Texas: Security guard shoots, kills man: "A shootout at a Richland Hills apartment complex early Sunday left one person dead and a security guard in the hospital, according to reports. The incident happened about 4 a.m. Sunday at the Bellaire Apartments, 7030 Baker Boulevard. It is unclear what started the incident, but according to NBC5 and CBS 11, an armed security guard was shot and returned fire at several people attempting to flee in a minivan. One of the bullets hit the driver of the van in the head, and after jumping a median on Baker Boulevard (also known as Highway 10), the van came to a stop off the road, the reports said. The driver died at the scene, the reports said. Two people were in custody, the reports said, but CBS 11reported that two others had fled the scene. The condition of the guard, who was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital, was not known but he is expected to survive"


Tennessee nightclub shooting justified: "A shooting at a South Memphis nightclub has been ruled justified. Officers were called to the J.T. Lounge around 2:00 a.m. Thursday, where they found 51 year old Robert Thomas suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. Investigators say the club owner and Thomas had been involved in an altercation which continued after the club closed. Based on the information, the District Attorney General’s office has ruled the shooting as justifiable homicide pending the final autopsy and crime lab reports.


Alabama man killed entering wrong apartment: "A Huntsville man was killed early today when he entered the wrong apartment and was shot by its resident. According to Huntsville police spokesman Wendell Johnson, about 12:07 a.m. north precinct officers were called to a shooting at 1002 Webster Drive. When they arrived, they found the body of Gary Lee McCarty, 34, at the rear of Apartment B. A preliminary investigation by the major crimes unit showed McCarty had been drinking and locked himself out of his apartment. When McCarty tried to crawl through the rear window of what was the wrong apartment, he was fatally shot by the resident who thought McCarty was a burglar, Johnson said. The resident's name was not released. Charges were not filed against the resident, Johnson said.

San Francisco Gun Ban Ruled Null and Void: "The California State Court of Appeals announced today their decision to overturn one of the most restrictive gun bans in the country, following a legal battle by attorneys for the National Rifle Association (NRA) and a previous court order against the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. "Today's decision by the California State Court of Appeals is a big win for the law-abiding citizens and NRA Members of San Francisco," declared Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. In 2005, NRA sought an injunction against the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to prevent them from enacting one of the nation's most restrictive gun bans. NRA won the injunction, but the City's mayor and Board of Supervisors ignored the court order and approved a set of penalties, including a $1,000 fine and a jail term of between 90 days and six months, for city residents who own firearms for lawful purposes in their own homes. Today's decision came in the form of a 3-0 opinion in favor of the lower court ruling overturning the gun ban."


MD: Gun permit reinstated: "A Chambersburg man who had his gun permit taken away after bringing his weapon into a voting precinct was in court Tuesday.Greg Rotz says he did nothing illegal when he brought his openly carried firearm to a voting precinct on election night in November.According to state law, he's right. That's why after a very short hearing Tuesday afternoon, a judge decided Rotz's permit should be returned. The Chambersburg native says when he arrived at the precinct, a constable told him he would be more comfortable if the gun was not brought inside, but Rotz reminded him it was his legal right to openly carry. The constable then contacted former Franklin County Sheriff, Robert Wollyung, who revoked Rotz's permit. It only took Judge John Walker about a half hour to decide Rotz did not break the law and his permit should be returned."


Alabama shooting death ruled self-defense: "Wednesday's shooting death of Michael Jerome Brown has been termed an act of self-defense. Police spokesman Officer John Young said Friday that a man shot Brown, 29, multiple times inside an apartment in Garden Park Estates, after Brown threatened residents with a firearm. Brown's body was found by police at 3:45 a.m. Wednesday inside an apartment in the 1000 block of E. Woodlawn Drive off Dauphin Island Parkway, Young said. Police are withholding the name of the man who shot Brown, Young said, because charges have not been brought against him. Young also declined to comment on whether the man is a resident of the apartment community. Police on Friday would also not say why Brown brandished a weapon and threatened residents. Young did, however, say Brown was not a resident of the apartment community and that he was visiting people living in an apartment on the block where he was killed.

Florida man fires at robbers: "A 52-year-old man fired shots at three men after he was robbed at gunpoint in the driveway of his Orlando home, police said. The armed robbery took place Monday on Gumwood Court in Orlando. According to an Orlando police report, the victim pulled into his driveway after cashing a check at a local check-cashing store. Three men approached the man and stole his cash before fleeing in a car, Orlando police said. The victim fired shots at the getaway car, but it is not known if any of the assailants were struck. Two of the culprits were described only as in their 20s and the other man was in his 30s, according to the police report. Orlando police detectives recovered shell casings and confiscated the victim's gun" [Big help!]


California man shoots suspected thief three times: "A homeowner shot and wounded a man who he said was trying to steal a motorcycle from the back of his pickup early Friday morning on the 100 block of Victoria Court. Police barricaded the street after the shooting shortly after 3:30 a.m., and the suspect was taken to a hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. Sean Dunbar, 31, shot 18-year-old Christian Bautista of Stockton three times in the hand and shoulder after a brief footchase, said Tracy detective Craig Kootstra. Bautista was taken to Sutter Tracy Community Hospital. Dunbar kept him at gunpoint until police arrived. Bautista’s .38-caliber revolver was lying in the middle of the street and he was conscious when officers got on scene. Officers questioned Dunbar and released him, while Bautista was arrested on suspicion of theft, assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a loaded firearm with the intent to commit a felony and carrying a concealed firearm."


South Carolina intruder shot: "Two people are facing burglary and attempted robbery charges after an apartment break-in led to one of them being shot. The break-in and shooting happened late Saturday night in at the Campus Edge Apartments in Spartanburg County, near USC-Upstate. Jeremy Lee and Jacob Holland, are charged with first degree burglary and attempted armed robbery after deputies said that the door of an apartment was kicked open. Investigators said that a person living in the apartment opened fire with a shotgun."

Indiana woman shoots intruder: "Police in Northwest Indiana have released the audio tape of an emergency call for help. A woman was reportedly watching TV when she heard a window breaking in her home and called 911. She then hid in a closet, armed with a gun. The tape captures the woman struggling with a man, repeatedly saying, "Stop it. Stop it." The woman eventually shot and killed the intruder. Police said she will not face charges, because she acted in self defense"




Indiana Homeowner Shoots, Beats Would-Be Burglar: "A man shot and beat someone who was trying to break into his home on Indianapolis' east side early Thursday morning, police said. Police said Donald Robertson, 53, was asleep just after midnight when he was awakened by the sound of breaking glass. Robertson grabbed a shotgun and went outside, where he found Chester Burkett [above], 43, breaking one of the home's windows, police said. Authorities said the two men struggled with each other, and Robertson fired his shotgun. Police said Robertson told them he wasn't sure if he'd hit Burkett, so he struck the would-be burglar several times with the butt of the shotgun. Investigators said Robertson fired as many as two additional shots as Burkett ran to another home. Burkett was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, residential entry and attempted theft. He was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital with a shotgun wound to his thigh and several cuts on his head, police said. Robertson was treated at the scene and released."


Michigan sees fewer gun deaths -- with more permits: "Six years after new rules made it much easier to get a license to carry concealed weapons, the number of Michiganders legally packing heat has increased more than six-fold. But dire predictions about increased violence and bloodshed have largely gone unfulfilled, according to law enforcement officials and, to the extent they can be measured, crime statistics. The incidence of violent crime in Michigan in the six years since the law went into effect has been, on average, below the rate of the previous six years. The overall incidence of death from firearms, including suicide and accidents, also has declined."

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING COMPANY REJECTS FIREARMS INDUSTRY

REFUSES TO PROCESS TRANSACTIONS . . . Citi Merchant Services and First Data Corp. are refusing to process any credit card transactions between federally licensed firearms retailers, distributors and manufacturers -- a move which will severely limit available inventory of firearms and ammunition to military, law enforcement and law-abiding Americans.

The first company to be affected by this decision appears to be firearms distributor CDNN Sports Inc.

"We were contacted recently by First Data/Citi Merchant Services by a June Rivera-Mantilla stating that we were terminated and funds were being seized for selling firearms in a non-face-to-face transaction," said Charlie Crawford, president of CDNN Sports Inc. "Although perfectly legal, we were also informed that no transactions would be processed in the future, even for non-firearms. I find this very frightening."

To voice your concern to Citi Merchant Services and First Data Corp., please contact June Rivera-Mantilla at 631-683-7734 or her supervisor Robert Tenenbaum at 631-683-6570.

To change to an NSSF-affiliated credit card processing program, contact Payment Alliance International at 1-866-371-2273 (ext. 1131).

Source




North Carolina: Pizza attacker dies: "A pizza delivery man fought back after an attempted robbery late Tuesday night in east Charlotte. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say the man was delivering pizza around 9 p.m. to an address at the Greenbrier apartments off Sharon Amity Road, near Eastland Mall. When the customer tried to rob him, police say the delivery man fired shots then reported the incident. The victim was lying on the grass when police and paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene. This marks the fourth homicide in Charlotte through the first eight days of the year. "Only eight days into the year and already this is our fourth homicide," said CMPD Officer Bob Fey. "It's troubling and it's definitely a concern." Police have not said if the delivery man will face charges. They have not released the name of the person killed at this time.




Tennessee: Charges unlikely after shooting of would-be robber: "Justin Cheatham, 24, was shot multiple times by Jennifer Owens around 8 p.m. Wednesday at 51 B Leland Lane, according to a police press release. Police have said Cheatham and two other men - Antonio Long [above] and Christopher Smith - went to the duplex to buy marijuana from Kenneth Bond. Bond is Owen's boyfriend and also lives at the residence. According to an account of the incident in an affidavit of complaint, Bond left the three men in the living room and went into the kitchen. He then heard a voice behind him say, "You might as well drop it off." "He turned around to find Cheatham armed with a handgun," the affidavit states. "Bond grabbed at the gun and a struggle ensued. At that point, Antonio Long came into the kitchen and pointed a long gun at Bond." Bond told the two men they could take whatever they wanted, but he refused to release the hold he had on Cheatham's gun, "out of fear of being shot," the affidavit states. Owens heard the struggle from her bedroom and went into the kitchen to find out what was happening. Long momentarily diverted his attention away from Bond and pointed his gun at Owens, telling her to move over to where Bond and Cheatham were, the affidavit states. Police said that another struggle occurred and Owens grabbed a handgun and fired, striking Cheatham several times. Cheatham collapsed outside the home and was pronounced dead at the scene. Owens and Bond are not facing any charges."

CA: After killing, man is shot by neighbor: "El Dorado County Sheriff's Department investigators said a man in his 30s, visiting the home of Vahid Seyedin, 47, suddenly turned violent, trying to slash his wrists with "a metal object," before grabbing a large kitchen knife and threatening others in the house. The residents fled for their lives into the street with the man, whose name is not being released, in close pursuit. In the intersection of Venezia Drive and Aria Court, the man caught his uncle, Ahmad Pazeky, 58, and stabbed him to death. The man also stabbed Seyedin, who rushed to Pazeky's aid, a sheriff's office press release said. Seyedin's next-door neighbor, Shahin Kohan, 47, was exercising in his garage when he saw the horrific scene unfold, investigators and witnesses said. Kohan retrieved a handgun, then ran to the street and yelled for the assailant to stop. A woman, who identified herself as Seyedin's wife but didn't want to give her first name, said Monday that the family was screaming for help. "Shoot him, he's killing us!" she said they were yelling. "Shoot him, he's killing us!" Kohan fired two warning shots before shooting the man once, a sheriff's press release said. After the man dropped the knife, efforts began to revive him and Pazeky, but "both subjects died on the scene," the press release said. Seyedin's wife, standing in her doorway Monday with tears in her eyes, said her husband was injured and Pazeky was killed trying to stop their relative. Seyedin's wife said the nephew had a history of "chemical imbalance" but had been doing fine the past several months. Kohan, the neighbor whose shot felled the knife-wielding man, was briefly detained on suspicion of murder but released following a review of the circumstances, the sheriff's office said."


Florida Victim Fired AK-47 At Home Invader: "A man fired shots from his AK-47 at an armed man who stormed into his house through the garage, interrupted a group of friends playing cards, shot into the ceiling of the home and demanded money. The incident happened Tuesday morning at 3085 SE 159th Lane Road in Summerfield. According to Marion County sheriff's deputies, three men, one of whom was armed with a silver revolver, stormed into the home and fired shots into the ceiling while searching for money and weapons. One of the invaders entered a bedroom where the father of one of the victims playing cards was sleeping, deputies said. The father, who had been awakened by the commotion and gunfire, retrieved his AK-47 from behind his bed, causing two of the assailants to run out of the front door of the house, deputies said. The invader with the revolver fired shots at the father, who returned fire, according to a Marion County sheriff's report. The culprit ran into a bedroom, broke a window and fled, deputies said. It is not known if he was struck. The armed assailant was described as a white man wearing blue jeans, a flannel shirt and a blue jean jacket. Deputies said he may be injured and seeking medical treatment. A second culprit had blonde hair and was wearing all dark clothing. The third invader was only described as a Hispanic man."


Louisiana Man Robs Cab, Tries To Break Into House, Shot By Homeowner: "Early Tuesday morning, a home owner shot an intruder in the leg. The intruder was trying to get away from police after he held-up a cab driver. According to Lafayette Police, Quintin Sam, 26, showed a cab driver a knife at the corner of Moss and Willow Streets around 1:30a.m. Tuesday. He took off, as police were chasing him, he tried to force his way into a home. That's when the home-owner shot Sam in the leg. Sam is in the hospital, Police said when he gets out, he'll be charged with armed robbery and aggravated burglary.

Texas invaders on video: "An attempted break-in early Sunday morning led to a terrifying and unexpected wake up call for a woman in Glenn Heights. While four men failed to break into Carrie Shannon's home on Brentwood Street, their attempt was captured on surveillance video. Shannon was home alone when the men tried to kick in her door around 4:35 a.m. "I immediately jumped up," she said of when she heard the loud kicking. After hearing the men, Shannon said she got out of bed and called police on her cell phone. "I grabbed my handgun and I proceeded right to the back, because as soon as I saw a shadow, I was going to go ahead and start shooting," she said. After several kicks, the men gave up and took off. "I just want to be safe here in my own home," Shannon said. "That's it. That's all I want." Signs of the attempted home invasion were everywhere in the form of broken glass, damage to the door and a broken lock. Shannon's home security camera didn't miss a beat either. It even caught one of the men cutting the phone line. The video was turned over to police."


Arizona store owner shoots out tire of fleeing suspect: "A Tempe store owner's quick shooting reflexes resulted in the arrest of a suspected gun thief Saturday afternoon. A customer removed a firearm from a display case in the store in the 900 block of South Priest Drive, near University Drive, according to Tempe police reports. The owner pointed his gun at the customer, demanding he return the gun. The customer returned the gun, but then took a .38 caliber revolver and left the store, according to reports. The owner fired three shots at the customer's escaping vehicle, hitting a tire. Police found Nathaniel Jones, 21, of Phoenix, trying to change the tire near University and Priest drives at about 2:23 p.m. A glass pipe and marijuana were found in his possession, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of firearm theft and possession of drug paraphernalia."


Texas invader shot: "Police continue to investigate a Sunday home invasion by two men that left one of the suspects with two gunshot wounds. Two men attempted to enter an apartment near the intersection of Glasscock and Mile 6 Roads, Alton Police Investigator Armando Lopez said. One of the invaders was shot twice upon entering the apartment, Lopez said. The location of the gunshot wounds is unknown. The two men then left the scene and attempted to find help at the La India Mexican Food Mart at Glasscock and Mile 6 Road. The injured suspect was transported to McAllen Medical Center for treatment. Lopez said details about the suspect's condition were unavailable Monday morning. Both suspects are set to be charged with aggravated robbery, Lopez said. None of the victims were injured from the incident."

Michigan: Elderly Man Shoots Home Intruder: "An 82-year-old man on Detroit's northwest side shot and severely wounded an intruder who walked into his Collingwood Street home Sunday afternoon. Police said that the intruder, a 44-year-old man from Redford, was visiting friends in the neighborhood when he entered the home of Thomas Jackson, 82, and his wife. Jackson grabbed his gun and shot the intruder. Police are investigating why the man had entered the home, but a friend told Local 4 that the intruder has a history of mental illness "What he does, he's been known to go into people's houses and just sit down," said friend Charles Smith. "He don't know where he is. He'll go into people's cars and sit down, you know, follow strangers down the street." The intruder was listed in critical condition at Henry Ford Hospital Sunday evening."


Pennsylvania man charged with trying to enter home: "A College Township man faces criminal charges after he ignored an apparent warning shot while entering a State College home early Saturday morning. According to State College police, Nathan Wagner, 21, of 709 W. Cherry Lane, had broken a door window of a North Atherton Street residence about 2:30 a.m. and was trying to come inside when the homeowner confronted him with a shotgun and told him to leave. Wagner persisted, police said, and the homeowner fired a shot into an interior wall. Police, called by the homeowner's wife before the shot, said they arrived to find Wagner still trying to open the door. As Wagner was taken into custody, police said, he appeared intoxicated, registered a blood-alcohol content of .22 and told officers he thought he was at a friend's house for a party. Arraigned before District Justice Carmine Prestia, Wagner was charged with criminal trespass, criminal mischief, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. He was jailed at the Centre County Correctional Facility on $10,000 bail."


Alaska: Grizzly, 3 cubs killed on Kodiak Island: "A rabbit hunter fired his pistol at a charging grizzly bear on Kodiak Island, badly wounding the old sow, which was later killed, as were her three cubs. The hunter, whose name is not being released, was hunting rabbits near the American River on Friday about 15 miles outside Kodiak when the sow charged him, said John Crye, a wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, on Monday. The hunter, who was carrying two weapons, shot the bear when it was about 10 yards away. It was the second time in a week that hunters had encountered the family of bears. The last time it was one of the cubs that charged a father and son out duck hunting as the mother and the other cubs slept nearby. This time, the rabbit hunter was charged after he rounded a corner and surprised the sow, who was at least 25 years old. "A rabbit hunter was in the brush and kind of woke them up out of their beds," Crye said. "He felt threatened by the sow, so he shot the sow." The hunter immediately notified Alaska State Troopers and the Department of Fish and Game. Crye went with troopers to the site where the 8-foot, 400-pound sow lay barely alive. It was determined that she was too badly injured and would have to be killed, so she was shot again. Crye said the shooting was justifiable because the hunter felt threatened."

Pennsylvania mini-market robbery: "Gunfire rang out during a Friday night robbery at the Mangat Mini Market on West Orange Street, but nobody was struck or injured, according to city police and the store's manager. The manager, David Mangat, and a fleeing robber fired a shot each with their handguns after the robber grabbed some cash. Mangat, 23, of Lancaster, said he was behind the counter of the market at 629 W. Orange St. when a man wearing a long dark coat entered the store at about 11:45 p.m. "He reached under his coat and came out with a handgun. Then he told me to put the money in the bag," said Mangat. "I started talking to him. I wanted to create a diversion so I could get to my gun," said Mangat. "I asked him if he wanted more money. He said 'yes,"' That gave Mangat the chance to reach into the area where he kept his weapon. The manager came up holding his own handgun instead of more bills. When the robber saw the gun, he turned and started running toward the door. But before leaving the store, he turned and fired one round that struck a wall inside the store, Mangat and police said. Mangat said he fired one shot at the robber, but missed... The robber was not found. Police were told he was a black male with a medium build who wore a long black coat. This morning, police were trying to see if surveillance cameras in the area caught the robber or any part of the holdup on film."


Texas: Home intruder shot, killed: "A homeowner shot and killed a man as he forced his way into a home in Copperas Cove on Friday afternoon, police said. Police were called to 2204 Boland St. after shots were fired inside the home. They discovered a man who had been shot several times in the upper torso, Copperas Cove police said in a statement. Through the investigation, police learned the man was an intruder who had “entered the residence unlawfully and apparently used physical force against the homeowner,” police said. The intruder was taken to Darnall Army Hospital where he died from his injuries. The man’s identity was not released pending notification of family, police said."


What's it gonna take?: "A police officer once informed me loftily that civilization has to be maintained by authoritarian managers because individuals in general are selfishly uninterested in doing the hard work of maintaining it themselves. Unsurprisingly, after I pointed out that when individuals become interested in maintaining civilization -- by voting down bond issues, treating teachers and administrators like the hired hands they are, or carrying self-defense weapons that demonstrably make society safer -- they're either told, not so very politely, to go away, or they get arrested, he didn't have a whole lot to say, because he knew that it's true."

South Carolina: Man won't face charges for shooting roommate: "Prosecutors have decided not to charge a man who shot his roommate three times. Authorities say 25-year-old Joseph Harriott threw 24-year-old Brian Sessoms out of his Summerville home New Year's Day after Sessoms hit his 16-year-old girlfriend, then warned him he would shoot if he broke back in the home. Police say Sessoms climbed back into the house through a window on the second floor, and Harriott shot him as he came down the stairs. Prosecutors say Harriott then tried to treat Sessoms' wound to the stomach, but Sessoms kept fighting. Harriott shot his roommate two more times. Prosecutor Scarlett Wilson says she decided not to charge Harriott because state law for self-defense says if the first shot is justified, a person can keep shooting until a threat is eliminated."


Tennessee homeowner holds dog-door burglar at gunpoint: "According to a press release from the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, a resident of Ambrosia Drive was awakened about 4 a.m. Tuesday by his dog's barking. When the homeowner went to investigate, armed with a gun, he found a man going through items in his utility room. He held the burglar at gunpoint until officers arrived. Jacob D. Brehm, 25, 314 Sonnett Court, is charged with aggravated burglary, held at the Sullivan County Correctional Facility. Police say Brehm entered the Ambrosia Drive home through a dog-door."


California man shoots mountain lion: "A man shot a mountain lion Thursday evening after the animal attacked his dogs. San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies said the resident at the corner of Playground Road and Summit Drive fired at the lion about 10 p.m., causing the lion to flee from the man's fenced back yard. Sheriff's deputies searched the area but could not find the mountain lion. They notified officials with the Department of Fish and Game about the incident. Sheriff's officials advised residents to use caution when outside and notify authorities when a mountain lion is spotted in the area."

TX: "Road rage" killing deemed self-defense: "In an apparent case of road rage, a motorist shot a driver to death who threatened him with a baseball bat. Police said that the shooting just after midnight on New Year's Day appeared to be in self-defense, so they didn't plan to charge 24-year-old Brian Correa. 'It was apparent to us that he was defending himself,' said police spokesman Sgt. Gabe Trevino, who added that the shooter had a license to carry a concealed weapon. Correa shot the 24-year-old driver three times with a handgun, a police report said."



Michigan: Store owner halts robbery: "Police say arrests in a robbery attempt thwarted when a grocery-store owner armed himself and chased off the suspects may lead to arrests in another holdup earlier in December. Two would-be robbers fled the LaSierra, a Sturgis grocery, around 1:30 p.m. Monday after seeing the store owner headed toward them with a gun, according to the Sturgis Police Department. The owner of the North Jacobs Street store then jumped into his vehicle and tailed the men, who had gotten into a waiting car driven by a third man, police said. Another person in the store at the time said she saw two men approaching the business with bandanas covering their faces. She left, suspecting a robbery was going to take place, and called 911. Sturgis officers were flagged down by the store owner from his car and provided with a description of the vehicle and of the two men who had entered the store. A Michigan State Police trooper spotted a vehicle matching the description of the get-away car west of Sturgis, near White Pigeon. Officers from the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department and Middlebury (Ind.) Police Department assisted in apprehending three Indiana men as their vehicle, southbound on U.S. 131, approached the Michigan/Indiana border... Police said the men arrested Monday were identified by a witness and that suspected crime-scene evidence was found in their vehicle. No handgun was recovered, however."


Texas: Dog dispute leads to shooting: "Christopher Fry, 38, was shot in the upper body at 200 S. Georgia St. Fry walked from the home and collapsed on the curb on the north side of the house in the 2700 block of West Second Avenue. The homeowner shot Fry because Fry was apparently assaulting the homeowner, who felt in fear of his life and his 2-year-old son's life. Fry appeared to have been in a physical altercation prior to knocking on the door at 200 S. Georgia. The two were arguing after Fry asked the homeowner about a dog, which the homeowner did not own. The homeowner was questioned by Special Crimes and later released pending further investigation. The case will be presented to the 47th District Attorney's office for review by a grand jury."

Pennsylvania: Charges Dropped Against Man Who Shot Would-Be Robber: "A would-be victim who fought back during an attempted robbery at his East Third Street home in Langeloth, Washington County, is no longer charged with attempted homicide. On Sept. 1, Eraldo Iannitelli, 48, was allegedly attacked outside his home by two teens wearing masks, carrying a baseball bat and BB gun. Iannitelli said the two teens demanded money. After being hit several times, Iannitelli said he reached into his car, grabbed a shotgun and fired once, hitting a 16-year-old in the back. On Wednesday, all charges were dropped against Iannitelli."


North Carolina: Self-Defense Shooting: "In Cherokee County, North Carolina, a case of mistaken identity caused a fatal shooting. It happened yesterday on Old Peachtree Road, a few miles northeast of Murphy. Cherokee County Sheriff Keith Lovin says Luis Wajda and Ruthann King were arguing when they called a friend to come pick them up. When Corey Luther arrived, Wajda thought he was King's ex-boyfriend, and fired his pistol. Police say Luther ultimately returned shots from a shotgun, killing Wajda. "The person attempted to retreat as far as he could," Sheriff Loving said. "He was fired upon first and continued to be fired upon, and acted to protect himself." Corey Luther was not charged or arrested. Sheriff Lovin says unless his department turns up new information, it's unlikely the District Attorney will bring any charges."


Indiana customer stops store robber: "A 51-year-old man stopped a masked man from robbing a Southside grocery store and held him at gunpoint until police arrived. Charlie Merrell was in checkout line at Bucks IGA Supermarket, 3015 S. Meridian St., when a masked man jumped a nearby counter and held a gun on a store employee at 5:17 p.m. Monday, according to a police report made public today. While the suspect was demanding cash from the workers, the police report states that Merrell pulled his own handgun, pointed it at the robber and ordered him to put down his weapon. When the suspect hesitated, Merrell racked the slide on his gun to load a round in the chamber, Officer Jason Bockting wrote in the report. The suspect placed his gun and a bag of cash on the counter, dropping some of the money, police said. The suspect removed his mask and lay on the floor. Merrell held the suspect at gunpoint until officers arrived and took him away in handcuffs. Merrell had a valid permit to carry the handgun, police said. Police recovered an unloaded .380-caliber handgun from the suspect and $779 in cash, according to the report. Dwain Smith, 19, was arrested on initial charges of robbery, criminal confinement, pointing a firearm, battery and carrying a handgun without a license. Smith remained held this morning in the Marion County Jail with bond set at $30,000, records show."

British gun stupidity knows no bounds

Sending unarmed police to deal with armed robbers! At least the police chief was "sexist", I suppose. But the robbers weren't! Is that a triumph for feminism?

DETECTIVES hunting a gunman who shot a policewoman in the leg have made a second arrest, Lancashire police said. The 37-year-old, from the Manchester area, was detained last night on a railway line close to where dog handler Katie Johnson, 29, was shot as she responded to a robbery in Bamber Bridge, near Preston.

A police spokesman said: "The man, and another man who was detained earlier yesterday, are being held at Leyland police station for questioning on suspicion of attempted murder and armed robbery."

PC Johnson had ordered the masked thug to drop his weapon but he fired at close range. She was hit by 12 pellets, which were removed in hospital. Armed cops caught one of the two robbers in a wood. A second was still at large last night. A chef at the raided Hospital Inn had been pistol-whipped and suffered serious head injuries.

Acting Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham paid tribute to unmarried Katie. He said: "It is a complete fluke she wasn't murdered. She showed incredible bravery in challenging that man and was callously shot. "The level of violence was extreme. This man is a threat to the public. It is sickening and a reminder of the daily risk police officers take. It disturbs me greatly that someone fired on a female officer."

The chef spotted two men walking to the pub's back door and putting on balaclavas at 8.15am. He dashed upstairs to the living quarters, warned his partner - who is the pub's female licensee - and their two women bar staff, then dialled 999. But the men barged in and dragged the man downstairs to show them where the Christmas takings were kept. They threatened to shoot the three women unless they all did as they were told.

Within minutes PC Johnson and a male colleague arrived, along with other officers. All were unarmed. She raced to the back door - to confront one of the men as he rushed out. Det Supt Neil Hunter said: "There was a stand-off, then he just blasted her out of the way." PC Johnson has six years' service.

Police suspect a red Vauxhall Vectra, reg N396 RHO, may be a getaway car. One robber was 6ft, white and wore a black padded jacket. [So the other robber was black?]

Norman Brennan, of the Victims of Crime Trust, said: "Criminals are not frightened to shoot anyone, including police officers. We have unprecedented lawlessness."

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Mississippi teen kills intruder: "A teen shot and killed a home intruder Sunday night, stopping a theft in progress and sending the intruder's accomplices scurrying, said Sheriff Martin Pace. Found dead in front of a mobile home in South Warren County was Jonathan Bruce, 21, 3341 Sunnybrook Drive in Jackson, said Coroner Doug Huskey. Bruce had been shot once with a .410 shotgun and had stumbled out of the mobile home, Pace said. The teen, who was not identified, was not arrested or charged. Pace said details of the investigation will be presented to the district attorney, but it appeared the shooting -- Warren County's first homicide of the year -- will be deemed justifiable. Pace said the adults who lived in the home where Bruce was shot made a living as street vendors. He said Bruce and two other men had forced their way into the mobile home at 25 Red Oak Drive about 7 p.m. after inquiring about purchasing shoes. The teen and several other juveniles were alone when the trio entered. Pace said after the men got inside, they started "loading up merchandise" until the teen got a shotgun and fired it at Bruce, who had a handgun in his pocket. After being shot, Bruce turned and walked out onto the lawn, where he was found when deputies arrived. The other men fled in a sedan."


Texas: Robber, Clerk Killed In Separate Store Shootings: "A robber and a clerk died in shootings at two separate convenience stores in the Houston area, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday. The latest shooting happened at the Tony's Express Store in the 4000 block of Synott in southwest Houston. Investigators said just before 3 a.m., a store clerk shot two robbers who were stealing money from the register. The robbers ran out of the store, drove around the corner in a pickup truck, and then crashed into the cab of a parked 18-wheeler, police said. The driver of the pickup died behind the wheel. "At that point, the passenger jumped from the truck and fled the scene, ran down the street to another apartment. He was later apprehended and he is currently at Ben Taub Hospital with unknown injuries," Houston police Detective Roger Chappell told KPRC Local 2."

Tennessee Man Shoots And Kills Burglar: "A little before 5:00 this morning, a woman returned home and caught who she thought to be a burglar in the act. Lt. Tony Armstrong, a homicide detective with the Memphis Police Department, says, "The victim called her boyfriend. Her boyfriend came over and investigated, found him inside the house and shot him multiple times." Medics took the suspect to the hospital where he later died. Police spent several hours later combing the apartment for more evidence. We're told the man who shot the suspect did have a state gun carry permit. It's likely the man who shot the intruder will not face any charges."


Off-duty deputy foils adult-shop heist: "A man who was shot by an off-duty sheriff's deputy while attempting to rob an adult bookstore in East Memphis Saturday may be linked to other recent robberies, authorities say. The suspect, whom police have not identified, was critically wounded in the episode that began when he entered the Fantasy Warehouse of Memphis at the intersection of Summer and White Station at about 10 a.m. armed with a handgun. The man approached the clerk and indicated that he was going to rob the store, said Memphis Police Inspector D.W. Boyd. That's when Gary Gadd, 44, an off-duty Shelby County sheriff's deputy who was shopping in the store, identified himself to the suspect. The suspect shot in Gadd's direction but missed. Gadd fired back, hitting the suspect. None of the other patrons or the clerk was injured. Police arrived at about 10:20 a.m., and the suspect was taken to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis in critical condition."


Feisty Floridan fights off 5 others: "A Central Florida man who collects cash for parking at a church fought off five armed men who had ambushed him and demanded cash. The 65-year-old victim, who did not want to be identified, said he was collecting cash in the Parramore area before an Orlando Magic basketball game when someone put a gun to his head. He noticed that that he was surrounded by four other men as well. The man said he pretended to reach into his jacket for cash but instead pulled out his hidden gun and opened fire. The men fled during the shooting and it was not known if any of them were hit by bullets. The victim said he had a permit for the concealed weapon. He said he has been a victim of crime before. "A couple of years ago, eight teens attacked me with a pipe trying to rob me," the man said."

An interesting court case involving an ACTUAL militia

The sentencing of Wayne Fincher last June attracted national attention from several pro-Second Amendment Internet bloggers, which led to a Montana lawyer taking on the case for free.

The 61-year-old lieutenant commander of the Militia of Washington County was arrested in November, 2006 after federal agents seized illegal machine guns and sawed-off shotguns from militia headquarters and his home nearby.

On June 22, 2007, U. S. District Judge Jimm L. Hendren sentenced Fincher to 6. 5 years in prison with two additional years of supervised release and ordered him to pay a $ 1, 000 fine. Fincher was convicted in January of possessing machine guns and possessing a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Fincher is now being held at a federal prison facility in Forrest City.

The case caught the attention of attorney Stewart Rhodes, ex-firearms instructor and Internet blogger from Las Vegas. After following the case at the trial court level, Rhodes took the case to attorney Quentin Rhoades, of Montana, who agreed to represent Fincher pro bono during the appeal proceedings. Although he had never met Stewart Rhodes, the two men had worked on previous cases together.

Rhoades said he agreed to take on the case for the good of the country. "I feel like it's a question of states' rights, a question of whether the federal government is using too heavy of a hand with people and whether it's following its own Constitution," he said. Rhoades filed a brief on Fincher's appeal in the 8 th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Nov. 9, stating that Fincher is entitled to protection under the Second Amendment from criminal prosecution for violation of federal gun laws.

Rhoades argues in the brief that the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms where reasonably related to the maintenance of a well-regulated militia. "In this case, Fincher, as an active member of an paramilitary organization whose mission it is to train, equip and mobilize the militia for call-up in time of need, is therefore entitled to Second Amendment protection," the brief states.

A response from the government is due Friday. Rhoades said he has had a couple of lengthy conversations with Fincher about the case and his interpretation of the Second Amendment. "He has some strong convictions about the rights of individual citizens of this country, the rights of states compared to the power of the federal government," he said. Rhoades said he finds Fincher's understanding of the law "very sophisticated, regardless of his hill country background. " "It's highly sophisticated and historically grounded, that's why I got involved," he said. "He may not be a lettered person, but he is very principled."

Rhoades said he admires Fincher and his beliefs. "I think he deserves somebody to go to bat for him," he said. "He's put himself on the line for what he believes to be the interest of this country.

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Missouri pizza man shoots: "A Domino’s pizza deliveryman who shot and killed a would-be robber in Pagedale has a valid permit to carry a weapon and appears to have acted in self-defense, according to St. Louis County police. The driver, who works for the Domino’s franchise nearby in University City, delivered an order at 7 p.m. Thursday to a phony address in the 6500 block of Julian Avenue, where two armed men announced a robbery. The driver pulled his own pistol and fired shots, striking one of the robbers. Brian Smith, 19, of the 600 block of Ferguson Avenue in Ferguson, was pronounced dead at the scene, said officer Tracy Panus, the department spokeswoman. The other gunman fled. Police arrested a suspect this afternoon and booked him pending application of warrants, she said. Panus said the driver may have been fired upon, but was not wounded. She said officers found a pistol at the scene that hadn’t been fired. The driver surrendered his own weapon and showed officers a concealed-carry permit from Florida. Panus said officers verified the permit this afternoon. Panus said Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch’s office will review the police reports but added, "It doesn’t appear to us that (the driver) did anything wrong."


Tennessee: homeowner shoots at burglars: "Police are looking for two men and a woman they believe are responsible for 5 burglaries in Antioch. Police were close to capturing the three after they burglarized a house, and the burglars were scared off from another house after the homeowner shot at them.... "After the suspects plowed through this fence they jumped out of their van," said Sgt. John Patton. "That's when they ran to a home that's just beyond these woods. They tried to break in, but discovered the homeowner was home and he had a gun." Several shots were fired. Metro Police don't believe anyone was hit by the bullets, but it did put the three burglars back on the run. One of them ended up on James McGee's front porch. "He was trying to come up in my house, and I said no I can't let you up in my house, but I can let you use my phone," McGee said. The man told McGee his car had broke down. In the spirit of the holiday season McGee not only let the man use his phone, but he decided to give him a ride. During this entire exchange, police were nearby on the street. Police believe they know who is responsible for the rash of burglaries, but still have no one in custody."

Texas man in critical condition after bar security guard shoots him: "A 28-year-old man was shot multiple times by a bar security guard early Saturday morning in the 100 block of West Rosedale Street, police said. A security guard at the Cowboy Palace bar told police he was acting in self-defense when he fired multiple shots a man in a red car who allegedly tried to run over the security guard. Jesus Torres was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. No arrests were made. Police seized the security guard's weapon. Fort Worth police spokesman Lt. Dean Sullivan said detectives are investigating.

Missouri intruder dies of wound: "One of the intruders in an apparent home invasion in Columbia died Friday afternoon after he was shot by one of the occupants of the home. Henry Lee Brown, 23, was shot as he and another intruder kicked open the front door of an apartment on Old 63 early Thursday morning, according to a news release from the Columbia Police Department. He was pronounced dead at 1:43 p.m. Columbia police Sgt. Ken Hammond said Brown suffered a gunshot wound to the chin, which exited, then came back through his throat and became lodged in his chest. Hammond did not explain whether the bullet had ricocheted. At just past midnight Thursday, police responded to a call of shots fired at the apartment. Two people inside told police that two men had tried to kick open the door. One of the occupants retrieved a gun from another room, shot at the intruders as they came through the door and wounded Brown. Brown and the other unidentified man then ran from the apartment. As police talked with the two people at the scene, they were notified that Brown had been dropped off at Boone Hospital Center’s emergency room. He was later transferred to University Hospital because his injuries were so severe. Hammond said he doubts that charges will be filed against the person who shot Brown. Brown did have a criminal history that included convictions for drug crimes and for misdemeanor assault and trespassing."


WI: Bill would limit seizing of guns: "State lawmakers want to clip the power of the governor and local officials to seize people's guns during emergencies, saying that authority could trample the rights of citizens. Legislators said they decided to try to curb those powers after seeing New Orleans police officers take guns from people during the recovery from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Republican-run Assembly passed the bill this month on a bipartisan 84-13 vote, and the Democratic-led Senate is looking at doing the same soon. ... Twenty-one other states, including Louisiana, have passed similar laws since Hurricane Katrina, according to the National Rifle Association, which backs the law."

Update on good neighbor Joe Horn

Joe Horn does not look like a vigilante. Overweight and ruddy-cheeked, he might pass for cherubic were he not 61 years old. Besides, cherubs do not kill people.

This will be a tense holiday period for Horn, who will soon learn whether he is to face a grand jury in Houston, Texas, to decide if he is to be tried over the killing of two burglars he saw raiding his neighbour's house. It is a case that has divided Texans into those who see Horn as a hero and those who see a reckless killer. But it is more complicated than that. Joe Horn is white. The dead burglars, Miguel Antonio Dejesus, 38, and Diego Ortiz, 30, were black and Horn's home has already been subject to a racial protest.

Horn rang police on November 14, when the pair broke into his neighbour's house. He was recorded telling the emergency call line that he was going to confront the men even as he was continually told to stay inside his home. He may have been emboldened by legislation, the so-called Castle Law, which was passed in Texas this year and gives people a stronger legal right to defend themselves with deadly force in their homes (or "castles"), cars and workplaces.

"Hurry up, man, because I am not lettin' 'em go," he told the emergency line. "I am going to be honest with you, I am not lettin' 'em go ... If I go out the front I am bringin' my shotgun with me ... I can't take a chance on getting killed over this. I am gonna shoot, I'm gonna shoot ... I have a right to protect myself, sir ... and the laws have been changed in this country since September the first and you know it and I know it ... and a shotgun is a legal weapon."

Warned that he could be hurt if he went outside with the gun, he replied: "Wanna make a bet. I'm gonna kill 'em ..." When told property rights were not worth taking someone's life for, Horn appeared immune to the instruction, as he gave a commentary: "They got a bag of loot ... Here I go, buddy. You hear the shotgun clickin' and I'm goin' ..."

The emergency transcript also detected Horn instructing the burglars, telling them that if they moved they were dead. The order was followed by the sound of several shotgun blasts.

A police spokesman, Captain Bud Corbett, says Horn's defence is the age-old issue of self-defence, and that he will not rely on the Castle Law, introduced in September. Horn instead says he was in fear once he rounded a corner of his house and was confronted by both burglars.

Corbett says comments by Horn during the emergency call were not necessarily relevant to what finally happened. "One can have a specific frame of mind one minute and a different frame of mind the next," Corbett says. "The frame of mind he has while he is in the house may not be the same state of mind when he was standing seven to 10 feet away. It was the deadly force statutes that were already in place [before September 1] that he was relying on when he says he came around the corner and came face to face with those people and they are on my property at that point."

Horn's account is that after he ordered the men not to move, they took off in different directions.

The bravado that seemed to fire up Horn before the shooting had left him when he returned into the house to tell the dispatcher in evident panic: "I had no choice ... They came in the front yard with me, man ... They came right in my yard." Although blasted at short range, one of the men managed to cross the street before collapsing and dying. The other ran to a nearby property despite mortal wounds. "It was that last little bit of energy and adrenalin they were running on," Corbett says. Further robbing the dead men of public sympathy was the revelation that both were illegal immigrants.

Police in Pasadena, Texas, handed their investigation report to the district attorney's office last week, but investigators were awaiting the results of final forensic analysis. "I have not heard of any physical evidence that contradicts [Horn's] account," Corbett says. Horn's lawyer, his friend Tom Lambright, did not return calls.

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TX: Guard fatally shoots intruder: ""A man who reportedly sneaked into an east Dallas business late Wednesday was fatally shot by a man who was guarding the place, police said. ... A 24-year-old man who was hired to guard the business told police that he heard a garage door opening, but the remote-control opener had been stolen in an earlier burglary, McDonald said. The guard then confronted the man, McDonald said. The guard said the man approached him in a threatening manner so he shot him with a handgun."


Pa: 7-Eleven clerk shoots robber: "An Ingram convenience store clerk shot a would-be robber Christmas morning, then shot him again as he tried to flee, the store owners said. The masked bandit walked into the 7-Eleven on West Prospect Avenue about 4:30 a.m., said Vicky Bawa, whose family has owned the business for about 12 years. The intruder brandished a knife, jumped the counter and attacked the clerk, said Bawa, 25, of Robinson. The clerk, identified by Bawa as Kaelin Weber, 24, pulled out a handgun and fired. Bawa, who was not in the store at the time, said at least one shot hit the robber inside the store. She did not know on what part of his body. The man ran from behind the counter, out the door and across the street, she said. The gun-wielding clerk gave chase.

Alabama home invasion turns deadly: "A man apparently was fatally wounded by shots from his own firearm when it was taken away from him during a Christmas morning home invasion in Tallassee, authorities said. Investigators said two men had forced their way into the residence shortly after 2:30 a.m. Tuesday while the occupants were asleep. Once inside, one of the intruders held an occupant at gunpoint, but at some point had the handgun wrestled away and several rounds were fired at him. Both suspects fled the scene, and Tallapoosa County sheriff's officers said Lee Antion Donaldson, 29, of Montgomery was admitted to Baptist South in Montgomery at 5 a.m. Wednesday with gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead a short time later. Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett told The Alexander City Outlook his department is working with the Montgomery Police Department to determine if Donaldson was at the scene of the Tallassee home invasion. The sheriff said Thursday that Donaldson's possible connection to the home invasion was still under investigation."


Connecticut man fires shot to scare off burglar, both arrested: "Two men were arrested on numerous charges Saturday, police said, after a homeowner fired his shotgun out his window to drive away a would-be burglar. Alan Pelletier, 45, of 95A Main St. in the Broad Brook section was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, unlawful discharge of firearms, and second-degree breach of peace by threat, police said. Delroy A. Martin, 24, of 794 South St. Suffield, was charged with second-degree assault, criminal mischief, breach of peace, and criminal attempt to commit burglary, police said. Officers responded to a call about 8:15 p.m. Saturday, police said. "It appears Martin was attempting to break into 93 Main St. when shots were fired," Capt. Roger T. Hart said. "It appears Pelletier shot a 12-gauge shotgun out the rear window of 95A Main St., presumably in an attempt to scare away the suspect," according to Hart. No one was injured from the shooting, police said. "When we arrived several people were holding a black male down," Hart said. That man, Martin, was "attempting to break into a residence, using a garden tool to break down the door," according to Hart. Pelletier was released on $10,000 nonsurety bond and is to appear on Jan. 22 at Enfield Superior Court, Hart said."


South Africa: Resident shoots intruder: "An alleged robber was shot and injured by a resident in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday morning, police said. Police spokesperson Captain Debbie O' Brien said the incident took place in Doone Road in Padfield Park near Pinetown at 03:45. The resident heard dogs barking and awoke from his sleep. "He took his firearm and went outside to investigate," said O' Brien. Police said one robber, who was hidden between two cars in the driveway, jumped towards the resident with "something" in his hand. "Fearing for his life, he instinctively fired his weapon," said O' Brien. A second robber jumped over a neighbour's wall, fleeing the scene. Police later arrived at the scene and the injured robber was taken to hospital. Police said the man sustained an entry wound to his head but was in a stable condition. O' Brien said upon investigation, police established that the robbers had broken into the neighbour's wendy house and into a resident's car. "A car radio, screwdriver and a knife were found at the scene," she said. Police said the 20-year-old injured man would appear in court soon facing charges of attempted murder, housebreaking and theft from a motor vehicle."


Gun seized after Katrina? NRA wants you: "The National Rifle Association has hired private investigators to find hundreds of people whose firearms were seized by city police in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, according to court papers filed this week. The NRA is trying to locate gun owners for a federal lawsuit that the lobbying group filed against Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley over the city's seizure of firearms after the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane. In the lawsuit, the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation claim the city violated gun owners' constitutional right to bear arms and left them "at the mercy of roving gangs, home invaders, and other criminals" after Katrina. The NRA says the city seized more than 1,000 guns that weren't part of any criminal investigation after the hurricane. Police have said they took only guns that had been stolen or found in abandoned homes. NRA lawyer Daniel Holliday said investigators have identified about 300 of the gun owners and located about 75 of them. Some of them could be called to testify during a trial, he added.

California Man Shoots illegal in Self Defense: "No charges will be filed against a man who shot and killed another man in southeast Fresno on Christmas. Police say it was self defense. Investigators say a 26-year old man showed up at his ex-girlfriend's home on east Belgravia, around 4 a.m. to demand to see their baby. Police say he hit the woman, pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot her. The woman's cousin was in the home and shot the ex-boyfriend. Police say he saved both mother and baby. Police say the suspect had just been released from prison was deported to Mexico, but returned to the U.S.


Georgia Mother Shot, Son Shoots Stepfather: "A Fulton County woman was shot twice in the stomach early Monday morning by her estranged husband, police said. Fulton County police said the woman was being escorted to her car in front of her home on Leisure Lane in south Fulton County by her son when her estranged husband shot her with a shotgun. The woman's son returned fire, shooting his stepfather before calling police, investigators said. Police said the couple was involved in an on-going domestic dispute, with the woman obtaining a restraining order against her estranged husband before the shooting. The woman's son had been walking her to her car in front of her home daily in order to provide protection for her, investigators said. Both the woman and her estranged husband are in serious condition at a local hospital."


British gun crime on the rise as number of armed police falls: "The number of firearms officers working in areas where gun crime is soaring has fallen sharply, figures released reveal. And despite a steep overall rise in firearms-related offences, the total number of weapons-trained officers has dropped. In gun crime 'hotspots' such as Liverpool and Nottingham there are around 40 per cent fewer armed officers. The stark contrast between rising gun crime and falling numbers of armed police was highlighted in statistics released by the Home Office in response to Tory parliamentary questions."

Pennsylvania convenience store clerk shoots would-be robber: "A convenience store clerk in Ingram shot and seriously wounded a knife-carrying robber this morning. Ingram police Chief John Doherty said the clerk may have fired at the would-be thief inside and then outside the 7-Eleven store at 10 W. Prospect Ave. "He shot the robber several times. I'm not sure how many," Chief Doherty said this afternoon in a telephone interview. But the gunfire began in the store about 4:30 a.m. and then apparently continued outside, Chief Doherty said. He declined to identify either the clerk or the robber. Chief Doherty said the would-be thief is 20 years old and the clerk is in his mid-20s. Emergency crews transported the robber to Allegheny General Hospital, where he underwent surgery, Chief Doherty said. He said the clerk may have had a less serious injury. "I believe the clerk was cut," Chief Doherty said. Chief Doherty said the preliminary investigation showed that the clerk had a permit to carry a firearm. He said he knew this particular clerk because he had been robbed previously and Ingram police investigated the case"


Another shooting in "gun-free" Britain: "A 17-year-old boy is in a critical but stable condition in a south London hospital after being shot in the face. Police were called to Gartons Way, Battersea, at 1800 GMT on Christmas Eve, after reports of a shooting. Scotland Yard's gun crime unit is investigating the attack. Officers believe the victim was shot while he was inside a stationary vehicle. Two suspects, both black males wearing hooded tops, were seen leaving the scene on foot. Police officers, including armed officers, searched the area but made no arrests."


Strict NY gun laws at work over Christmas: "Two teenagers who were fatally shot on a Brooklyn street on Monday were identified by the police Tuesday as the authorities investigated several shootings around the city. The teenagers, Robert Grant, 19, and Oliver Maitland, 16, were each shot in the head in front of a brownstone in the Fort Greene section, the police said. Mr. Maitland was also shot twice in the torso and once in the arm, the police said. The victims were walking east on Lefferts Place at about 9:45 p.m. when they were shot, the police said, just a few doors down from where Mr. Grant lived. They were pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests have been made, and the police said they did not know what had prompted the shooting. On Tuesday morning, four people were shot and wounded outside a Brooklyn nightclub after a man fired into a crowd, the police said. The victims, who were male and ages 16 to 21, were struck in the legs. None suffered life-threatening injuries, the police said, and at least two of the victims walked to hospitals. The shooting occurred outside Club Seabreeze at 556 Nostrand Avenue at 3:45 a.m. No arrests have been made. Also Tuesday, the police identified the victim of a shooting in the Bronx on Monday as Orlando Clarke, 26. Mr. Clarke was shot after he pulled his car into a neighbor’s driveway in the Baychester section and a gunman fired six shots at him through the windshield, the police said. Mr. Clarke was pronounced dead at Jacobi Medical Center. The police have made no arrests."