NY Killing is self defense: "A man who opened fire on intruders who planned to steal a half-pound stash of cocaine from his Raymond Street home killed one of the men in self defense, prosecutors said Friday after the man pleaded guilty to drug and weapons charges. Police initially charged Harry Glenn with second-degree murder after he killed Richard DeGroat, 39, with a gunshot to the head and shot another man, Bertram Payne, 20, when they forced their way into the house on Dec. 2. Even though Glenn had a large amount of cocaine in the house, he was still entitled to defend himself when DeGroat, Payne and third person, Nydia Robles, tried to steal the narcotics, Schenectady County Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Philip Mueller said. "It appears the shootings of both men were instantaneous reactions by Mr. Glenn confronting people who were invading his home," Mueller said. Glenn, 27, still faces 10 years in prison on drug and weapon charges when sentenced July 13 by County Judge Karen Drago. Glenn shot Payne first. Mueller said Glenn went to check on Payne and then shot DeGroat who surprised him. The two men had bought a pellet gun earlier in the day and had it with them when the broke into the Raymond Street home. Payne was shot in the hand but escaped. He was treated at Ellis Hospital. He and Robles have previously pleaded guilty to burglary and attempted robbery charges. Payne faces a sentence of 11 years in prison and Robles is looking at nine years."


Michigan crooks pick the wrong victim: "Two would-be thieves wound up fleeing their intended victim Saturday afternoon. The men, one armed with a handgun, tried to carjack a man in the Sears parking lot about 2 p.m. at Eastland mall, according to a Harper Woods Police press release. But the man turned out to be a retired Detroit Police officer -- and he had a handgun, Harper Woods Police said. The retired officer fired one shot at the men, striking the stolen Dodge Durango truck they were driving, police said. Detroit Police found the truck on Buckingham Street, but the suspects were gone. No one was harmed in the shooting and Harper Woods Police detectives are investigating the case."


North Carolina woman kills man in scuffle: "Police are investigating the fatal shooting in southeast Charlotte that might have resulted from a scuffle between a man and a woman. Details remain murky this morning, but police confirm that a man was shot and killed about 11:15 p.m. Thursday night at an apartment complex in the 1100 block of McIlway Road. That's between Monroe and Randolph roads. Police said they were called to the apartments and found the body of a man in the parking lot. He had been shot, officers say. About a half-hour later, police were called to Presbyterian Hospital, where a woman had arrived with a gunshot wound. During questioning, police quickly determined that the female shooting victim was involved in the death of the man on McIlway Road. The woman told police that she had been attacked by the man, and a scuffle started. During the fight, she said, the woman was able to pull a handgun away from the man. The woman said she then shot the man. Police homicide detectives are investigating the case and are asking the public for help. Anyone who might have seen the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers, at 704-334-1600. The identities of the man and woman have not been released. They have been described only as a black male and a black female."