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Palm Beach, Florida

From the Palm Beach Post of December 15, 2009

Wheelchair-bound Marion County man shoots home invader to death

Eyewitness News talked to a 62-year-old wheelchair-bound man who shot and killed a man who tried to force his way into his home.

Gary Wroblewski says he was watching television in the Silver Springs Shores neighborhood off County Road 464 late Monday night when someone knocked on his door.

Wroblewski slightly cracked open the door and found a man claiming he needed help with his broken down car. He says he was immediately suspicious of the man and his story.

“So I went and got my gun. I held it behind the door and I opened the door,” said Wroblewski.

Wroblewski says he tried to send the man away and suggested he go to another house or call AAA. He says that is when another man, this one wearing a mask, appeared out of nowhere and forced his door open.

Wroblewski was knocked out his wheelchair but was able to hold onto his gun and shot the masked invader.

“I fired three shots,” recalled Wroblewski.

“Obviously you hit one of them,” said a photojournalist.

“Yeah, severely,” said Wroblewski.

Wroblewski says it took him ten minutes to get back into his wheelchair. Once he did, he went to a neighbor’s house and asked them to call 911.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has not released the name of the suspect who was killed. The other suspect got away.

The sheriff’s office has not said whether the homeowner will face any charges. He is likely protected by Florida’s Castle Doctrine.

Syndicated from Clayton’s Civilian Self Defense Blog

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana

From the Publication of December 13, 2009

Police: Marrero man kills would-be robber

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office says an armed resident shot and killed one of three suspects who attempted to rob the man in front of his home.

According to spokesman Col. John Fortunato, the incident occurred at about 8:00pm as a Marrero couple was walking from their driveway.

Homicide detectives say three men tried to rob the couple, and the armed victim shot one of the suspects in the chest.

Police say the other two unidentified suspects fled on foot. The robber who was shot was later pronounced dead at University Hospital.

The identity of the dead suspect is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Anyone with information in this matter is asked to call the JPSO Homicide Division at 364-5300 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111.

Syndicated from Clayton’s Civilian Self Defense Blog

Chicago, Illinois

From the Chicago Sun-Times of December 14, 2009

Spree-killing suspect thought father was having an affair with his wife

A gunman accused of a weekend killing spree on Chicago’s South Side and in the suburbs that left two dead and a third fighting for his life was enraged because he believed his father was having an affair with his wife, Cook County prosecutors said today.

James Amison, 37, is charged with murder in the killing of his girlfriend, Stephanie Reed, 40, and attempted murder in an attack on his 59-year-old father. He is also suspected in the killing of his wife, Tashika Smith, 38, during a four-hour killing spree that authorities believe began around 10 p.m. Friday, prosecutors said in court today.

At a brief hearing, Cook County Circuit Judge James Brown ordered Amison held without bail.

At the hearing, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Joe Lattanzio said Amison arrived at his father home in the 1600 block of S. 19th Ave in Maywood at 12:20 a.m. on Saturday and shot his father in the neck.

Witnesses and Amison told police that he was angry because “he believed that his father had been having an affair with his wife,” Lattanzio said.

Amison then drove to Reed’s home in the 5300 block of S. Marshfield Avenue in Chicago, where he shot and killed Reed just an hour later, Latanzio said.

Amison has confessed to the killing, Lattanzio said, and a bullet recovered from Reed’s body matched a gun recovered from Amison when he was arrested 40 minutes later at a South Side strip club.

Amison threatened employees and patrons at The Factory,” 12054 S. Doty Ave., before stealing money from an employee, firing his gun, and being shot in the leg by a “concerned citizen,” Lattanzio said.

Amison is in good condition at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn but was not healthy enough to be in court, Lattanzio said.

Speaking after the hearing via phone, Steger Police Chief Richard Stultz said he expects Will County prosecutors to charge Amison later Monday or early Tuesday with Smith’s murder.

“Based on the timing of the other cases in Maywood and Chicago, we believe he killed her around 10 p.m.,” Stultz said.

Amison picked up a car from a female friend in Homewood after killing Smith, using it to drive to his father’s home, Stultz said.

It’s unclear why Amison believed his father was having an affair with Smith, Stultz said.

Syndicated from Clayton’s Civilian Self Defense Blog

Swatara Township, Pennsylvania

From the Patriot News of December 8, 2009

Kaplan Career Institute teacher pulls a gun to stop an attack outside the school

Criminal justice instructor Michael Minto was leaving the Kaplan Career Institute in Swatara Township on Monday night when he spotted a man being stabbed, police said.

Minto pulled his gun and ordered the attacker to drop his knife, police said. The attacker fled, and authorities said Minto’s actions likely saved the life of Dillon Mitchell, 30, of Harrisburg.

If Minto had not intervened, “We might be talking about someone who died,” said Deputy Swatara Township Police Chief Jason D. Umberger. “There are not many citizens out there that would have the courage to take that action.”

Police were looking on Tuesday night for Kevin Forde, 29, of North Sixth Street, Harrisburg in connection with the attack. Forde is charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault.

Umberger said Mitchell left the 5650 Derry St. school around 10:30 p.m. with Ayanna Carter, who is Forde’s wife. Forde approached them and an argument started, leading to the stabbing, Umberger said.

After Minto confronted Forde, he and Carter got in Carter’s car and drove off, Umberger said. Carter later returned to the school alone to retrieve Forde’s cell phone and told officers that she dropped her husband at 13th and Sycamore streets, police said.

Carter has not been charged in the incident, police said.

Mitchell was stabbed twice in the abdomen, four times in the shoulder area of his back, once in the right shoulder and in an undetermined location, police said. He was released after treatment at Community General Osteopathic Hospital, Umberger said.

He said he didn’t know what sparked the argument or whether Mitchell, Forde or Carter are students at the school.

The knife used in the stabbing had a 3- to 4-inch blade and was recovered, police said.

Umberger said Forde was on probation or parole and has a history of assault and terroristic threat charges.

“We would like him to turn himself in,” Umberger said, adding that police were following up on leads Tuesday.

Kaplan, formerly Thompson Institute, offers programs in criminal justice, allied health, digital arts and information technology.

A Kaplan Career Institute spokesman said the institute is working with police on the case.

Syndicated from Clayton’s Civilian Self Defense Blog

Houston, Texas

From the Houston Chronicle of December 12, 2009

Police: Armed intruder killed at apartment

An armed intruder was killed Friday night in a possible case of self-defense, Houston police said.

The man forced his way inside a unit in the 12900 block of Whittington around 9:20 p.m. and showed a pistol to those inside, Police Department spokesman John Cannon said.

“He specifically aimed the pistol toward two people when a third person in the apartment retrieved a pistol of his own,” Cannon said.

The third person said he shot the intruder because he feared for the safety of everyone in the west Houston apartment, police said. The intruder died at the scene.

Police said they have no motive for the break-in. The relationship between the intruder and the people inside the apartment is unknown, Cannon said.

Authorities have not released the identities of the shooter or the dead man.

Syndicated from Clayton’s Civilian Self Defense Blog

Marrero, Louisiana

From WWLTV of December 12, 2009

Sheriff: Man shoots and kills would-be robber

A man walking from his driveway to his front door shot and killed another man who was attempting to rob him at gunpoint, according to Sheriff Newell Normand.

The incident occurred around 8 p.m. at #34 Azalea Lane in Marrero.

Normand said a couple was walking to their home when three men approached them and attempted to rob them. The man, who was also armed, shot the suspect, who was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

The other two suspects fled on foot.

The identity of the suspect who was shot is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Anyone with information in this matter is asked to call our Homicide Division at 364-5300 or Crimestoppers.

Syndicated from Clayton’s Civilian Self Defense Blog

Houston, Texas

From MyFoxHouston of December 10, 2009

Robbery Suspect Fatally Shot at Repair Shop

A would-be robber is shot to death by a tire store owner in north Houston, and officers are searching for three suspects who got away.

The shooting took place after 8 p.m. Wednesday at the 11100 block of Bauman Road.

Police say four men tried to stage a robbery at the El Mante Tire Shop at the 11000 block of Bauman Road at approximately 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The store owner, who has a license to carry a concealed handgun, drew his weapon and started shooting.

One robbery suspect died in the shop, but three others escaped in a black Mercury Mountaineer with chrome rims. They were also able to steal some property, but police would not say what was stolen.

Houston Police Department homicide detectives are investigating the shooting.

The store owner made a brief visit to his shop early on Thursday morning, but told FOX 26 News that he would not comment on the shooting.

Syndicated from Clayton’s Civilian Self Defense Blog