Teenaged Son Protects Mom From Ex-Husband

Dover, Delaware

From the October 29, 2009 Wilmington (Del.) News-Journal:

One of the teenage sons of a Dover woman being assaulted by her ex-husband grabbed a shotgun and fired into the air to get his father to stop the attack, Dover police said.

The victim's estranged husband, Jeremy S. Stanislow, 32, of the 1100 block of Smyrna Clayton Blvd. in Smyrna, was charged with three counts of assault, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and disorderly conduct.

He was later released on $3,000 bail.

Dover police Lt. Steve Getek said officers Tuesday night were sent to the first block of Forest Creek Drive about 7 p.m. to investigate a domestic incident.

The victim told officers that she and her estranged husband argued over custody issues because he wanted to take their youngest child with him for the evening.

The argument turned physical and Stanislow shoved the victim off the steps and started assaulting her, Getek said.

When the woman's 16-year-old son saw his father attacking his mother he picked up a board and hit Stanislow in the back, according to court records.

Then, when the woman tried to stop Stanislow from beating up on his son, he turned and began punching her until she blacked out, police said in court records.

At this point, the woman's 14-year-old son came out of the house holding a shotgun, pointed it in the air and fired in an effort to get his father to stop attacking his mother, police said.

Stanislow then ran.

Delaware: Intruders shot, cut by 74-year-old man, police say

Lewes, Delaware

From the Delaware Online of September 11, 2009

Intruders shot, cut by 74-year-old man, police say

State police say a 74-year-old man shot one intruder and cut another at his home west of Lewes. The intruders fled but were later arrested by police.

The incident happened about 6:20 p.m. Thursday in the 19000 block of Bee Jay Lane, off Beaver Dam Road.

Sgt. Walter Newton said the homeowner arrived back at the house and found an empty SUV in his driveway and a side door that had been locked was open. He then found the front door had been kicked in.

Two men -- later identified by police as Paul L. Spencer, 43, and Gregory B. Stewart, 49, both of Lincoln -- approached the homeowner at the side door and said they were “looking to purchase a dump truck,” Newton said.

The homeowner told them to leave, but they continued toward him. Spencer crossed the threshold and grabbed a landscaping tool and threatened the homeowner, Newton said. The homeowner took a machete from next to the door and swung it at Spencer, striking him several times in his right forearm and hand.

“Both suspects continued toward the homeowner, which caused him to fire two .25 caliber rounds from a handgun. One of the bullets struck Stewart in his abdomen,” Newton said.

Both Lincoln men then fled, but Stewart was arrested at Milford Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted for treatment of a gunshot wound, Newton said.

Police later located Spencer at his home and charged him with burglary, conspiracy, menacing and criminal mischief. He was treated for cuts to his right arm and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution. Bail information was not immediately available.

Warrants were on file charging Stewart with the same offenses, Newton said. He was reported in stable condition at the hospital.

The homeowner was not injured.

Delaware: Man wrangles handgun from would-be robber

New Castle, Delaware

From the News Journal of February 24, 2009

Man wrangles handgun from would-be robber

When a New Castle area man found himself being held up at gunpoint early today, he managed to wrestle the weapon away from the would-be robber, a woman, police said.

The bandit, who was unsuccessful in the robbery attempt, then ran off before New Castle County officers arrived.

The incident occurred about 12:30 a.m. at the Georgetown Village Apartments, county police spokesman Cpl. Trinidad Navarro said.

Officers were called to Building R in response to the robbery report and spoke with the 51-year-old victim, who still had the woman's gun.

He told the officers that he was about to enter his apartment building when he heard someone run up behind him.

He turned around to see a woman approaching the building, so he held the door open for her only to be accosted at gunpoint.

The man was able to wrestle the handgun away from the woman, run to his apartment and call police.

The woman, meanwhile, ran out of the building and disappeared.

Officers searched the area with a police canine, but the dog lost the scent nearby, which indicated that the would-be bandit probably escaped in a car, Navarro said.

The woman is described as petite, in her early 20s, with black hair and weighing 100 pounds.

She was dressed in dark green pants, a dark green shirt and a blue knit cap.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 395-8110 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.

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.

Delaware: Man shot in home invasion south of Hartly

Kent County, Delaware

From the News Journal of March 18, 2008

Man shot in home invasion south of Hartly

A 29-year-old man was shot in the leg during a home invasion early Monday south of Hartly, state police said.

The victim was not seriously injured and refused to be taken to the hospital, state police spokesman Cpl. John W. Barnett Jr. said.

According to investigators, two or three men entered the home in the 3000 block of Hourglass Road by an unsecured ground-floor door about 2 a.m.

When the intruders were confronted by the homeowner, one of the intruders fired a gun at him.

The homeowner returned fire at the suspects using a handgun, Barnett said.

After several shots were fired, the intruders fled without taking anything.

The homeowner was struck once in the left leg, Barnett said. The gunshot wound was minor and he was treated at the scene.

A 22-year-old woman and two children, ages 2 and 11, were also home during the incident. They were not injured.

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Wilmington, Delaware Liquor Store Owner Shoots Robber

Wilmington, Delaware

From the February 15, 2008 Wilmington News Journal:

It took seven shots from Bernis Martin's Smith & Wesson M&P 9 mm pistol before the Wilmington merchant hit his target. And he felt vindicated afterward.

"I had one robbery attempt before, but he wasn't able to get anything," Martin said Thursday night, standing inside his BGM Liquor Store at 11th and Lombard streets. "This time I have some vengeance because he did get hit."

Martin was speaking the day after he fended off a robbery with his handgun, clipping one of four fleeing suspects and sending the others banging on doors crying for help.

Wilmington police took his weapon as evidence in the 10 p.m. shooting, but filed no charges against the store owner for wounding a 15-year-old suspect in the right thigh.

Police said the wounded youth was arrested at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa., where he allegedly went for treatment. Three others charged with trying to rob Martin as he was leaving his store were arrested in the neighborhood.

Before their arrests, two of the suspects were heard banging on rear doors, shouting, "Open the door, let me in," said Wilmington Master Sgt. Steven Barnes.

Police said it was the 15-year-old who was later wounded who approached Martin as he was leaving the store and demanded money.

"I was startled when I saw him," Martin said. "He looked like he might have been startled, too. He had a hood covering his head and a white-and-black bandanna on his face. He said 'Give it up, old head,' " Martin, 53, said from behind the glass door that separates him from the customers he serves. Several loyal patrons came by to check on him Thursday night.

Martin said the only reason he was caught off guard was because he was headed to his second job as a technician for Chrysler in Newark. He wanted to rush to the store to get his wife some roses for Valentine's Day.

"I was behind these pillars, so I guess he couldn't see me. He said, 'What you doing?' I guess when I didn't answer he shot at me. That's when I shot back," Martin said. He said he has applied for a permit to carry the gun which he holsters on his hip.

Police said the youngster shot at Martin with a .22-caliber rifle, which they recovered in making the arrests after officers responded to a call of shots fired in the area of 10th and Pine streets.

As responding officers ran to the corner where the shooting happened, they saw two people running and chased them to rear yards in the 1000 block of Lombard St., where both were arrested.

Detectives later learned that the 15-year-old had turned up at the hospital, telling medics he was wounded in downtown Wilmington near Fifth and Orange streets. Detectives went to the hospital, interviewed the teen and brought him back to Wilmington to face charges.

The fourth participant, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested after officers raided a home in the 1000 block of Lombard St.

The two teens, along with Christopher Whittaker, 20, of the 300 block of Rolling Green, in New Castle, and Cory Clark, 20, also of the 1000 block of Lombard St., were charged with first-degree robbery, possession of a firearm during a felony, reckless endangering and conspiracy.

Delaware: Teen bandits flee after store clerk takes gun

Dover, Delaware

From the News Journal of January 28, 2008

Teen bandits flee after store clerk takes gun

A store clerk turned the tables on a pair of armed robbers during an attempted holdup at a convenience store, Dover police said today.

Two teens walked into the Little Grocer convenience store on East Division Street about 9 p.m. Sunday and demanded money, Lt. James Hosfelt said.

When one of the bandits brandished a sawed-off shotgun in the direction of the clerk behind the counter, the gunman and clerk got into a physical confrontation, Hosfelt said.

The clerk refused to hand over any money from the register and then grabbed the shotgun out of the hand of the would-be robber.

After the clerk established control of the situation, the two bandits went running from the store, Hosfelt said.

Newark, Delaware

From the Wilmington News Journal of August 16, 2007

New Castle County police are investigating the shooting of a man Wednesday afternoon during a break-in. Shortly before 3 p.m., police were called to the first block of Christiana Crossing Drive in Newark, where a 31-year-old male resident of Christiana Farms town houses said he had shot someone trying to break into his home, said spokesman Cpl. Trinidad Navarro. A female witness drove the intruder, a 39-year-old, to Christiana Hospital with a gunshot wound to the upper torso, Navarro said. He was reportedly in stable condition.

Wilmington, Delaware

From January 5, 2007 WECT channel 6:

WILMINGTON -- A Wilmington man is recovering from a gun shot wound to his ankle. Police say he was shot after exchanging gun fire with a man who tried to rob him.

Police say 26-year-old Matt Hearn was getting out of this truck, when a man pulled out a gun and demanded all his money.

Police say Hearn gave the man his wallet, but no money was inside, so the robber demanded Hearn drive him to the ATM.

That's when Hearn went to the other side of his Ford Ranger, pretended to go through his bag looking for his keys, but instead pulled out a gun.

Police say the robber fired at Hearn, and Hearn fired back. When police arrived on the scene, the robber was gone.

Wilmington, Delaware

From Philadelphia’s 6ABC.com of January 5, 2007

Man Released After Fatal Shooting of Teen

New Castle County Police had taken a man into custody after the fatal shooting a 17-year-old boy in a parking lot at the Canby Park Apartments, just outside the Wilmington city limits near Elsmere.

New Castle County Police say the 35-year-old man is a security guard and a licensed gun carrier, who was allegedly walking his dog when he was jumped by a group of teens. The man claims he fatally shot one of the three teens in self-defense, and has since been released by investigators.

Police say the boy was found shot in the upper body about 10 last night in the 500 block of Homestead Road. Paramedics say he died on the way to the hospital.

The name of the victim has not been released.

Wilmington, Delaware

From the DelawareOnline.com of August 5, 2006

Charges dropped in case of man who shot father

Emotional-distress defense OK'd because of abusive history

John Eugene Latimer's last measure of control over his terrorized family ended this week.

Prosecutors dropped first-degree murder charges against Joseph Latimer, 28, who killed his father by shooting him in the head on the front lawn of his mother's house last July.

The family then let the body sit outside, overnight, under a blue tarp for 10 to 12 hours before calling police.

On Friday, Deputy Attorney General Colleen K. Norris said that after reviewing all the evidence, dropping all charges "was the right thing to do."

…(A lengthy litany of abuse and intimidation by the elder Latimer is omitted here)

On this night, the elder John Latimer was arguing with his wife "about medication he had not been taking," according to a court transcript.

At some point, the confrontation became violent, Jennings said, and John Latimer repeatedly threatened to kill Marie and Joseph. At one point, holding a rusty lawn-mower blade in one hand, he grabbed Marie with the other and looked like he was going to strike her.

So, Joseph then decided he had no choice, Jennings said.

He believed his father would kill his mother unless he acted, she said. He grabbed a .22-caliber rifle that his father had left at the house earlier.

Marie Latimer told police she heard a "pop" and then saw John Latimer fall to the ground. Joseph fired a single shot, hitting his father in the head.
…

Joseph sat in prison for four months before he was released on bond last fall.

On Thursday, prosecutors dropped the charges against Joseph.

"The prosecution is to be commended for their open-minded view of this case," Jennings said. "Justice is not always obtained with a guilty verdict."

She said the Latimer family can now "for the first time in their lives, live in peace."

Seaford, Delaware

From the Delaware State Police of November 14, 2005

Pair Apprehended while Breaking into Vehicles

Delaware State Police arrested two suspects Sunday morning after they were observed breaking into vehicles in Up Country Mobile Home Park, located on Woodland Road.

At approximately 4:00 a.m., a witness observed a male suspect attempting to enter a neighbor’s vehicle. The suspect was unable to make entry into this vehicle so he went to the next vehicle and entered it. When the witness saw the suspect enter the vehicle she called 911 and her neighbors. The witness then saw the male suspect enter a third vehicle, so she went outside in an attempt to obtain the tag number of a black vehicle that was following the male suspect. The owners of one of the vehicles that the suspect had entered then exited their home armed with a shotgun and ordered the male suspect to stop. Meanwhile the witness was able to obtain the tag number of the suspect vehicle. A female suspect who was operating the suspect vehicle then yelled for the male suspect to get in the car. The female suspect then put the car in reverse and backed up approximately 50 feet. The female suspect then put the car in drive and accelerated towards the witness. The witness was not able to get out of the way of the car and she was struck by its front end and knocked to the ground. The female suspect then turned the car around and sped towards the witness who was still on the ground. The neighbors were able to pull the witness out of the way and the suspects sped off.

Troopers who were responding to the scene located the suspects inside the park and took them into custody without further incident. While searching the suspect vehicle troopers located four car stereos that were apparently stolen by the suspects.

Amber D. Kennedy, 23, of Seaford, was charged with two counts of possession of a deadly weapon (the car) during the commission of a felony, two counts of burglary, reckless endangering 1st degree, attempted burglary, conspiracy, and attempted theft.

Ralph J. Sutton, 17, of Bridgeville, was charged with the same offenses as Kennedy.

Kennedy and Sutton were both released on $21,000 secured bond pending further court action.

The witness, who is a 52-year-old female, was treated at Nanticoke Hospital for multiple contusions.

Roselle, Delaware

From November 10, 2005 WPVI channel 6:

ROSELLE, DE-November 10, 2005 - This story began Wednesday night when two men made a fatal decision to break into the home of an armed man in Delaware.

The home, on South Woodward Avenue in Roselle, has bullet holes in the windows, evidence of the gunfight that left one armed intruder shot and critically wounded.

The unidentified homeowner told police two men invaded his house. One of them was captured last night and taken for treatment. Today, helicopters took to the air and tracking dogs were called in as part of the search.

The body of one man was found in a weeded area behind a home along Woodward Avenue.

New Castle County, Delaware

From Wilmington’s DelawareOnline.com of November 10, 2005

Shootout leaves 1 dead, 1 critically injured

A 60-year-old homeowner exchanged gunfire with two burglary suspects early this morning in a shootout investigators are still trying to piece together, New Castle County Police said this morning.

A 911 caller alerted authorities about 12:30 a.m. to a home on Woodward Avenue, just outside the Elsmere city limits. When they arrived, investigators found one suspect from the burglary near the home. He had been shot at least once and was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

The second burglary suspect wasn’t found until 8:45 in the bushes of a home across the street. He was pronounced dead. Investigators found a gun and a flashlight by the body.

The homeowner was believed to be uninjured. Police were questioning him this morning. His home was cordoned off as the investigation continued.

Wilmington, Delaware

From Philadelphia’s NBC10.com of March 18, 2005

Woman Shoots At Half-Naked Burglar

Police Say Suspect Wearing Red T-Shirt, Little Else

A Wilmington woman got the scare of her life when a nearly naked intruder broke into her home, but she turned the tables on the man, who quickly turned tail and ran.

According to police, Keith Simpson, 32, was wearing nothing more than a red T-shirt when he tried to break into her house Friday morning.

"Somebody was ringing my doorbell and so I yelled, 'Who is it? Who is it?' They wouldn't answer," said Cheryl Pettaway.

Pettaway grabbed her son and her gun and started to call 911.

That was when the half-naked Simpson broke through Pettaway's back door.

"The next thing you know, I just heard somebody in my house and I ran midpoint down the steps and I fired shots randomly," Pettaway said.

She fired her gun at least eight times, but missed the intruder. He tried to flee through the garage, but that is where he was caught by police.

Police said this was one of the oddest burglary cases they have seen.

"This is definitely something we don't see every day. ... Breaking in half-clothed -- that's different," said Sgt. William Wells, of the Wilmington police.

Police said Simpson was admitted to Wilmington Hospital for psychiatric evaluation and for treatment of wounds he got when he broke through a glass door.

After he is released from the hospital, he will face charges.

Smyrna, Delaware

From Wilmington’s DelawareOnline.com of February 15, 2005

Burglary suspect shot near Smyrna

A burglary suspect, already wanted on drug and weapons charges, was shot in the face while trying to stab a Smyrna-area resident and his neighbor, police said Monday.

The incident occurred about 11:30 p.m. Sunday outside a house on Cathleen Drive in Burtonwood Village, south of Smyrna.

A 58-year-old man saw a stranger inside the shed next door and armed himself with a .38-caliber revolver before going to alert his neighbor, said state police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Oldham.

The neighbor and the resident, who is 43, went to the shed and were confronted by the intruder, who was armed with a knife, Oldham said.

As the suspect lunged toward the men, the resident tried to close the shed door to protect himself, but caught the suspect in the doorway, Oldham said.

With his upper body outside the door, the intruder kept jabbing the knife at the men, Oldham said. They told the man repeatedly to drop the knife, but he kept trying to stab them, Oldham said.

The neighbor then fired his gun once, hitting the intruder in the face, Oldham said. The resident and neighbor both stayed with the suspect until state police and medical personnel arrived, he said. They were not injured.

The suspect - identified by police as James P. Porter, 26, of Holly Hills Estates, Smyrna - was flown to Christiana Hospital, where he was in critical but stable condition.

"No charges [have been] filed against the neighbor at this time," Oldham said.

Porter faces charges including attempted first-degree robbery, second-degree burglary and two counts of aggravated menacing. Police said Porter already was wanted on drug and weapons charges.

New Castle, Delaware



From the Wilmington News Journal of December 13, 2004

Robber flees when victim pulls gun



State police have charged a 25-year-old Bear man in a string of liquor store robberies after police found him hiding under a porch as he fled a botched robbery attempt.



Michael A. Brown, of the first block of Barrister Court in Buckley off U.S. 40, was being held Sunday in the Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington for lack of $160,000 secured bail, said police spokeswoman Cpl. Helen Zane.



The manhunt began with the report of an attempted robbery at Chelsea Liquors, 8 Morris Road, near New Castle, shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, Zane said.



An armed, masked man walked up to a 52-year-old employee, but ran away when the employee produced a gun of his own, she said.



Police patrolling the area spotted a dark Acura with a Pennsylvania tag leaving the scene and followed the car to the neighborhood of Roselle off Kirkwood Highway, where a man jumped out of the car and ran, Zane said.



State troopers and New Castle County police flooded the area, Zane said.



Brown was found hiding under a porch in the first block of Roselawn Avenue, Zane said. Officers also found a gun and mask believed to have been used in the attempted robbery.

Wilmington, Delaware



From the April 15, 2004 Lowell, Massachusetts Sun:

WILMINGTON A knife-wielding robber fled empty handed but unharmed after his victim pulled a gun on him Sunday night, according to police.



The unidentified man went into Forest Service Center at 316 Lowell St. about 8:15 p.m. asking for change to use in a vending machine, Police Chief Bernard P. Nally said.



The clerk left the office to tend to a customer and when he returned the man asked for more change.



"After the attendant made change the second time the suspect produced a knife and pointed it at the attendant and said, 'Don't do anything stupid and give me all the money,'" Nally said. "About this time the attendant produced a handgun which he is lawfully licensed to do and ordered the suspect to leave the store, which he did."