Charlotte, North Carolina

From Charlotte’s WSOCtv.com of July 6, 2006

Grandmother Grabs Gun From Accused Robber, Holds Him For Police

Barbara Henderson said she wrestled with a man and grabbed his gun when he tried to rob her, her sister, and her daughter as they walked with Henderson's great grandchildren through a neighborhood in north Charlotte on Sunday night.

Henderson said a stranger appeared out of nowhere on Sipes Lane. He made a sudden move towards Henderson's sister and when Henderson yelled to alert her sister, the man pulled a gun.

Henderson still had bruises on her face Thursday evening from the gun which, she said, the man kept jabbing at her.

"We were tussling, going from one side to the other," said Henderson. "I just kept calling to the Lord and going from one side to the other."

Somehow Henderson overpowered her attacker.

"I got the gun and I threw it up and I said, 'If you move I'm going to blow your brains out,'" said Henderson.

She says she kept the gun pointed at her attacker's head until police got there. She said hopes she scared him as badly as he scared her.

Danville, Virginia

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch of July 7, 2006

Alleged intruder slain, police say

A Danville man was shot and killed after he and three others forced their way into a city residence, police said yesterday.

Deshawn Shakor Hardman, 19, died Wednesday at Danville Regional Medical Center after being found shot near the doorway of a North Avenue home, according to a statement from the police.

When police were called to the house in the 100 block of North Avenue about 10 p.m. Wednesday, officers found Hardman lying wounded near the doorway. A resident, whom authorities did not identify, told police that four men with firearms had forced open his front door and started to enter the house. The resident said he fired several shots at the intruders, striking at least Hardman, according to the police statement.

Fort Worth, Texas

From Dallas’ NBC5i.com of July 6, 2006

Homeowner Shoots Man After Pickup Truck Rams House

Arlington Man In Serious Condition

An Arlington man who police said rammed his pickup truck into the front of a townhome was in a Fort Worth hospital in serious condition on Thursday.

The man was shot in the 1700 block of Sanford Street by the owner of the rammed home, NBC 5 News reported. The homeowner, identified as Kenneth Tucker, said he acted in self-defense. Police said the incident is still under investigation.

No charges have yet been filed in the case.

Tucker, who lives in the townhouse with his teenage daughter, said the trouble began when a man walked up from nearby Sanford Street.

"We were outside, talking to the neighbors," Tucker said. "He walks by with a case of beer in his hand and next thing we know, he's offering it to the underaged children out here and chasing the young girls around the parking lot."

Tucker said he asked the man to leave, and he said his arm and leg were scraped when the man tried to attack him. Tucker said the man soon returned, NBC 5 reported.

"Next thing we knew, he came back in his pickup," Tucker said. "When all is said and done, he's up here ramming my house. The kids are screaming."

When the man first allegedly began ramming the house, Tucker said he jumped out of the way and went back inside the townhouse. The man left, only to return a second time, Tucker said.

Tucker said that is when he grabbed his shotgun and fired twice, hitting the driver.

Officers said they later found the pickup truck after it had hit a pole in the 800 block of Fielder Road.

"I've had better days," Tucker said. I'm pretty shook up."

Rochester, New York

From Rochester‘s WSTM.com of July 6, 2006

Man shot dead during robbery attempt

Police say a man who tried to rob a Rochester restaurant at gunpoint was shot and killed today.

R-News in Rochester reports the man was shot dead by the owner of the restaurant.

Deputy Police Chief James Sheppard says the incident began when the man reportedly entered the eatery and tried to rob it at gunpoint.

John Halldow, a spokesman for Rural-Metro Medical Services, says emergency responders found a deceased male when they arrived at the scene around noon.

It appears that this is the same incident:

From Rochester’s RNews.com of July 6, 2006

Suspect Killed in Robbery Attempt

A bar owner shot a would-be robber to death at his establishment on Lyell Avenue.

The incident occurred at Kitzel's bar on Lyell Avenue. Police say shortly after noon Thursday, a man attempted to rob the place when he was shot dead by the owner, John Kitzel of Rochester .

“He'd give you the shirt off his back, if you asked him for it,” said Susan Kitzel, daughter of the bar owner. “That’s the truth.”

Police have not released the name of the deceased gunman.

Police recovered handguns, believed to belong to both Kitzel and the suspect. Police say there were no witnesses.

“The two individuals were inside the establishment by themselves,” said David Moore, Rochester Police Chief. “The operator was actually opening up when this happened.”

The case will be presented to a grand jury, though police say the preliminary indication is the shooting was done in self defense.

From Rochester’s RNews.com of October 5, 2006

Bar Owner Cleared in Fatal Shooting

A Monroe County grand jury has cleared a Rochester bar owner of any potential criminal charges for the fatal shooting of an armed robber in July.

John "Paddy" Kitzel, 71, will not face charges for the death of Barry Woods, 38. Police say Woods tried to rob Kitzel's restaurant on July 6. Kitzel shot Woods in self defense.

Woods was wearing a mask when he entered Kitzel's establishment during the lunch hour brandishing a pistol.

Henry County, Virginia

From the Roanoke Times of July 5, 2006

Man shot to death in Henry County

A Henry County man was killed Tuesday morning when the woman he lived with shot him in the chest, the Henry County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

Robert Junior Preston of 935 Southland Drive was dead at the scene when deputies arrived at the house about 6:55 a.m.

Deborah Foley told authorities Preston had assaulted her earlier Tuesday morning and was about to attack her again when she shot him in self-defense, the press release said.

The homicide is being investigated.

Charlotte, North Carolina

From Charlotte’s News14Charlotte.com of July 3, 2006

Women thwart would-be robber

Three women in northeast Charlotte overpowered a robbery suspect Sunday night and then held him until police arrived.

According to a police report, the three women were walking near Sipes Lane, just after 9:30, when a man with a handgun approached them.

The women were able to take the gun from the suspect and then restrain him until police officers got to the scene.

Zavalla, Texas

From the Lufkin Daily News of July 3, 2006

Zavalla teen shoots, kills mother's estranged husband

A 15-year-old Zavalla boy shot and killed his mother's estranged husband Sunday night after the victim allegedly assaulted the woman during an argument inside her home.

Robert Thompson Jr., 30, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest at approximately 8:40 p.m. He was declared dead at the scene.

Zavalla Police Chief Bobby Epperly said he believes the teenager shot his stepfather in self-defense or in defense of a third party. Police are still investigating and are awaiting an autopsy report. No arrests have been made.

Thompson and estranged wife Angie Thompson, 34, had been arguing Sunday evening about a car part of his that she had lent to a friend, according to Epperly. The couple had been separated for about 10 months.

Robert Thompson arrived at her home on 244 Carpenter St. and kicked in the front door, Epperly said. She and her son were inside the house.

Thompson allegedly punched her in the back of the head several times, Epperly said. In defense, her son grabbed a .410-gauge pump shotgun and asked Thompson to stop hitting his mother, Epperly said. The teenager warned Thompson several times, asking him to stop, Epperly said. Thompson allegedly refused.

The teenager, who was standing a few feet away from the victim, fired the gun at Thompson, hitting him in the chest, Epperly said. The boy and his mother ran to a neighbor's house and called 911, Epperly said.

Several law enforcement departments arrived at the scene, including officers from the Zavalla Police Department and deputies from the Angelina County Sheriff's Office.

Justice of the Peace Claude Marshall pronounced Thompson dead at the scene.

Angie Thompson suffered some redness and swelling to her forehead, Epperly said.

The Zavalla Police Department is in the initial stage of its investigation, Epperly said.

From the Lufkin Daily News of August 7, 2006

Zavalla man legally drunk when killed by stepson

Autopsy and toxicology reports have confirmed a Zavalla man died of a shotgun wound to the chest and was legally drunk when his stepson allegedly shot and killed him out of self-defense in early July.

Robert Thompson Jr., 30, died of severe injury to his right lung and his heart after the bullet entered the right side of his upper chest, according to a autopsy report from the Jefferson County Morgue. Thompson had a blood alcohol content of .15, nearly twice the legal limit, when he died, according to a toxicology report from Ameritox in Midland, Texas.

On July 3, Thompson arrived at the home of his estranged wife Angie Thompson on Carpenter Street in Zavalla and kicked in the front door, Zavalla Police Chief Bobby Epperly said.

The two, who had been separated for about 10 months, were arguing about a car part of his that she had loaned to a male friend, Epperly said.

Thompson allegedly punched his estranged wife in the head several times. Her 15-year-old son, who was also inside the house during the argument, picked up a shotgun and asked Thompson to quit hitting his mother, Epperly said.

Thompson allegedly refused, so the teenager shot him with a .410-gauge shotgun, Epperly said.

Justice of the Peace Claude Marshall said he believes the teenager shot Thompson in self-defense.