the homeowner, who was able to retrieve a firearm. The man then shot one of the suspects in self-defense, according to authorities.

The second suspect -- a white male in his late 20s, standing 5'6", weighing 135 pounds -- fled the scene.

Police believe the victim knew the suspects. Anyone with information on the crime is urged to call Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP.

Alabama: Shot teens attended Vigor, police say

Mobile, Alabama

From the Press-Register of November 4, 2008

Shot teens attended Vigor, police say

Two teens shot during a robbery attempt Friday apparently followed their victim to his home after seeing him withdraw money from an ATM miles away, police said.

Seventeen-year-old Antonio Austin was killed in the confrontation. Nineteen-year-old Robert Howez was shot in the back and taken to the University of South Alabama Medical Center, where he was listed in fair condition Monday.

Howez will face a charge of first-degree robbery upon his release, authorities said.

Both teens were listed as students at Vigor High School, said Deputy Chief James Barber.

Barber declined to identify the 60-year-old man who was the alleged robbery target, saying the man does not currently face criminal charges in the shooting, which has been characterized by Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson Jr. as a case of self-defense.

Police have also questioned two other teens investigators believe were in a car just down the street from the attempted robbery, Barber said.

The car left the area when the shooting started, according to police.

Investigators were still trying to determine what role the people in the car might have had in the robbery, Barber said.

"We don't have probable cause to charge them at this point," he said. He declined to release the names of those two teens or what schools they attend because they haven't been charged.

The attempted robbery, according to police accounts, occurred like this:

The man was returning to his home on West Belvedere Circle, near Hank Aaron Stadium, shortly after 6 p.m. Friday when, as he was getting out of his car, he was accosted by two teenagers, one armed with a revolver.

The armed teen demanded that the man hand over the money from the ATM. Instead, he drew his own pistol and opened fire.

Howez could face a murder charge in Austin's death even though he didn't fire the shot that killed him, Barber said, as Alabama law allows criminals to be held liable for the death of an accomplice killed in the commission of a violent felony.

"That will be a question for the district attorney," Barber said.

Texas: Suspected Robber Shot in College Station

College Station, Texas

From KBTX of November 6, 2008

Suspected Robber Shot in College Station

A Bryan man is in jail after police say he was shot in the arm by someone he was trying to rob.

College Station police say, Wednesday night, five people were in a home on the 3500 block of Wild Plum when three suspected armed robbers broke inside the home.

Officers say those suspects ordered the people in the house on the floor and took their personal property.

According to witnesses the suspects left the scene.

Officers say that's when the victims locked the door.

Police say the suspects returned and busted into the home.

Officers say two people were hiding in the bedroom and when one of the suspects fired a gun, one of the victims returned fire hitting one suspect in the arm.

That suspect, 20-year-old Cardell Anthony Jackson was arrested after a 911 call was made about his gun shot wound and he was treated at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

He's charged with nine counts of aggravated robbery and one count of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony.

Wisconsin: Shooting victim faces charges

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

From the Dubuque Telegraph Herald of November 2, 2008

Shooting victim faces charges

A man shot by his neighbor while he allegedly was vandalizing her home is charged with criminal damage to property -- and the neighbor isn't expected to face any charges.

The criminal complaint filed in Crawford County Circuit Court said 53-year-old Harvey Townsend used a metal fence post to smash 16 windows and a storm door of the neighbor's house in Steuben Oct. 20.

According to Sheriff Jerry Moran, the neighbor, a 54-year-old woman, said she fired warning rounds from a pistol but didn't intend to hit Townsend, who fled and was located by a police dog in a nearby woods with a wound to the abdomen.

The woman has since filed for a temporary restraining order against Townsend. A hearing on that action is scheduled Monday -- the same day Townsend is due for his preliminary hearing.

Texas: Texas Homeowner Grabs Robber’s Gun, Kills Him

Dallas, Texas

From KWTX of November 3, 2008

Texas Homeowner Grabs Robber’s Gun, Kills Him

A homeowner in North Dallas who answered his door Sunday night to find a man pointing a gun at him killed the would-be-robber.

Police say the resident grabbed the man’s handgun and used it to shoot the would-be robber.

A second would-be-robber escaped on foot.

The homeowner wasn’t injured, but the man he shot later died at an area hospital.

Names of the homeowner and the victim were not released.

Police Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse told The Dallas Morning News that the resident “was protecting himself."

Oklahoma: Homeowner opens fire on intruder

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

From the Tulsa World of November 2, 2008

Homeowner opens fire on intruder

A 19-year-old man was shot several times by a homeowner Saturday night after he reportedly broke into the home, police said.

The victim, Stephen Richardson, was taken to an area hospital, where his condition was not immediately available.

Authorities said officers were dispatched at 9:40 p.m. to the home in the 3100 block of West Norman Circle.

Officers said Richardson reportedly was drunk when he entered the house, where the homeowner shot him.

Maj. Mark Irwin said Richardson “thought he was breaking into his (own) house.”

He said he wasn’t sure whether Richardson lived in the vicinity. Officers attempted to interview Richardson, but he was too drunk to be coherent, Irwin said.

Police are investigating the shooting.

Alabama: Granny Shoots Intruder

Pennsylvania, Alabama

From the WTVY of November 2, 2008

Granny Shoots Intruder

An investigation is underway in Pennsylvania after police say a 75-year-old
granny shot a man who allegedly broke into her home.

The woman was sleeping upstairs, when an intoxicated man entered her home. She first asked him politely to leave, but when he proceeded up the stairs she grabbed her 38 caliber revolver and shot the man in the groin.

Turns out the man lives nearby and accidentally walked into the wrong house.

Police are investigating the case, but so far no charges have been filed.