Toluca, Illinois



From the October 27, 2004 Peoria (Illinois) Journal Star:

TOLUCA - A Toluca homeowner shot and killed a shouting, swearing intruder who broke into the family home early Tuesday after heaving a piece of backyard playground equipment through a window, authorities said.

The bizarre episode, which terrified a young family and ended the life of Douglas Allen Sullivan, 37, was quickly declared a justifiable shooting by Marshall County State's Attorney Paul Bauer after he visited the scene and reviewed preliminary police reports.



Sullivan was unarmed and was pronounced dead at the home by County Coroner David Lenz Jr.



Homeowner Brad Burns, who killed Sullivan about 2 a.m. with a single shot from a 9 mm pistol, "was defending not only his life, but the lives of his wife and child," Bauer said. "There's no doubt in my mind that they were in fear of their lives."

Forsyth County, Georgia



From Atlanta’s WXIA11.com of October 30, 2004

Search on for Home Invasion Suspect



Forsyth County police are looking for a suspect involved in an attempted home invasion.



Police say two men entered a home off Nuckolls Road late Friday night. They say the homeowner opened fire and hit one of the suspects.



The wounded suspect showed up later at an area hospital. He was listed in critical condition Saturday evening.



Police continue to search for the second suspect.

Detroit, Michigan



From Detroit’s WXYZ.com of October 28, 2004

Shooting Near People Mover



Police believe the shooting of a man near the People Mover station in downtown Detroit Thursday afternoon was in self-defense.



An off-duty female transit worker saw the homeless man sifting through a dumpster behind a parking garage near the People Mover and asked him to leave.



Detroit Police say the man then attacked the woman, punching her several times in the face before she finally shot him in the stomach.



The man was in critical condition Thursday night. The transit worker was also taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital, with bruises to her face.

Houston, Texas



From Houston‘s Click2Houston.com of September 13, 2004

Tire Shop's Caretaker Shoots, Kills Burglar



Business Owner Hires Caretaker After Several Robberies



A man was killed after an attempted break-in at a southeast Houston tire shop Monday morning, Local 2 reported.



Police said the tire shop's caretaker, who lives at Leon's Tire Shop in the 4500 block of Telephone Road with his family, opened fire on a man who broke in through the back of the business at about 2 a.m.



Authorities said one bullet struck the man in the head, instantly killing him.



Officials identified the suspected burglar and shooting victim as Dermedrick Adams, 18.



Investigators said the tire shop's owner hired the worker after thieves robbed the business several times in recent months.



The shooting remains under investigation. No charges have been filed.

No subsequent stories about this incident were found.

Powdersville, South Carolina



From Greenville’s TheCarolinaChannel.com of October 26, 2004

Man Shoots, Kills Intruder In Powdersville



Struggle Over Gun Ends In Shooting



Sheriff's deputies are at the scene of a fatal shooting in Powdersville on Tuesday morning.



Anderson County Sheriff's Office Capt. Dale McCard told WYFF News 4's Myra Ruiz that David Devita, 47, and his 7-year-old daughter were in their Mountain View Court home when Devita's daughter said someone was at the door at about 8:30.



McCard said that when Devita answered the door, he was hit with pepper spray by the man outside, who forced his way inside.



McCard said the intruder kept using the pepper spray on Devita and his daughter. The two men struggled into a bedroom, where Devita retrived a gun.



McCard said that during the struggle, Devita shot the intruder.



The intruder, who has not been identified, died at the scene.



McCard said investigators are trying to determine who the man was and why he attacked the homeowner.

Tallahassee, Florida



From the Tallahassee Democrat of October 26, 2004

Man shoots at intruder



A Tallahassee man shot at an intruder as the two scuffled at his home Sunday morning, said Lt. Edward Smith of the Tallahassee Police Department. A man went shopping and returned to his house in the 2900 block of Capital Park Drive about 9 a.m. He found some personal items at the doorway and an unknown man in the house. During the incident, the intruder "picked up a table and hit the victim" and bit the victim on the right ring finger. As the two men fought, the intruder broke free. Inside the house, the resident shot a pistol at the man, who ran from the home. The victim was treated at a hospital for cuts to his forehead and on his right leg. The intruder is described as a black male in his mid 20s. He weighs 165 pounds and is 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt, black pants and white tennis shoes.

Lebanon, Tennessee



From Nashville’s The Tennessean of September 9, 2004

Lebanon man shot after argument



An argument turned violent Tuesday night in Lebanon, leaving one man fighting for his life, Wilson County Sheriff Terry Ashe said.



John Thomas Rogers, 28, was shot three times by his mother's friend Nancy Butler, Ashe said. Butler lives with Rogers and his mother on Speck Road, the sheriff said.



Butler called 911 about 11 p.m. Tuesday to report that she had shot Rogers, Ashe said. He said the wounds are to Rogers' upper torso and head.



''We don't know what his recovery situation is going to be like. As far as I know, he has not regained consciousness yet and is at Vanderbilt'' University Medical Center.



Butler told officers that she shot Rogers in self-defense, Ashe said. ''We'll be presenting the facts of that case to the Wilson County grand jury in a few days. (Rogers and Butler) were arguing over the usage of a telephone, and it escalated.''



Butler had not been charged with any crime as of yesterday afternoon, Ashe said.

No subsequent stories about this incident were found.