Defensive Gun Uses By People Legally Carrying Guns: Twenty-six Cases During December 2020
Akron, OH, December 1, 2020 (Cleveland 19)
The robbery happened just before 8 p.m. at the MetroPCS store on Main Street in Akron.
According to Akron police, the suspect entered the store, pulled out a handgun, and took money from the cash register.
The suspect then tried to get access to the safe.
That’s when a MetroPCS employee pulled out his own handgun and fired multiple shots at the subject before running from the store.
Officers took the suspect into custody when they arrived on scene…
Steph Krane, “Employee at Akron Metro PCS store shoots robber who pulled out gun,” Cleveland 19, December 2, 2020.
Myrtle Beach, SC, December 1, 2020 (The Sun News)
Authorities were called Tuesday about 7 p.m. to Ludlow Loop for a driver who crashed his car into an apartment complex. A witness saw the crash and went to check on the driver. The driver turned out to be Hancock, who was behind the wheel. His eyes were “glossed over” according to the police report. Hancock, 21, then sped forward crashing into a car in the parking lot.
The then asked Hancock what was wrong to which he responded that he would “kill him” and accelerated towards him. The witness pulled out a gun and fired a shot into the car, causing it to swerve away, the police report said. The witness told police he fired out of fear for his life and that Hancock kept driving and yelled something from his window. Police did not name the witness.
Police later found Hancock at a gas station on River Oaks Boulevard where he assaulted a store employee, according to the report. Hancock is being held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center without bail.
Gerard Albert, “Man shoots at car to avoid being run over by driver who threatened to kill, police say,” The Sun News, December 2, 2020.
Houston, TX, December 4, 2020 (TAPINTO)
A woman parked at an apartment complex in the 10900 block of Gulf Freeway around 12:30 a.m. After she parked, the woman noticed a man trying to break into her car. The woman went inside and grabbed a gun before going outside to confront the burglar.
During the confrontation, the woman shot him in the leg. The burglar was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive. He faces a burglary of a motor vehicle charge
The woman isn’t expected to face charges related to the shooting.
TAPINTO Staff, “Woman Shoots Man Attempting to Rob Her Car,” TAPINTO, December 4, 2020.
Philadelphia, PA, December 5, 2020 (NBC Philadelphia)
Philadelphia Police say before 1 p.m., a 59-year-old man was outside the CVS on the 6300 block of Stenton Avenue when a 20-year-old man approached and tried to rob him of his items and car.
As the men struggled, the 59-year-old yelled for help. A security company supervisor came to his aid and pulled out a gun. The security supervisor fired multiple shots, hitting the 20-year-old three times…
No charges have been filed so far…
Steven Fisher and NBC10 Staff, “Security Guard Shoots, Kills Man in Robbery Attempt at Pharmacy, Cops Say,” NBC Philadelphia, December 5, 2020.
Jacksonville, AR, December 7, 2020 (THV11)
On Monday, December 7, at 10:40 p.m., officers with the Jacksonville Police Department responded to South Bailey Drive, in response to someone attempting to commit aggravated robbery.
Once on scene, officers found a man dead that matched a description of the suspect from an earlier robbery at the Jacksonville Stop and Shop, which is located on South First Street.
According to police, the suspect attempted to rob another victim outside of her home roughly two hours later.
The third attempt turned fatal for the suspect, as one of the victims shot in self-defense after the suspect had reportedly shot at them…
THV11 Digital, “Suspect shot, killed by victim after 3 separate robbery attempts in Jacksonville,” THV11, December 8, 2020.
Round Lake Beach, IL, December 7, 2020 (NBC Chicago)
The shooting happened around 10:45 p.m. Monday in the 1000 block of Fairfield Road, according to the Round Lake Beach Police Department.
There, authorities say a man and a woman ordered employees of a business behind the counter and held them at gunpoint.
“At one point during the incident, one of the employees was able to access a firearm and shot several rounds at the suspects, striking both suspects,” police said in a release…
NBC Chicago Staff, “Employee Shoots 2 During Robbery Attempt in Round Lake Beach; Police Search for Pair Who Fled Scene,” NBC Chicago, December 8, 2020.
Maplewood, MO, December 9, 2020 (KMOV.com)
Officials with the Maplewood Police Department said a young man entered the Boost Mobile store at 7222 Manchester Rd. after 6 p.m. with a gun and said he was going to rob the store, which is near Schlafly Bottleworks.
During the robbery, the employee pulled out their own gun and shot the suspect, who is 21 years old.
According to police, the suspect was wearing an ankle monitor at the time, having been charged with a previous robbery and released pending trial…
The clerk was brought to the Maplewood Police Department to be interviewed, but at this time it is not expected he will face any charges as officers believe he was acting in self-defense.
KMOV.COM Staff, “Would-be-robber shot inside Maplewood business was wearing ankle monitor from previous robbery,” KMOV.com, December 10, 2020.
Las Vegas, NV, December 11, 2020 (8 NEWS NOW)
Metro Police said a call originally came out about 30 minutes before the shooting call, with the caller saying a homeless man broke into the United Way by smashing a window. The homeless man, now identified as Martin, then broke windows at an auto business nearby.
Martin was confronted by an employee of the auto business.
An altercation then took place between the employee and Martin, and the employee was shoved to the ground and hit his head. The employee then shot Martin in the parking lot of the business…
Metro Police say this is an ongoing investigation, but it will most likely be investigated as a case of self-defense.
Carolyn Williams and Lucas Wright, “UPDATE: Coroner identifies homeless man shot, killed by employee after smashing windows at businesses, fighting with employee,” 8 NEWS NOW, December 14, 2020.
Naples, FL, December 12, 2020 (Naples Daily News)
Eduardo Pastrana-Pacheco, 22, of Cuba and another man were attempting to steal a motorcycle from the complex parking lot, the report states. The armed owner went outside and shouted when he saw the men pushing the motorcycle away from the apartments. The victim said he heard a loud bang, which he perceived as gunfire, the report states.
The victim responded with two shots from his pistol. The suspects split up and fled on foot, the report states. The owner fired one more shot before returning to his residence and calling law enforcement…
Thaddeus Mast, “Attempted motorcycle theft results in gunfire, police search, Collier County Sheriff’s Office reports,” Naples Daily News, December 13, 2020.
Philadelphia, PA, December 12, 2020 (FOX 29 Philadelphia)
Officials say two men stopped at a gas station at the corner of West Hunting Park Avenue and North Broad Street Saturday, just after 10:30 p.m.
One of the two men went into the convenience store, while the other remained outside. It was then, authorities say, two men pulled up in a dark SUV and attempted a carjacking.
The man inside the store came outside, saw the two men and began to fire a gun, according to officials.
The two men with the dark SUV reportedly returned fire. One of the two men was hit once in the chest…
The man who saw the attempted carjacking and fired a weapon was said to be licensed to carry a gun…
FOX 29 Philadelphia Staff, “Victim fatally shoots attempted carjacker in Nicetown, police say,” FOX 29 Philadelphia, December 13, 2020.
Rosedale, MD, December 13, 2020 (The Baltimore Sun)
Baltimore County police say a 20-year-old Rosedale man who died Sunday was fatally shot in a Walmart parking lot after he attempted to rob someone…
Police said Burney arranged a meetup in the parking lot with a man he found on a popular app selling an expensive pair of shoes. During the transaction, police said, Burney attempted to rob the seller, who pulled a handgun, shot Burney once, then called 9-1-1 and remained at the scene.
Responding officers located Burney lying in the parking lot with a gunshot wound, and recovered a loaded handgun from him before he was transported to the hospital.
“Investigators interviewed and released the seller, who is cooperating with the police investigation,” police said in a news release…
Mckenna Oxenden, “Rosedale man fatally shot in Walmart parking lot was attempting to rob another man, police say,” The Baltimore Sun, December 14, 2020.
Pine Bluff, AR, December 17, 2020 (KATV)
It happened about 4:38 a.m. in the 1400 block of West 23rd Street. Paramedics John Spriggs, 21, and Joshua Godfrey, 35, told police they were treating a woman who had been beaten by her boyfriend when the boyfriend approached their ambulance, according to a police report…
The boyfriend, identified as Kevin Curl Jr., 22, reportedly got into a dispute with Spriggs. Curl then pulled a gun and shot Spriggs and Godfrey. Spriggs returned fire…
When officers arrived, Curl was dead. Spriggs was lying on the ground and Godfrey was bleeding in the back of an ambulance…
Spriggs, Godfrey and Curl’s girlfriend were taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center for treatment…
Shelby Rose, “Pine Bluff shooting leaves 1 dead, 2 paramedics injured,” KATV, December 17, 2020.
Midland, TX, December 18, 2020 (News West 9)
Officers responded to the 4400 block of Northcrest Drive at around 4 a.m.
According to MPD, a 21 year old woman had gone to her vehicle and found a man inside without her consent who was stealing her items.
The woman shot the man, who was identified as Jarrod Adron Roberts, 36…
Detectives interviewed the woman and released her, and say no arrests have been made at this time…
News West 9 Staff, “MPD: Woman shoots, kills man stealing items from her vehicle,” News West 9, December 18, 2020.
Corbin, KY, December 19, 2020 (The Times-Tribune)
An employee was shot and a Keavy man was killed during an attempted robbery at the 312 Market, formerly the Bait Bucket, on Highway 312 Saturday morning.
The man killed was Jacob S. Vann, age 32, and was the suspect in the robbery. Vann was shot by an employee after entering the store around 6:59 a.m. Saturday stating he wanted the store’s money and inferring he had a weapon, according to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.
Vann reportedly assaulted a male employee during the robbery attempt. Another male employee fired shots at Vann, who was assaulting the other employee, and hit Vann at least once causing a fatal injury…
Erin Cox, “BREAKING NEWS: Keavy man killed, employee shot in attempted robbery at convenience store on Hwy. 312,” The Times-Tribune, December 19, 2020.
Green Township, PA, December 22, 2020 (Erie News Now)
Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri ruled the deadly shooting at a State Gamelands gun range during the week of Christmas as justified…
It happened Dec. 22 when Robert Eppley, 26, and his friend Michael Patterson, 28, went to the State Gamelands 109 gun range on Sampson Rd. in Greene Township to try out Patterson’s new gun. Both were joined by their girlfriends, and the two couples were friends and traveled to the gun range together.
After firing down the range, investigators said Eppley turned and began firing the weapon at Patterson, hitting him multiple times, according to State Police.
A 67-year-old Erie man who was also at the gun range saw Eppley firing and intervened, shooting Eppley five times and killing him. Eppley was hit twice in the ribs and three times in the back. The 67 year old stayed at the scene to help and give CPR…
It’s still unclear why Eppley decided to open fire on Patterson.
Erie News Now Staff, “Deadly Shooting at State Gamelands Gun Range Ruled as Justified; No Charges Warranted, District Attorney Says,” Erie News Now, February 2, 2021.
Toxicology results showed Eppley had a blood-alcohol content of .21, Daneri said Tuesday. No other drugs were found in his system.
New Orleans, LA, December 22, 2020 (The Times-Picayune)
The New Orleans Police Department classified the death as a justifiable homicide.
Police say the would-robber entered the store just before 9:30 p.m. and grabbed a drink from a cooler. The man made his way behind the front counter, armed with a gun, and demanded money from the cashier, according to Hingel…
The other employee heard the gunshots and armed himself before pushing the cashier on the ground…
The robber fired several more shots in the employees’ direction. But the armed staffer shot back, fatally wounding the robber, police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene…
Michelle Hunter, “After robber shot at New Orleans store clerk, her co-worker returned fire, killing him,” The Times-Picayune, December 23, 2020.
Pensacola, FL, December 22, 2020 (WEAR-TV)
It happened on W. Brainerd Street around 11:05 p.m. Tuesday night.
Investigators say when the victim walked outside to lock his cars, two men pointed a gun at him demanding his car.
Police said the homeowner grabbed his concealed weapon and open fire.
A 15-year-old suspect was shot near his heart. He is listed in critical condition.
The second suspect got away.
This is a Stand Your Ground cases. Charges are not expected to be filed. Police say the homeowner had a permit for his weapon.
WEAR Staff, “80-year-old Pensacola homeowner shoots 15-year-old suspected car thief,” WEAR-TV, December 23, 2020.
Tunica, MS, December 23, 2020 (FOX13Memphis.com)
According to police, at exactly 6:42 p.m. on December 23rd, they received a call about an armed robbery at a local store.
The suspect walked into the store with a handgun and demanded money from the store clerk, police said.
During the robbery, the store clerk shot the suspect who then fled out of the store, per reports…
FOX13Memphis.com News Staff, “Store clerk shoots man attempting to rob convenience store, police say,” FOX13Memphis.com, December 26, 2020.
Rochester, NY, December 23, 2020 (RochesterFirst.com)
A string of armed convenience store robberies that started in Victor ended on Thurston Road in Rochester Wednesday night, when an employee of Angelo’s Grocery Store shot the suspect…
While attempting to the last of the robberies, RPD officials said the store owner produced a legally owned hand gun and fired at the suspect, striking him. The store owner stayed on scene until police arrived…
Rochester First Staff, “String of armed robberies ends with suspect shot at corner store in Rochester,” RochesterFirst.com, December 23, 2020.
Denver, CO, December 24, 2020 (9 News)
A man was arrested on Christmas Eve after Denver Police (DPD) said he was shot while trying carjack a ride-share driver’s car Christmas Eve morning…
The second carjack victim, a ride-share driver, told police he was taking a passenger to the hospital when he was cut off by a dark-colored pickup truck, the PC statement says.
The truck’s driver then got out of the truck and came toward the ride-share driver and his passenger, according to the PC statement.
The suspect ordered the ride-share driver to get out of his car or he would shoot him, the PC statement says.
The ride-share driver, however, got out of his car armed with a gun and fired multiple rounds at the suspect after the suspect had gotten into the driver’s seat of the ride-share driver’s car, the PC statement says.
The suspect had been shot in the leg, the ride-share driver told police. The suspect then got out of the car and ran back to the truck, speeding east on Buchtel Boulevard, according to the PC statement…
Darren Whitehead, “40-year-old man arrested after being shot while trying to carjack ride-share driver on Christmas Eve,” 9 News, December 29, 2020.
Houston, TX, December 25, 2020 (Click 2 Houston)
This all unfolded around 7:30 p.m. Friday in the cul-de-sac of a neighborhood on Sawgrass Ridge Lane near Grovedale Drive, authorities said.
Deputies said they were called out to the scene by the shooter, Jamile Grimble, who has driven to a nearby truck stop to call 911. Authorities said Grimble told them he had been involved in a shooting and was turning himself in…
Investigators learned that the street was crowded and Grimble had gotten into a dispute with neighbors over where to park. Grimble had been approached by several men, including Livingston, who he said were armed with handguns, deputies said.
Grimble told deputies he was in fear of being shot, so he fired in self-defense, hitting Livingston. Deputies identified Paul Jones as another man involved in the dispute and took his statement.
Authorities determined that Jones fired a weapon at Grimble. Surveillance video from the area also contradicted the statement Jones gave authorities, so he was subsequently charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Deputies said Jones’ girlfriend, Kati Mack, was also charged with tampering with evidence after they learned she had tried to hide the firearms used by Jones and Livingston…
Grimble has not been charged…
Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli, “Parking dispute ends in fatal shooting, deputies say,” Click 2 Houston, December 26, 2020.
Commack, NY, December 25, 2020 (Patch)
Stephan Harbison, 33, of Coram, entered 450 Moreland Road — a homeless shelter called Community Housing Innovations — at 12:45 a.m., confronted an employee, displayed a gun and demanded to see a resident, police said. The employee brought Harbison to the resident’s room, which was occupied by the resident, as well as a 17-year-old and a toddler, police said.
Harbison moved the group into the shelter’s lobby, police said. Frenel Jean, 35, of Dix Hills, who is a relative of the resident, arrived, police said. Harbison and Jean exchanged gunfire inside and outside the shelter, police said. Multiple people called 911, prompting Fourth Precinct police officers to respond…
Michael DeSantis, “Police ID Men Involved In Suffolk Shooting That Left 1 Dead,” Patch, December 25, 2020.
Chicago, IL, December 26, 2020 (FOX 32 Chicago)
The would-be robber entered the cell phone shop on the 3400 hundred block of West Chicago Avenue in Humboldt Park around 7 p.m.
A man on the scene shot the robbery suspect in the chest and abdomen, police said. It is not clear if the man was the owner, employee, or another customer.
Police said the shooter, 29, had a valid concealed carry permit.
The robbery suspect was transported in critical condition to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead…
Fox 32 Digital Team and Nate Rodgers, “Man with concealed carry permit shoots and kills robbery suspect inside Chicago cell phone store,” Fox 32 Chicago, December 26, 2020.
Kenmore, WA, December 28, 2020 (Q13 FOX Seattle)
A woman was sent to a hospital overnight after she was shot while reportedly trying to break into a Kenmore storage unit.
Sgt. Tim Meyer with the King County Sheriff’s Office said it happened about 12:45 a.m. Monday at Peoples Storage on NE 181st Street. A caretaker who lives on site said he saw the woman trying to break in, then shot her in the shoulder.
Investigators said both the suspect and the man who shot her were armed when the confrontation began…
The man who shot her was not arrested.
Q13 News Staff, “Woman shot in Kenmore while reportedly breaking into storage unit,” Q13 FOX Seattle, December 28, 2020.
Eugene, OR, December 28, 2020 (NBC 16)
The owner of a stolen SUV chased the suspect through Eugene in another car Monday morning before reaching a dead end street.
The victim got out and challenged the suspect, who pulled a gun.
So did the owner of the stolen car, who fired a shot as the suspect once again sped off…
They took the man – identified as Trevor James Hudson, 32 – into custody on suspicion of Robbery in the First Degree, Unauthorized Use Vehicle and Unlawful Use Weapon…
NBC 16 News Staff, “Police: Shot fired as owner chases suspect who stole car in Eugene,” NBC 16, December 29, 2020.
Maumelle, AR, December 30, 2020 (KARK)
An attempted robbery at the Sonic in Maumelle led to an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and an employee.
According to investigators a man tried to break into the business around 5:30 Wednesday morning.
The employee told police that the suspect attempted to break the glass door to gain entry, then there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and the employee trapped inside.
The suspect reportedly fled in an unknown direction before police arrived.
Chris Counts, “Police: Suspect and employee exchange gunfire during attempted robbery in Maumelle Sonic,” KARK, December 30, 2020.
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