PA: Facing gun, merchant shoots 3: "It was clear to John Lee that the four guys who came into his East Germantown deli Saturday night would not be paying customers. 'They all had their hoodies pulled tight, and it wasn't a cold night,' said Lee, 48, owner of the Chelten Market at Chelten Avenue and Musgrave Street. 'I said, 'You need to take off your hoodies,' then one of them came around the counter with his gun drawn, so I shot them.' Lee fired five rounds from his .38-caliber revolver, striking three of the bandits and rupturing a water line, police said. The gunman dropped his loaded 9mm pistol as he and his wounded partners fled the store. Lee found a fourth would-be robber -- who had not been shot -- hiding in the rear of the store. 'He had a BB gun on him, so I took it,' Lee said. 'Then I beat him up and took his boots and called police.'"


The 2nd Amendment: The original homeland security: "A few weeks ago in an article titled, 'Conscription, Standing Armies, and Love of Country' I wrote that the Federal Government had outlawed the state militias mentioned in the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This was incorrect. The state militias have been 'nationalized' into the 'National Guard' and are now being used unconstitutionally for foreign occupations. Governors across the country are complaining to the Bush administration that their National Guard units are being depleted for the War in Iraq, and that they do not have enough manpower to handle emergencies in their home states."

Vancouver, Washington. Home Invasion, Shooting: "Police are searching for two men they said were involved in a shootout with a Vancouver homeowner Monday night. Officers said the homeowner surprised two burglars inside his home on Northeast Benton Drive around 7 p.m. The homeowner told authorities that he confronted the burglars and he exchanged gunfire with the two men. There were no injuries reported. The men fled the scene and left in a newer model gray SUV-type vehicle, according to police. Police said it is unknown how many shots were fired, if the two men were hit or who shot first. Authorities are investigating a possible connection to the shooting. They said a man walked into a Portland emergency room last night with a gunshot wound.


Minnesota: Oldster kills home invader: "A 73-year-old Coon Rapids man who shot and killed an apparent intruder Monday night "appears unlikely" to face charges, a top Anoka County investigator said today. The resident told police he was awakened to sounds of what he thought was someone breaking into his house on Bittersweet Street in Coon Rapids, sheriff's Capt. Bob Aldrich said. He grabbed a rifle that he kept in his bedroom around the time a man in his late teens or early 20s entered the room. "(The resident) fired a single shot, and the suspect was struck in the torso," Aldrich said. "The suspect was able to stumble or stagger down the stairs and then collapsed near a door. And died." Authorities this afternoon were still trying to identify the suspected intruder, described as a man in his late teens or early 20s, Aldrich said. The resident declined to speak with reporters when he returned home early this afternoon. County prosecutors will make the final call on whether or not charges will be filed, but Aldrich said police released the resident without booking him."

Virginia home invasion fails: "Virginia Beach Police are currently investigating a home invasion case which led to a man being shot, and a suspect in custody. He's been identified as 19 year-old Terrel Anthony Bell. According to a police spokesperson, one of the residents was returning home this morning, and as he was entering his residence, a [black] man armed with a shotgun came up from behind and forced him inside. The suspect then tried to take control of everyone in the residence, but the men inside the home fought back and tried to take the shotgun from the would-be robber. Police said that during the struggle, a shot was fired, hitting the leg of one of the residents. The man who was shot has been identified as 29 year-old Darryl Chrismore. The remainder of the residents wrestled the man to the floor and called police. Chrismore was taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery. He's expected to be okay.


Kansas City, Missouri. Intruder killed: "A man was shot to death Monday evening in south Kansas City, officials said. At about 5 p.m., police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 7500 block of East 118th Place. When officers arrived, the homeowner told police he had shot and killed an intruder. The homeowner said he didn't know the man. A relative of the homeowner told KMBC that he had every right to defend himself. The homeowner wasn't injured. He was taken in for questioning, which is routine in a shooting investigation. No names were released."

NYTimes: Money Makes us Safe, Not Guns?: "In yet another anti-gun rant, the Times has once again sounded the good liberal mantra: Got a problem? Throw money at it. Apparently, outgoing Senator George Allen (R, Vir.) has introduced one of his last bills in the waning days of the 109th sitting of the Senate, a bill allowing concealed carry of firearms inside our National Parks. Naturally, the New York Times is not amused. After informing us that the bill has passed the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, they emotionally proclaim that they "hope it will die the miserable death it deserves".... But the howler of the piece is the claim that throwing money at crime, as opposed to allowing citizens to protect themselves, would make us all safer in our National Parks. "If Americans want to feel safer in their national parks, the proper solution is to increase park funding. "


Women take up hunting: "It's deer season in Maine and although the hunting department of outdoor retail specialist L.L. Bean is packed, this is no old-boy's club. Among the aisles of aerosol deer urine and digital duck calls, there are racks of women's clothing in mossy-oak camouflage, as well as plenty of fluorescent hunter orange. Lined up behind the counter are dozens of guns, many available with a "short-stock" designed to fit more comfortably into women's shorter arms. That's because an increasing number of women are heading into the woods, becoming one of the most enthusiastic segments of the hunting world. Take Laura Beth Fowler, an 18-year-old from McKenzie, Tennessee, who took up shooting three years ago and is now a member of one of the few all-girl trap-shooting teams in the country. With her coach and girls from the team, Fowler loves heading into the wild to shoot birds -- right down to getting out of bed at 4 a.m. and huddling in chilly duck-blinds. "It's a bunch of fun. And it's just so beautiful, being in the woods," she said. Fowler is not alone. The number of women hunters in the United States is on the rise."

AK: School fits gun education into curriculum: "Tom Milliron figures Juneau school children are going to encounter guns one way or another, whether venturing armed into nearby wilderness or visiting the home of a friend. 'Better they learn how to handle a firearm safely than to hurt themselves through ignorance, he says.' Milliron is principal of one of Juneau's two middle schools. Sixth-graders under his care last month completed an outdoor education course that included instruction in safe handling of guns and firing rounds from .22-caliber rifles. For some children, it was the first time they'd touched a gun. 'In gun-happy Alaska, teaching children how to safely handle firearms is just common sense,' Milliron said."


OR: Camper cleared in shooting of ATV driver: "An Idaho man acted in self-defense when he shot a man who was headed toward him in an all-terrain vehicle, a Baker County grand jury decided. Marvin Sauer, 52, of Boise shot Everett Durst, 38, of Vancouver, Wash., in the left leg following a Labor Day dispute near Phillips Reservoir. The incident started when Sauer and his wife arrived to camp in an area where Durst and his party were riding. The sides had a disagreement and Durst later drove a quad runner to Sauer's campsite. Durst began spinning the vehicle in circles, stirring up dust and throwing rocks on Sauer's wife, said Matt Shirtcliff, the Baker County district attorney. Shirtcliff said Sauer fired a warning a shot into the air. Durst stopped spinning the vehicle in circles and started driving in Sauer's direction. 'Once Mr. Durst drove the quad runner straight at Mr. Sauer, Sauer was entitled at that point to fire his gun at Mr. Durst to defend himself,' Shirtcliff said."


Update

I posted the following on 4 December, 2004:

Pennsylvania: Gun suspect uses "tight jeans" defense: "Sean Eldon Duvall, 36, was arrested Tuesday on charges including aggravated assault and reckless endangerment for the June 18 incident. Southwest Regional Police Detective Sgt. James Rega said in court papers that Duvall left his car with the .38-caliber revolver hidden under papers and aimed it at him when he stopped to see if Duvall needed help. Duvall told The Associated Press that he didn't need help; he said he was just stepping out of his car to go to a friend's house to play chess. Duvall acknowledged he had his gun with him, but said he has a permit to carry it, which he tried to show Rega. By law, the gun must be concealed, but Duvall said he couldn't conceal it under his pants while sitting in his car because his jeans were too tight." [Could be true]

Sean has now emailed me to say: "About a week ago, I was found "not guilty" of all charges, by a JURY"

WA: SAF sues library system over Net censorship: "The Second Amendment Foundation and three Washington State residents have filed a federal lawsuit against a north-central Washington regional library system for denying them access to websites that include information on firearms and publications dealing with guns. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington in Spokane. Joining SAF in the lawsuit are Sarah Bradburn of Republic, Ferry County; Pearl Cherrington of Twisp and Charles Heinlen of Okanogan, both towns in Okanogan County."


FL: Motorist with gun holds down tip thief: "A would-be robber found out the hard way Friday afternoon that restaurant workers aren't easily parted from their tips. The unidentified man grabbed about $20 from the countertop tip jar at the Chinese restaurant Chung Shing without saying a word, employees said. 'I said, 'Hey, that's my money,'' said restaurant manager Diane Lin. 'He didn't care.' He also didn't have a chance. Employees chased him outside into the parking lot of the strip mall on U.S. 301 and behind the stores. A passerby with a concealed weapons permit stopped and pulled his gun on the man, witnesses said. Minutes later, a Manatee County Sheriff's Office patrol car drove by and a deputy arrested the tip thief."

PA: Robber shot and killed by victim: "A 19-year-old Philadelphia man was shot and killed after he tried to rob another man early yesterday in the 1600 block of West Susquehanna Street, police said. The robber approached from behind as the man left a bar near 15th Street, police said. The robber stuck a gun in the man's back, and demanded money. The man began to comply, then shot the robber in the head, shoulder, chest and right arm with a registered handgun, police said."


Useless 911 calls: "But many crime emergencies are blocked by an armed citizen, and they often go unreported according to the FBI and diligent scholars. This is an invisible solution often ignored by officials, even thwarted by them. Throughout the history of 911, problems with 911 have been belligerence of operators, operator skepticism of reporting parties and repeat pranksters, unclear calls without precise locations, various policies on 911 hang-ups, an over-burdening and overwhelming of the system, and general burn-out of operators remaining on the job. As I mentioned in my last piece, some 911 operators have even been found asleep at the console. For many citizens, a placed 911 call simply goes unanswered or is met with a busy signal."

CA: Idiot hoplophobes go after toys: "Ice-cream vendors in San Diego who sell toy guns out of their trucks should probably think about getting rid of their nondairy inventory. A City Council committee, at the behest of law enforcement, wants to make it illegal for them to sell anything but food. It seems the number of children taking the weapon look-alikes to school has been increasing over the past several years. San Diego City Schools police Chief Don Braun said many of the replicas were bought from ice-cream vendors who congregate near schools. 'Student access to these weapons must be limited by reducing availability from mobile ice cream vendors,' he said."


Armed 92-year-old shot dead in raid: "Police who shot and killed a 92-year-old woman in Atlanta after she wounded three officers were looking for a man who sold drugs to undercover agents at her home earlier that day, authorities said today. The agents got a search warrant after buying drugs yesterday from a man in Kathryn Johnston's home, Assistant Police Chief Alan Dreher said. Johnston's niece, Sarah Dozier, said her aunt likely had reason to shoot the three investigators as they stormed her house. "My aunt was in good health. I'm sure she panicked when they kicked that door down," Dozier told WAGA-TV, adding that there were no drugs in the house. "There was no reason they had to go in there and shoot her down like a dog." Police insisted the officers did everything right before entering the home, despite suggestions from the woman's neighbours and relatives that it was a case of mistaken identity. Kathryn Johnston was the only resident in the house at the time and had lived there for about 17 years, Assistant Chief Alan Dreher said. The officers had a legal warrant, "knocked and announced" before they forced open the door and were justified in shooting once fired upon, he said."

A prize piece of nuttiness: "The FBI recently reported that the United States is facing a wave of murders and gun violence. Cities across the country are seeing significant increases in violent crime. In Boston, the number of homicides is threatening to eclipse last year's numbers, which were already the worst in a decade. These statistics prove that the current approach to reducing violence isn't working. ... A bill before Congress would establish a US Department of Peace. This measure would provide practical, nonviolent solutions for the problems of domestic and international conflict. It would apply the institutional heft of the US government to a serious effort not merely at avoiding war or waging war more effectively. It would take America to the next evolutionary step: It would proactively wage peace."


Ted Nugent's signature guitar doubles as gun: "Ed Roman's Quicksilver Guitars, the world's largest guitar store & builder of custom guitars, today announced that the company has completed the custom design, development and construction of a new custom guitar for world famous rocker, hunter and statesman Ted Nugent. Nugent, known for his hard hitting rock 'n' roll, as well as his strong support for the right to bear arms, his conservative lifestyle and love of his country, is one of Ed Roman's primary influences. 'We are proud to have had the opportunity to work with Ted again and to produce this truly unique instrument and piece of rock 'n' roll history,' said Ed Roman, founder of Ed Roman Guitars. 'Not only is this a top-of-the-line guitar, it is a precision firearm."

PA: Man shoots intruder, jailed on drug charges: "A homeowner shot a person apparently trying to break into his house overnight in Knoxville. ... Homicide detectives interviewed a 20-year-old male and, a 17-year-old female who were inside the residence with their two-month-old son when two black males entered the apartment. The intruder showed a handgun and demanded money from the 20-year-old man. The man retrieved a handgun and shot the intruder. The 20-year-old male was interviewed and has been charged with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possessing an illegal firearm. He is currently in the Allegheny County Jail."


UCLA: Iranian student resists police, gets Tasered: "Mostafa Tabatabainejad, a UCLA student, was repeatedly stunned with a Taser and then taken into custody when he did not exit the CLICC Lab in Powell Library in a timely manner. Community Service Officers had asked Tabatabainejad to leave after he failed to produce his BruinCard during a random check at around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. UCPD Assistant Chief of Police Jeff Young said the checks are a standard procedure in the library after 11 p.m. "Because of the safety of the students we limit the use after 11 to just students, staff and faculty," Young said. Young said the CSOs on duty in the library at the time went to get UCPD officers when Tabatabainejad did not immediately leave, and UCPD officers resorted to use of the Taser when Tabatabainejad did not do as he was told."

Americans want to have security at home: "For most Americans, guns are not a political issue. People buy and own guns to protect their families, not to commit crimes. The truth is that even millions of Americans who support and vote for gun control own guns themselves, because deep down they share the basic human need to feel secure in their homes. The gun control movement has lost momentum in recent years. The Democratic Party has been conspicuously silent on the issue in recent elections because they know it's a political loser. In the midst of declining public support for new gun laws, more and more states have adopted concealed-carry programs. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and last year's hurricanes only made matters worse for gun control proponents, as millions of Americans were starkly reminded that we cannot rely on government to protect us from criminals."


TN: Pol foils robbery, holds suspects: "Over the weekend county commissioner Greg Lambert foiled a robbery by drawing his gun on a suspect and Wednesday that scenario happened again to a state lawmaker. Volunteer TV has just learned that State Senator Tim Burchett had to draw his gun on four people as they were leaving his warehouse on Ball Camp Pike Wednesday morning. Senator Burchett had three motorcycles stolen out of the warehouse in recent weeks and had been staking it out. He called 911 after catching the burglars in the act, but told us he had to draw his gun to prevent them from escaping. Knox County deputies took three juveniles and one adult into custody. And the suspects led deputies to his stolen motorcycles."

TX: No charges filed in shooting of woman: "Preliminary findings indicate Tuesday's shooting death of Stacey Condit, a Texarkana attorney's ex-wife, was self-defense, and no charges have been filed. ... Condit, 39, was the ex-wife of attorney Bruce Condit. The shooting happened about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday at Bruce Condit's Wake Village home. Bruce Condit, his two grown children and two of their friends were at the house at the time of the incident. ... Schutte said Stacey Condit went to the home with a rifle, apparently intending to hurt her ex-husband, and entered the house. She was shot with a shotgun that belonged to someone in the house, he said. She was pronounced dead at the scene."


OR: Gunfire follows house blaze: "A two-alarm fire damaged a Salem home Tuesday night, displacing the family of a National Guard sergeant who told police that he exchanged gunshots with an intruder inside his house the morning after the blaze. Brian Mumey, who was not home when the fire broke out, told police that he returned to his house at 225 Stark St. N after the blaze to check his damaged possessions and saw an unidentified man inside his bedroom Wednesday morning. Mumey, 43, said the intruder, described as a white male in his 50s, fired a shot at him, prompting him to fire five to six rounds back. After another exchange of gunfire, the unidentified man reportedly fled."

Clumsy Kiwi cop accidentally stuns himself: "A clumsy New Zealand policeman attending a domestic dispute accidentally shot himself and a teenager with a stun gun before pepper-spraying an innocent woman, reports said on Friday. The constable was loading his weapon when he accidentally blasted himself with the stun gun's 50,000 volts while trying to stun a man at the centre of the incident last month, the New Zealand Herald reports. Another shot hit the man's 16-year-old son. After five attempts to hit the man, the officer eventually used pepper spray, but succeeded only in hitting the man's 21-year-old daughter - an unintended target. The wanted man eventually gave himself up."


OH: No Charges In Fatal Shooting Of Teen: "Prosecutors say no charges will be filed in the shooting death of a teenager last month. A Kennedy Heights homeowner, 61 year-old Bennie Hall Jr, shot and killed 14 year-old Quavale Finnell after police say the teen was driving away in the shooter's car. The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday: "Due to the rise in violence in his neighborhood and the fact his own grandson was a shooting victim right down the street, Mr. Hall had taken the proper steps to get a Concealed Carry Permit. Forensic evidence also confirms that at the time of the first shot, the car was moving directly towards Mr. Hall. This is consistent with the statements of Mr. Hall and a witness. It is the opinion of this office that Mr. Hall acted in self-defense and no charges will be filed against him. Prosecutor Deters: "It is a tragedy that this 14-year-old boy lost his life during this incident. Mr. Hall has a right to protect himself with deadly force if his life is in danger or he is in danger of great bodily harm. Based on the totality of the evidence and circumstances, he was doing just that." An earlier posting on this story on Oct 26th

New Zealand: Father disgusted at gun shop charge: "A gun-shop owner whose son shot a man carrying a machete is disgusted that he is to be charged. On July 31, a man entered the Small Arms International Gun Shop in Penrose, Auckland, allegedly threatening to kill staff unless they gave him a gun. A store director, Greg Carvell, 33, shot him in the stomach with a .45-calibre pistol. The man, Ricky James Beckham, 29, survived and was later charged with assault with intent to rob. He will appear in court on November 24. Mr Carvell had been subpoenaed to appear as a witness. Police said yesterday that they would charge Mr Carvell, a co-owner of the shop, with possession of a firearm without lawful, proper or sufficient purpose. He will appear in Auckland District Court on December 6. "


SC: Murder or self-defense? "On the night of February 5, 2005, Scotty Fowler was shot and killed, and April McCullough was the one who pulled the trigger. The defense is saying the shooting was a case of self defense. However the solicitor's office found enough probable cause on that night to arrest McCullough and charge her with murder. ... Scotty pushed past April's mother, bruising the mother. He then broke into the house and chased April to the back of the house and April fired one shot at him. It went into his arm and ended up going into his chest and killing him."

N.Y.: First guns, now bats: City Councilman James Oddo (R-S.I.) is pushing a bill that would ban aluminum bats because they're . . . dangerous. Earth to Oddo: Sports are dangerous. And even if we were to indulge your "logic," you're going after the wrong end of the equation: It's not the bat that's dangerous - it's the ball. Perhaps the hardball should be replaced with a Nerf ball? In the interests of safety, of course . . . New Yorkers: How long will you allow a bunch of arrogant "do-gooders" to ban whatever they decide is bad for you? Smoking and trans-fats weren't enough to satisfy their appetite. Now bats are on the agenda for those who envision a world without an iota of risk - and are happily willing to ram their dreams down your throats."


Self-defense isn't a privilege, it's a right: "The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today responded to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's latest outrage -- suggesting that citizens in his city don't need gun permits -- by reminding the anti-gun rights mayor that 'Self defense isn't a privilege, it's a right.' Bloomberg announced on his radio program that he wants to reduce the number of people who have concealed handgun permits in the Big Apple. He told his radio audience, 'If you tell me you need a gun permit, you're telling me you don't think the NYPD can do a good job in protecting you. Most people, I don't see any reason why they need it.'"

Foolish S.C. deputy: "A gunshot was fired into the floor in an Anderson County middle school after a student accidentally pulled the trigger of a deputy's holstered gun. The gun fired Wednesday morning after a student grabbed it as the deputy told them how hard it was to take a gun from an officer's holster, Sheriff David Crenshaw said. The student's finger apparently was small enough to get inside the holster and pull the trigger, the sheriff said. The bullet fired into the floor, and debris cut and scratched two students. But no one was seriously injured, school officials said. The sheriff's office has begun an internal investigation and the officer involved is on administrative leave, said Crenshaw, who would not identify the deputy or say whether he would be paid while on leave. "The officer there today had a major lapse in judgment," Crenshaw said Wednesday. "He was just trying to be nice to the kids and made a faulty decision. It was an accident. The good Lord blessed us that nobody got hurt."


Tennessee man is shot, wounds intruder during home invasion : "Jefferson County authorities are investigating a home invasion and shooting incident reported Monday afternoon at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Taylor on West Highway 25/70, Dandridge. Jefferson County Chief Deputy Bud McCoig said two unidentified attackers entered the Taylor home uninvited at 1:06 p.m. "Mrs. Taylor was struck over the head with a gun and her husband was struck in the shoulder by gunfire. As they were leaving Mr. Taylor shot at the intruders and we are positive that one of them was struck," McCoig said. The Taylor couple was transported to Jefferson Memorial Hospital where Mrs. Taylor was treated and released and her husband was admitted for treatment of the non-life threatening injury.... A short time after being alerted of the incident, deputies found a pickup truck matching the description of the getaway vehicle, abandoned at the Dolly Mart, formerly Don Kerr's Market on West Highway 254/70 at the Interstate 40 intersection.... Officers reportedly found blood in the pickup leading them to confirm that one of the intruders had been struck by gunfire."

W.Va. Gunman overpowered: "Four people taken hostage by a gunman at a pharmacy overpowered their captor Monday after he demanded prescription drugs and fired several shots, authorities said. The 90-minute standoff ended when the hostages, who were barricaded inside the store with the gunman, hit him with something, Sheriff's Deputy B.E. Ferrell said. None of the hostages was harmed, but the suspect was taken to a hospital, Ferrell said. The nature of his injuries was not immediately clear, but a witness said he had taken a painkiller and an anti-anxiety drug. The gunman arrived with a handgun and a sawed-off shotgun, taking six people hostage at the Family Discount Pharmacy in Stollings, about 60 miles southwest of Charleston, according to Logan County 911 Director Marilyn Crosby. Pharmacy technician Jessica Thompson, 24, said the gunman said he needed drugs but could not afford to buy them. The man told the hostages that he wanted to kill himself but did not want to hurt them, Thompson said. He was given an unknown quantity of Lortab, a painkiller, and Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug, which he took, she said. He then became drowsy. Workers told the man there were more drugs in an adjacent building, Thompson said. She told the suspect she was going to get the keys to the other building but ran for help instead. "I was just afraid he would hurt the rest of them that were in there," she said. Another worker in the store also escaped after a similar ruse. Authorities identified the gunman as Jeffrey Harvey, 31. They did not release details about the last four hostages or how they overpowered him.


TX: Homeowner kills intruder: "A Fourth Ward townhome owner shot and killed a man who walked into his garage wielding a hunting knife Sunday night, police said. "It looks like it was an attempted robbery," said Detective B.W. Nebors of the Houston Police Department Homicide Division. The homeowner told police he was working in his garage at about 6:45 p.m. in the 1000 block of Ruthven when the intruder walked inside with a knife. The homeowner said he grabbed a gun he had stored nearby and fired at the suspect. The unidentified suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. "The area gets a lot of foot traffic ... and the homeowner said he had been burglarized in the past," Nebors said."

Arms bearing can bear the defeat: "The Second Amendment has emerged from the biggest Democratic victory since 1974 with relatively little damage. One reason is that in races all over the country, Democrats returned to their Jefferson-Jackson roots by running candidates who trust the people to bear arms. ... Nevertheless, the class of pro-gun Democrats who will be joining the House and the Senate includes some who will eventually become party leaders, and who will help move the Democratic party back towards its traditional position of respect for the civil liberties of the American people. A very constructive development, in the long run."


Knoxville, Tennessee: Armed commissioner faces down gunman: "A Knox County commissioner known for his pro-gun stance says he aborted an armed robbery at his car dealership Saturday with the aid of his .380-caliber pistol. Greg "Lumpy" Lambert, who represents the 6th District, said he was at Advantage Auto Sales on Clinton Highway early Saturday afternoon when a young man began acting suspicious while test-driving a 2005 Ford Focus. The man, identified as 19-year-old Kane Stackhouse, claimed to have $12,000 in his pocket and seemed intent on buying the car without any haggling or even a mechanical inspection, Lambert said. Later, as the paperwork was being drawn up, Stackhouse stepped outside to smoke a cigarette, Lambert said. When the commissioner went outside to tell him it was time to work on the title, Stackhouse is alleged to have pulled a .25-calber handgun from his jacket pocket. Stackhouse is being held on a charge of attempted robbery."

MI:Man shot dead after argument: "An argument turned deadly shortly before noon Thursday in an Albion car dealership parking lot when the owner pulled out a revolver and fatally shot a man, police said. JP Auto Sales owner Frank Murphy, 67, was outside the blue aluminum-sided business at 337 Bemer St. when he started arguing with Joe Lee Miles, 56, of Albion. The shouting ended when Murphy pulled out a .32-caliber revolver and fired two shots, said Detective Lt. Scott Kipp of the Albion Department of Public Safety. One bullet hit Miles in the chest. Officers descended on the scene in minutes to find Miles bleeding to death in the parking lot with Murphy still at the scene. Police whisked Murphy away, while Miles was scooped onto a stretcher and taken to Battle Creek Health Systems. He was pronounced dead on arrival. Police released Murphy after questioning; the prosecutor's office in Calhoun County authorized the release. Preliminary indications are that the shooting was an act of self-defense, Kipp said. "He felt he was in fear for his life," Kipp said. Friends and former employees of the dealership gathered behind the yellow crime-scene tape as police investigated the scene. "Frank's a good guy, he wouldn't hurt nobody," said Jimmy Huff, who said he used to work for Murphy. "He carries that gun for protection because he's been robbed before. ! He wouldn't have shot nobody unless he had to."


MD: Gunfight leaves 1 dead, 1 injured: "One man was killed and another was critically wounded Sunday during a "gun battle" at a Crofton home, Anne Arundel County police said. Responding after noon to a report of a shooting at 1709 Leisure Way, police found one man dead. He has not been identified. A resident of the house, Christopher Michael Haramis, 25, had been shot multiple times, police said. He was in critical condition yesterday at Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Police said the shooting may have been tied to an earlier confrontation during a party at the house. About 2 a.m., police said, a man and a woman who had stepped outside the house were confronted by two men looking for cash. "The persons inside the residence came out and basically interrupted the robbery and subsequently fought with the robbers," said Lt. David Waltemeyer, a police spokesman. "The robbers then ran away, making away with money, and no one was injured." Those robbers may have been the two men who came to the house midday Sunday, Waltemeyer said. Haramis, who was inside the house with three others, was armed and shot the intruder, who died at the house, police said. It is unclear who shot Haramis, police said, adding that the other intruder fled".

NC: Man shot by homeowner, not deputies: "A man wounded during a home break-in on Tuesday was shot by the resident, David Grice, the sheriff of Davidson County, said yesterday. A news brief in yesterday's paper incorrectly said that the man had been shot by deputies. Grice said that Zackary Allen Staley, 21, of 149 Clapp Farm Road was shot by the homeowner, Phillip Cross Jr. The shooting remains under review and no charges have been filed against the homeowner, Grice said. Grice said that deputies were sent to Cross' home Tuesday on a report of a home invasion and that shots had been fired. Grice said that deputies learned that Staley was shot after he kicked in a door into the basement of Cross' home. He was hit in the knee and hand."


WI: Wrong to shoot menacing black? "The teenager accused of killing a Green Bay man will go to trial. Carl Morgan, 16, faces first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree attempted homicide charges in the shooting death of 21-year-old Greg Smith. Smith's family members were visibly shaken as they listened to witnesses talk about what they saw happen in a downtown Green Bay parking lot in the early morning hours of October 13th. Carl Morgan was not in court for Friday's hearing because of a motion asking to keep his identity hidden while witnesses are on the stand. A written statement submitted by Morgan says he drank vodka with friends that night, and they were waiting in a car in the parking lot as one of them went into Hip Cats bar. Morgan's friend says a group of guys were standing nearby when "the people in the car asked if we had a lighter." Witnesses say somehow a verbal confrontation ensued between the two groups, and it quickly turned physical. That's when Morgan's statement to police says he reached in the trunk and grabbed a gun that he'd bought. Morgan's statement was read in court, "When I pulled the gun out, the black guy started walking up to me, saying, 'What's up? What's up?'" "I know I shot him but I don't know how many times. I don't remember where I shot him, but I put the gun straight out. The black guy staggered around and then fell." One of Morgan's friends who was with him that night says he thinks Morgan fired a warning shot toward the ground before opening fire but says Smith kept coming at him. The district attorney refutes any case of self-defense. "I think other testimony shows that there was a significant enough distance between those two people that this wasn't any kind of case where any kind of self-defense necessitating gun shots," John Zakowski said."