Cape Coral, Florida

From the Fort Myers News-Press of December 7, 2006

Shootout in Cape leads to 2 arrests

Two men were arrested after an apparent shoot-out early Wednesday morning in a Southeast Cape neighborhood.

Arthur Starling Horton, 20, and Corrye A. Powell, 19, are suspected of attempting to get inside a residence where a man was babysitting his 18-month-old niece.

The victim, who is not named in the arrest reports, reported hearing blinds moving around 5:45 a.m. and thought the dog was trying to come in.

That's when he told police he saw a man trying to get in the door, pointing a gun at him and demanding to be let in.

The victim began yelling for his girlfriend to come and get his niece and wake up others that were in the house.

The girlfriend woke up and saw two men with guns standing in the driveway. Another person at the house handed the victim a gun for protection, and the victim took off running, apparently to get the men with guns away from his house and his young niece.

"The victim states he ran from his residence into a house under construction across the street and he saw the two... men chasing after him," the report states. "He states that he hid in a closet in the dark until he saw a handgun from around the corner."

The victim told police that's when he shot the gun out of one of the intruder's hands - and they fired back. Then the two intruders fled through the woods.

One bullet struck a vehicle parked in the driveway of the residence.

No one was injured, because when police caught up with suspects Horton and Powell, they were taken to jail in apparent good health.

The report does not indicate why the two men targeted the victim's house.

Witnesses later identified Horton and Powell, who were each charged with assault with intent to commit a felony.

Horton was a senior linebacker at Cape High School in 2004, where he had 81 tackles and was selected to play in the John Carrigan Rotary South All-Star Classic.

While both he and Powell denied being anywhere near the scene, their hands tested positive for gun powder residue.

San Antonio, Texas

From MySanAntonio.com of December 7, 2006

Homeowner shoots would-be burglar

A would-be burglar who failed to break into a North Side home Tuesday morning returned to the same house that afternoon, only to be shot in the legs by the homeowner, police said.

A suspect was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in undetermined condition, Sgt. Pat Michalec said.

The homeowner returned from work early Tuesday and found a man trying to break into his house in the 4100 block of Hunters Glen. The man left, and the homeowner filed a police report, Michalec said.

Waking up from a nap later that day, the homeowner noticed the same man trying to break into his garage. He retrieved a shotgun and shot him in the legs, Michalec said, adding it was unlikely that charges would be filed against the homeowner.

Clarksville, Tennessee

From the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle of December 6, 2006

Intruder shot, killed by homeowner

An intruder was shot and killed late Wednesday night during a home invasion on Wooddale Drive.

Few details were available but Lt. Phil Ashby of Clarksville Police Department's Major Crimes unit said officers repsonded to a home invasion call just after 11 p.m. in the 400 block of Wooddale Drive and found the resident had shot and killed the intruder.

Salt Lake City, Utah

From Salt Lake City’s KSL.com of December 6, 2006

Concealed Weapon Keeps Man Safe in Attempted Carjacking

A Salt Lake City man says his gun saved his life today when a man threatened to take his car. It's a story that adds fuel to the debate over Utah's concealed weapons law.

The suspect in this case has not been caught-yet. It's probably fair to say he'll think twice before ever threatening to steal someone's car again.

Even when running errands, just like he was doing this morning, Mike Taylor is on guard.

Mike Taylor, Concealed Weapon Carrier: "The police have their hands full with everything and I don't think they could be every place at once."

So Taylor was ready when, he says, a man threatened to steal his car.

Mike Taylor: "Finally he told me he was going to kill me and take my car for himself. At that point I felt like he was going to kill me and I feared for my life so I drew my firearm and called police."

He never fired a shot. Clark Aposhian, Bureau of Criminal Identification Chairman says that is what usually happens.

Clark Aposhian, Chairman BCI Board: "We have not seen any type of pattern of abuse or escalation of these types of robberies. We haven't seen blood in the street that a lot of my adversaries or detractors would talk about."

Maura Carabello, with the Gun Violence Prevention Center, believes Utah's permit laws are lax.

Maura Carabello, Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah: "They could injure themselves, often not well equipped psychologically; they often don't know how to shoot or handle a weapon with proficiency."

She says what happened to Taylor is the best possible outcome, but not always the norm.

Maura Carabello: "My reaction in general, though, is we are lucky. We are lucky the permit holder is safe."

Taylor says he has carried the permit for six years; he didn't think he'd need to use it this morning.

Burleson, Texas

From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram of December 6, 2006

Store clerk shoots robbery suspect

An employee of Bennett’s Grocery Store shot and wounded a Cleburne man as he attempted a robbery Tuesday night, Burleson police said.

Travis Lee Baxter Jr. is being treated at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, said Capt. Cindy Aaron, a spokeswoman for the Burleson police department.

According to police reports, Baxter, who carried a large hunting knife, walked around the counter and demanded money from the clerk. The store owner yelled from the office, but Baxter refused to leave and was shot twice, police said.

The suspect fled in a Ford F-150 pickup along with another suspect, Justin Wade Germain, also of Cleburne. The two men then stopped at the Wal-Mart on S.W. Wilshire Blvd. to buy bandages, Aaron said. They made an illegal left turn, and were pulled over by state troopers until police arrived, Aaron said.

The robbery spree began earlier Tuesday night in Joshua, when Baxter, reportedly wearing a blue ski mask and carrying the hunting knife entered two convenience stores and demanded money and cigarettes from the clerks and money from a customer, police said.

All of the stolen property was recovered.

Baxter and Germain face aggravated robbery charges from Burleson and Joshua. Germain is in custody at Burleson’s holding facility.

Columbus, Ohio

From Columbus’ NBC4i.com of December 6, 2006

Store Owner Shoots, Kills Robber

No Charges Filed Against Store Owner

A man was shot to death during a robbery at a tire store on Tuesday night. Police said the shooting doesn't appear to be murder, but rather self-defense.

Police said Arfan Midani, the owner of A&A Tires, was working Tuesday night when an armed man approached him and demanded money, NBC 4's David Wayne reported.

The two men struggled and Midani gained control of the gun and shot the man twice in the stomach and once in the leg, police said.

Anthony Lewis was taken to Grant Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

No charges were filed against Midani.

"Everyone has the right to defend themselves if they feel they are in a situation where that type of action is required," said Columbus police Sgt. Christ Holzhauser.

Gillette, Wyoming

From the Gillette News Record of December 5, 2006

Homeowner shot at intruder, but didn't hit his target

Investigators still don't know who tried to break into an American Ranch Road home Monday morning, but they're sure he wasn't hit by the homeowner who shot at him, Sheriff Bill Pownall said.

The 37-year-old homeowner woke up at about 2 a.m. when he heard dogs barking, Pownall said. He went to his bedroom doorway, saw a man trying to enter through a kitchen door and fired a round from a .45-caliber handgun.

The owner told investigators he was certain he hadn't hit the man, which was confirmed when they found the handgun round lodged in a kitchen cabinet, Pownall said.

Deputies haven't received any further information since the incidents. Pownall said the case is still open.