Capron, VirginiaFrom the
Tidewater News of July 1, 2008
Woman shoots ex-boyfriend in self-defense
An ongoing case of domestic violence turned bloody Monday morning, when a man was shot in the shoulder by his former girlfriend after he allegedly broke in to her Capron home, police said Tuesday.
Derrick Edward “Rick” Miller, 43, formerly of Brandy Pond Road in Capron, is recovering from a gunshot wound at a hospital in Greenville, N.C.
According to Detective Cpl. Richard Morris, spokesman for the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office, Miller’s ex-girlfriend shot him with a .357 Magnum when he allegedly tried to attack her after breaking through her front door early Monday morning.
He then left the scene and went to Como, N.C. From there, he was transported to an Ahoskie, N.C., hospital and then flown to the Greenville medical facility for further treatment.
The woman called police at 1:42 a.m. to report the alleged break-in and the shooting.
Police have charged Miller with breaking and entering in the nighttime and violation of a protective order in connection with Monday’s events, though warrants have not yet been served, Morris said.
Monday’s incident was the second in as many days involving the couple.
Morris said police had been called to the scene Saturday afternoon when the woman reported that she had been assaulted. Police issued, but have not yet served, two warrants in that incident — one for domestic assault and one for unauthorized use of a vehicle.
A “history of domestic abuse” had resulted in the court issuing a protective order against Miller prior to either of the recent events, Morris said.
No charges are pending against the woman, he added.
Jackson, MississippiFrom the
Clarion Ledger of July 3, 2008
Man, 71, shoots accused burglar
An elderly west Jackson resident who was attacked by a burglar two years ago shot a man Wednesday he suspected of breaking into his Pleasant Avenue home.
Police say the resident, identified by relatives as 71-year-old Edwin Chinn, was protecting himself when he shot Ricky Braggs.
Chinn's daughter, Sheryl Lenoir, said he lives by himself and had been burglarized and shot about two years ago.
"He got shot in the back, but he was able to beat (the attacker) down with a bat or something," she said. Chinn was not available for comment Wednesday, and his daughter said he was uncertain whether he would continue to live in the house.
Braggs, 34, has been accused of breaking into Chinn's home through his kitchen window just before noon Wednesday. Chinn's home is near Galloway Elementary School and the Player and Playerettes Club. Police said Braggs lived in the neighborhood.
Jackson police said Chinn shot Braggs once in the abdomen and once in the arm. Bullet holes were visible through the wall on the south side of the house.
Following the shooting, Braggs ran about two blocks before collapsing behind a house in the 1900 block near Woodrow Wilson Boulevard. He was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
"His wounds are not considered life-threatening," Jackson police spokesman Sgt. Jeffery Scott said.
Police will charge Braggs with house burglary once he is released from the hospital, Scott said.
Investigators detained Chinn for questioning but did not charge him, citing the Castle Doctrine law that allows residents to defend themselves and their property against perceived attacks.
Neighbors described Chinn as a "sweet, old man" who kept to himself.
"He would speak to you, but mostly he stayed over (on his property)," Natalie Spann said.
Braggs was convicted in Hinds County in August 1995 on two counts of business burglary and sentenced to four years in prison followed by three years of probation, according to Mississippi Department of Corrections records. His probation was revoked twice in 1997 for violations.
In April 2001, Braggs again was convicted on two counts of business burglary and sentenced to seven years in prison as a "habitual offender." He was released Sept. 8, 2007, after serving the full sentence (no probation).
The Castle Doctrine was enacted in 2006 to allow people to use deadly force to protect themselves in their homes, vehicles and businesses. The law removes the requirement that residents must first seek a safe retreat from an intruder before using deadly force.
Greene County, IndianaFrom the
WTWO of June 3, 2008
Gallagher Will Not Be Charged
No charges will be filed in the shooting death of a Greene County man.
County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw says after a review of the case no criminal charges will be filed against Michael Gallagher II. Gallagher shot Jarrett Nicholson last weekend during an argument and fight inside Gallagher’s home.
Holtsclaw said that Gallagher’s use of force was justified.
Nicholson was on top of Gallagher punching him in the head when the fatal gunshot was fired. Nicholson had broken into Gallagher’s home and threatened to kill him before the confrontation began.
San Antonio, TexasFrom the
Express-News of July 1, 2008
Homeowner shoots, injures intruder on Northwest Side
A 21-year-old man who police said broke into a Northwest Side residence late Monday night was critically wounded after the homeowner shot him once in the chest.
The man, who was not immediately identified, was taken to University Hospital, San Antonio Police Sgt. Dave Berrigan said.
Berrigan said officers responded about 9:30 p.m. to the Retreat at Ingram Hills subdivision in the 6500 block of Arrid Pass after receiving two emergency calls, one for a break-in and the other for a shooting. A woman who lives at the residence was home alone with her 18-month-old baby when she heard noises, Berrigan said.
The woman looked through the front door peephole and saw a man trying to break in, Berrigan said.
A few minutes later, after calling authorities, the woman heard sounds at the garage door, which was closed. She then called her husband, who arrived within minutes with a 9 mm pistol, Berrigan said.
The husband entered through a back door, which remained ajar, and the would-be intruder followed. The two had a brief altercation in the kitchen, and the homeowner told him to leave.
But instead, the intruder tried to “buck up against” the homeowner, Berrigan said, at which point he was shot in the chest.
“They picked the wrong house tonight,” Berrigan said.
Neighbors Sharon and George Carter said a man also tried to break into their house, which sits directly behind the home where the intruder was shot, minutes before the shooting. The couple heard “scuffles” at the living room window three times and then realized that a portion of their back fence had been knocked over.
“When I was picking the fence off the ground, I heard the shot,” said George Carter, 70.
The neighborhood, which residents said usually is quiet, was alarmed by the shooting.
“I’m not going to sleep tonight,” said Sharon Carter, 63.
Plant City, FloridaFrom
MyFoxTampaBay of July 1, 2008
Shooting in Plant City neighborhood
Dozens of officers responded to a Plant City neighborhood this morning after a wanted felon was spotted there. The search ended with that suspect shot in the foot.
Hillsborough County deputies had issued an alert for Christopher Collins in connection with a robbery and violation of probation. Plant City police say he had also stolen a handgun and bulletproof vests from the homes of deputies.
Police used reverse 911 calls to warn residents that an armed suspect was loose in the area, and based on tips, investigators were able to narrow their search.
It was around 8 a.m. when Collins was spotted running through back yards, and that's when he allegedly broke into a home on Dawnmeadow Court, apparently trying to hide.
The homeowner, upon his return, did not welcome the intruder.
"He came home to check on his daughter when he discovered the window broken out of his house. So he armed himself with his handgun and checked the house, where he was confronted," explained Sgt. Dale Peterson of the Plant City Police Department.
The homeowner -- whose name is not being released -- shot Collins in the foot.
Collins was arrested nearby and taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital.
The 33-year-old has several charges of armed burglary and grand theft on his record.
Virginia Beach, VirginiaFrom
WVEC of June 29, 2008
Police: Beach pizza parlor worker kills would-be robber
Police say an attempted robbery at pizza parlor ended when a store employee shot and killed the alleged thief.
Workers at Dominick's Pizza and Pasta in the Timber Lake shopping center on Holland Road tell 13News a masked man came in through a back entrance, brandishing a gun and demanding cash.
Police say the shooting happened around 10pm Saturday.
According to employees, a worker opened the safe, taking a loaded revolver out instead of money.
The worker reportedly returned to where the alleged thief was and opened fire.
Police say workers called 9-1-1 at 10:08.
By the time officers arrived the masked man was already dead.
Police have not identified the suspect, and have not said if any charges will be filed against the employee.
Moody County, South DakotaFrom the
Moody County Enterprise of June 25, 2008
No charges filed in shooting case
The decision has been made by the Moody County State’s Attorney not to file charges against Matthew Heinricy in connection with the death of Jason Clough on May 25, 2008 outside a rural Colman Residence.
The facts of the case indicate a justifiable homicide as defined by State law, SDCL 22-16-34. The Moody County Grand Jury has also investigated the case and taken testimony and has decided not to issue any indictments in connection with the incident.
Jason Clough had attempted unsuccessfully to force his way into the Heinricy home on May 25. From outside the house, he fired his shotgun twice at a door, once through the kitchen window at occupants of the house and had raised his shotgun at another window when Heinricy fired back from inside the house, killing Clough instantly.
State law provides that homicide is justifiable if committed while resisting an attempt to commit murder, or, in other words, in defending oneself, or, when necessary to save his own life or others’ lives, or avoid great bodily harm when attacked in his own home.
