Tuesday, April 19, 2011

IN: Drug dealer acted in self-defense: "The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office never sought an indictment against Terrell Williams for the Nov. 16, 2009, fatal shooting of Roosevelt Morris, but a federal grand jury indicted him on drug charges related to the incident, and Monday he agreed to plead guilty. Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2010. It found Williams had obtained some cocaine in Indianapolis and arranged to distribute it to three people in Evansville, but one of them tried to rob Williams of the crack, and Williams shot him with a handgun. The Evansville Police Department identified that person as Morris, who died of a chest wound a short time later at St. Mary's Medical Center. On Dec. 5, 2009, Williams was arrested during a traffic stop in Indianapolis. In May, the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office declined to seek a grand jury indictment against Williams because it was believed he had a legitimate self-defense claim. The case was turned over to the FBI's local Violent Crimes Task Force to see if Williams could be charged with any federal crimes."


No charges for school safety agent who fired at thieves in Brooklyn gun battle: "A school safety agent who grabbed a gun from a wounded cop and fired at thieves in Brooklyn will not be charged, authorities said Monday. Eugene Pitts, 50, of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, is not licensed to carry a gun and has been under law enforcement scrutiny for his role in the dramatic gun battle inside a Bedford-Stuyvesant auto shop on Saturday night. The Brooklyn district attorney's office said Monday that Pitts was in the clear. Pitts was hanging out inside the shop with friends Saturday when four or five robbers ordered everyone onto the ground, police sources said. After Presley passed out, Pitts grabbed the cop's Glock and chased the thieves, shooting at them after they fired on him, law enforcement sources said. Two of the thieves were shot, hospitalized and charged with attempted murder and robbery."


OR: A gun permit — and a medical marijuana card: "Cynthia Willis calls up and down the firing range to be sure everyone knows she is shooting, squares up in a two-handed stance with her Walther P-22 automatic pistol and fires off a clip in rapid succession. Willis is not only packing a concealed handgun permit in her wallet, she also has a medical marijuana card. That combination has led the local sheriff to try to take her gun permit away."


ME: Panel okays bill to let guns in State House: "A bill that would allow guns in the Maine State House has been narrowly endorsed by a legislative committee, even as efforts continue to bolster security in the Capitol. The proposal sponsored by Representative Dale Crafts, Republican of Lisbon, would allow concealed-weapon permit holders to bring guns into the State House, the state office building that is connected by tunnel and nearby parking areas. Maine Today Media said the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 7-4 Friday to recommend the bill, setting the stage for floor debate."

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