Tallahassee, FloridaFrom the
Tallahassee Democrat of July 30, 2008
Crawfordville business owner defended himself from would-be robbers
Two men tried to rob the owner of a Crawfordville business earlier this week, but the owner pulled out his gun and scared the would-be robbers away.
It happened about 7:45 p.m. Saturday at Premier Motorcar Gallery, 1468 Crawfordville Highway, according to the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office.
The owner was exiting the front door of the business carrying a small bank bag and had turned around to lock it when one of the men ran up and hit him in the head with a 2-by-6 board.
The owner fell to the ground but was able to get a handgun out of his rear waistband and point it at the robber. Another man was running toward them, but the two turned around and ran to a waiting car when they saw the owner was armed.
The car was described as brown in color, 1984-1986, four-door Chevy Caprice with a lift-kit similar to the photo to the right. The car had 22- to 24-inch chrome rims with wide white walls and an aftermarket chrome grill kit.
The first would-be robber was described as a clean-shaven black man, 18-22 years old, 6 feet, with a thin build and short hair. He had a small notch shaved into his right eyebrow. He was wearing a long-sleeved blue FUBU shirt and Paco jeans.
Only a vague description was available for the second would-be robber.
Anyone with information can call Sgt. Scott DelBeato at 926-0878.
Greers Ferry, ArkansasFrom the
Heber Springs Sun-Times of July 30, 2008
Burglary suspect shot while choking homeowner
Chris Hooten, 34, of Greers Ferry, is recovering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen after a scuffle around 10:15 p.m. Friday. He reportedly entered a home without permission, fought and choked the homeowner, and was shot in the process. Hooten, and James Gadberry, 26, of Greers Ferry, reportedly went to the home of Don Brown on Shaw Road earlier in the afternoon Friday and an argument ensued. "Brown was upset over how Hooten and Gadberry reportedly treated a female," said Detective Phil Burnham with the Cleburne County Sheriff's Department. "Brown told them both to leave and they did."
Hooten and Gadberry returned to the Brown home just after 10 p.m. "Brown was asleep on the couch when he heard someone beating on the door. He saw the two men outside and told them to leave."
According to authorities, Gadberry and Brown said Hooten forced his way into the home, pushing the door open. "Brown fell on top of an iron stove. He got up and the two men continued to harass him. He went back to the couch where he was sleeping and pulled out a pistol."
Gadberry reportedly moved toward Brown and was hit on the head. "Hooten jumped on Brown and started choking him. When he felt like he was going to pass out he fired a shot, hitting Hooten in the abdomen."
Hooten made his way outside where he passed out. "Gadberry went outside too. Hooten was taken by helicopter to the White County Medical Center in Searcy. He underwent a successful surgery."
The two men are being charged with residential burglary and aggravated assault. "Hooten will be charged upon his release from the hospital."
Brown is not facing any charges at this time, according to Burnham.
Port St. Lucie, FloridaFrom the
Publication of July 30, 2008
Port St. Lucie homeowner shoots man through kitchen window
A Port St. Lucie resident shot a man trying to break into his Northeast Floresta Drive home through the kitchen window Tuesday afternoon, and the bleeding man jumped into his car and drove it into a utility pole, police said.
The injured man was later airlifted to St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach, said Port St. Lucie Police spokesman Officer Robert Vega.
Police are not identifying those involved and no charges have been filed. The condition of the man who was shot wasn't available Tuesday night.
Curious neighbors crowded around the crime scene that was sectioned off with yellow police tape to see what the police cars were doing in their neighborhood. Those questioned did not witness anything and did not know the homeowner.
The shooting occurred around 2 p.m., when the resident, a family friend, the man's two young daughters and niece were in the house at 242 Northeast Floresta Drive.
When the doorbell rang, the family friend went to the front door and saw a man she didn't recognize. She alerted the resident, who was asleep in the back bedroom. After he told her he wasn't expecting anyone, he picked up his gun from his nightstand next to his bed and went to look out the front window, Vega said.
There, the resident saw the man jump his fence leading into his backyard. He said he did not know the man, Vega said.
When the resident took the three girls to a back bedroom, he said he heard the back sliding glass door shaking violently and saw the man shaking it, investigators said. When the man tried to open the kitchen window, the resident shot him, Vega said.
Police said they have no reason to believe the man knew anyone inside the house. The resident told police he called 911 when he saw the man run.
Vega said if someone enters your home, whether it's legal to shoot that person depends on the circumstances.
"I think certain situations would justify it," he said. "Whether or not this is one of those cases, we don't know."
Police on Tuesday night were still piecing together what happened
Vega said he believes the resident really thought he was being robbed, and that he will claim self-defense in the shooting.
There was an ambulance at the crime scene, which Vega said was there to check on the resident after his traumatic situation. He said the girls were pretty shaken up, but they were OK and were speaking with a victims' rights advocate.
F
Houston, TexasFrom
Click2Houston of July 29, 2008
Car Owner Shoots Suspected Thief
A car owner opened fire on a suspected thief early Tuesday, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Houston police said the car's owner found the man sitting in his vehicle at the Gulf Pointe Apartments on Gulf Pointe Drive near Dickinson Road shortly before 4 a.m.
The car's owner opened fire, wounding the man in the leg.
Residents said they heard at least two gunshots.
Investigators said the man was taken to Ben Taub Hospital. He is expected to survive.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office has not said if the car's owner will be charged.
Oral, South DakotaFrom
KCAU of July 29, 2008
Man Shoots Mountain Lion
A late report of a mountain lion that was treed by a rancher's dog and shot near Oral, in far southwestern South Dakota.
The incident took place July 17 when Alan Burg was about to start his pickup and go to work.
After spotting the lion in a tree near his house, Burg shot it with a rifle.
The big cat jumped down and ran into some tall grass.
A game warden was called and dogs were used to track the mountain lion.
The wounded animal was found about 40 yards from the tree and was shot again.
Officials say shooting the cat was justified because of its nearness to the ranch house and the threat to animals and livestock on the ranch.
Midwest City, OklahomaFrom
KOCO of July 17, 2008
Homeowner Guns Down MWC Burglary Suspect
Authorities said a homeowner shot and killed a burglary suspect after a confrontation in a rural Midwest City neighborhood.
Oklahoma County Sheriff's spokesman Mark Myers said the resident told deputies he spotted a man breaking into a large shed on his property and confronted him about 2:30 p.m. Thursday. When the suspect got into his car and tried to flee, the homeowner said he stepped in front of the vehicle to prevent the man from leaving.
The homeowner said he fired one shot from a shotgun as the suspected burglar lunged toward him in his car.
Myers said the man died at the scene. The names of the victim and the shooter were not immediately released.
Allentown, PennsylvaniaFrom the
Allentown Morning Call of July 29, 2008
Lowhill man chases 'exterminators' with knife, gun
A 78-year-old man used a kitchen knife and a shotgun to chase three men posing as exterminators from his Lowhill Township home, according to police.
State police at Fogelsville issued a news release urging anyone with information to contact their station at 610-395-1438.
The incident happened between 6 and 7 p.m. Friday at a home on Route 100.
State police gave the following account in a news release:
A man who was 40 to 50 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and 190 pounds with a heavy build and brown hair parted on the side entered the home through an unlocked front door. Upon entering, he advised the 78-year-old male resident he would do a free home extermination.
During the conversation, the homeowner noticed two other men rummaging through his residence. Both were between 25 and 27 years old, about 6 feet tall, 180 pounds and had thin builds and dirty blond hair parted on the side.
When the homeowner ordered them to leave his house, a fight broke out. While the homeowner struggled with one of the younger males, the older male restrained the homeowner. But the homeowner broke free, grabbed a kitchen knife and ordered all three men out of his house.
The older male tried to regain entry. But by then, the homeowner had a shotgun in hand.
The three men fled in a green van south on Route 100. They managed to steal about $10 in coins.
