IN: Jewelry Store Worker's Shotgun Blasts Scare Away Robbers: "Police are still searching for two men who robbed a jewelry store on the east side, prompting an employee to pull a shotgun and fire several rounds at them. The men, armed with handguns, robbed the Jewelry Doctor store in the 8500 block of East Washington Street at about 4 p.m. Monday. "The suspects … pulled out handguns with the intention to rob," said Indianapolis police Lt. Jeff Duhamell. "They demanded the owner open up the case that contained the jewelry." The men thought opening the case was taking too long, so they began using their guns to smash display cases. The robbers took some money and robbed a customer before another customer came in. "One of the suspects grabs him and pulls him inside," Duhamell said. "He starts fighting with them." An employee in the back of the store saw the commotion and came out with a shotgun, firing several rounds that did quite a bit of damage inside the store. Police aren't sure if either of the robbers was struck, but said they quickly ran out of the store and took off in a white Ford Taurus."


New Jersey jewelry store owner turns tables on robber: "A store owner in Plainfield, New Jersey, turned the tides on a would-be robber. In the 20 years Bong Chang’s jewelry store has been on East Front Street, it had never been robbed. Until Wednesday. His security cameras captured it all. Around 1 p.m., an armed suspect walked in, backpack in hand. He pulled up his mask, pulled out a gun and ordered Chang and a clerk to open the jewelry cases. The suspect could be seen dumping tray after tray, more than $100,000 worth of gold and diamonds. And the robber placed the gun on the counter to collect his loot. Bong noticed that too. And when the robber did it again, Bong seized the chance and went for the gun. “I have the gun in my hand, and I try to shoot him,” he said. “But it wouldn’t shoot, it had the safety on.” A struggle ensued, off camera. The suspect ran to a back office, but, realizing there was no way out, ran back and fought his way to the door with the clerk in pursuit... Police are still trying to track the robber down. If caught, he'd face several felony charges."


Pa.: Police say teen was trying to rob man when fatally shot: "A Brashear High School student fatally shot in an abandoned house in Mount Oliver on his 16th birthday last year had been trying to rob a man when he was killed, according to police. Homicide investigators have determined that Ralph Meadows, 31, was defending himself when he fired a .380-caliber handgun at LaRon during a robbery attempt. He has not been charged with any crime. Allegheny County police have arrested two juveniles, including LaRon's cousin, in connection with the shooting. Dontae Benton, 16, and Terrin Mangham, 17, are accused of attacking Mr. Meadows inside the house in the 500 block of Brownsville Road after LaRon lured him there for a drug deal. According to the criminal complaint for Dontae, Mr. Meadows told police that LaRon called him to buy marijuana. When Mr. Meadows came to the house with the drugs, a black male pointed a shotgun at him and said, "You know what this is," Mr. Meadows told police. A third person, armed with a handgun, also joined the fray. Mr. Meadows told police he managed to grab the gun, but LaRon continued to struggle with him. Mr. Meadows fell to the ground. When he hit the floor, the gun fired. The shot struck LaRon. He died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Terrin and Dontae were arrested the same month. In July, they were held for trial on charges of aggravated assault, robbery and criminal conspiracy. They have been charged as adults."


MA: Gun permits surge in state: "The number of gun permits issued in Massachusetts surged by more than 15 percent over the past two years, reversing nearly a decade of steady declines and marking a pronounced departure for a state known for its antigun sentiment. The magnitude of the rise, evident in nearly every corner of the state, surprised law enforcement officials, and gun advocates and opponents alike. Some saw it as an echo of similar spikes across the country after President Obama’s election, when heavy gun sales were attributed to fears that he would impose strict new gun laws. But with more women and elderly residents signing up for gun classes in Massachusetts, many said the increase here has also been driven by worries about crime and a growing sense of vulnerability in the wake of the financial collapse and lingering fallout of the damaged economy. “I think it’s a sign of the times,’’ said Mike Burchman, who teaches gun courses in Hop kinton, where the number of permits rose 25 percent. “There’s a general insecurity, and people are looking for personal protection. In the past two years, I’ve seen a real shift.’’ The increase in Class A permits - the largest and broadest category of gun license - amounted to a jump of more than 28,000 statewide to about 224,000 as of last month, according to data provided by the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The number had previously been dropping"