Statesville, North Carolina

From Charlotte’s WSCOtv.com of March 6, 2007

Man Won't Face Trial For Statesville Slaying

A man charged with murder in the shooting death of a Statesville teen will not go to trial on the charge.

The Statesville Record and Landmark reports Kevin Turner told police he shot and killed 17-year-old Shannon Lackey in self defense at a party in January. Investigators did not believe him and charged him with murder.

But a grand jury has decided there was not enough evidence to proceed to a trial.

(Original Story)

Jackson, Mississippi

From the March 5, 2007 Jackson Clarion-Ledger:

As customers watched in horror Sunday afternoon, a man stabbed a woman and attempted to set her on fire in the parking lot of a Jackson store, witnesses said.

The attack was stopped by a passer-by, who held the man at gunpoint until police arrived, witnesses said.

The suspect, Henry Watson, 42, was arrested and is expected to face aggravated assault charges, Jackson Police Department Cmdr. Lee Vance said. Watson's wife, Gracie Watson, 42, was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical center, where she was listed in good condition.

"It wasn't five minutes from when she had left my line when I heard a scream outside," said Theresa Stuckey, a cashier at the Family Dollar at 516 Nakoma Drive in Jackson. "I looked out, and (the attacker) was on top of her stabbing her, and stabbing her and stabbing her.

"She was screaming, 'Help, he's trying to kill me!' She was rolling on the ground, trying to get out of the way, but he kept stabbing her. He stabbed her about 20 times in the neck, back and arms."

As the attack continued, people were yelling at the man to stop and honking their horns, Stuckey said. She said she called 911.

"He was just standing over her hacking away," said Dolly Baker, who had just left the Save-A-Lot store next door when she saw the attack.

Baker said she watched the man pour gasoline on the victim then try to strike a match.

"He was literally trying to kill that lady in broad daylight," she said.

Baker said a passer-by stopped the attack.

"He told the man, 'Stop, or I'm going to shoot. And if you run, I'm going to kill you,' " Baker said.

The man held Watson at bay until police arrived at the scene.

Sarasota, Florida

From the MyFoxTampaBay.com of March 3, 2007

Intruder killed during home invasion

Sarasota Police detectives have made an arrest in connection with an early morning home invasion where two people were wounded and one killed.

The incident happened around 4:30 Saturday morning.

Investigators say two men, wearing black ski masks, burst into a home at 2819 Dixie Avenue in Sarasota. Shortly after the intruders broke in, a gunfight took place.

One of the invaders was killed. He is identified as 18-year-old Travis Earl.

The other intruder was identified as 18-year-old Tyrell L. Leverett. Deputies say he was wounded in the hip.

The resident inside the home, 45-year-old Hugh Smith, was shot in the forearm.

Detectives have arrested and charged Leverett with felony murder, and with home invasion with a firearm. He has been booked into the Sarasota County Jail

Franklinton, Ohio

From the Columbus Dispatch of March 4, 2007

Franklinton man, 79, kills intruder, police say

A 79-year-old Franklinton man struggled with and fatally shot an armed intruder at his home last night, police say.

"The intruder kicked in the back door and struck the homeowner, knocking him down," said Columbus Police homicide detective William B. Rotthoff. "They wrestled. The homeowner grabbed the intruder’s gun, pulled out his own pistol and shot him in the chest."

The intruder, whose name was not immediately released, ran from 962 Sullivant Ave. and turned north up the alley next to the house.

A neighbor called police after hearing a gunshot at 8:44 p.m. A patrol officer arrived, finding the intruder lying in the alley. The assailant was taken to Mount Carmel West hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m.

The two-story, wood-frame home between Avondale and Hawkes avenues belongs to Virgil R. Lovejoy Jr., a resident there since 1972.

Lovejoy’s daughter, whose name wasn’t available, said that her father had been robbed at least three times before. The family had tried to convince him to move, but he refused to leave.

Cameron, Texas

From the Cameron Herald of March 1, 2007

Suspect injured in botched burglary

A botched burglary in the 600 block of 13th Street in Cameron early Saturday morning ended with a Rosebud man being shot.

James David Toffelmire, 28, was shot by a 12-gauge shotgun around 3 a.m. on Saturday after he attempted to break into a home and steal a vehicle from that same residence according to Cameron Police reports.

The homeowner was awoken by the noise of someone trying to get into the front door of the house. He told police that when he opened the front door, Toffelmire was standing at the passenger side of the homeowner's 2003 Ford pickup with the door open. The assailant then stared at the homeowner, and walked around to the driver's side of the truck.

The homeowner said he then went inside and grabbed the gun.

According to reports he then came out and saw Toffelmire with his hands below the steering wheel, possibly trying to start the vehicle or getting ready to pull out a weapon.

The homeowner then fired one shot, a dove load of small pellets according to police, into the front windshield of the truck, spraying pellets into the front seat and striking Toffelmire.

The burglar then fled the scene on foot as the homeowner called for police.

Cameron Police Department officers Patrick Guffey and Kris Stringer located the subject about two hours later hiding in the bushes at a residence on 12th Street.

Toffelmire was arrested and taken to Central Texas Hospital to have 12 pellets from the gunshot removed from his chest and face according to officers.

He was then booked into the Milam County Jail on charges of burglary of a vehicle. He remained in jail as of Wednesday with bond set at $2,000.

The homeowner is not facing any charges and police say that they will not be seeking to press charges against him. However, the Milam County district attorney will make the final decision.

Jacksonville, Florida

From Jacksonville.com of March 3, 2007

2 robbers pick wrong victim

Two men tried to rob a 50-year-old man Feb. 24 in the 4400 block of Putnam Avenue, but the victim pulled out a weapon of his own.

One of the two would-be robbers may have been shot, police said.
…

The ,,, incident started at 8:30 p.m. as the victim was walking down Putnam Avenue and two men, one with a gun, walked up demanding money, police said.

When the gun was pointed at him, the victim pulled out his own weapon and fired once, police said.

One of the pair fell, then got up as they both fled toward Philips Highway without anything.

The victim's .45-caliber handgun and a spent casing were confiscated by police after detectives interviewed him.

Windham, New Hampshire

From the North Andover (MA) Eagle-Tribune of March 2, 2007

Man released after shooting stepbrother

A family argument escalated into violence Thursday, when one stepbrother shot another in the middle of the day.

David Richardson, 52, went to Windham Auto Body around 10:40 a.m. Thursday, got into a scuffle with his stepbrother, Frank Meisel, and returned to his home about a half-mile away before a pair of officers arrived, said Windham police Capt. Carl Wagner.

About an hour later, Richardson returned to start another confrontation with his stepbrother, Frank Meisel, according to police. Meisel, 43, fired a single shot into the left side of Richardson's chest with a .38-caliber revolver, police said.

Police elaborated on the initial scuffle yesterday as they continued their investigation into the shooting.

"There was some kind of brotherly, physical confrontation and there was some damage done on the property, but he wasn't concerned with that," Wagner said of Meisel. "He just didn't want him (Richardson) on the property."

The two were arguing over a family-related matter, Wagner said.

Police said they received a call from a woman about the shooting, but they refused to elaborate.

Richardson remains in critical-but-stable condition at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. He underwent surgery Thursday night.

Meisel is free on personal recognizance and is due in court April 2. Based on what police have learned so far, Wagner said there was no need to hold Meisel.

"As the investigation continues, charges could be upgraded or reduced," Wagner said. "We still have to cross the t's and dot the i's on some things."

Police recovered the revolver when they encountered Meisel at the garage, Wagner said. Meisel legally kept the handgun at the business, located at 47 Roulston Road.

When police officers arrived after the first call from the garage, Richardson had already made it back to his home about a half-mile away at 22 Roulston Road. The officers warned Richardson that he would be arrested for trespassing if he went back to the garage, Wagner said.

A search warrant for the garage, which included a police affidavit detailing evidence gathered so far in the case, has been sealed by a judge.

From the North Andover Eagle-Tribune of April 14, 2007

Police: Shooter acted in self-defense

Prosecutors dropped charges against Frank Meisel, accused of shooting his stepbrother, saying he acted in self-defense when he fired his .38-caliber revolver into the chest of David Richardson.

Richardson, 53, went to Meisel's business, Windham Autobody at 47 Roulston Road, threatening to hurt him about 10 a.m. on March 1, police said.

Meisel, 43, of Cluff Road in Salem fired his weapon after Richardson had swung a large bat at his head and threatened to hurt him, said Rockingham County Attorney James Reams. Police had charged Meisel with misdemeanor simple assault after the altercation, saying they would either upgrade or drop the charge, based on the investigator's conclusion.

"Everything we had was consistent with self-defense," Reams said yesterday.

Police had been to the garage hours before the shooting when Richardson, who lived about a half-mile away, showed up drunk and got into a fight with Meisel. Neither of the men were seriously hurt or wanted to press charges.

Police told Richardson not to return to the garage, but he showed up a couple of hours later, armed with a large club. The arguments were the result of Richardson wanting to borrow money, police said. Meisel's account of what happened was supported by his bookkeeper, who saw both fights between the men, according to police.

Meisel's lawyer, Don Blaszka, said yesterday he was pleased with the Police Department's decision to drop the case.

"I always felt my client was defending himself," Blaszka said. "I feel this is a vindication for him so he can continue with his business. Obviously, based on the information collected by police and witness statements, my client's actions were justified."

One aspect that delayed the investigation was Richardson's lack of cooperation, Reams said. Richardson has been released from the hospital, but refused to release his medical records to authorities or cooperate with the investigation, according to police.

"There was a couple of minor loose ends we would have liked to have wrapped up," Reams said. "We knew Mr. Richardson was released from the hospital, but we don't know how badly he was injured. Given what we know so far, it wasn't a worthwhile pursuit of police resources."