California: Home-invasion robbery suspect arrested: "An Adelanto man has been arrested after an intruder broke into a home and narrowly escaped being shot by the homeowner Saturday. Lawrence McGirt, 29, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of residential robbery, according to a sheriff's news release. About 1:45 a.m., deputies got a call about a robbery in the 15000 block of Barranca Way. Some of the neighbors came to realize the suspect was a relative of theirs who had earlier been to their home demanding money, officials said. Investigators say McGirt later walked across the street and kicked down the front door of a neighbor's house. Upon hearing the ruckus, investigators said the homeowner grabbed his .38-caliber handgun and went into the hallway, where he saw McGirt getting up off the floor. As McGirt stood up, he pulled something from his waistband and pointed it at the homeowner and instructed him to get down, officials said. The man shot at the intruder four times but did not hit him, officials said. The owner ran from the house. Investigators were able to track down McGirt at about 6 a.m. in 10900 block of Aztec Lane in Adelanto and arrested him. He was booked at the Victor Valley jail on suspicion of robbery with gang enhancements, as well as a parole-warrant hold with no bail."


NC man kills threatening teen: "Murder charges have been dismissed against a man accused of killing his girlfriend's son in a domestic dispute. The first-degree murder charge against Emmett Jasper "Bo" Kennon Jr., 42, was dismissed Nov. 21, according to court documents. Kennon was arrested in late October and charged in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Travis Clark of 183 Brightwood Road in Eden. Travis Clark was the son of Kennon's girlfriend at the time, Lynette Clark. Rockingham County District Attorney Phil Berger Jr. said Friday that the case proved to be one of self-defense rather than murder. Deputies were called to the Brightwood Road home about 11 p.m. Oct. 30 about a shooting. A sheriff's office news release described Kennon as being "irate and uncooperative." Travis Clark was found in the house with a gunshot wound. Berger said information from three witnesses provided evidence that Kennon shot Travis Clark in self-defense. Berger, citing information that witnesses gave, said Travis Clark put a gun to Kennon's head."


Review: Gun Grab tells another, equally disturbing side of Katrina story: "As book titles related to Hurricane Katrina continue to accumulate, more and more voices of storm survivors are being heard. While many of these books focus on the most unfortunate victims of the storm -- those people whose homes were destroyed by flood waters, who lost family members, who wound up at the Superdome or Morial Convention Center, who were eventually evacuated -- others tell the tales of those who stayed behind. .... The Great New Orleans Gun Grab (Louisiana Publishing Inc., $19.95 softcover) by Gordon Hutchinson and Todd Masson, is the story of how business owners and homeowners who decided stay behind and protect their property found themselves in conflict with civil authorities. They were all gun owners and were prepared to protect their property with deadly force. The police disarmed many of them and confiscated some of their guns."