Defensive Gun Uses By People Legally Carrying Guns: 21 Cases During March 2023
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 2, 2023 (6 ABC)
The confrontation happened as Joel was walking home from a Chinese takeout around 11:15 p.m. Thursday.
He was approached by two men on the 2400 block of N. 10th Street. The pair tried to rob him, but Joel fought back.
“They raised a gun to begin shooting. I raised mine and we just started shooting,” Joel said. “I don’t know if I hit one of them, but I’m pretty sure I hurt them because they were in the area I was at, basically, and I got shot in the bottom part of the leg which broke my bone.”
We spoke to him at Temple University Hospital where he’s still recovering. He says he is licensed to carry from working security…
Fredericksburg, Virginia, March 5, 2023 (The Free Lance-Star)
City police spokeswoman Sarah Morris said the shooting occurred about 4:15 p.m. near the Express Food Mart on Fall Hill Avenue. Responding officers found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was treated at the scene before being rushed to Mary Washington Hospital, where he was in stable condition Monday morning.
At the same time callers were reporting the shooting, a man called 911 and reported that he had just shot an acquaintance outside his home on nearby Ivanhoe Court, Morris said. The caller claimed that the acquaintance had tried to attack him with a knife.
Morris said officers went to the shooter’s home, interviewed him and other witnesses and recovered the gun that was used in the shooting. No charges had been filed as of Monday.
Keith Epps, “Police say man shot multiple times in city,” The Free Lance-Star, March 6, 2023.
Portland, Oregon, March 6, 2023 (KPTV)
Jim, a business owner on NE Columbia Boulevard, came into work like any other day around 5:30 a.m., just 30 minutes before his employees were scheduled to show up. Jim found an intruder in his upstairs office and followed him to the back of his warehouse, but instead of leaving the property, Jim says the intruders’ demeanor became aggressive.
“It went right through my brain that he is ready to attack me, stop me,” says Jim. “When he picked up the bolt cutter and raised it and he was starting to come at me. I was lucky I can run about 15 feet, grab my gun and came back he was just standing there still ready. He started coming at me this way. Again, I didn’t look back and see how close he was because my mindset changed to my life’s totally in danger now.”
He told the intruder multiple times to get on the ground but he says, the intruder refused to back down.
“The whole thing happened so fast I finally had to shoot,” says Jim. “I only shot him when he was standing looking at me ready to come at me and then I just let him go because I just wanted it to be over.”
That’s when Jim says he called 911. Jim says the intruder got out the door and into the street. The intruder was then met by police and taken to a local hospital…
And Jim is not right now facing any charges.
Coldspring, Texas, March 8, 2023 (ABC 13)
The owner of a liquor store shot and killed a burglar early Wednesday morning in Coldspring in San Jacinto County, authorities told ABC13.
The owner of Frank’s Liquor Store was asleep in a back room at about 5:45 a.m. when he awoke to the sound of someone inside his business, said Sheriff Greg Capers.
When the owner came out of the room, he saw a burglar, who allegedly started to move toward him.
That’s when the owner, who was armed with a 9 mm pistol, shot the burglar once, said Capers…
Lubbock, Texas, March 9, 2023 (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Investigators believe a 65-year-old man died after he was shot while attempting to rob another man last week in central Lubbock, according to a recently released police report.
Officers responded to the area for a reported robbery just after 3 p.m. in the 1300 block of Avenue T, where upon arrival officers found 65-year-old Martin Martinez on the ground dead, according to a statement from Lubbock police.
An initial statement from police last week stated investigators believed Martinez was in an altercation before he was shot, but it was not immediately clear what prompted the violence. A police report made available this week states Martinez is accused of attempting to rob another man.
Responding officers arrived to find the other man, whose name was not released but is listed in the report as the victim, sitting in the grass in the 1300 block of Avenue T. An officer observed a black handgun in the grass nearby while Martinez was laying on the sidewalk nearby.
The man who was listed as the victim was placed in handcuffs and taken to the back seat of a police patrol car, where he told officers he did not wish to speak. However, he was not placed under arrest and police by Wednesday confirmed no arrests have been made as the investigation is ongoing…
Bradenton, Florida, March 16, 2023 (WTSP, ABC7)
At around 7 p.m., a suspect was shot during an attempted armed robbery at Cumming’s Mini Mart on 9th Avenue East, a spokesperson for Bradenton police said…
The 63-year-old owner of the convenience store confronted a 39-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, accusing them of shoplifting, the Bradenton Police Department said in a news release Friday.
The confrontation became physical, police say. The clerk attempted to call 911, but his phone, and a gun, were taken from him.
The clerk retreated behind the counter, and when the man followed him, the clerk fired one shot using a second gun hidden there, hitting the man in the shoulder. The couple left the store in a vehicle, but pulled over a short distance away. The woman flagged down police who stopped to render assistance.
The man is hospitalized in stable condition. There are no charges filed at this time.
Jordan Highsmith, “Attempted armed robbery leads to shooting at Bradenton mini mart,” WTSP, March 16, 2023.
ABC7 Staff, “Suspected shoplifter shot at Bradenton mini-mart, police say,” ABC7, March 17, 2023.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 16, 2023 (6 ABC)
It happened around 3:30 p.m. Thursday on the 4400 block of Princeton Avenue.
Police say the 18-year-old and another suspect were in the process of stealing a Toyota Corolla, but the 26-year-old owner came outside.
That’s when a gun battle erupted on the residential street…
The 18-year-old was shot four times and tried to run away. He made it to the 7100 block of Cottage Street before collapsing on the pavement…
The car owner who fired the weapon was licensed to carry, police said…
Huntsville, Alabama, March 17, 2023 (WHNT)
A spokesperson for HPD said that officers responded to a shooting call at a business in the 2900 block of Mastin Lake Road shortly after 6 a.m. on Friday.
Investigators say that when one man left his vehicle and went into the business, another man attempted to steal the vehicle. That’s when authorities say the vehicle’s owner came back out and confronted the man, asking him multiple times to get out.
HPD said the man then attempted to drive away, and the vehicle owner fired his weapon at him…
After reviewing the case with the Madison County District Attorney’s Office, it was determined no charges will be filed at this time, the HPD spokesperson said. The case will be presented to a Madison County Grand Jury at a later time.
Ambler, Pennsylvania, March 18, 2023 (Bucks County Courier Times, NBC Philadelphia)
According to police, the incident happened at about 3 p.m. on Saturday, when police in Horsham responded to Whitemarsh Memorial Park in Ambler after a report of shots being fired…
Davis and friends arrived at the Limekiln Pike cemetery to celebrate the birthday of a friend, Tyreek Fairel, who was fatally shot in Norristown in 2013, at about 3 p.m.
He was in his car when Hawkins approached the vehicle and began firing at Davis, who he knew, the DA’s office said.
Hawkins had arrived at the cemetery alone, and he had a handgun that had been altered with a “switch,” which converts the handgun into a fully automatic weapon, according to investigators.
When he fired at Davis, the handgun was in “automatic” mode, officials said.
Davis returned fire with a gun he owned legally and had a concealed carry permit for, according to the DA’s office.
Davis was taken to Abington Hospital for injuries to his jaw, hand and leg. Investigators determined more than 30 shots were fired during the incident…
Davis was struck multiple times before he fired back.
“Davis was under attack and in danger of being killed when he fired his legally owned weapon to end the threat. For these reasons, I conclude that this was a justifiable shooting, and therefore, no criminal charges are warranted,” a statement from Steele reads in part…
Christopher Dornblaser, “A shooting at a Horsham cemetery was deemed justified. Here’s what the DA said happened,” Bucks County Courier Times, April 7, 2023.
Hayden Mitman, “Montco Cemetery Shooting Leaves Philly Man Dead,” NBC Philadelphia, March 19, 2023.
Dayton, Ohio, March 18, 2023 (WHIO)
Deputies were dispatched around 3:36 p.m. to the 600 block of Infirmary Road in Jefferson Township, Montgomery County Regional dispatchers told News Center 7.
Three people walked up to a person near their car outside the fairgrounds and that person fired shots.
The male shooter described to 911 dispatchers what happened following the incident.
“I was sitting in my car and I was asleep,” the caller told dispatchers in 911 calls obtained by News Center 7. “I had almost three guys with guns run up on me and try to bust my window. So, my first instinct was I grabbed my gun and I shot, I hit one of them I think, I don’t know where they are.”
The three people left the scene and one of them went to the Miami Valley Hospital with unknown injuries…
Saint Louis, Missouri, March 19, 2023 (KMOV)
The 67-year-old man was found shot outside a home in the 5400 block of Queens around 12:50 p.m. He had been shot in the right shoulder, left hand and stomach.
According to police, the man went into a home while a 63-year-old woman remained in a car’s passenger seat. A white Hyundai sedan pulled alongside the car and a man got out armed with a gun. The suspect opened the car door and demanded the car’s keys. The man who was inside the home then got out and saw the attempted robbery taking place, so he pulled out his own gun and got into a shootout with the suspect.
After the shots were fired, the suspect got back into the car and drove off. The victim was taken to the hospital and listed in critical, stable condition. The woman was not injured…
Baltimore, Maryland, March 23, 2023 (Baltimore Police Department)
On March 23, 2023, at approximately 1:11 p.m., Southeast District patrol officers responded to the 3700 block of Eastern Avenue, for a report of a shooting.
Once there, officers learned that an armed gunmen entered a business establishment, brandishing a handgun and demanding money.
A female employee of the business withdrew her firearm and a struggle ensued between the employee and the suspect over the gun. The gun discharged, striking the suspect in the leg.
The suspect fled the location with the employee’s weapon but was apprehended by officers moments later in the 3700 block of Gough Street.
Officers recovered the victim’s firearm as well as the suspect’s weapon that was later determined to be a BB-gun…
Staff, “Southeast District Shooting Investigation,” Baltimore Police Department, March 23, 2023.
Las Vegas, Nevada, March 23, 2023 (FOX 5 Vegas)
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department says an armed bystander helped security at a shopping mall take a knife-wielding man into custody.
According to an arrest report from Las Vegas police, officers responded to the Fashion Show Mall at about 3:15 p.m. on March 23 after receiving a call that employees of Abercrombie & Fitch were reportedly being threatened by a man with a knife.
When officers arrived at the store, Las Vegas police wrote in the report that the suspect, later identified as Letrelle Calhoun, had left the area. While police were assisting the store employees, police said the same male was seen flashing a knife in the Plaza area of the mall…
While the suspect was threatening the officers, the arrest report says that multiple bystanders started running away. However, according to the report, one bystander who observed the incident pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Calhoun.
“This gave the security officers the opportunity to disarm Calhoun and place him in hand restraints,” police wrote in the arrest report…
Hollywood, South Carolina, March 26, 2023 (ABC News 4)
According to affidavits from April 17, the incident occurred on March 26. The CCSO responded to the scene at approximately 3:26 p.m. after Woods’ pickup truck collided with another vehicle. Both Woods and the victims called to report being involved in the shooting.
Deputies say they determined Woods and the occupants and his vehicle exchanged words with the two victims, one of whom was a juvenile, while at an Exxon gas station on Highway 162. After Woods pulled out a handgun and held it at his side, the victims left the gas station in their vehicle, but were pursued by Woods in his pickup truck. Woods cut through a parking lot to catch up with the victims.
The victims’ vehicle was struck by gunfire while they were being pursued by Woods and the CCSO found it reasonable to believe the victims were the intended targets. Rifle casings located in Woods’ pickup truck also match a shell casing located on the roadway in the area of the shooting, according to the affidavits.
Deputies say neither of the two intended victims were shot. Woods was shot in the exchange of gunfire.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 27, 2023 (6 ABC)
According to police, officers were called to the scene of the Joshua House apartments on the 2600 block of Welsh Road at 3 a.m. Monday.
Sources tell Action News that four males were breaking into cars in the area when two people started shooting at them.
The two shooters were legally carrying guns, sources said…
Houston, Texas, March 27, 2023 (ABC 13)
A man in a wheelchair used a gun to defend himself during a robbery attempt across the street from METRO Headquarters in downtown Houston, according to police.
Houston police said the man the attempted robber targeted is a military veteran.
The shooting happened in the 1900 block of Main Street near Pierce Street around 8:48 p.m. Monday.
Police said the veteran was waiting to catch a ride home on the METRO when a would-be robber picked the wrong person to mess with.
The man told HPD the 18-year-old suspect ran up to his wheelchair and tried to take his backpack, but he had a handgun and put up a fight the suspect likely never saw coming.
“He fired multiple shots, striking the suspect,” Lt. J.P. Horelica said. “The suspect ran several hundred yards, where he collapsed and was picked up by the Houston Fire Department and treated.”…
Memphis, Tennessee, March 27, 2023 (WREG)
Randy Johnson, 24, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault following the incident Monday near I-240 and Crump…
The victim said she left the apartment complex, and Johnson started following her. She said he began ramming the back of her Nissan Altima when she got on the interstate while pointing a gun at her. She said Johnson also threatened to kill her.
Police said Johnson rammed the Altima so many times that it broke down. The victim said Johnson got out of his vehicle, broke the rear passenger window of her car, and fired three to four shots inside her car.
Investigators said the friend with the victim returned fire, hitting Johnson in the hand…
Saint Louis, Missouri, March 27, 2023 (FOX 2 Now)
The shooting happened while both were riding on the bus in the 4700 block of West Florissant Avenue in the Mark Twain neighborhood…
Investigators say the man who was shot had physically attacked the alleged gunman moments before the shooting. During the attack, the alleged gunman pulled out his weapon and shot the other man.
Both men were sent to a hospital for treatment after the incident. The alleged gunman was 48 years old. The man shot was 36 years old. No one else was hurt from the situation…
Joey Schneider, “Man shot after Metro Bus attack in St. Louis,” FOX 2 Now, March 28, 2023.
Houston, Texas, March 28, 2023 (KHOU)
According to the Houston Police Department, it happened in a parking lot off South Main Street just inside Beltway 8. HPD tweeted about the shooting just after 2 p.m…
According to HPD Lt. Bryan Bui, a man pulled up to the food truck Tuesday around 1 p.m. and asked what they served. When Turner showed him, the man pulled out a gun and got out of his truck, Bui said.
She was able to close the window, but the man opened it back up and put his arm inside the food truck while pointing the gun at her. That’s when, according to Bui, the suspect tried to shoot but his gun jammed.
Turner then shot the man several times, police said. He collapsed about 50 feet away from the truck, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
HPD investigators said nothing was taken from the food truck and they’re checking the area for surveillance video. Bui said the robber didn’t fire a shot. Investigators also said that Turner is licensed to carry…
Highlands, Texas, March 28, 2023 (ABC 13)
A 64-year-old retired Baytown police officer confronted a burglary suspect in his neighborhood, leading to a shootout on the side of a busy road in Highlands, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
It all started Tuesday morning when a suspect was caught on surveillance camera barging through the backdoor of a home in the Highland Crossing neighborhood…
The retired officer was in a white Chevy Suburban and followed the suspect, who was on foot. A confrontation ensued and quickly escalated into a shootout between the two on East Wallisville Road and Thompson, according to deputies.
An eyewitness who spoke to ABC13, but wanted to stay anonymous for his safety, saw it all unfold while driving by…
One of the bullets came just inches from where he was sitting and through his red truck. While terrified, he said he got out, helped the wounded retired officer who was holding down the suspect, and explained what happened…
ABC13 spoke to the family of the retired officer, who said he is doing fine and expected to make a full recovery. His daughter said it is typical for him to look after his neighborhood and keep an eye on what’s going on.
Rockford, Illinois, March 30, 2023 (mystateline.com)
According to the Rockford Police Department, around 1:45 p.m. Thursday, March 30th, officers were called to the 1500 block of Kerstin Court for a reported shooting.
They learned that two victims were selling goods to four teenage suspects after arranging a meetup online, police said.
During the transaction, the four suspects tried to steal the items and a struggle ensued. One of the suspects, a 15-year-old boy, pulled out a gun and started shooting.
One of the victims had his own handgun and fired back. Police said the victim was a licensed gun owner…
