Columbus, Georgia



From the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer of November 30, 2004

Masked man flees when store owner pulls own gun



An armed robber was scared off Monday afternoon when the business owner pulled out a gun.



Columbus Police Lt. Mark Starling said the robber was wearing a hockey mask about 1:30 p.m. Monday when he walked into Yong's Grocery, 848 25th St. The man ran out of the store when the owner pulled out his on weapon, Starling said.



The robber matched the description of a man who robbed a Spectrum convenience store on 12th Avenue on Sunday afternoon, Starling said.

Omaha, Nebraska



From the Omaha World-Herald of November 29, 2004

Omaha man shoots back at intruders



A 54-year-old Omaha man exchanged gunfire Sunday with intruders at his home.



Police said they responded to a break-in at the home of Rene J. Cantu, 2925 Martha St., about 7 p.m.



Cantu told police that three people forced open a door and began shooting at him. He said he fired back and may have hit one or more of the intruders.



Cantu was shot in the right hand and was treated at the Nebraska Medical Center and released, a spokesman said.

Wilmington, North Carolina



From Wilmington‘s WECT.com of November 29, 2004

Store employee kills robber



An attempted robbery has turned deadly in Lake Waccamaw.



Authorities tell News 6, an employee at Hills Supermarket on Old Highway 74/76 shot and killed a man trying to rob the store.



Police say the 911 call came in around 9:45 Sunday night, just before closing time at 10:00pm. No customers were inside the store at the time.



According to Chief Scott Hyatt, the would-be robber was rounding up three employees into the office area when one of the employees shot the man. He died at the scene.



As of early Monday morning, police were still trying to identify the robber. They say he is a black man in his late 20's or early 30's. His body has been taken to the Columbus County hospital.



Police are still investigating whether there were possible accomplices to the robbery, perhaps waiting nearby with a get-away vehicle.



At this time, no information is being released about the employee that shot the robber.

Decatur, Georgia



From the Augusta Chronicle of November 28, 2004

Woman killed, suspect shot at DeKalb motel



DECATUR, Ga. - A woman was stabbed to death and her alleged attacker was killed by a security guard at a DeKalb County motel.



Earnest Marshall, the night manager at the Super Inn Motel, said a man ran into his office around 1:30 a.m. Saturday and told him that his girlfriend was being attacked in her room. Marshall called 911, and someone also notified an armed security guard who was patrolling an apartment complex next door.



When they got to the woman's room, witnesses said the suspect came out covered in blood and lunged at the security guard with a knife.



"It was a horrific scene," Marshall said. "It was just like he wanted the man to shoot him... he wanted to die. The man just kept coming."



The guard fatally shot the man, saying he was forced to do it in self-defense. Inside the room, the woman was found stabbed to death.



"They (the police) told me pretty much I was a hero," the guard told WSB-TV in Atlanta. "I was just wishing I could have gotten here a little bit earlier."



DeKalb County police have not released any names or a possible motive for the stabbing.



The investigation is ongoing, and police have not charged the security guard with a crime.

Charlotte, North Carolina



From Charlotte’s WSOCtv.com of November 24, 2004

Man Shoots Home Intruder



Jamie Harris woke up Tuesday morning in his southwest Charlotte apartment and realized an intruder was inside his home. He grabbed his gun and shot the intruder.



"My girl was sitting on the couch and all of a sudden I hear two booms. After the second boom, I got up and the dude was already in the house," said Harris.



Not knowing if the intruder was armed, Harris grabbed his gun, but quickly lost control of it.



"He had it to my head, but somehow I reversed it," He said.



Harris then shot the intruder in the leg. He said he had no choice. Knowing his fiancé and baby were inside the apartment, Harris said, "That's what gave me the intention to shoot."



Officials say the intruder wasn't armed. According to police statistics from January through August, there were 408 home break-ins in the area of southwest Charlotte.

…



The intruder was caught not far from where he was shot. Police say he was taken to the hospital and that his gunshot wound to the leg was not life threatening.



Officials say they will be filing felony breaking and entering charges against the intruder.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania



From the Philadelphia Inquirer of November 26, 2004

Security guard shoots, kills shoplifter in N. Phila. store



A security guard at a Walgreens Drug Store in North Philadelphia shot and killed a would-be shoplifter who pointed what appeared to be a gun at him Wednesday night, police said.



Police said the shooting occurred about 9:20 p.m. outside the store at Broad Street and Hunting Park Avenue. The man, whose name was not released, had removed some items from a shelf and was trying to leave the store without paying when the security guard confronted him.



The two men struggled, and the man pointed a replica of a handgun at the guard, according to police. The guard's name was not released. No charges have been filed and the investigation is continuing.

Indianapolis, Indiana



From the Indianapolis Star of November 23, 2004

Mars Hill home robbed during slumber party



Retaliation may have been the motive behind a home invasion early Sunday during a teenage girl's slumber party, authorities said Monday.



Three Indianapolis men are accused of breaking into a home in the 2800 block of South Roena Street in Mars Hill and robbing the residents. The teens were not injured. The robbery suspects were arrested; one had been shot several times by a bystander.



The incident started about 5 a.m. Witnesses said the three men entered the residence as the teens and adults slept. They struck some of the adults or pushed them to the floor and robbed them, then fled.



The robbery was retaliation for a prior incident, police said, but details were unclear.



Arrested on preliminary robbery charges were Franklin Thomas, 27; Ismael Ortiz, 23; and Chad Buster, 30.



Reports say Michael D. Thompkins, 23, told detectives he was walking up to the house as three men fled. He said one chased him and struck him, so he drew his 9 mm pistol and fired several times, striking the man.



All three got away, but authorities were called later after Ortiz and Buster took Thomas to Methodist Hospital, reports say. His wounds were not life-threatening.