Green County, IndianaFrom
My Wabash Valley of May 23, 2008
Business Owner Shoots Alleged Robbers
Two people allegedly committing a theft at "K and H Auto" in Greene County are shot by the owner early Friday morning.
The Greene County Sheriff's Department says the business owner saw two men on his property, and he ordered them to show their hands.
One of them men pointed something toward the owner, and the owner started shooting. At least one of the men was believed to be wounded by the gunfire.
The Bloomfield Free Press is reporting that one of the men was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis with a gunshot wound to his chest.
The Free Press is also reporting that the second man involved may also at Bloomington Hospital.
It turns out it was only a flashlight that was pointed at the owner.
Columbia, South CarolinaFrom
WIS TV of June 2, 2008
No charges after barbershop owner shoots man during fight
A Columbia barbershop owner says he was just protecting himself.
Johnny Cole admits he shot a man at his business Monday, but Tuesday he told WIS News 10 he had no choice.
Now Columbia police say they're not charging either man in the incident, and are considering the case closed.
Capt. Thomas Dodson says the solicitor's office doesn't have enough evidence to support a charge, and police could not locate a witness.
"My back's real sore. And my neck. But you know, the hard cement ain't no joke," says Cole.
Cole says it was self-defense, that he was trying to protect himself from a guy who punched him in the face and body-slammed him on the floor of his barber shop.
"I don't know what his problem. Don't know what his motivation. I don't know nothing about that. I don't even know the guy," says Cole.
Cole runs the shop at Richland and Sumter Street, where he's been cutting hair at the location for almost 20 years.
Cole says he's never had trouble here before until Monday afternoon, when a car stopped at the intersection then backed up.
Cole recognized a woman passenger, and spoke to her. He says next thing he knew, the man with her was on the attack.
"He hit me first. And then I defend myself and when I defend myself, he reached for the bag I had on my shoulder," says Cole.
The fight moved inside, and finally Cole says, he grabbed his gun. One shot was fired, hitting 44-year-old Anthony Sylvester Williams in the forearm.
No charges have been filed so far, because police Captain Thomas Dodson says it's still not clear which man was the aggressor.
"Under the new state law, under the Castle Doctrine, there's no duty for a person to retreat, that's being assaulted. But once that attacker starts to retreat, to flee, that's where we have to find out where to draw the line," says Dodson.
Dodson says police are still talking to witnesses and trying to track down the woman in the car. Cole identifies her as an ex-girlfriend.
We've not been able to locate Williams, the man shot in the arm, to get his side of the story. Police say he was not seriously wounded.
Phoenix, ArizonaFrom the
AZ Family of June 5, 2008
Another homeowner shoots, kills armed would-be robber
A homeowner shot and killed a suspect who was allegedly trying to break into his West Valley home early Thursday morning.
It happened at about 1:30 a.m., in the area of 59h Avenue and McDowell Road.
Police said the family of four was asleep at the time.
The homeowner reportedly woke up when he heard somebody kicking in the door. That man grabbed his shotgun and waited near his bedroom door.
When the bedroom door swung open, the man said he saw a man with a gun. That's when he opened fire.
That suspect died on the scene. Police did find a gun near him.
Investigators said there were two other suspects who took off, running to where their truck was parked a block away. Those suspects are still on the loose.
Police said the homeowner was acting in self defense so he likely will not face any charges.
None of the family members inside the house were hurt.
Neighbors said the family keeps to themselves, but they did notice what they believed to be suspicious activity nearby Wednesday morning.
"The neighbors said at 5:30 yeasterday morning he saw two guys on bikes that were at the house next to them, and they looked like drug addicts," said Brenda Mcolough.
Investigators are trying to determine the motive for the break-in.
Louisville, KentuckyFrom
WLKY of June 4, 2008
Police: Shooting Was Self-Defense
Two teens are dead, but police aren't charging the man who shot them with a crime.
The shooting happened Tuesday at a house in west Louisville.
"For sure, there's not a doubt in my mind, my wife and I would be dead if I didn't do what I did," said property owner Billy Jackson.
Jackson said he was sprucing up an apartment in the house he owns at 3517 West Broadway when two masked men forced their way inside. He said one had a large gun, and threatened to kill him and his wife.
"I figured I was going to die and they were going to die, too," said Jackson. "I faked a heart attack; shot him in the side."
The coroner released the names of the alleged intruders late Wednesday afternoon. They are Earl Springer and Dazmond Turner, both 19.
"It just seems like I'm going to lay down, wake up and this is not happening," said Stephanie Roach, Turner's great aunt.
She said Turner's death doesn't seem real. She said he once had dreams of NBA stardom, but she never dreamed he would be accused of invading a home.
"It's just something that he wouldn't do and it's been eating at me all night long. It's like, no, that's not Daz," she said. "I don't know if he was forced into doing it, but that is not my nephew."
"At least one of the suspects was armed with a handgun," said Metro Police Detective Phil Russell. "The property owner was assaulted. He sustained minor injuries."
Police said Springer died at the scene, while Turner died early Wednesday morning at University Hospital.
"They will confer with the commonwealth attorney's office in order to determine if charges need to be placed," Russell said. "At this time in the investigation, it looks as though this was self-defense."
Family members said Turner was once a star point guard for Valley High School who was working toward getting his GED while preparing to be a first-time father this summer.
Roach said family members thought Turner was out of town at the time of the shooting. Now they wish he would have followed through on those plans.
"That's what's shocking everybody. He was supposed to be in Florida to reunite with his mother and his sisters," Roach said. "Now, they're on their way to bury him."
La Mesa, CaliforniaFrom
CBS8 of May 28, 2008
Alleged Robber In Fatal Store Holdup Identified
Authorities released the name today of an alleged robber killed in an exchange of gunfire that erupted during a holdup at a small East County business, seriously injuring the shop's two proprietors.
Phillip Lashon Whitmore, 29, died at the scene of Tuesday afternoon's shootout at Travel Wizard in the 7700 block of University Avenue in La Mesa, according to the county Medical Examiner's Office.
Whitmore allegedly was robbing the business -- a combination vacation-planning agency, currency-exchange outlet and coin shop -- when gunfire erupted shortly before 1 p.m., according to police. It was unclear who fired first.
Whitmore suffered two to four bullet wounds, LMPD Lt. David Bond told reporters. The La Mesa resident ran out of the business with a satchel of stolen money, fell to the ground about 50 feet away and died, Bond said.
Medics took the wounded business owners -- a 59-year-old man and 58-year-old woman, both of whom suffered at least two gunshot wounds -- to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. Their names and conditions were not released.
Rudy, ArkansasFrom
KSPR of June 3, 2008
Homeowner in Rudy, Ark., shoots man stealing gas
With prices nearing $4 a gallon, sheriff's deputies say Mark Holsted wanted to steal some gasoline from an unsuspecting resident of Crawford County.
However, that high price likely kept a homeowner armed with a 9mm pistol alert as well.
Deputies say an unidentified homeowner shot Holsted in the arm and thigh late Sunday night after spotting him stealing gas from a car parked outside a home in Rudy. Officers say Holsted was armed with a rifle at the time of the shooting and had an accomplice and a getaway driver.
Holsted was listed in stable condition at a Fort Smith hospital Monday. Deputies say he'll face charges once he is released from the hospital's care.
The AAA said the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in nearby Fort Smith on Monday was $3.81.
Phoenix, ArizonaFrom
KPHO of June 2, 2008
1 Dead, 2 Hurt In Phoenix Shooting
Police say a homeowner confronted two men who forced their way into a house with the intention to rob it, shot and killed one of the men and injured the other.
The robbers injured the unidentified homeowner, who was rushed to the hospital, in the Monday morning incident at 2809 W. Almeria Road, Sgt. Andy Hill said.
His condition was not immediately known.
"I heard two shots, real loud, then saw dust on the ground," said Josie Carillo, a neighbor. "Don't know if it was a bullet or what."
Police said they were are especially concerned because children also live in the home.
"We believe two suspects came to rob the house, do a home invasion, and forced their way in," Hill said.
The other intruder who was hurt is believed to have jumped in a getaway vehicle parked down the street. Police gave no immediate description of the robber.
Updated 06/08/2008:
From
KPHO of June 8, 2008
Man Accused In Home Invasion Found Dead
Phoenix police said they've found a man they wanted to question for an attempted home investigation on Monday, but he was dead of a gunshot wound.
Travis Jarred was found in his west Phoenix home Friday by police who broke in after his girlfriend called them worried after not seeing him since last Sunday, Detective Stacie Derge said
The 35-year-old was wanted for a home invasion Monday morning where a home's resident fatally shot a second intruder.
Derge identified the second dead man as 30-year-old Shaun Martine.
The victim, his wife, and several small children were asleep when the suspects forced their way in through the back door armed with a rifle and a knife. The home resident was stabbed, but grabbed a pistol and opened fire.
Martine died at the scene, and Jarred apparently drove home before dying.
