The Salinas Californian, Salinas, CA, 03/23/04
State: CA
American Rifleman Issue: 6/1/2004
Two men and one woman broke into the apartment of a 20-year-old college student at 5:48 a.m. One invader was armed with a pellet gun, and the three overpowered the resident and tied him up. As the intruders began to ransack the apartment, the student was able to free himself and get hold of his handgun. He fired three shots, hitting one of the burglars in the chest, and then ran from the apartment and called for help. Police discovered the body of one suspect, identified as Juan Herrera, on the stairs leading to the apartment. The other two suspects had not been apprehended.
The Daily Oakland Press, Pontiac, MI, 03/20/04
State: MI
American Rifleman Issue: 6/1/2004
At 6:30 in the morning, a woman was walking from her car to her office when she noticed a car on the lot with two people inside. A man got out of the car and started toward her, his hands in his pockets. The woman realized she would not be able to reach the office door before the man reached her. Believing she was in imminent danger, the married mother of two opened her purse and drew her gun. The man reacted immediately, turning and walking back to the car, which had pulled up alongside him. The man got into the car and it sped off. Thinking quickly, the woman called police on her cell phone and provided a detailed description of the car and the couple, who were picked up within minutes of the attempted robbery. A 9mm handgun was found in the couple's car and they were charged with attempted armed robbery. Farmington Hills, Michigan, Police Chief William Dwyer, who had not been a proponent of the state's recently enacted concealed carry law, said the situation had changed his view. "She took the appropriate action," Dwyer said, "and probably saved her life."
Anderson Independent-Mail, Anderson, SC, 03/09/04
State: SC
American Rifleman Issue: 6/1/2004
Lance Myers of Anderson, South Carolina, awoke around midnight to a thumping sound. He then heard a shuffling sound and saw a man crawling into his bedroom. Alarmed, Myers switched on a light beside his bed and the man, dressed in a black hooded shirt and jeans, jumped to his feet, holding an ax with a 3-foot handle. Myers hastily retrieved a gun from his nightstand and told the intruder to drop the ax. When he repeated his demand to drop the ax, the man raised the ax higher and appeared to come at Myers, who fired one fatal shot, dropping the man instantly. Police identified the suspect as Ernest Leroy Miles, who had been arrested multiple times for burglaries, robberies, and drug offenses.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle, WA, 02/21/04
State: WA
American Rifleman Issue: 5/1/2004
The only crime jewelry store owner Gilbert Dorland previously experienced in his shop was the occasional shoplifter trying to steal an antique watch. But he reacted quickly when two armed men attempted to rob his store. The men, wearing bandannas over their faces, entered Western Jewelry and Coin at 4:19 p.m. Both drew guns and called out, "Nobody move." Dorland didn't heed that warning and drew his own gun, firing at the masked bandits and injuring one. Dorland and a friend who was in the store at the time of the robbery attempt were not injured. The would-be robbers fled in a dark green Jeep Cherokee. Police said that a man suffering from a gunshot wound later pulled into a local hospital in a vehicle matching that description.
Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, AL, 01/07/04
State: AL
American Rifleman Issue: 5/1/2004
Michael Spearman heard an unusual noise in his house one morning and went to investigate. Spearman discovered two men rummaging through his
gun cabinet. The homeowner had armed himself with a .357 Mag. revolver and, when he confronted the intruders, shot at one would-be burglar, who fled. Spearman then held the other man at gunpoint until sheriff's deputies arrived. "I didn't know what to think when I saw two men in my house," Spearman recalled. "One kept advancing at me; I had to do something." Sheriff Herbie Johnson praised Spearman's quick thinking. "Every person has the right to defend themselves and their homes," Johnson said. "This man had the presence of mind to handle the situation. He captured one suspect and was able to give us a good description of the other." Johnson said Spearman's actions might help them solve several burglary investigations.
Tampa Tribune, Tampa, FL, 01/10/04
State: FL
American Rifleman Issue: 5/1/2004
A liquor store clerk thwarted a robbery attempt at Latam Wines & Liquor in Tampa, Fla., when he grabbed a gun kept under the counter and aimed it at the crook. The robbery attempt occurred at 8:30 p.m. when a man wearing a bandanna over his face entered the liquor store. The masked man approached the counter and pointed a gun at the clerk who, in turn, pulled out a gun and aimed it at the would-be robber. The masked man fled the store without shots being fired and took off in a late model Camaro or Trans Am. Three other men were in the vehicle when it sped off, according to police.
Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, CA, 01/08/04
State: CA
American Rifleman Issue: 5/1/2004
Ivory Grayson responded to a knock at his front door early one morning. The young man on his doorstep asked for Grayson's grandson. The 65-year-old homeowner replied that his grandson was not there. During the conversation at his front door, Grayson noticed a second man trying to hide from view. When the two men returned and knocked on his door again, Grayson retrieved a handgun before answering. Both men were armed, and they forced their way into the home. Grayson took cover behind a living room chair and "a gun battle ensued," reported Sacramento police spokesman Sgt. Justin Risley. Grayson exchanged gunfire with one of the armed intruders and killed the gunman. He then exchanged fire with the second man at the front of the house, until the intruder fled.
Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, 12/03/03
State: TX
American Rifleman Issue: 4/1/2004
Three men entered a Houston, Texas, plumbing business and attempted to rob the proprietor, Andrea McNabb, who was in a back office. When confronted by the men, McNabb drew a gun and shot two of the miscreants. All three men ran from the store. One suspect was arrested after stealing a car and driving himself to the hospital for medical assistance. A second man suffering a gunshot wound to the leg was picked up within two blocks of the crime scene. The third suspect was not located.
Rockford Register Star, Rockford, IL, 11/19/03
State: IL
American Rifleman Issue: 3/1/2004
Mario Cassola and his sister Lia Mercuri, co-owners of Vinny's Pizza in Rockford, Ill., are no strangers to crime. One of their deliverymen has been beaten and robbed, and their restaurant had been burglarized. When two armed men burst into the pizzeria one Monday night, the brother-sister team fought back and won. After the men entered the establishment, one man began beating Cassola about the head with a hammer while the second man aimed a rifle at him. Cassola shook off the blows and grabbed his assailant, then used him as a human shield against the man with the rifle. While her brother held the men's attention, Mercuri pulled out a gun and began firing. The two bandits fled empty-handed. Police later recovered the hammer and rifle and arrested Michael Buck and Vaughn Gulley in connection with the crime.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh, PA, 01/04/04
State: PA
American Rifleman Issue: 3/1/2004
Two men entered Ann's Market one night in an apparent robbery attempt, and one of them was shot by a store employee. Inside the store, one of the would-be robbers brandished a handgun. Upon seeing the gun, the clerk on duty pulled a firearm and shot his assailant. The accomplice then fled the store. The wounded crook faces robbery and firearms violations charges -- once he is released from the hospital.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, 10/30/03
State: PA
American Rifleman Issue: 1/1/2004
Norman Woodall shot and killed one of two men who broke into his home around 1:40 a.m. Woodall told police that one of the men had been armed with a gun when the two kicked open his front door and stormed in, apparently intending to rob him. Woodall struggled with the would-be robbers and fired his own gun, striking one of the men in the face and causing the second man to flee. The wounded assailant, later identified as Darnell Woodward, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Antelope Valley Press, Palmdale, CA, 09/21/03
State: CA
American Rifleman Issue: 1/1/2004
Two armed men entered Shamrock Liquor in Quartz Hill, Calif., wearing black masks over their faces. One of the masked bandits pointed a gun at the clerk on duty, who reached into a drawer by the counter, pulled a gun and fired at the men, hitting one would-be robber in the chest. The suspects fled the store, and a man fitting the description of the wounded robber was later located at a nearby hospital where he was being treated for a bullet wound to the chest. The second suspect was not located.
The Forum, Fargo, ND, 10/30/03
State: ND
American Rifleman Issue: 1/1/2004
Kim Fedje shot and killed two dogs that had viciously attacked a herd of 13 llamas in her care before turning and charging her. Fedje was out on her morning rounds feeding the animals. As she approached the llamas, she noticed they were huddled together in a defensive stance. That’s when she saw two dogs circling the herd. When she called out to the llamas, the dogs turned in her direction. "I could hear them growling from 40 yards away," Fedje recalled. "They were making a beeline for me. I thought I was dead." Fedje reacted by firing her rifle at the attacking dogs. The first dog fell after two or three shots, the second dog continued toward her until she had emptied her gun. Fedje called her fiancé who went back out with her to examine the animals. All 13 llamas had suffered dog bites. The dogs, a labrador/rottweiler mix, belonged to a neighbor who had taken them out for a walk the night before. Both animals had run off into a cornfield and did not return.
News and Record, Greensboro, NC, 10/17/03
State: NC
American Rifleman Issue: 1/1/2004
Action Video store manager Ron Simpson says he knows guns. And he knew the “gun” pointed at him in a store robbery was fake. A man had approached the counter and pulled a gun from his waistband, demanding money. Simpson, a Vietnam vet and gun aficionado, said the gun resembled a 9 mm, but the muzzle was far too small to project a bullet. "That is not a real gun," Simpson said. "This is a real gun," he added, pulling a .25-cal. handgun from his pocket. Simpson then used a cordless phone to call the authorities. Caught in his 'fake out,' the unarmed bandit fled when Simpson called the police.
Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas, NV, 09/18/03
State: NV
American Rifleman Issue: 12/1/2003
A Las Vegas, Nev., woman shot and killed her next-door neighbor, whom she had previously caught burglarizing her home. Felipe Starks was trying to evade police officers, who wanted him in connection with a string of burglaries and a parole violation, by using a crawl space above the two apartments. The woman had just stepped out of her shower when Starks crashed through her ceiling. Fearing for her life, she picked up a gun she had purchased after the burglary in April, and fired several shots at Starks, who ran back into his apartment. Police took him into custody, but he later died of his wounds. Las Vegas homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said it appeared the woman had cause to fear for her life. "If a man fell through the ceiling right after you're getting out of the shower -- I'm told she had just finished drying off -- I think it's reasonable that you would be terrified," he said.
The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, CA, 08/31/03
State: CA
American Rifleman Issue: 12/1/2003
A bank robbery went awry when the suspects crashed their getaway car in a Sacramento, Calif., suburb and took off running to evade authorities. Ed Tippets was in his back yard, watching several helicopters bear down on his neighborhood, obviously searching for someone, when he noticed his dog, Charley, was acting strange. "That's when I decided to get armed," he told authorities. Tippets recalled that he went to the back of his house to load his gun and then began searching room to room. Moving toward the kitchen, Tippets noticed a shoulder in the doorway of his laundry room. "I saw a pistol pointing at me, so I started firing," he said. The homeowner then ran outside where he was ordered to the ground by police. The suspect, later identified as Jermain Blair, fled the house and tried to escape by jumping several fences. Blair confronted two police officers who had given chase and was shot in the leg. A police task force is investigating 13 other local bank robberies that may be linked to Blair.
The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, UT, 09/12/03
State: UT
American Rifleman Issue: 12/1/2003
An Orem, Utah, man nearly had his ticket punched when he attempted to rob a Greyhound bus station. The man handed the clerk at the station a note demanding money. The clerk, who has a CCW permit, drew a gun and held the would-be robber at gunpoint until authorities arrived. The suspect was charged with attempted robbery and public intoxication.
San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio, TX, 08/28/03
State: TX
American Rifleman Issue: 11/1/2003
A home invasion in San Antonio, Texas, ended when the invader, James Adam Garcia, was killed by the homeowner, Richard Gomez, Sr. Gomez's son, Richard, Jr., told police he had been in the living room watching TV when someone knocked at the door. When Gomez answered, a man pushed his way inside saying, "This is a jack." The intruder, later identified as Garcia, then repeated the phrase before shooting the younger Gomez in the leg. Garcia then ordered the wounded man toward the back of the house. The elder Gomez was in a bedroom with his wife when he heard the gunshot. He grabbed a .357-cal. revolver and left the bedroom to investigate. When Garcia saw Gomez, Sr., he fired at him, striking the elder Gomez in the chest. The homeowner then raised his gun and fired two shots at Garcia, killing him.
The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN, 08/27/03
State: IN
American Rifleman Issue: 11/1/2003
A Fort Wayne, Ind., liquor store clerk did more than cover for a coworker when he worked an extra shift one Monday night. He may have saved the lives of everyone in the store. The employee had come to work at the Cap 'n Cork liquor store armed with a gun he carries for personal protection as he rides a bike to and from the job. According to police reports, a man entered the liquor store carrying a rifle, which he then fired into the air in an apparent robbery attempt. The armed employee then pulled his own gun and fatally shot the would-be robber. A possible accomplice of the gunman fled the store after the shooting.
Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 07/31/03
State: FL
American Rifleman Issue: 11/1/2003
A Pompano Beach, Fla., jewelry store owner, Alfredo Guido, was buzzing in a customer when four masked men pushed their way into the store. The owner's son, Meliton Guido, grabbed a handgun from under the counter and hid behind the cash register. One of the masked intruders then pointed a gun at the store owner's head. Another of the armed bandits saw that the younger Guido was armed and fired at him. The owner's son fired back and struck one of the assailants. The son then yelled for his father to jump over the counter and, as he did, the four robbers tried to leave the store; but the door was locked. The younger Guido hit the buzzer, and the men fled empty-handed. The wounded robber collapsed outside the store and later died. Police were still searching for the other suspects.
Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas, NV, 10/05/05
State: nv
American Rifleman Issue: 1/1/2006
According to police, 82-year-old L.G. Von Zehner was washing his car when a gun-wielding thug approached him and demanded cash. Zehner complied by handing over an empty wallet and informing the robber that his money was at home. The man got inside Zehner's car and demanded that they drive to Zehner's home. But rather than grant the suspect his wish, Zehner grabbed his own firearm and shot him. The robber returned fire, but died inside the car. Zehner was shot in the chest and was recovering at a hospital where he was listed in serious condition. Police later captured an accomplice whom they said removed the robber's gun from his body and threw it onto a nearby roof. He was charged with robbery, kidnapping and attempted murder.
Bucks County Courier Times, Levittown, PA, 08/26/05
State: pa
American Rifleman Issue: 12/1/2005
At first, nothing seemed unusual about the man inquiring about a DVD player at a Bucks County, Pa., pawnshop and check-cashing business. But 10 minutes minutes after he left, he returned with two accomplices, one of whom pointed a gun at the store owner. When a female employee sought refuge behind a steel door, the gun-toting man fired several shots at her. Outnumbered, the store owner drew his gun and fired, striking two of the intruders, including the man who was armed. One suspect lay injured on the floor until paramedics arrived, while his accomplices fled only to be apprehended by police. The store owner suffered a gunshot wound to his hand. "Certainly this should send a message to anyone who wants to carry out a crime in Bucks County that you can't go around terrorizing people. You may find yourself on the other end ...," said District Attorney Diane Gibbons.
Savannah Morning News, Savannah, GA, 08/25/05
State: ga
American Rifleman Issue: 12/1/2005
Following the burglary of her apartment, a Georgia woman refused to be victimized again. She purchased a firearm for protection, and it was not a moment too soon. Police say that a man began climbing into her bathroom window late one night, but she was able to fend him off with her gun by shooting him several times. He stumbled out of die apartment and forced his way into an occupied BMW. The driver later told police that the suspect said, "I need a ride to the hospital because I've been shot. Don't stop because I'm going to jail." Upon his release from the hospital, police planned to charge the alleged burglar, whom they also considered a suspect in the previous break-in at the woman's apartment.
Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI, 09/13/05
State: mi
American Rifleman Issue: 12/1/2005
What sounded like an explosion outside a Michigan mans home set off a bizarre chain of events. According to police, when the homeowner looked out his window around 2 a.m., he saw that a Jeep had crashed into his garage. Armed with a handgun, he went outside and found a man trying to dislodge the vehicle. A yelling match ensued and the man drove off, but returned with his lights off. The homeowner, fearful diat the driver was trying to hit him or run him over, hid ; behind a car, and the suspect accelerated and smashed into it twice. The homeowner then fired four shots at the Jeep, but his gun jammed, so he ran inside to retrieve another firearm while his wife and neighbors phoned police. When the homeowner returned, the driver of the Jeep accelerated toward him so he fired two more shots at the vehicle. The driver, whose vehicle was riddled with bullet holes, then left the subdivision and was apprehended by police.
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