Defensive Gun Uses By People Legally Carrying Guns: Cases From February to March 2020
Charlotte, NC, February 4, 2020 (WCNC)
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, officers were called to a reported shooting on Myers Mill Lane, just off Lancaster Highway around 6:30 a.m. When officers go to the house, they found a 17-year-old who had been shot. Officers learned during their investigation that the teen approached a woman and tried to steal her car at gunpoint.
Police said the suspect took the woman’s keys and began to steal the car when her husband came outside and began wrestling with him. Multiple neighbors came running to help, including a Good Samaritan with a firearm who ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. When he refused to, the neighbor shot the suspect and held him to the ground until police arrived. The suspect, who has not been identified, was taken to a Charlotte hospital for treatment…
WCNC Staff, “Carjacking suspect shot by Good Samaritan in Ballantyne, police say,” WCNC, February 4, 2020.
Mesquite, TX, February 4, 2020 (CBS DFW, NBC DFW)
At approximately 5:22 p.m. Feb. 4, Mesquite police responded to a shooting call outside Town East Mall. When officers arrived, the victim stated he had arranged online to meet a potential buyer of a vehicle he was selling in the parking lot…
When the victim arrived at the parking lot, he exited his vehicle to meet the buyer, police say.The “buyer” then entered the victim’s vehicle and began driving away.
Police say the victim pulled out a handgun as he chased after his vehicle, which ultimately stalled out in the parking lot.
A second vehicle, which police believe to be an accomplice of the suspect, pulled up next to the victim, and the driver displayed a firearm.
As the original suspect attempted to enter the accomplice’s vehicle, the victim fired several rounds, hitting the original suspect in the leg, police say…
CBS DFW Staff, “21-Year-Old Man Shot After Attempting To Steal Car Outside Mesquite Mall, Police Say,” CBS DFW Channel 11, February 5, 2020.
Hannah Jones, “Man Arrested in Connection With Mesquite Aggravated Robbery,” NBC DFW Channel 5, February 6, 2020.
Fort Wayne, IN, February 13, 2020 (WANE)
That’s when a man wearing a mask apparently walked up to the car, pulled out a handgun, and tried to rob them at gunpoint.
While that was happening, another man with the group walked out of the store and saw what was unfolding. He pulled out a gun and exchanged fire with the robbery suspect.
The suspect and some of the victims then ran from the scene…
WANE Staff, “Suspect shot during armed robbery attempt outside gas station,” WANE CBS Channel 15, February 13, 2020.
Auburn, ME, February 24, 2020 (Sun Journal)
The male victim told Beasley and his acquaintance that he needed to get it from his vehicle, which was parked nearby.
Police said that the man pulled a 9 mm handgun from his vehicle and fired multiple shots at Beasley and the 19-year old, who began to run away. One of the shots struck the 19-year old, according to police…
Matthew Daigle, “One Person taken to hospital, another arrested after Auburn shootings,” Sun Journal, February 27, 2020.
Colorado Springs, CO, February 27, 2020 (9NEWS.com)
Officers with CSPD initially responded to the Loaf ‘N Jug store located at 1019 Space Center Drive shortly before 4 a.m. on Feb. 27 regarding a robbery in which the suspect took four or five Modelo bottled beers from the cooler and attempted to leave without paying, prosecutors said…
At 3:43 a.m., the suspect, later identified as Desmond Hayes, approached the personal vehicle of Lucas Aragon, an off-duty CSPD officer at the drive-thru window of Carl’s Jr.
Hayes opened the rear passenger door, got into the vehicle, and according to prosecutors, said he had a gun and ordered Aragon to take him where he wanted to go or he would get hurt…
He (Aragon) fired his personal weapon at Hayes, striking him nine times and then jumped from his vehicle and called 911, according to investigators…
Janet Oravetz, “Off-duty officer won’t be charged in fatal shooting in Carl’s Jr. drive-thru,” NBC Channel 9 (Denver, Colorado), July 1, 2020.
Charlotte, NC, March 18, 2020 (WSOC-TV)
Police said a 17-year-old boy called 911 to say he had been shot and officers found him behind a church next to the ATM…
WSOCTV Staff, “Woman fights back, shoots suspect after 5 men try to rob her at ATM,” WSOC-TV Channel 9, March 18, 2020.
Atlanta, GA, March 20, 2020 (WSB-TV)
That’s when police said one of the men from the SUV got out and tried to steal the car.
A nearby witness saw what was going on and shot the man trying to steal the car, police say.
The SUV then took off from the gas station.
The witness stayed at the scene and spoke with police. Investigators said the witness will not be charged…
WSBTV Staff, “Witness shoots man attempting to steal car from gas station, police say,” WSB-TV Atlanta, March 20, 2020.
Fresno, CA, March 24, 2020 (KMPH)
Just after 5:30 pm Tuesday, Fresno Police were patrolling in the area of Belmont and Valeria when they spotted a 2006 Nissan speeding.Officers tried to pull over the car, but the driver refused to stop and sped off. The driver led police on a short chase and ended up crashing near Valeria and Grant.
After the crash, the driver hopped out of the car with a pump shotgun. He then reportedly aimed it at the officers and began firing at them. After firing a couple of rounds, he then turned around and started to run away from officers.
During this time, a good Samaritan was walking down the street and spotted the guy running toward him with a shotgun. That good Samaritan turned out to be a CCW holder and pulled out his gun to defend himself. He fired one time at the suspect, making him fall to the ground…
Fox26 News, “Good Samaritans help bring down man accused of shooting at Fresno police officers,” Fox 26 News, March 24, 2020.
Tulsa, OK, March 27, 2020 (FOX 23, Tulsa World)
Surveillance video showed Porter in an altercation in the area earlier in the day…
Porter returned about three minutes later.She allegedly pulled a gun and opened fire. Watkins said she was shooting from her car at the dispensary owner and truck owner.
A person who was also standing outside the business, reportedly a concealed carry license holder, told responding officers that he shot the woman after she began shooting at customers.
Investigators questioned the shooter at the department’s detective division. He was later released…
Fox 23 staff, “Man shoots, kills woman accused of opening fire at Tulsa shopping area, police say,” Fox 23 Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 27, 2020.
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