Category: Feel Good Stories

The first stop on our tour of safer places to live is Missouri;

The homeowner told police the three suspects broke in and shot at him, so he shot back.

No one was hurt in the shooting, and the three suspects ran off.

According to police, there were two male suspects and one female suspect.

More range time, but you’ve got the covered and concealed aspect of gunfights down pat.

On to Texas where dropping a dime (or a quarter, these days, I guess) could save some ammo;

A woman shot by her boyfriend who mistook her for a burglar has been arrested, according to LPD.

LPD said the woman, 34, was shot in early April when she broke into a home in the 3100 block of San Luis Street after hearing that her boyfriend was with another woman.

The article continues that she was served with a warrant for burglary the other day.

In Alabama, you need pay attention to where the muzzle of your weapon is pointed, especially when you’re confronted by the police, no matter which side of a dispute you’re on;

They say the woman’s estranged husband, Bradley Skinner, broke the glass out of a back door of the home to get inside. He had a pistol and large knife in his possession. Lisa has a protection order against Bradley.

Officers say Lisa armed herself with a shotgun then went into the garage. They say he followed her, then aimed his pistol at her. That’s when she fired the shotgun, hitting him in the chest and causing life-threatening injuries.

Police say they arrived on scene after the woman’s mother called 911 to report the home invasion and that officers heard the initial shots. They went to the garage where Lisa came out, still holding the shotgun. Officers commanded her to drop the gun, but they say she turned, pointing the weapon in the officer’s direction instead. The officer shot at her, hitting her in the hip.

The woman is expected to recover, but, the fellow she shot is in critical condition.

This morning’s first feel good story comes from Oklahoma and it’s thanks to a self-proclaimed nosy neighbor;

“I was driving by at 7:30. Of all things, I seen a white pickup pulled up to the east door,” says Alvin. “Being nosy, I turned around
and went back.”

Alvin has lived out there for 47 years. He knew the strange truck didn’t belong on that dirt driveway.

So, he pulled over to investigate.

He discovered the truck was loaded with stolen property, matresses, fixtures- even a kitchen sink.

This fed up crime fighter pulled the 45 from his pickup.

“That kind of helps out a little bit; I’m too old to fight anymore.”

Alvin held the alleged thief until deputies arrived.

“He kind of had a deer in the headlights look and knew he was caught,” says Alvin.

Surpringingly, it’s not his first citizen’s arrest.

A few weeks ago, he interrupted another home invasion and captured a wanted felon.

Both fellows that Alvin apprehended had outstanding warrants.

Next up is Florida;

According to Tampa Police, the suspect entered the store with a handgun and ordered the two workers in the store to the ground. One of the clerks shot at the suspect. The suspect shot back hitting one of the workers.

The worker sustained minor injuries. It is unknown if the suspect was injured.

The suspect fled the scene on foot.

Police say that they’re still looking for the perp which means someone needs some range time.

This morning a couple of stories that are different than our usual fare – first up, in Indiana, four men are charged with murder even though they never pulled a trigger. They didn’t even have a gun in their possession when their burglary victim shot their accomplice;

They thought the house was empty. None of the teens expected an armed homeowner to be inside. None of them was armed. None foresaw a shooting. But the homeowner, who was sleeping upstairs, did rush downstairs and did fire a handgun — killing one of the teens.

And all four of the surviving teens were charged and convicted for the death. Levi Sparks, now 20; Jose Quiroz Jr., 19; Blake Layman, 18; and Anthony Sharp Jr., 20, are each serving a five-decade sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction.

[…]

Felony murder carries the same penalty as murder, but unlike a murder charge, in which intent to kill must be proven, a person can be convicted of felony murder even if the death is accidental or unintended.

So, Elkhart Indiana is a little safer these days because these four decided to break the law. Their friend paid with a life sentence, though.

Thanks to Chief Tango for that link.

Here’s another one like that, from Kansas. It looks like from searching the blog, we missed this one when it happened, but we get to visit the case at the sentencing phase. 30-year-old Corey Burgardt, a fellow with a history of alcohol and drug abuse decided to rob his pastor. His pastor shot him in the head;

Prosecutors said Burgardt tried to get into the pastor’s home in November after a night of drinking. Prosecutors said the pastor fired a shot that grazed Burgardt’s forehead.

Besides an extended three year probationary period, Burgardt also was ordered to continue his current alcohol treatment program and pay $2,743 in restitution for the damage he caused.

I guess that the judge figured that getting a bullet to the noggin was punishment enough. The pastor, by the way, invited the criminal to attend his church.

In Kentucky, you don’t come in unless you’re invited;

The victim told police he had gotten into an argument with DeJuan White, who had left his home. White later returned and kicked in the door.

That’s when police say the homeowner shot him. White was taken to UK Hospital where he was treated and released for non-life threatening injuries.

White is charged with Burglary 1st, and is lodged in the Fayette County Detention Center.

LEX18.com | Continuous News and StormTracker Weather

Thanks to Chief Tango for the links.

Our first feel good story comes from Florida;

Jordan Damato was inside his home, in the Lucerne Terrace neighborhood near West Gore Street and South Hughey Avenue, just before 1 a.m. Wednesday when the Thomas Berry, 48, broke into Damato’s apartment, police said.

The victim shot the intruder multiple times, according to police.

[…]

A resident said she heard Berry pleading with the homeowner and apologized for breaking in.

Taylor Booth said she heard the burglar say, “Give me water. Don’t let me die. Call an ambulance.”

Booth said she and her roommate waited a few minutes until things quieted down then called 911.

According to the video report, Berry has quite an extensive history with the judicial system.

Chief Tango sends us one from the self-solving problem files in Texas;

Young initially told police he was walking in the 1100 block of Pine Street in Texarkana, Ark. when he was shot by an unknown suspect. A witness who was with Young led police to the scene, where they located a .38 caliber revolver.

Police say it became apparent that Young misled them about what happened due to the crime scene and the nature of his injuries. Young then recanted and admitted to shooting himself.

The gun and a cell phone in Young’s possession were reported stolen from a vehicle in the 100 block of Olive Street in Texarkana, Ark. Police say charges may be filed after Young is released from the hospital.

Criminals, it’s what they do.

Our first story this morning comes from Arizona;

Phoenix police said an “unwanted guest” showed up to a mobile home near 24th Avenue and Rose Garden Lane at 3:00 a.m. on Thursday.

During the home invasion, two men in their 20’s were shot. Both of the men were transported to the hospital where one of them died from their injuries.

The man who died did not live at the home.

FOX 10 News | fox10phoenix.com

The next stop on our journey is Florida;

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said it responded at 1:45 a.m. to 12018 Ember Ave., in the Moon Lake area, and found Wehunt with several gunshot wounds.

Michael Farrell, 55, who lives in the home, told deputies an intruder entered the residence and attacked him. During the attack, Farrell shot the intruder, deputies said.

The intruder was later identified as [Chris Wehunt, 35], deputies said.

The last stop on our journey of personal defense is Oklahoma;

Police say the business owner told them he was resting in a back room, heard a noise and grabbed his gun. He said he saw a man in a hoodie, who shot at him. The owner fired back, but the man got away. No one appeared to have been hit.

“A person fired a shot at him and he fired shots in return. Then he heard more shots fired, then heard glass breaking,” explained Captain Tommy Uptergrove, lead investigator.

KSWO, Lawton, OK- Wichita Falls, TX: News, Weather, Sports. ABC, 24/7, Telemundo –

As always, thanks to Chief Tango for the links.

This morning’s stories start with one in Arkansas;

Conway Police say 34-year-old James Allen was the victim of an attempted armed robbery outside a home on Joyner Drive. Allen didn’t want to speak on camera but told THV11 he was walking to his car when two men approached him demanding money. When he reached for his gun they shot first. He returned fire and starting running away. According to a police report Allen fired more than 20 rounds in the middle of the street.

Police say that James initially left the scene, but returned to answer questions, there are no reports of the fate of his targets which means that Mr. James, who has a concealed weapons permit, needs more range time, although he did manage to hit a neighboring house and his car.

From down in Florida, we get our next story, a fairly short one;

The victim was in his home, which is just south of downtown Orlando, when a stranger entered the apartment.

“During the victim and suspect encounter, the victim shot the suspect multiple times,” Orlando Police Lt. Darnell Hill said.

The suspect was taken to the hospital. His condition is unknown.

Finally, in Wisconsin, where the family of Michael Powell is upset that when he enters other people’s homes, he gets shot. He’s done it before, without getting shot, so why now;

Powell’s family is devastated over a loss they say they can’t understand.

“It’s just…it’s just crazy,” Martin said.

“You know man, it was all a shock,” Powell’s cousin, Christopher Powell said.

Family members say Powell did not live in the home where he was found dead.

“All I know is that he was shot multiple times in the chest,” Christopher Powell said.

Gregory Davis owns the home and was leasing it. He says he heard from his tenant earlier Tuesday afternoon.

“Got a text. Someone broke into the house and his brother reacted. It’s just not a good situation. It’s very sad,” Davis said.
“We got to stop the violence. The victims are getting younger and younger. These are kids.”

Powell’s family members say he wasn’t a violent person.

“It’s a shame they killed him like that, man. The violence really has to stop,” Christopher Powell said.

You know what has to stop? Folks going into other folks’ homes without being invited.

Several other people were taken into custody.

As always, thanks to Chief Tango for the links.

We missed a day yesterday, so I was hoping that criminals had stopped invading innocent gun owners’ homes – but that wasn’t the case at all. here’s a story from Florida;

Deputies responding to 1250 Florida Ave. shortly before midnight Monday found the man dead in the driveway and in clearing the house discovered a significant marijuana grow operation in the home, Gant said.

“The investigation into what happened to cause his death is ongoing but we believe it was an attempted home invasion that had something to do with the marijuana grow operation inside,” Gant said.

Gant said the homeowner, who was not identified, suffered a bullet wound to his leg and found his way to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, a block away from the home where he was shot. He was later transferred to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

But, see that will stop when we make marijuana universally legal, right?

Chief Tango sends a more dramatic story from Alabama;

Police say a 17-year-old boy was one of three suspects who broke into a woman’s home at about 3 a.m. Monday, April 13.

The woman told police the teenager held a gun to her head and raped her while the others ransacked her home.

She said two of the men eventually left her home, but the teen stayed behind, beat her in the head with his gun and demanded money from her.

The victim told police they ended up at a neighbor’s home after she told the attacker her neighbor had her money.

Police say the neighbor called 911 when the woman and her attacker arrived outside his front door.

The attacker reportedly demanded the neighbor get off the phone, fired two shots into the air, and pointed the gun at the neighbor.

The neighbor, who was armed, fired a bullet into the teenager’s chest, killing him.

WSFA.com Montgomery Alabama news.

One more from Missouri;

A document from the Hollister Police Department states that the man who lives at the home told police he and his wife were asleep when they both woke hearing voices in the living room. The man told police he grabbed his 9 mm pistol and found the two intruders in the living room trying to disarm an alarm panel. According to the man, when he told the Grants that he had a gun, they ran. The man told police he got into an altercation with Robert Grant and told his wife to call 911.

At a point during the scuffle, the man reportedly said Robert Grant said he thought the man’s gun was actually a stun gun. The man fired the pistol at a tree to demonstrate that it was a real gun. Police arrived at that point.

According to court documents, a Hollister police officer, with assistance from a Branson Police officer, had just arrived at the house and saw the two men yelling at each other on the back porch when they heard the gun shot.

The officers commanded that the two men get down, according to court documents. The owner of the home reportedly dropped his gun and identified himself as the homeowner, but Robert Grant sat in a chair on the porch, refusing to get on the floor. Police handcuffed the homeowner, but Grant reportedly refused to cooperate until an officer physically took him to the ground and handcuffed him. Police stated, in the report, that Grant appeared to be intoxicated.

Police then searched the home and found the homeowner’s wife. After she identified her husband, police took him out of handcuffs, according to the report.

It looks like Robert Grant’s bad attitude followed him to booking and the mug shot process, too.