Alabama man captures intruder at gunpoint: "Three people apparently didn’t believe in the old saying “three strikes and you’re out,” or else they wouldn’t have attempted to burglarize the same Sardis City home Wednesday morning. Sardis City police Chief James Alverson said he believes three men were responsible for burglaries on June 21 and Monday of a U.S. 431 South residence and apparently were attempting a third burglary when things didn’t go as planned. Alverson said a friend of the homeowner was staying at the home Wednesday when he heard a vehicle pull up to the house and blow its horn. The unidentified friend told police he looked out the window and saw a black truck, with which he was not familiar, in front of the house. A short time later, the doorbell rang, but the friend did not respond. Alverson said the friend told police that, a few minutes later, one of the men popped open the lock on the back door with a screwdriver and entered the house. The man then started toward the basement door in what was believed to be an effort to let an accomplice into the house. The homeowner’s friend, who had a pistol, confronted the surprised burglar and told him, “Don’t you move!” Believing he might be shot, the man did not move. Then the friend proceeded to take the intruder outside, asking him, “Where’s your other buddy at?” A man in the pickup truck in the driveway saw his partner being held at gunpoint and quickly drove back to U.S. 431."


Indiana shooting could be self-defense: "A Hobart man is hospitalized after a fight ended with a shooting Tuesday evening that police believe could be ruled self-defense. Witnesses say Lawrence Halt, 43, was in an argument in front of his next-door neighbor's home in the 100 block of North Guyer Street when he put Michael Peco in a headlock. Police believe they were fighting over whether Halt would be allowed to do home repair work for Peco, according to police. Halt followed Peco into his home, where police believe he again put Peco in a headlock. During a struggle, Peco drew a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol and shot Halt, once in the hand and again in the chest, said Detective Lt. Leo Finnerty. "He was in fear, and he shot him twice," Finnerty said. Halt was hospitalized but he was awake and alert Wednesday morning when he was interviewed by police, he said."


Florida: Thieves load boat; victim unloads gun: "A Mary Esther man had his boat stolen from his home, but the thieves didn’t get away before he had a chance to shoot at their truck. Three men went on the man’s property on U.S. Highway 98 and loaded his boat into the back of their truck on June 27, according to a Sheriff’s Office report. They left with the boat and the victim followed, and when the boat owner had the chance, he shot at the rear wheel of the truck with a Smith and Wesson. It’s not clear if he was able to hit the truck, but his aggressive response must have helped. Two of the men have been arrested. Christopher Clark, 23, and Elliott Stone, 20, both of Mary Esther, have been charged with burglary and larceny.