East St. Louis, Illinois

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of February 7, 2006

87-year-old woman fatally shoots man in her home

An 87-year-old East St. Louis woman fatally shot a man early this morning as he was trying to break into her house.

Police said they found the man, Larry D. Tillman, 49, of East St. Louis on the enclosed front porch of the woman’s house in the 2100 block of Gaty Avenue. He had pulled the telephone wires from the side of the house, then removed security bars from a porch window.

As the man was breaking through a storm door that leads into the house itself, the woman fired several shots through her front door, striking Tillman once in the chest.

Police said the shots were fired from a pistol, most likely a gun that her daughter had given her after a man broke into the elderly woman’s house in December, battered her and stole some items.

The man may have been dead for as long as four hours before police arrived. Police said that the woman was not sure that she had hit Tillman when she fired the shots about 2 a.m. However, she was too afraid to go outside to check and could not call for help because the telephone lines were dead.

When the woman’s daughter arrived about 6 a.m. to bring her mother breakfast, she found the dead man on the porch, police said.

Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Jim Morrisey said evidence taken from the December home invasion would be compared to the break-in today to see if Tillman was responsible for both crimes.

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of February 8, 2006

Police will check 87-year-old woman's story in shooting

Illinois State Police investigators said Wednesday that they have every reason to believe that Jacksie Mae King, 87, was justified in firing a shot through her front door that struck and killed an intruder early Tuesday.

Even so, Master Sgt. James Morrisey said that investigators would spend two weeks or so examining ballistic evidence before presenting the case to Robert B. Haida, the St. Clair County state's attorney, who would determine if criminal charges are warranted.

"Based on the evidence that we saw yesterday and the interview with (King), it would appear that she was justified in defending herself," Morrisey said.

Police said that King awoke about 2 a.m. Tuesday to the sound of someone trying to break into her house in the 2100 block of Gaty Avenue. Two months earlier, King's daughter had given her a pistol after a man broke into her house, beat her and stole some items. King told police that she grabbed the pistol and fired several shots through the front door at a man who had removed security bars to get on to her enclosed porch.

One of the bullets fatally wounded Larry D. Tillman, 49, who lived nearby.

King couldn't call for help because her telephone line had been cut. Her daughter, Pamela Paulette-Clark, discovered Tillman's body when she came by at 6 a.m. to bring her mother breakfast.

Morrisey said that investigators were examining evidence from the earlier home invasion at King's residence to see if Tillman was involved. Tillman had a long criminal history, including two convictions for residential burglary.

"We'll take any evidence that was collected from the home invasion and we'll compare that with what was collected yesterday to see if Mr. Tillman was involved" in both incidents, Morrisey said.

Neither King nor Clark could be reached on Wednesday.

Haida said that a homicide can be considered justified under Illinois law if a person believes "that they are in imminent threat of harm" or if an attacker uses "some sort of weapon or object to cause great bodily harm or death."

Haida said he would take the matter under advisement after the State Police sends the case to him for his review.

"I don't want to prejudge anything," he said. "We have an obligation to judge the facts carefully."

He added: "If Jim Morrisey and his office suggest that there should be no charges, that won't dictate the outcome but certainly we won't overlook their opinion."

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of May 23, 2006

No firearms charges against woman, 87

An 87-year-old woman who fatally shot a would-be intruder will not be charged with a crime, even though she did not legally own the gun, authorities said Monday.

On Feb. 7, Jacksie Mae King fired several shots through the front door of her house after she woke up about 2 a.m. to the sounds of someone trying to break in.

One bullet hit Larry Tillman, 49, who was on the other side of the door, standing on King's enclosed porch.

He lay dead on the porch in the 2100 block of Gaty Avenue for four hours before he was found by King's daughter, who came to bring breakfast about 6 a.m. Meanwhile, King stayed inside clutching the pistol.

"She was justified in using deadly force to defend herself against the threat of deadly force," said Robert B. Haida, the St. Clair County state's attorney.

King's daughter gave her the .32-caliber Colt revolver two months earlier after a man broke into King's house in December. That intruder beat her and stole some of her things. In both incidents, the telephone lines to King's house were cut, and security bars were removed from a side window.

Manchester, New Hampshire

From Manchester’s TheWMURChannel.com of February 7, 2006

Shooting Death In Manchester Ruled Self-Defense

Man Shot, Killed While Trying To Rob Apartment

The state Attorney General's Office and city police say a Manchester man was acting in self-defense when he shot and killed a Massachusetts man trying to rob him last fall.

Francisco Cruz, 20, of Lawrence, Mass., died on Oct. 16, 2005. Authorities said Tuesday that the shooter, Greg Stroman, had not committed a crime because Cruz and an accomplice entered Stroman's apartment armed with deadly weapons and threatened several people inside.

Cruz had a handgun and Raphael Pamphile had brass knuckles when they entered the apartment that night, police said.

Stroman answered the door, and Cruz first pointed the gun at him, then pointed it at Stroman's uncle and 14-year-old cousin when they tried to leave the room, authorities said.

"While Cruz's attention was diverted, Stroman retrieved his own handgun from another room and shot Cruz," authorities said.

Cruz also fired, hitting Stroman in the hand. Stroman retrieved his gun and a bag of marijuana before fleeing the building without calling police, authorities said. He then got rid of the gun and the drugs and drove to Springfield, Mass., where he was treated at a hospital.

Police responding to a 911 call about a burglary in progress found Cruz dead of a single gunshot wound to his chest.

On the way to the hospital, Stroman called police and told them he had been injured. Eventually, he provided a complete statement that was corroborated by the other witnesses and physical evidence, authorities said.

State law says deadly force in self-defense is justified when someone believes another person is about to use deadly force or hurt someone while committing a crime at his home.

South Bend, Indiana

From South Bend’s WNDU.com of February 5, 2006

House robbery ends with death of suspect

A South Bend man is recovering after he was robbed and stabbed in his own home early Sunday morning.

Police say the man apparently turned the tables on the suspect and shot him to death.

Neighbors were shocked to find out there was robbery and shooting and were even more surprised to find out that it could be the victim's next door neighbor who did it.

The sign on the door clearly marks the home on 1234 Brookfield Street as a crime scene. The same goes for the leftover pieces of yellow tape on the house next door.

Police say early Sunday morning a neighbor broke into the house to rob the homeowner.

Neighbor Mildred Franklin says, “My thoughts are not just concerned just the neighborhood. It’s more than the neighborhood it reaches farther than the neighborhood. I hate that it goes on in the neighborhood in which I live but this is more than the neighborhood; this is all over.”

Neighbors say the alleged robber, 29 year old Phoenix Coalmon, lived next door.

Police say Coalmon broke into the house and stabbed the homeowner who then in turn shot him to death.

The St. Joseph County jail says Coalmon was just released Saturday after habitual traffic violations.

Neighbors say they're hopeful the violence won't continue.

Says Franklin, “I keep praying and keep trust in God that the people that doing the killing will develop a thirst for righteous.”

The homeowner was taken to the hospital Sunday morning.

Police say he was in serious condition at the time

From South Bend’s WNDU.com of February 7, 2006

Criminal charges will not be filed against Donald Van Dusen

Criminal charges will not be filed against a South Bend man who shot and killed an intruder during a botched robbery.

NewsCenter 16 has told you about a shooting inside a home on Brookfield Street, Sunday.

The homeowner, 79-year-old Donald Van Dusen, shot Phoenix Coalmon.

Coalmon later died at the hospital.

Police say Coalmon planned on robbing Van Dusen's home. However, during a struggle between the two men, Van Dusen was stabbed.

At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Prosecutor Mike Dvorak said he felt there was no need to file charges.

"All indications are we will not be charging Mr. Van Dusen. (However), the investigation is not complete," said Dvorak Tuesday.

Investigators have not had an opportunity to interview Van Dusen, but family members say his health is improving.

He remains in the hospital recovering from his stab wounds.

From South Bend’s WNDU.com of March 1, 2006

South Bend man who shot intruder, will not face criminal charges

Criminal charges will not be filed against a South Bend man who shot and killed an intruder.

Back on February 5th, 29-year-old Phoenix Coalman attempted to rob 79-year-old Donald VanDusen in his home on North Brookfield.

VanDusen managed to shoot his attacker, but not before being stabbed several times.

St. Joseph County Police say their investigation is complete, and that VanDusen clearly acted in self-defense.

Miami, Oklahoma

From Ada’s KTEN.com of February 6, 2006

Charge against Wyandotte man dismissed

Ottawa County prosecutors dismiss a first-degree murder charge against a Wyandotte man after authorities determined that the shooting was self-defense.

Twenty-one-year-old Michael Anthony Morrison was charged May 2nd in the shooting death of Keith Alexander Gordon.

Gordon was found on a Wyandotte road with a gunshot wound to the face.

U-S marshals arrested Morrison in Kansas City, Kansas, and he returned to Miami in October.

District Attorney Eddie Wyant says an investigation revealed that Gordon was running at Morrison with a belt-like vest containing several shotgun shells, knives and machetes.

Wyant says Gordon's relatives removed the vest from his body and hid it in their home nearby.

Witnesses say Morrison grabbed his gun from his vehicle and shot Gordon when he began running at him with a machete in his hand.

Pilot Mountain, North Carolina

From the Winston-Salem Journal of February 4, 2006

Surry man shoots home intruder

A homeowner shot and injured a man who broke into his house this morning, the Surry County Sheriff's Office said.

Greg and Ashley Durham of 2769 Old Highway 52 woke up about 3:30 when they heard their dog barking outside, the sheriff's office said in a statement.

They saw a person wearing what looked like a hood walking near the back of their house, and called 911.

The man forced open a locked door and came in the front of the house.

Greg Durham "shot the disguised unknown person after the entry into the living quarters of the house, using a .22-caliber rifle," the statement said.

Deputies arrived and found Jason Garrett Chilton, 20, lying on the floor in the front room with a gunshot wound. He was wearing a pillowcase over his face, the statement said.

Chilton, whose address was not available, was in stable condition at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Deputies drew a warrant charging him with first-degree burglary.

Anderson, South Carolina

From Greenville’s WYFF4.com of February 3, 2006

70-Year-Old Man Cleared In Fatal Anderson Shooting

Investigators said a 70-year-old man shot his 39-year-old neighbor in self-defense after he was attacked with a chair at his home.

Prosecutors said Thursday they would not charge John Black. Black handed over a gun to police and told them he shot Marc Anthony Pringle on Monday.

Anderson police Lt. Layton Creamer said an investigation found that Pringle had a "tendency to become violent."

Creamer said he doesn't know what the men were arguing about.

Hesperia, California

From the Victorville Daily Press of February 3, 2006

Man cleared in double homicide

Detectives say Armando Ramos acted in self-defense

A man who has been in hiding since a homicide a month ago surrendered to sheriff's detectives, who then released him after determining the killing was in self-defense, officials said Thursday.

On Wednesday, Armando Anthony Ramos, 24, who was being pursued in connection with a New Year's Day double homicide, agreed to meet San Bernardino County Sheriff's homicide detectives at the Hesperia sheriff's station.

A few hours later he walked out a free man with a clear name.

"He was scared to death ... up until the point he walked out the front door he thought we were going to arrest him," Sgt. T.A. Peters of the sheriff's Homicide Division said.

Around 7:37 a.m. Jan. 1, two men were shot inside a home in the 10300 block of Cottonwood Avenue. According to investigators, Johnny Alfred Hernandez, 27, shot and killed Joseph Aaron Wyatt, 23, following a fight at the home.

Peters said that Hernandez then came after Ramos and an unnamed friend who witnessed the shooting. Acting in self-defense, Ramos armed himself with a nearby shotgun and fired several rounds at Hernandez before hitting him in the chest.

"He basically shot Johnny before Johnny could kill him," Peters said.

Hernandez continued out the front door and fired one round from a semi-automatic handgun back into the house before he collapsed on the lawn, where he died still clutching the gun, officials said.

At the time, Ramos fled and authorities spent a month trying to locate him before he turned himself in Wednesday.

"We always believed during the course of the investigation that he had a self-defense issue, based on witness statements from the scene. We'll package our case up and present it to the District Attorney's office in Victorville. But we believe he acted in self-defense and in the defense of others," Peters said. "The DA is not likely to press charges."

Peters said that since Hernandez — who would be linked to the murder of Wyatt — is already dead, the interview and release of Ramos concludes their investigation into the double-homicide.