Summit County, Ohio

From Cleveland’s WKYC.com of March 7, 2006

Intruders enter home; grandma greets them with loaded gun

A local great-grandmother faced danger head on as intruders entered her home. But as they quickly discovered - she could hold her own.

Eleanor Lynn, 75, said she keeps her .380 handgun loaded and nearby at all times.

"I already had the gun out," she said. "Somebody was breaking into my house so I took the gun out and went to the door. They flew."

That's why she was ready when the suspects entered her west Akron home Monday morning.

She'd been robbed before and wasn't about to let it happen again.

"All I got to do is hold this trigger and it goes six times without stopping," Lynn explained. "I just bought this one and this one has never been used I'd like to have a chance to use it."

Lynn's neighbor quickly called police who arrested the suspects, ages 15 and 17, in nearby yards.

(Great photo)

Houston, Texas

From the Houston Chronicle of March 7, 2006

A Houston homeowner fatally shoots suspected robber

Police are questioning a southeast Houston man who fatally shot a suspected robber early Tuesday during an apparent home invasion.

The homeowner, who was not injured, found two armed men dressed in black about 3:30 a.m. after pulling into the garage of the house in the 9500 block of Almeda Pines.

The accused robbers forced open the back door and began shooting at the homeowner in the living room. He returned fire, police said, fatally striking one of the men who collapsed and died in the back yard.

The other man fled the scene. Police said the homeowner is licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

Pensacola, Florida

From the Pensacola News-Journal of March 6, 2006

Man shoots, kills home intruder

Official: Shooting likely will fall under 'Stand Your Ground' law

When Edward Lucas Sr. checked to see why the neighbor's German shepherd was barking at Sunday at 5:40 a.m., he had no idea that minutes later an intruder would be lying dead on his living room rug.

Lucas, 63, of the 3900 block of West Mallory Street, never wanted to have to use his .22 caliber rifle that way, but Tyrone Fyoungious Preyer, 29, would not stop breaking through the door, he said.

"I yelled 'Get out of my house,' but he kept coming," said Lucas, a retired Sears employee who resided at that house for almost eight years. "I was scared to death."

Preyer, who died at the home when Lucas fired at him more than four times, tried to break into at least three other surrounding homes, Escambia County Sheriff's Office investigators said.

Preyer's name appears 14 times in Escambia County criminal court records, with seven felonies, including: aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, burglary and grand theft auto.

Lucas will not be charged because he was defending his home, himself and his live-in girlfriend, Maxine Rasberry, 60, Sgt. Mike Ward said.

Ward said the shooting likely will fall under the "Stand Your Ground" Florida law passed in 2005, which allows people to use any force necessary in order to protect themselves when they feel threatened.

"If the law had not changed, would he be charged under these circumstances?" Ward said. "Probably not. What would you do?"

From Georgia’s Columbus Ledger-Enquirer of March 6, 2006

Pensacola man fatally shoots intruder

Authorities say a Pensacola man won't be charged for fatally shooting a man trying to break into his home.

The Escambia County, Florida, Sheriff's Office says 63-year-old Edward Lucas Senior woke up early yesterday and found a man trying to get in his house.

Investigators say Lucas shot at 29-year-old Tyrone Preyer more than four times.

A spokesman for the department says Lucas won't be charged because he was acting in self defense.

Reports show Preyer was suspected in several other neighborhood break-ins.

Oakland, California

From InsideBayArea.com of March 5, 2006

Oakland store manager shoots a would-be robber

Suspect arrested at hospital after heist attempt on Telegraph Avenue

The manager of a Telegraph Avenue cell phone store shot an armed gunman who attempted to rob his store, then identified the man when he showed up at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center for treatment.

The manager, whom police did not identify, was in the store, Digicom Wireless, in the 5100 block of Telegraph Avenue about 6:15 p.m. Friday, when two robbers, each with a pistol, came into the store. The store owner said one robber jumped over the counter, gun in hand, and slammed the manager to the ground.

A second employee tried to run, but she fell, the owner said.

"The guy behind the counter grabbed her arm and put a gun to her head," he said.

At that point, the manager grabbed his own handgun and shot the robber in the stomach, then shot at the second robber as well. The manager was not injured.

Both suspects fled the store. Police later were notified that a wounded man matching one of the suspects' descriptions had been dropped off at Summit Medical Center.

The manager was taken to the hospital, where he identified the wounded man as one of the robbers. The man was arrested on suspicion of robbery.

The store owner, who asked that his name not be used, said they keep a gun on the premises at all times.

"Yes, we're armed at this store," he said. "This is Oakland."

Reading, Pennsylvania

From Philadelphia’s NBC10.com of March 3, 2006

Berks County Scene Of Two Deadly Shootings

There were two deadly shootings in Berks County on Friday, NBC 10 News reported.

In one, police said a storeowner shot and killed a robber. The incident occurred at a grocery store in downtown Reading at 12th and Green. Police said a robber demanded money and threatened to kill the storeowner's wife while holding a knife to her neck.

As the robber ran away with the cash, officers said the storeowner grabbed a gun and fired.

Police said they would not file charges in the case.

(The second incident was a murder-suicide.)

Paoli, Indiana

From the Bedford Times-Mail of March 2, 2006

Son cleared in dad's death

Carl Fuller Jr. of Paoli acted in self-defense when he shot and killed his father, Carl Fuller Sr.

Orange County officials announced Wednesday that the younger Fuller would not face charges in the incident.

Police said the two were arguing Feb. 23 when they began exchanging gunfire. Fuller Jr., 30, was not injured in the shoot-out. His father, 50, of Paoli, was fatally wounded in the chest after he was shot with a 12-gauge shotgun.

“The statements of two witnesses at the scene, the statements of neighbors and the statement of Fuller Jr. are consistent with the physical evidence at the scene of the shooting,” said Orange County Prosecutor Kelly Minton in a prepared statement. “This physical evidence, including five spent casings from the (modified .30-caliber) rifle that Fuller Sr. had in his possession during the time of the altercation and bullet holes in the trailer where Fuller Jr. was located, indicates that Fuller Jr. acted in self-defense when he shot his father.”

Long Beach, California

From Los Angeles’ NBC4.tv of March 3, 2006

Suspect Shot During Attempted Armored Car Robbery

A shootout Friday in North Long Beach between armored truck guards and would-be robbers left one suspect wounded, police said.

The confrontation occurred about 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot at the Farmers & Merchants Bank in the 3200 block of Artesia Boulevard, Long Beach police reported.

No guards were injured and no money was stolen, police said.

The wounded suspect underwent surgery Friday afternoon, but a condition report was not available, said Long Beach police Officer Jackie Bezart.

It is unknown how many robbers were involved in the crime, Bezart said.

She said a maroon van or sport utility vehicle that may have been used by the suspects was recovered several blocks away.