Livingston, New Jersey

From New York’s 7Online.com of February 14, 2006

Bullets fly during attempted armored car robbery

Three suspects taken into custody

As the suspects fired shots at the truck, the guards inside fired back. The incident started in Livingston and ended in South Orange.

That's where we find Eyewitness News reporter Anthony Johnson.

The FBI is in charge of this investigation. The getaway vehicle, a black Jeep Cherokee was still taped off as FBI agents began to comb the area looking for more clues, but we understand that all three suspects have been taken into custody.

The drama ended in an open area at the end of Church Street in South Orange. That's where cops used bloodhounds and tracked down the last suspect in what apparently started as a robbery of an armored car or a Bank of America branch on South Livingston Avenue.

There was a shoot out between the suspects and the guards. One suspect was shot in the thigh and one of the armored car guards was hit but his bulletproof vest apparently stopped the bullet.

The suspects fled in the black Jeep Cherokee, traveling about five miles southwest with cops in hot pursuit. Two of the suspects were quickly apprehended, the armored car was left about a block and a half away from the bank.

The SUV was taped off as police launched a massive manhunt and the third suspect was finally caught.

From PhillyBurbs.com of February 15, 2006

Four accused in botched robbery, including driver of armored car

A day after leading police on a chase through three towns, suspects accused of robbing an armored car were expected in court expected to face charges. The four suspects include the armored car's driver, authorities said Wednesday

The suspects are accused of leading police on a chase Tuesday through three northern New Jersey towns before the pursuit ended with the cash scattered in a field.

The robbery attempt began at 2:25 p.m. at a Bank of America branch in Livingston as two employees of Dunbar Armored Car Service were making a pickup, Livingston police Chief Michael Erb said.

The employees returned to the car, and found two would-be robbers waiting, said Special Agent Steve Siegel, spokesman for the FBI's Newark office.

The suspects fired several gunshots inside the car, Siegel said. A bulletproof vest saved the Dunbar employee in the passenger seat from serious injuries. Authorities, who declined to release that employee's name, say he was not involved in the robbery.

"When he saw individuals were in the back of the truck and attempted to take over, he reached for his gun and that's when assailants shot at him," Siegel said.

A police chase ensued through Livingston, Millburn and South Orange before the Jeep collided with a car driven by a South Orange detective, left the roadway and came to a halt, Erb said.

Authorities say the armored car's driver, Evrol Dean, 42, of Newark, was part of the heist.

Rhea County, Tennessee

From the Dayton Herald-News of February 12, 2006

Grand Jury ‘no-bills’ man in shooting of his son-in-law

The Rhea County Grand Jury decided Monday that there was not enough evidence to warrant a trial of a Rhea County man who shot and killed his son-in-law last February.

District Attorney Mike Taylor and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent David Emiren presented evidence to the grand jury, seeking an original indictment against James Blaylock, 48, of the Cranmore Cove community west of Dayton. Blaylock was never arrested in connection with the shooting death of his son-in-law, Roger Stone, 42, of Dayton.

“The case was investigated extensively by the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department as well as TBI,” Taylor said Friday. “We presented the evidence in the case as well as the law regarding second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment. We also advised the grand jury of the law on self-defense. They no-billed all of the charges.”

Taylor said that since no one is allowed in the grand jury room while it deliberates, he doesn’t know why the grand jury decided to issue a No Bill.

Stone became upset Feb. 26 when he couldn’t find his wife, Melissa, according to Chief Deputy John Argo with the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department. First he called, then he went to Blaylock’s home on Montgomery Road off of Cranmore Cove Road. The two men argued, and Stone finally left.

Melissa Stone was not at the Blaylock home but was staying with another family member, Argo said.

Stone drove over to the Blaylock home again just after 2 p.m. Sunday, according to Argo.

Blaylock then stepped out onto the front porch of his doublewide mobile home armed with a Winchester 20-gauge pump shotgun.

“According to the witnesses, Blaylock told Stone to get off his property,” Sheriff Mike Neal said last March. “Stone refused to leave and began moving toward the home. Blaylock fired one warning shot. Stone is then supposed to have said, ‘you’re going to have to kill me,’ and ran toward the home.”

Blaylock fired a second shot, striking Stone in the chest with a load of birdshot from less than 15 yards away, the sheriff said.

Stone turned around, walked back to his Chevrolet Blazer and sat down in the driver’s seat.

Sgt. Matt Rose with the sheriff’s department was the first officer on the scene, arriving at 2:21 p.m., just moments after the shooting.

Rose said he moved to the Blazer and saw Stone inside. He then became aware of Blaylock sitting on the steps to the porch.

“Blaylock said, ‘I shot him,’” Rose said Monday.

Rose then moved to a position where he could cover both Blaylock and Stone until Deputy Josh Jordan arrived a moment later.

“I checked on Stone and I could tell he had been shot with a shotgun,” Rose said. “His breathing was real shallow, but he was still alive.”

Dayton Patrolman Adam Smith arrived next and then Deputy Charlie Qualls. The four officers secured the scene, and Qualls took Blaylock into temporary custody.

Paramedics from Rhea County Emergency Medical Service arrived and began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They transported Stone to Rhea Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Officers found the shotgun lying on the porch railing. Blaylock had unloaded the shotgun prior to police arriving. No weapon was found on Stone.

Three women inside the home, as well as the neighbor in the driveway confirmed Blaylock’s version of events, according to Neal.

Alexandria, Louisiana

From Alexandria’s TheTownTalk.com of February 13, 2006

Store clerk kills suspected robber

An Alexandria man was shot and killed on Sunday during what is believed to have been a failed holdup attempt, Alexandria Police Lt. Mike Rennier said.

Walter Louis Walker, 39, of 1244 Huffman St., was shot in the head at least two times by a clerk when he attempted to rob Tobacco Hut No. 2, located at 2350 Overton St., Rennier said.

According to police records, the clerk told police that Walker approached the counter at 12:07 p.m. and demanded money while holding his hands in his pockets.

Rennier said the clerk then shot Walker and called police to the scene. Walker was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police reports.

Police found no weapon on Walker, Rennier said.

"The clerk said he thought Mr. Walker had a gun in his pocket," Rennier said. "Officers were dispatched to the store and found the individual deceased. It looks like a case of an armed robbery gone bad."

Rennier said the initial investigation had turned up particular motive for the robbery attempt.

The clerk's identity was being withheld Sunday because of investigation concerns, Rennier said.

Rennier said an initial investigation indicates the shooting was an act of self-defense.

The police report refers to the clerk as the victim in the incident.

According to police records, there were no other people in the store at the time of the shooting and no potential witnesses had emerged.

No further details were available late Sunday, Rennier said. The shooting remained under investigation.

Spokane, Washington

From Spokane’s KXLY.com of February 12, 2006

One wounded, one at large following attempted home invasion

One man was shot and wounded and a second is at large following an attempted home invasion in North Spokane Saturday night.

The incident happened around 8:30 pm at the Rosewood Club Apartments located at Standard and Magnesium in North Spokane.

According to investigators on the scene, two suspects, armed with a knife and a pellet gun, tried to force their way into one of the apartments.

The resident of the apartment, armed with a small-caliber automatic pistol, shot one of the intruders, striking him twice in the chest and lower torso.

The suspect who was shot fled the apartment and got as far as the sidewalk in front of the apartment building before he collapsed.

The second suspect fled the scene and is still at large.

The injured man was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The resident is talking and cooperating with the investigators and says that he doesn’t know who the suspects are and why they were trying to get into his apartment.

Veneta, Oregon

From the Eugene Register-Guard of February 11, 2006

Self-defense cited in fatal shooting

A Veneta man who shot and killed an intruder early Friday acted in self-defense and will not be charged with a crime, the Lane County district attorney said.

Tony Gilbert Hernandez, 58, shot the intruder at least twice with a 12-gauge shotgun as the man beat him with a collapsible metal baton, investigators said.

The baton left deep cuts in Hernandez's scalp that had to be stapled shut at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene. He also had injuries on his back.

"This is what we would call self defense," District Attorney Doug Harcleroad said. "You're allowed to use deadly physical force under Oregon law when you're in fear for yourself or your property."

The sheriff's office later identified the intruder as John Aaron Rippet, 40, whose last known address was in Eugene. They found no identification on the man's body, and Hernandez told investigators he had never seen the man before, sheriff's Lt. Randy Smith said.

Hernandez told deputies that someone knocked on his door at the Applegate Apartments, 25011 Hunter Ave., about 5 a.m.

He opened the door and the man attacked him with the baton, beating him on the head and body, Smith said.

The struggle started in the doorway of the two-story apartment and moved throughout the first floor.

"The suspect was continuously yelling at the resident that he was going to kill him," Smith said.

Hernandez broke free and ran to an upstairs bedroom, Smith said. He tried to close the door on his attacker, but the fight continued.

He grabbed the shotgun and fired, Smith said.

Hernandez chased the suspect downstairs, where one of the shots blasted through the front door, scattering pellets and wadding in the parking lot.

He called 911 at 5:06 a.m. and said he had shot an intruder. At least one neighbor heard the shots.

Rippet was dead in the living room when deputies arrived. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Detectives did not know why Rippet targeted Hernandez. They found no evidence inside his apartment that explained Rippet's motivation, Smith said. And Hernandez said he did not know Rippet, the lieutenant said.

Investigators also had not determined how the man got to the apartment.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

From TheMilwaukeeChannel.com of February 9, 2006

Mom Fights Back Against Burglar

A Milwaukee mother she woke up Thursday morning to find an intruder in her house, but she was more than equipped to defend herself, her children and her little brother.

The man went through a window into the woman's house.

Her first instinct, she told 12 News, on hearing the breaking glass downstairs at the front door was to call 911, which she did.

But, with her young son and teenage brother downstairs, she decided she couldn't wait and had to take things into her own hands.

At 6 a.m., she was awakened by the sound of broken glass, and it terrified her.

WISN 12 News is not identifying the woman, or the house, at her request.

"I called 911. I grabbed the pistol, and I came down the stairs. As I was coming towards the front door to see what all the commotion was at, he was kind of walking towards the direction of me, and I fired two shots," the woman said.

The shots sailed a bit over the intruder's head into the wall as he dropped to the ground.

But the woman said the drama was far from over.

Bleeding from the broken glass, he scampered into the front room where her 6-year-old son and 16-year-old brother were scared to death.

"Right after I fired two shots, he kinda ran into the living room and grabbed my little brother by the neck, and I told him, 'If you do not let him go, I will kill you.' I said, 'I'm gonna count to three.' And I said, 'One, two,' and the police were already at my door, and they told me to put the pistol down. 'We got him. We'll get him. Don't worry about it,'" she siad.

She was grateful police arrived as quickly as they did, for her sake and his.

"Maybe next time before you go to leap in somebody's house he'll think about it because it might not be a next time, and he might not survive. Because if the police hadn't came I probably would've kept shooting," the woman said.

She said she bought the gun last summer after her older brother was murdered.

"I never knew when, but I always wanted to have it," she said.

Still shaken by actually having to use it, she's glad she was able to do what she had to do.

"We're OK, you know, we're OK. This was a scare. It was a scare, but we're all right and he's all right," the woman siad [sic].

Police confiscated her gun, which is standard procedure in any shots-fired incident in Milwaukee...

No charges are expected, and she will likely have her gun back in a day or two, 12 News reported.

The suspect is a 43-year-old Green Bay man with two theft convictions.

He told the woman he was only breaking in because he was afraid because somebody was shooting at him outside.

Fairfield, California

From the Vallejo Times Herald of February 9, 2006

Fairfield man kills would-be robber

Police say a father shot and killed an armed intruder in self-defense Tuesday night during a botched home invasion robbery.

Ahmad Rashad Mahdee, 28, of San Francisco was airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, where he was pronounced dead from two gunshot wounds to the torso, police said Wednesday.

Citing safety concerns, police are withholding victims' names.

At about 10:30 p.m., Mahdee and three other men approached a home on the 1700 block of Indiana Street, where the father and a friend were standing in the front yard, police said.

The four forced the father and his friend into the home at gunpoint, police reported. The father's young daughter was inside at the time.

Once inside, Mahdee took the father into a bedroom at gunpoint and demanded money, while his companions held the friend and daughter at bay, police said.

Fearing for his life, the father reportedly grabbed a registered .38 snub-nose revolver from his nightstand. After a struggle over the weapon, the father fired his gun several times, hitting Mahdee twice in the torso, police said.

The other three men heard the gunfire and fled on foot. Suspect descriptions were "sketchy," Lt. Tony Shipp said, but investigators are gathering information on possible associates of Mahdee.

The father, his friend and the young girl all escaped injury, police said, and investigators [sic] at the scene determined that the father had acted lawfully in self-defense, so he was not detained.