Scioto County, OH

From Dec. 15, 2010 ABC channel 6:

SCIOTO COUNTY — The Scioto County Sheriff's Office says it appears a homeowner shot a man who was firing a gun into his home in self defense, ABC 6/FOX 28 News has learned.

According to Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini, a 911 call from 11 Leonard Street in Scioto Furnace at 11:39 p.m. alerted police to a person outside of the home shooting through the door. Bullets were going into the house, the caller said.

Sheriff Donini stated that during this 911 call, the caller later advised that the man shooting the gun had been shot and they needed help.

Deputies and detectives, along with emergency medical services, went out to the home and found the man lying in the front yard. The Scioto County coroner pronounced the man dead upon arrival.
Sheriff Donini says the man has been identified as 25-year-old Timothy Ray Carpenter, of Burton Road in South Webster, Ohio.

"From the initial investigation and interviewing the witnesses it appears that this is a case of self defense with the home owner protecting his family," the sheriff said.

Tennessee: Woman In Shower Shoots At Intruder

Mount Juliet, Tennessee

From WSMV of September 24, 2009

Woman In Shower Shoots At Intruder

A woman in Mount Juliet got a scare this week when a man broke into her home while she was in the shower.

The intruder quickly ran out, but the woman grabbed her gun and shot at his car.

Police arrested Franklin Fish a short time later. The woman identified him as the burglar.

Detectives believe Fish is wanted for several other home break-ins.

Michigan: Resident expels intruder with handgun

Traverse City, Michigan

From the Record Eagle of September 22, 2009

Resident expels intruder with handgun

An allegedly drunken man who entered a Traverse City home in the middle of the night found himself at gunpoint.

Aaron TwoCrow, 24, of Suttons Bay, allegedly entered a home on the 800 block of Fern Street at about 4:20 a.m. Saturday, police said. A female homeowner was up rocking her 15-month-old child in the living room when she heard her kitchen door open and saw a stranger in the home.

"She's just sitting there in the dead of night ... and this guy comes in and scares the crap out of her," Traverse City Police Capt. Steve Morgan said.

The woman ran into her bedroom and told her sleeping husband, who retrieved a handgun and confronted TwoCrow. He ran from the house and was arrested without incident as he walked along nearby Hannah Avenue.

TwoCrow allegedly was intoxicated, Morgan said.

Police said TwoCrow has no known past or present connection to the residence, and gave no indication why he decided to go inside.

Such incidents happen occasionally in the city, police said. Homeowners are startled, though it's the intruders who often face the highest risk.

"That's a dangerous situation ... with an armed homeowner," Morgan said. "(Homeowners) don't know what these people's intent is, and you can only assume the worst when someone is coming into your house."

TwoCrow allegedly entered through an unlocked door, as did two intoxicated men who entered Traverse City residences in similar incidents in June. Intoxicated individuals who wander around town late at night "do things that are unexpected and often illegal," Morgan said, and residents are encouraged to lock up before they go to bed.

"The main thing is to keep your door locked," he said. "That would prevent a lot of this stuff from happening."

TwoCrow was charged with misdemeanor illegal entry, Grand Traverse Prosecutor Alan Schneider said.

Wisconsin: Police: Man shoots, kills intruder near Madison

Fitchburg, Wisconsin

From the Chicago Tribune of September 16, 2009

Police: Man shoots, kills intruder near Madison

Police say a man has shot and killed an intruder who entered his parents' home near Madison.

Deputy Chief Donald Bates of the Fitchburg Police Department says Peter Chen and his wife were not at home on Wednesday afternoon when the incident happened, but he says their adult son was. The son shot the intruder, who was pronounced dead by the Dane County coroner's office.

Bates wouldn't give the name of Peter Chen's son and hasn't yet provided details about the intruder.

He says the son is cooperating with the investigation and that the shooting appears to be an act of self-defense.

Fitchburg is located just south of Madison.

North Dakota: Homeowner fires at intruder

West Fargo, North Dakota

From the West Fargo Pioneer of August 27, 2009

Homeowner fires at intruder

There is no suspect in the burglary attempt that occurred August 18, in Eagle Run at 1139 38 ½ Ave. W., where the homeowner, Jason Fonder, fired a single shot at an intruder discovered in his residence. Also home at the time were his wife, and two-year old daughter. There were no injuries and nothing was taken.

West Fargo Police responded to a call of a burglary in progress at about 1:30 a.m. By the time they arrived, the suspect had fled and has yet to be found.

The suspect is believed to have entered through an unlocked door. He is described as around 5’10” to 6 feet tall, in his late teens to early 20s, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and some sort of cap underneath the hood.

Police officials don’t know if this incident is related to the recent string of burglary attempts occurring in West Fargo. West Fargo Assistant Police Chief Mike Reitan said it’s the same in that the individual came in through an unlocked door, but dissimilar in that it occurred in a different area.

Evidence of the shooting was apparent by the entry area of the home, where the single bullet fired traveled through the wall and struck the ground near the front sidewalk. There was no evidence indicating that the intruder was injured and nobody reported a gunshot injury to any medical staff.

Under the North Dakota use of force law, a homeowner has the right to protect himself and his family when they feel threatened.

Police officials said Monday that no additional burglary attempts occurred over the weekend, instead all was quiet. They continue to encourage residents to lock their doors and report anything suspicious. They are also still asking that anyone with any information about a suspect matching the description in the Eagle Run incident, to call the West Fargo Police Department at 701-433-5500.

Mississippi: Police Identify Killed Suspected Burglar

Jackson, Mississippi

From WAPT of August 30, 2009

Police Identify Killed Suspected Burglar

Jackson police say a local grocery store owner shot and killed Lorenzo Rodriguez Jones, 33. He was a Jackson resident.

The shooting happened in the 1400 block of Highway 80 at the Gipson Warehouse.

Police believe Jones was trying to break into the warehouse when the owner shot him in the chest, killing him.

The Gipson Warehouse owner isn't facing any charges because of the Castle Doctrine, JPD Chief Tyrone Lewis said.

The Castle Doctrine allows property owners to protect his/her land and themselves.

Ohio: East Side homeowner kills break-in suspect

Cleveland, Ohio

From the Plain Dealer of September 23, 2008

East Side homeowner kills break-in suspect

A man was shot in the chest and killed about 2:45 this morning by a homeowner who said the man had broken into his house.

Police said it happened in the 13400 block of St. Clair Avenue.

Lawrence Hanson, 65, said he was awakened by the sound of someone breaking into the house. When the Hanson went downstairs to investigate, he saw signs that his house was being burglarized. He went back upstairs, got dressed and grabbed his gun.

Hanson said he had no intention to shoot and kill a burglar morning. Hanson confronted the man, whose name has not been released, and ordered the intruder to stop.

The man approached Hanson. The gun went off, and the man fell to the ground, Hanson said. "I can't believe I shot somebody," he said, standing next to his garage.

Hanson was not arrested, but police seized the gun. The case is under investigation.

Indiana: Burglar takes gun from Franklin man, wounds him

Franklin, Indiana

From the Franklin Star of July 17, 2008

Burglar takes gun from Franklin man, wounds him

A Franklin man shot in his garage by an intruder Wednesday night remained at Methodist Hospital today, but Franklin police said the man was believed likely to make a full recovery.

James Duncan, 28, encountered the intruder shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday after he went to investigate a sound in his garage. Duncan lives in the 500 block of Hanna Place in the Canary Creek neighborhood.

After advising his wife to call 911, Duncan took a .22-caliber bolt-action rifle from his home before confronting the intruder. In an ensuing struggle, the intruder grabbed the gun from Duncan and shot him in the shoulder. The suspect then dropped the gun and fled.

"I'd just like to know who did it, and that's what we're working on," said Det. Chris Tennell of the Franklin Police Department.

Police said the man was wearing a T-shirt worn by carnival workers at the Johnson County Fair, which is being held this week in Franklin. But Tennell emphasized that they do not know whether the suspect has any connection to the fair.

Duncan and his family had just returned from the fair themselves and were putting their two children to bed when Duncan heard the noise in his garage, Tennell said.

Doctors opted not to remove the bullet from Duncan's shoulder, Tennell said, fearing they might damage muscle tissue or an artery in trying to extract it.

"Anytime you have a bullet in your body and you're bleeding, that's not good," Tennell said. "But as far as gunshot victims go, they said he should recover fine."

South Carolina: Man Remodeling Home Kills Intruder, Deputies Say

Laurens, South Carolina

From Fox Carolina of July 15, 2008

Man Remodeling Home Kills Intruder, Deputies Say

Deputies said a man who was sleeping in a home he was remodeling shot and killed an intruder who woke him up early Tuesday morning.

The shooting happened at ½ Stevens St. just off Watts Street around 12:30 a.m.

Deputies said the man who is remodeling the home actually lives across the street, but had decided to sleep at the project home.

Something woke the homeowner up and he found someone inside the home, deputies said. They said the man fired twice at the intruder, killing him.

Deputies said the case appears to be self defense and that no charges will be filed.

The State Law Enforcement Division was called in to help with the investigation.

Oklahoma: Homeowner fire shots at intruder

Tulsa, Oklahoma

From KJRH of July 9, 2008

Homeowner fire shots at intruder

A homeowner shot his gun at an intruder Wednesday night. It happened near 49th and South Newport in midtown Tulsa.

Tulsa police tell 2NEWS that the homeowner missed when he fired a shot inside his house. The homeowner then forced the suspect outside, and fired another shot, missing.

There was a struggle, and the intruder got the homeowner's gun. When police arrived, officers feared the intruder may fire shots at them. Officers quickly tackled the suspect and took him into custody.

North Carolina: Home Invaders Get Shot At

Statesville, North Carolina

From April 17, 2008 WSCO channel 9:

STATESVILLE, N.C. -- Statesville officers drove slowly and watched closely as they patrolled the neighborhood where gunshots erupted along School Street on Wednesday afternoon. A day care center is just yards away.

Margaret Campbell, a concerned neighbor, said, "It's dangerous for the day care and the neighbors. I'm a senior citizen I can't walk fast, much less run."

Detectives said the frightening incident started when a man with a gun broke into a house, demanded money and then fired a warning shot. That's when a robbery turned into a shootout.

According to detectives, the gunman shot at the house while he ran away. At the same time, two of the victims inside shot at the robber.

Southbury, Connecticut

From Rocky Hill’s WFSB.com of November 4, 2007

Man Shoots Home Intruder In Southbury

Intruder Involved In Car Crash, Police Say

State police said they received a call Sunday from a man who said he had encountered an intruder at his house.

John Nagy told police that he may have shot the intruder at his home, located at 44 Berkshire Road in Southbury.

Nagy told police that he was awakened at about 2 a.m. by a noise in the basement area of the house. Nagy said he went to investigate the basement area armed with a weapon.

He stated that he encountered a man who had entered the basement. The man advanced in the direction of the Nagy, and Nagy said he shot his gun in the direction of the intruder and left his home to wait for police.

Nagy told state police that he believed that the intruder was still in the basement.

State troopers entered the home with a state police K-9 to search for the intruder, police said.

The intruder was located by troopers in the basement of the home suffering from an apparent single gunshot wound.

EMS responded, provided emergency care at the scene and transported the wounded suspect to Waterbury Hospital, where he underwent surgery for his injuries.

The identification of the suspect is being withheld pending notification of family, police said.

Initial investigation by state police determined that the man was in fact the operator of a vehicle that had been involved in a one-car crash on River Road in Southbury.

The man fled the crash scene on foot and walked for about a half a mile and then entered the Nagy's house, where he encountered the homeowner.

State Police Western District Major Crime Squad will handle the investigation at the crime scene by collecting physical and forensic evidence and conduct follow-up investigation, police said.

Nagy was not injured in this incident, police said.

At the conclusion of the investigation, all facts and circumstances of this incident will be reviewed with the state's attorney, officials said.

New Bedford, Massachusetts

From New Bedford’s SouthCoastToday.com of October 24, 2007

Shooting victim now charged in connection with house break

A 24-year-old city man, allegedly shot in the neck during an armed house break, has been arrested on home invasion and gun charges in connection with the break.

Brandon L. Medeiros of 450 Kempton St. is charged with four counts of armed home invasion with a firearm, two counts of armed assault with intent to commit robbery with a firearm, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, unlawfully carrying/possession of a firearm, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, armed burglary with a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition, according to New Bedford police.

Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, said Mr. Medeiros will be arraigned on the charges today in New Bedford District Court.

He added that prosecutors will seek a dangerousness hearing to hold the suspect for up to 90 days while awaiting trial.

He said Steven Gagne, an assistant district attorney, has had preliminary discussions with Christopher Markey, the defense attorney for Mr. Medeiros, and a dangerousness hearing has been tentatively scheduled for Friday in New Bedford District Court.

The charges stem from a house break at 33 Sycamore St. about 8:15 p.m. Monday when a gun discharged during a scuffle between two suspects and the male occupant.

Mr. Miliote said prosecutors allege one of the suspects is Mr. Medeiros.

Mr. Medeiros was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, New Bedford, and then flown by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital. Police found Mr. Medeiros when they responded to a report of a man shot laying in the street near 74 Parker St.

Mr. Miliote said Mr. Medeiros was not seriously injured in the shooting and will be present in court for his arraignment.

The spokesman did not identify the second suspect in the house break and said he remains at-large.

Flagstaff, Arizona

From Flagstaff’s Daily Sun of October 24, 2007

Man shoots, kills home invader

A Flagstaff resident shot and killed a man he knew who broke into his home Monday morning.

Flagstaff police received a 911 call at about 10:36 a.m. Monday to respond to a home on North Center Street in Sunnyside, said Sgt. Tom Boughner of the police department.

Once officers arrived, the resident told police that he had shot an intruder, who was a man he knew, Boughner said. How the resident knew the man who was shot is still under investigation.

"He said he heard a crash in one of the back rooms," Boughner said, adding that the resident stated he saw the intruder and knew him.

"He reported he felt threatened by the intruder," Boughner said. "He then shot at the intruder six times with a .45-caliber pistol."

The intruder, who was shot three times, has been identified as Edward Matthew Duran, 22, a Flagstaff resident, Boughner said.

Duran is a convicted felon who was released from prison in November 2006 after being convicted in Coconino County Superior Court of three separate violent felonies, according to court records.

Boughner said the shooting does not appear to be drug- or gang-related, and that the resident has been cooperative with police.

The resident has not been arrested or charged with a crime.

(More)

Kansas City, Missouri

From the Kansas City Star of October 15, 2007

Shots exchanged during KC home invasion

An intruder who forced his way into a Kansas City home early this morning was chased off when a resident fired a shot through his closed bedroom door.

Kansas City police were called to the house in the 4100 block of South Benton St. about 1:50 a.m. and found signs that the front door had been pried open.

A 69-year-old man told officers that he was awakened by the sound of the door being forced open. The man said that as he heard the intruder approach his bedroom he fired a shot from a .40-caliber handgun. The suspect fired a return shot and fled.

Another man was sleeping in the house, but neither resident saw the intruder, according to police reports. The residents were not injured and there were no signs that a bullet hit the intruder.

Sacramento, California

From Sacramento’s CBS13.com of October 3, 2007

Manhunt Underway For Home Invasion Suspect

A manhunt is underway in the Florin Road area of Sacramento for a suspect following a viiolent [sic] home invasion.

Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies say a suspect broke into a home on Florin Road and the homeowner fired several shots at the man.

The suspect then took off on foot.

Deputies are going door to door looking for the suspect in the area around Florin Road between Watt and Florin Perkins.

They have even brought out dogs to search the area.

It's unclear if the suspect was hit by the gunfire.

Apparently the homeowner was not injured.

From the Sacramento Bee of October 3, 2007

Homeowner shoots at man during attempted break-in

An alleged burglar left a critical piece of evidence behind when he attempted to break in to a south Sacramento home early Wednesday morning: his car.

James Villapando, 34, of Sacramento, parked his Toyota sedan in the driveway of a home on Florin Road, just west of south Watt Avenue, before allegedly attempting to enter the home through a window around 3:35 a.m., Sacramento County Sheriff's Sgt. Tim Curran said.

The homeowner heard the man trying to get in, armed himself with a gun and fired several shots, Curran said.

Villapando was not injured and ran away from the home, leaving the car in the driveway, Curran said.

Deputies found Villapando hiding out in the area about two hours later.

Villapando, who was an at-large parolee, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and is being booked into Sacramento County Jail.

Kansas City, Missouri

From Kansas City’s KCTV5.com of September 19, 2007

Homeowner Shoots Home Invader

A homeowner shot a man who he said broke into his home around 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Police answered a burglary call in the 6200 block of Forest Avenue early Wednesday morning.

The man who lives in the house said he was home alone when a man broke in through a window.

A struggle ensued and shots were fired.

The home invader was shot but managed to get away in a vehicle driven by another person, the homeowner said.

Police were nearby when they heard the call. They followed a car they saw leaving the scene and took two men into custody just a block away who they believe were involved in the home invasion.

One of the men in the vehicle had a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital with a serious, but non-life-threatening injury.

Surry County, North Carolina

From Winston-Salem’s WXII12.com of September 17, 2007

Authorities: Surry County Intruder Shot, Killed

Deputies are investigating a breaking-and-entering case in which they said the intruder was shot and killed.

The incident occurred just after 8 a.m. Monday in Surry County.

Authorities said a man woke up and found another man climbing through a ladder and going through his window.

The homeowner confronted 55-year-old Howard Jones as he came off the ladder, investigators said.

Jones was shot twice with a rifle and later died at a local hospital, according to the Surry County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said it wasn't the first time Jones had broken into the home.

No charges have been filed.

The case is still under investigation.

From the Mount Airy News of September 27, 2007

No charges filed in shooting

No charges will be filed against a homeowner stemming from his fatal shooting of a suspected intruder last week, Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson said Wednesday.

This determination in the case involving the shooting of Ky Howard Jones, 55, was reached after officials with the sheriff's office met this week with District Attorney Ricky Bowman and members of his staff.

Jones, for whom no official address has been given, was shot on the morning of Sept. 17 while trying to burglarize a home he once owned at 484 Surry Gadsberry Road in the Pilot Mountain area, according to earlier accounts.

Authorities have said that Jones had propped a ladder against the house and was attempting to gain entry through a window when he was confronted by Jayme Gullatt, the homeowner, who was awakened by a loud noise and grabbed a .223-caliber rifle.

The intruder then began to advance on the homeowner, who fired two warning shots into the ground, based on Gullatt's statements to investigators. Despite the homeowner's actions, Jones continued to approach Gullatt and got to within a few feet of him before being shot once in the upper body. Jones was transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where he died later that day.

Atkinson said Tuesday that after reviewing the evidence with the District Attorney's Office, it was determined that the homeowner had acted reasonably and within his rights.

As a result, no charges will be filed against Gullatt, whom authorities ruled was trying to protect himself.

North Carolina law states that a lawful occupant within a residence is justified in using any degree of force that the occupant reasonably believes is necessary to prevent a forcible entry or terminate an intruder's unlawful entry. Deadly force is allowed if the occupant reasonably believes that the intruder might kill or inflict serious injury to someone in the home or commit a felony there.

A lawful occupant does not have a duty to retreat from an intruder in such cases, under state law.

Jones earlier had been convicted of breaking into the house on Surry Gadsberry Road and was a suspect in another illegal entry there which occurred in the days before he was fatally shot.

Detroit, MIchigan

From ClickOnDetroit.com of September 10, 2007

Man In Wheelchair Shoots Intruder

A wheelchair-bound man shot an intruder in his home in the 8100 block of Alpine Road in Detroit Sunday night.

The man said he saw the intruder as he was getting out of the shower.

The homeowner told police he shot the man to protect his home and he feared for his life.

He said he does not feel safe anymore, so he will be moving out of his home.

Police said the intruder drove himself to the hospital. He is listed in critical condition.

Harris County, Texas

From the Houston Chronicle of September 9, 2007

Homeowner shoots suspected intruder

Detectives are questioning a man who shot a suspected intruder early today inside the northwest Harris County home he was remodeling, authorities said.

After the homeowner stopped by the house in the 7900 block of Shady Grove about 7:45 a.m., "he found an intruder inside," said Sgt. Joe Freeman of the Harris County Sheriff's homicide division.

In the ensuing confrontation, a suspect in his late teens to early 20s was shot, and subsequently taken to Ben Taub General Hospital, authorities said. His condition is unknown.

Deputies placed paper bags over the homeowner's hands to preserve any gunpowder residue from the shooting. He wasn't injured, authorities said.

Detectives haven't determined if the entry was forced or how long the suspect had been inside.