Category: Feel Good Stories

From Dallas, Texas;

A homeowner wounded an intruder Monday night after they traded gunfire in east Oak Cliff, Dallas police said.

Officers were called around 11:30 p.m. to a home in the 4700 block of Denley Drive, where they found the suspect shot.

According to police, a homeowner was confronted by someone who shot at him while he was still in his vehicle. The shot missed, and the homeowner then produced his own handgun and fired back, hitting the intruder.

Fromm Lincoln, Nebraska;

It happened around 5 p.m. Wednesday evening in Lincoln, Nebraska. The mother of the 9-year-old told police she left him at home when she went to pick up her other children.

“I was upstairs when it happened,” said Shane Shafer, a 4th grader.

He said he heard someone at the front door.

“I thought it was my mom because I heard someone trying to open the door, and I thought it was her trying to unlock the door with her keys,” he said.

But it wasn’t his mom. He said a man with a ski mask came through the front door.

“The dude started chasing me upstairs and I called my dog down and they started to fight,” said the young boy.

His pit bull, Baby Girl, tried to attack the man in the Shane’s defense and then chased him out of the home.

From Scottsdale,, Arizona;

Authorities say an off-duty Scottsdale police officer working security at a mall fatally shot a shoplifting suspect who was armed with a gun and began to raise the weapon toward the officer.

The shooting occurred Sunday afternoon at Scottsdale Fashion Square when the officer was alerted to a man who was believed to have shoplifted.

The officer located the suspect inside a parking garage and ordered him to stop.

Police say the suspect was holding a gun and began to raise it toward the officer.

The officer then fired on the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

From Greeley, Colorado;

The homeowner had confronted the suspect inside the residence and was holding him at gunpoint until officers arrived, police said.

As the wife of the homeowner was talking with a 911 dispatcher and as officers arrived, a single gunshot was heard.

Police found the suspect with a gunshot wound to the torso. He was taken to North Colorado Medical Center where he went into surgery. He is expected to survive, police said.

From Erie, Pennsylvania;

Erie police are searching for two male suspects in an attempted burglary at an eastside residence where the homeowner fired a shotgun at them during a confrontation early Monday morning.

The suspects, described only as black males, ran off and no one is believed to have been injured in the shooting, which happened outside of a residence in the 1100 block of East 25th Street on Monday at 1:49 a.m., Erie police Lt. Sue Szocki said Monday morning.

The homeowner reported hearing noises outside of the residence and went out to find one of the suspects in a fenced-in area of the homeowner’s yard and the second suspect in the garage, Szocki said. One of the suspects told the other suspect to shoot the homeowner, and the homeowner, who did not see a gun but believed the suspect had one, fired a shotgun at the suspects, she said.

From Ypsilanti, Michigan;

Police were called about 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18 to the area of First Street and Monroe Avenue for a report of shots fired, according to the Ypsilanti Police Department.

Police believe a 27-year-old Ypsilanti man was giving a ride to two acquaintances, 24-year-old men, when he heard the racking of the slide of a gun.

The two men began to rob the 27-year-old of money and medical marijuana, but a fight ensued and the gun discharged, police said. The suspect shot his own foot.

The victim fled, and the two suspects fled as police arrived, police said. The victim, who suffered bumps and scrapes, eventually returned to the vehicle and police tracked down the two suspects.

From Odessa, Texas;

OPD officials reported they were initially called by Zane Womack, 25, about a gunshot victim at the Sunset Lodge Apartments, 7701 Highway 191, the release stated.

When police arrived at the apartment, they found the victim, Jerrod Dement, dead from multiple gunshot wounds, an OPD press release stated.

Officers interviewed Womack, the release stated, who told police he woke up to the sounds of an unknown man, later identified as Dement, banging at his door. Womack told police Dement banged on the door and then forced his way into the apartment before Womack shot him multiple times.

From Conway, Arkansas;

Police say an Arkansas homeowner is claiming he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot a teenager inside his home.

Authorities say the body of 18-year-old Demarco Murray was discovered Thursday afternoon inside a home in Conway, Arkansas, located about 33 miles (53 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock.

Investigators at first believed Murray was shot during a home invasion, but later learned he had been invited into the home by the homeowner.

Conway Police Maj. Chris Harris says Taylor and the homeowner knew each other and that Taylor had allegedly tried to rob the resident after being invited inside his home. Another man was with Taylor but ran from the house, and the homeowner says he does not know whether that person was also shot.

From Las Cruces, New Mexico;

The suspect in a homicide Friday was killed Saturday evening following a pursuit by Las Cruces police. He was shot multiple times by at least one unnamed officer, according to a press release by the Las Cruces Police Department.

Nathaniel Montoya, 23, of Las Cruces was wanted for questioning following a murder Friday night in the 2300 block of Sambrano Avenue.

Saturday, police spotted a van matching the description of Montoya’s, and made a traffic stop, according to the press release. Montoya attempted to flee, and a high-speed chase began.

From Cleveland Ohio;

A Cleveland man is charged with aggravated murder after a 21-year-old man fatally shot his accomplice during an armed robbery attempt.

Harold Melton, 31, acted as a lookout for Shaylamar Gilmore during the Jan. 10 when Gilmore was shot to death, according to court records.

The 21-year-old man who shot Gilmore, 34, turned himself in to police shortly after the shooting and has not been charged with any crime.

Melton, who was free on bond in another armed robbery case and a separate case involving a high-speed police chase, now is charged with aggravated murder in Gilmore’s death.

Melton can be charged under Ohio law with aggravated murder because someone died while he was helping commit a felony, according to court records.

An update to a story from earlier this week in Jackson, Mississippi;

Jackson police say a store robbery suspect has died after being shot Wednesday night.

He has been identified as 18-year-old David Williams.

The shooting and robbery happened at the D-S Food Mart on Rose Street.

In the surveillance video, you can see Williams and an accomplice run into the store. Once inside the store, his accomplice puts a handgun to the face of the store clerk, demanding money.

Then the clerk is assaulted, the robber striking him in the back head with the butt of his gun.

The suspects moved behind the counter to the cash register where Williams is seen pulling money from the drawer while his accomplice continues to hold a gun on the clerk.

The robbers are then startled by the owner of the business, who suddenly comes out of a back room with his dog.

As the two run, you can see the store clerk who was assaulted grab a gun and fire three shots.

Williams was apparently struck in the head, and collapsed in the street moments later.

From Albuquerque, New Mexico;

When three men tried to rob a southeast Albuquerque home Saturday night, police say the homeowner unloaded a pistol on them, leaving one dead, one behind bars and another on the run.

Isaiah Marquez, 25, also known as “Wisdom,” was taken into custody Thursday night and is charged with aggravated burglary, conspiracy and tampering with evidence.

For his accomplice in the home invasion, Juan Perdomo, 20, the outcome was much worse. Perdomo was pronounced dead at a hospital after being shot three times by the homeowner.

From Hemet, California;

Police say a man broke into a home in the 1700 block of South State Street after midnight Tuesday.

The residents of the home, described by police as in their 70s, confronted the burglar and he began attacking them, police said.

The residents grabbed a gun and shot the intruder and he fled the home, police said.

Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the man.

However, a short time later, they learned of a person with gunshot wounds who was being treated at a hospital in Moreno Valley.

He was transported to Riverside University Health System and officers were able to link him to the burglary reported earlier.

Police identified the suspect as Dechawn Wallace, 27, of Moreno Valley. They said he has an extensive criminal history for violent crimes and is currently on parole for burglary.

From Jefferson County, Missouri;

The manhunt for a gunman who opened fire on a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy is over, after a homeowner found the man hiding in a shed Friday morning.

Sheriff Dave Marshak said the homeowner held the suspect at gunpoint in a shed off Highway JJ until deputies arrived, at about 7:15 a.m. Friday.

“Great work from our community partners,” a relieved Marshak said in an early-morning tweet.

The homeowner, in the 13400 block of Highway JJ, had noticed a shed door open and gone to investigate, finding the suspect asleep in the shed, Marshak told the Post-Dispatch.

No one was hurt; no shots were fired in the shed.

From Jackson, Mississippi;

Officers learned that two suspects, one man and one woman, entered the store. One displayed a handgun and demanded the clerk remove money from the register.

At some point during the robbery, the clerk got a handgun and fired shots at the suspects hitting at least one. The suspects ran away, but one was later found nearby suffering from a gunshot wound.

He was transported to an area hospital where he later died.

The second suspect, believed to be a female, remains at large but police may already have a possible lead as to her identity.

The store clerk was not injured during the incident.

From White Oak, Pennsylvania;

The incident happened on Carmella Drive and prompted a modified lockdown at McClure Elementary School, the McKeesport Area School District said.

Clarke spoke with the homeowner, who said he heard his dog barking and then saw a man trying to get into his home. The homeowner fired a shot, but did not hit the intruder.

The person who tried getting into the home fled and police and a K-9 unit were brought in to search the area.

From Raymore, Missouri;

Police say it was around 11:30 p.m. when Belton police tried to stop a shooting suspect’s red Ford Explorer heading south on I-49.

Two troopers in that area put down stop sticks and flattened his tires. When the suspect’s vehicle eventually stopped, the suspect got out and pointed a gun at himself before firing shots at passing cars.

Officials say one driver stopped and the suspect carjacked his white GMC Terrain and then headed north on I-49 into Raymore.

Troopers, a Cass County sheriff’s deputy and Raymore police chased the suspect into Raymore where the suspect got out of the vehicle near North Dean Avenue and Lucy Webb.

Officials say the suspect then walked away from officers while pointing the gun at his head and also at officers.

Around 11:50 p.m., law enforcement shot the suspect. The 27-year-old from Houston, Texas was taken to Research Hospital with serious injuries. He later died.

From Fort Worth, Texas;

Britt said that before the traffic stop, officers were dispatched to an unidentified business on Fossil Bluff Drive on a domestic-related 911 call . The call details indicated that an employee’s ex-boyfriend was at the location and had threatened her with a weapon.

“The call details said that the potential suspect was displaying a handgun,” said Britt. “The officers, once they got on scene, were able to locate that suspect and follow him to this location where they stopped him to investigate the disturbance.”

The suspect, who is only being identified by police as a white adult male, was driving a red Chevrolet Silverado pickup and turned into the shopping center parking lot near a Raising Cane’s restaurant.

Britt said the suspect exited the vehicle and began to approach the four officers who were waiting to talk to him. The officers gave verbal commands to the suspect to stop, but Britt said he continued to move toward officers.

“During this encounter the suspect did display a handgun,” said Britt. “Officers fired, striking the suspect. I don’t know what movements he displayed, but I do know that officers did see a weapon. At that point they felt in danger for their lives, and that’s why they fired their weapons.”

The officers started first aid and MedStar transported the suspect to John Peter Smith Hospital, where Britt said he later died.

An update to yesterday’s story from New Hanover County, North Carolina;

According to officials, deputies were dispatched to the 200 block of Mohawk Trail off Masonboro Loop Road around 9:30 p.m. after receiving reports that a person had been shot.

The homeowner told deputies that he heard his back door get kicked and saw a man, later identified as 35-year-old Daniel Thomas Hauser, enter his home.

He grabbed his gun and shot Hauser once, fatally injuring the man.

“I had an intruder in my house. They broke in,” the homeowner said during a 911 call. “I was asleep in bed and I heard the glass break downstairs and I got out of the bed.

“Somebody came up the steps. I turned the hall light on and as soon as I saw the hall light come on, I just shot and I killed him, I’m afraid.”

No other details have been released and officials say the investigation is still ongoing.

From Mendocino County, California;

A woman who Mendocino County authorities said confronted officers with a handgun Tuesday morning after crashing a stolen sports car in a high-speed chase was shot dead by law enforcement.

The woman, who has not been identified, was suspected of stealing a Chevrolet Camaro during an armed robbery around 9:25 a.m. at Thurston Auto Plaza in Ukiah, the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. She then fled on Highway 101 traveling north at high speeds.

A short time later, a deputy spotted the stolen Camaro on the highway, near the Cal Fire Howard Forest Station, the Sheriff’s Office said. The deputy attempted to stop the woman but a pursuit ensued with speeds exceeding 100 mph, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The woman crashed the stolen Camaro north of Willits on Highway 101 after additional deputies and Willits police officers joined the pursuit, authorities said.

She then got out of the car, confronted law enforcement while holding a handgun and was shot and killed, the Sheriff’s Office said. No deputies or officers were injured. Authorities did not say who among the law enforcement present fired at the woman or how many shots were fired. Her name, age and place of residence were withheld Tuesday by authorities.

From Vallejo, California;

A Vallejo police officer fatally shot a suspect during a foot chase and violent struggle Tuesday night.

According to police, the incident took place around 7:30 p.m. in the area of Marin at Florida Street. An officer attempted to stop the man riding a bike during a domestic violence call investigation. But instead of yielding to the officer’s commands, the man fled on foot.

The officer caught up with the suspect and a violent physical struggle took place.

Investigators said that during the violent physical confrontation, the officer deployed his Taser on the suspect but it was ineffective. The suspect managed to forcibly take away a metal flashlight from the officer and armed himself with it, presenting it in a threatening manner

The officer, fearing imminent and serious physical harm, discharged his duty firearm, striking the suspect.

Stand your ground in Red Oak, Iowa;

A judge has cited Iowa’s new “stand your ground” law in granting immunity to a man accused of shooting to death an attacker.

The ruling filed late Monday ordered the release of 39-year-old Kevin Staley, who was scheduled to go on trial Tuesday. He acknowledged shooting 27-year-old Devin Davis, of Villisca, on Oct. 11 near downtown Red Oak.

The new law says law-abiding people don’t have to retreat before using deadly force if they believe they’re in danger.

Judge James Heckerman says in his order that Staley was ambushed in an alley by two men wearing hoodies and bandannas as they screamed and ran toward him.

Staley pulled his registered handgun after he was knocked down and shot one who turned out to be Davis. They both ran off, and Davis collapsed and died a few moments later.

In Winston-Salem, North Carolina;

The investigation revealed that a burglary victim was inside his apartment when the suspect entered into the apartment.

The suspect then demanded property and money while displaying a handgun, police said.

The victim refused and sustained a minor laceration to the head as a result of the suspect striking him. The suspect then left the apartment on foot traveling across the parking lot.

The victim advised he retrieved his own handgun and went outside to confront the suspect. An exchange of gunfire resulted and several parked vehicles and nearby apartments were damaged as a result of the gunfire.

The suspect left the area prior to police arrival.

A short time later, a person arrived at a local hospital seeking treatment for gunshot wounds which are not considered to be life-threatening.

From Amarillo, Texas;

The La Bella Pizza employee who shot and killed a suspect who reportedly threatened to rob the business will not face any charges.

The attempted robbery happened on January 9. Police say 36-year-old Clayton Morgan reportedly entered the building to rob the business. Witnesses say Morgan was armed and used his weapon to make demands on store employees.

One of the employees, a licensed firearm carrier, fired his weapon at Morgan after being threatened. The suspect was struck and taken to an area hospital where he later died.

From New Hanover County, North Carolina;

According to officials, deputies were dispatched to the 200 block of Mohawk Trail off Masonboro Loop Road around 9:30 p.m. after receiving reports that a person had been shot.

The homeowner told deputies that he heard his back door get kicked and saw a man enter his home.

He grabbed his gun and shot the intruder once, fatally injuring the man.

From Ada, Oklahoma;

An affidavit on file in Pontotoc County District Court indicates Francis resident Dennis Reif was awoken by the sound of breaking glass in his home in the 21900 block of County Road 1475 shortly before 2:46 a.m. Wednesday. The affidavit indicates Reif told dispatchers and sheriff’s deputies he had confronted to two men inside his home, one of whom opened fire on him. The record states Reif told dispatchers and deputies he returned fire, striking one of the men at least twice in the chest or abdomen. The men then fled the home in a white pickup traveling westbound on County Road 1475 toward Francis.

Sheriff’s Department records indicate deputies Zubair Khan and Brett Edens coordinated an effort to locate the men with Ada police officers arriving to help locate the suspects. In the course of their search, sheriff’s deputies and Ada police officers said they located two white pickups in the area. Ada police officers successfully stopped one truck, but the second truck fled when officers approached, leading deputies and police officers on a brief high-speed pursuit until the truck crashed through a fence and large shrubs by a private drive near County Roads 3532 and 1505. The driver of the truck fled the crash scene and evaded capture at the time.

Ada police officers identified Dustin Hoots, 39, of Tupelo, as the driver of the crashed truck, which subsequent investigation revealed to have been reported stolen last month. Police said they found Christopher Born, 37, of Ada lying in the back of the crashed truck and bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds. Born was transported by Mercy EMS to Mercy Hospital Ada, where he remains in critical condition after multiple surgeries to repair the wounds.