Category: Feel Good Stories

From Boulevard, California;

The [85-year-old] property owner told investigators he had spotted Saldana in his yard, seemingly trying to steal his car, and went outside and told the trespasser to get off his property.

“The suspect started yelling and rushed at the property owner, who retreated inside his house,” Medina said. “The property owner armed himself with a handgun but remained inside the house while the suspect continued to move about the property, yelling and acting in an emotionally disturbed manner.”

Fearing for his and his wife’s safety, the resident fired four shots in the direction of Saldana in an attempt to scare him off, the sergeant said.

Though wounded, the suspect remained on the property prior to the arrival of deputies, allegedly breaking into vehicles, entering an unoccupied prefabricated home, removing items from inside it and setting fire to it. The blaze destroyed the structure.

From New Castle County, Delaware;

The homeowner told officers [Joseph Basher, 29 and Joshua Perry, 26] were in his house when he came home, police said. Basher apparently had one of the victim’s guns, but the homeowner engaged him in a fight and restrained him.

Perry fled on foot, but was tracked down and arrested.

The homeowner was treated and released for minor injuries sustained in the fight. Basher was transported to an area hospital where he’s still recovering from facial injuries the homeowner gave him.

He was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person due to a previous felony conviction; possession of ammunition by a prohibited person; theft of a firearm; second-degree conspiracy; third-degree assault; and resisting arrest.

From Jackson, Mississippi;

The family said the man [Marcus Funchess, 28] had a gun when he entered their home at the Hampton House Apartments early Thursday morning.

The family managed to hit the suspect in the head and tied him up before police arrived. On video the family shared, the man is heard saying that he ‘did not know how he got there.’

Fox News reports that those two escaped prisoners from Georgia were captured last night by a good guy with a gun in Tennessee;

Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Bill Miller said late Thursday that the homeowner caught Donnie Rowe and Ricky Dubose trying to steal his vehicle.

Miller says the escaped Georgia inmates had crashed a car while being chased by law enforcement and fled on foot into woods along Interstate 24 near the rural community of Christiana.

Miller says something alerted the homeowner that people were outside his home and he saw the men trying to steal his vehicle. The trooper says the homeowner held the two at gunpoint with a neighbor he called until the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department could get there to arrest them.

There was a $130,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the pair.

AW1Ed sends a link to a story from Downey, California;

The owner of a car audio store in Downey shot three armed would-be robbers, two of them fatally, in a gunfire exchange on Monday evening, authorities said.

The shooting was reported about 8:15 p.m. in the 8800 block of Rosecrans Avenue, according to the Downey Police Department. Officers arrived to find two men dead inside First Class Car Audio.

“All I heard was gunshots — about nine or 10 gunshots,” said a man who declined to publicly be identified.

Another man said: “Everybody in the neighborhood thought it was fireworks. Nobody didn’t really pay it no attention until we see the police and everything.”

According to investigators, the third suspect had transported himself to a hospital and is expected to survive. He was being questioned by detectives on Tuesday.

From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;

A neighbor is being credited for scaring off a would-be burglar in Claridge.

Iean Critchlow said his neighbors called him and said someone was trying to break into their Claridge home. His reaction was to turn on the lights and grab his gun.

“It’s getting to the point now, where the homeowners are going to start taking things into their own hands,” Critchlow said.

He encountered the potential intruder and told Channel 11 he caught the man red-handed behind his neighbor’s property Thursday night.

“He was hiding behind a bush and jumped out so I put him at gunpoint and it looked like he was going to go down, I told him don’t move, I will shoot.”

The burglar escaped when more neighbors came outside. Officers were called about the attempted break-in, but no one had been charged as of Tuesday evening. The Penn Township police chief said he thinks the same person may be tied to several business burglaries in Claridge and the Harrison City area.

From St Louis, Missouri;

The officer involved had just gotten off work and was inside the store with two clerks and another customer at about 11:40 p.m., O’Toole said. A man walked in, pulled out a gun and demanded money.

O’Toole said the officer identified himself and there was an exchange of gunfire. Only the would-be robber was hit. That man, who O’Toole said had yet to be identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. A handgun believed to have been used by him was recovered.

The officer who shot him is a seven-year veteran of the force, the chief said. The officer was in street clothes at the time of the shooting.

From Lafayette, Indiana;

Lafayette police said the intruders walked into a home in the neighborhood Sunday around 2 p.m. The homeowner then chased the invaders out with a gun.

“That doesn’t happen out here that much. Or well, it never did but it seems like it’s going to now,” said Edwin Grady.

The intruders then hopped into their car, and the homeowner jumped into his and a rolling pursuit broke out.

“There was an exchange of gunfire,” said Lt. Brian Gossard. “We did locate some evidence at the scene to indicate that rounds were discharged. We’re just lucky no one was hurt or killed in this incident.”

The chase headed towards Shadeland, then looped back towards Lafayette.

“The victim vehicle broke down around Shadeland then the suspect vehicle was later located on Veteran’s Memorial, also disabled. It had blown a tire,” said Gossard.

The three men then ran away from police after their car broke down. Gossard said the invaders’ car was stolen from Chicago.

“Suspects did get away for now,” said Gossard. “But we’re still doing some follow up.”

From Temple, Texas;

Matt Skelton said when he was getting ready for bed, he checked his security cameras one last time – that is when he saw someone in his ford expedition.

At the time, without hesitation he said he grabbed his gun and ran outside to “get him to stop”.

After Skelton’s neighbor came out to help hold him for police, Skeleton set off his house alarm to call police.

Temple PD identified the suspect as 19-year-old Jaime Hernandez-Ortiz who remains in the Bell County Jail at this hour on $2,500 bond.

Skelton, who retired from the Military said while he didn’t’t hesitate to confront the suspect, he’s glad it never escalated and he never had to defend himself.

“You don’t wanna have to shoot a kid you know,” Skelton said. “and he wasn’t a kid, he was 19 so that didn’t matter.

From Gresham, Illinois;

The 39-year-old man was in the 8300 block of South Elizabeth at 8:15 p.m. when he was approached by a 24-year-old man, according to Chicago Police.

The younger man shot the older man in the abdomen, and the older man returned fire, striking the alleged robber twice in the legs and twice in the neck, police said.

The younger man was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead, police said. His name has not yet been released by the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The older man was also taken to Christ, where he was listed in serious condition, police said.

From Cypress, Texas;

When deputies arrived, they found a black man, identified as Derek Cooper with two gunshot wounds to his abdomen.

Investigators learned that the person who shot Cooper was trying to sell him a cellphone he’d advertised on Craigslist.

The victim met with Cooper and a juvenile at that location for the exchange of the phone for money, when suddenly the juvenile pointed a handgun at the complainant and demanded all his money.

The victim handed over the phone and money, and then the juvenile and Cooper demanded all he had in his vehicle.

The man told investigators he went to his car, grabbed his own handgun and fired two rounds, hitting Cooper twice.

The juvenile ran off, but was quickly caught by deputies, who were responding to the area.

Derek Cooper was arrested, and charged with robbery, and is in the hospital and will be booked into the Harris County Jail upon his release, according to the Harris County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office.

From Putnam County, West Virginia;

Christopher Evans-Sayre, 25, is charged with burglary and destruction of property.

According to a criminal complaint, about 4 a.m. on Sunday deputies responded to a burglary call on Fir Street in Eleanor.

The homeowner told deputies that Evans-Sayre had broken into his home.

In the process of the break-in, the homeowner fell while carrying a pistol and shot himself in the leg. He then fired off two shots in the direction of the suspect, according to deputies.

According to the complaint, the living room window was broken and a brick was lying on the living room floor. The front storm door glass was also shattered.

Deputies say Evans-Sayre told them he had taken meth two hours before the break-in.

Keep your finger off the trigger until you have the target sighted in.

From Cunot, Indiana;

The 82-year-old homeowner, who was the only person home at the time of the incident, reportedly fired two shots at the suspect, police said.

The intruder, however, was not hit, authorities said, as the two men reportedly struggled and the suspect escaped.

The elderly homeowner was not seriously injured in the incident, police said.

From Holiday, Florida;

A 33-year-old New Port Richey man was arrested Sunday night on burglary and battery charges after he allegedly punched a man several times outside a bar in Holiday, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

He then fled on foot and tried to break into a home about a block away, where he was shot in the shoulder by a resident, authorities said.

From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

The robber threatened the man who repeatedly warned him that he had a concealed gun, investigators said. The robber ignored the man’s warnings and continued to move toward him with the knife, according to officials. Police say the man then opened fire and shot the man once in the leg.

The robbery suspect was taken to the hospital and was later released. Police have not yet revealed his identity or the specific charges against him.

The man who shot the robber had a license to carry a concealed weapon, officials said. Police ruled the shooting was justified.

From Owen County, Indiana;

Detectives say the homeowner heard a noise, so he got up and grabbed his gun. He realized someone was in the home and reportedly shot at the intruder twice. Officers say both of the shots missed and the suspect got away.

Police say the homeowner suffered minor injuries, but they did not elaborate on what kind or how he got them.

A good old fashioned bank robbery, car chase and shoot out in Vancouver, Washington;

Police say they believe Hamilton robbed a bank in Vancouver and then fled in a vehicle, leading officers on a short chase.

Police say after officers attempted to stop Hamilton’s vehicle, he was hit in an exchange of gunfire with officers. Police say Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene.

From Wichita, Kansas;

The shooting happened just after 10:00 p.m., at Ruben’s Mexican Restaurant. That’s in the 900 block of West Douglas.

When police arrived, they found a 58-year-old employee who had been shot.

The employee says a 26-year-old man entered the business and demanded money.

This lead to a shooting, where police say the employee was able to return fire. After being struck, the suspect left.

A short time later, officers were called out to another shooting in the 1000 block of East 8th Street North.

There, police say they found a 26-year-old man with a gunshot would who matched the description of of the robbery suspect.

Both victim and suspect were taken to the hospital. At last check, WPD says the victim remains in critical condition while the suspect is in serious condition.

An update to yesterday’s story from Norfolk, Virginia;

Kuwan Robinson, 17, and three others tried to break into a unit just after midnight at the Breezy Point Apartments in the 8600 block of Glen Myrtle Ave., police said, but he was shot during the attempt.

Robinson, of North Chesterfield (just south of Richmond), died in the front yard of the apartment complex.

Jamel Bridges, 20, of Richmond was with Robinson and also got shot, police said. About 10 minutes later, he turned up at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center. Doctors expect him to live.

Police charged Bridges, D’Marco Scott, 19, also of North Chesterfield and a 15-year-old boy with armed burglary, conspiracy and using a gun to commit a felony.

From Auburn, Washington;

Auburn police responded to a report of an armed male suspect entering an occupied residence about 12:25 p.m. Saturday in the 400 block of 23rd Street Southeast.

As officers arrived in the area, the intruder fled the residence on foot.

A responding officer located the suspect in the intersection of 21st and D Street Southeast, at which point the suspect attempted to force his way into an occupied vehicle.

The officer engaged the suspect and fired his weapon, striking the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

From Eastlake, Ohio;

A 29-year-old female resident had called 911 stating that her ex-boyfriend had broken into her home and was assaulting her. She stated she had shot the male once, according to the report.

The report further states that officers arrived on scene shortly thereafter and found a 33-year-old male lying on the floor of the residence with a gunshot wound to his upper left leg.

Eastlake Fire Rescue transported the male to Lake West Medical Center where he was then transported by Metro Life Flight to Metrohealth Medical Center in Cleveland, and was later pronounced dead,

From Norfolk, Virginia;

The man said five to six guys walked up the stairs to the apartment and then kicked in the door to the apartment. But, he said, instead of scoring what they wanted, they got some “hot ones” – bullets.

This morning, residents of the building walked by bullet holes in the wall and on the ceiling above a stairway.

Police got multiple calls for shots heard at the Breezy Point Apartments in the 8600 block of Glen Myrtle Ave, and when they got there, they found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He died at the scene.

Wilted Willy sends a link to a story in Indianapolis, Indiana that Ex-PH2 will enjoy;

“I tried to call the police at first, but they put me on hold, and I said, ‘Well this ain’t going to work,’” [Cynthia Kootz] said. “Well, then the guy says, ‘Well I’m getting in whether anybody likes it or not,’ so I’m calling and trying to get a hold of the police department still had me on hold.”

Kootz said the man pushed open the screen window and reached for the door handle.

“[Ms. Kootz’ cat) Binky went after him, and I think Binky just bit him once then because Binky turned around and ran off,” she said. “Well, I thought he ran into the house.”

But Binky, who is declawed, didn’t go very far. Kootz said the man tried reaching for the door handle again.

“Well, next thing I knew Binky took off again, and this time he tore the guy’s hand and arm up,” he said. “This time he held onto that guy; all I seen was fur going up.”

Police arrived on scene and arrested 41-year-old Earl Scruggs.

Frankie sends us a link from Tallahassee, Florida;

Police say a man was shot and killed Tuesday night while attempting to rob residents at the College Club Apartments.

Laron Fryson, 20, was shot after entering the apartment with two accomplices and an AK-47 at about 10 p.m. at the South Adams Street apartments, according to Tallahassee Police Department. Fryson was shot by a resident who feared for his life, the report states. He died at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare at 10:45 p.m. while undergoing emergency care.

Two teens, 17-year-olds Tony Hill and Alvin Green, have been arrested as suspects in the incident that left Fryson dead. Both were charged with homicide and armed home invasion robbery. Green sUFfered non-life threatening injuries during the incident and was also treated at TMH.

In Lancaster, Pennsylvania;

Lancaster City Police reported that, at 2:35 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 600 block of Marietta Avenue and found the homeowner and his wife, along with the suspect, William Louis Stewart, 46, of Lancaster. The couple reported Stewart, who they did not know, had forced his way through the front door.

Police said the man had been sleeping upstairs when he heard the front door being kicked in and his wife screaming for help. After retrieving his handgun and running downstairs to protect his wife, the man saw that Stewart had broken into the home, and Stewart approached him with a piece of wood, police said.

At that point, the homeowner fired one shot that struck Stewart in the chest, according to police. The woman then called 911 to report the incident.

Stewart remains hospitalized, police said, and faces charges including burglary and simple assault.

From Honolulu, Hawaii;

Honolulu police are investigating an attempted home invasion where the suspects pretended to be police officers.

It happened at a home in Kaneohe Tuesday night.

We’re told the suspects barged into the home and hurt a 62-year-old woman, but her relatives and an off-duty officer came to the rescue and caught one of them.

Dorsey Roberts and his wife found three men standing in front of his aunt’s home.

“I yelled at them in my loudest voice that don’t move or I’m going to beat you to death,” he said. “I saw the guy start to run from the front door, but at that time, my neighbor who is a police officer, he was off duty, arrived right then and he started chasing the guy.”

Together, Roberts and the officer took down the suspect.

“That’s when I grabbed him by his dreadlocks and arms and slammed him down and I just sat down on his back,” Roberts said.

Mr Roberts and his wife are both reportedly former Marines.

Wilted Willy sends us link from Sicklerville, New Jersey;

A Good Samaritan named Daryl was captured via surveillance video fighting an armed man who police say robbed a Wawa store on Cross Keys Road in Winslow Township.

“Pretty much didn’t know anything else that was going on around me whatsoever,” Daryl told Fox 29. “It was just stop him, get that gun out of his hand, and make sure everybody is safe.”

[…]

The 52-year-old good guy says he saw the 26-year-old suspect point a gun at two female workers before taking action.

“He put the pistol to the back of her head, and that’s when I just reacted. He struck me in the face a couple of times. One strike in my left eye resulting in three stitches and a busted lip. A few cuts and scrapes and bumps and bruises.”