Armed Encounters

On this page there are reports of real life armed encounters by citizens of the United States that have been reported in almost all of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Most are recent accounts, while others are older accounts. Most of these have been used with permission from the National Rifle Association.

Many such encounters do not make it into the news for various reasons, but they happen more frequently than one may imagine. Consider the study that estimates that 2.5 million American citizens use their guns in self-defense each year, and it is obvious that all do not make it into the news media. These instances of self-defense most likely never result in a shot being fired, but the firearm is used as a tool in protecting oneself or one's property. Read and enjoy!

Alabama
Around 11:45 p.m. a man in Opelika, Ala. was approached by an armed robber demanding money. The citizen drew his firearm and shot the armed criminal, ending the attempted robbery. The criminal was taken to a local hospital, where he is being detained. The armed citizen does not face charges. (The Opelika-Auburn News, Opelika, AL 03/06/09)

Alaska
An intoxicated burglar invaded two homes in Anchorage, Alaska. The incident began when the criminal, Bowen Alexander, crashed the vehicle he was driving, and then broke into a home to steal the resident’s vehicle. Before he was able to steal the vehicle, Alexander left the residence, and entered an adjacent home. This resident heard the commotion, and fired on Alexander. The shot missed, but Alexander immediately fled, falling through a window on his way out, causing minor injuries. The police were able to apprehend Alexander, with the help of a canine unit. Alexander faces charges including, assault, burglary, driving under the influence and resisting arrest. (The Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, AK, 11/16/08)

Arizona
Police say a family was unloading groceries when three armed men approached and demanded money. When the father said he had nothing to give them, one assailant said, "Get the baby!" Fearing for his child, the father drew a handgun and opened fire on the men, who briefly returned fire before running away. One of the robbers crawled away as if shot until he was able to join his accomplices. They sped away in a black SUV and were being sought by police. No members of the family, including the baby, were injured. (KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ, 07/07/08)

Arkansas
Authorities say three men with little regard for stealth broke into the home of John Easby-Smith. Hearing a ruckus downstairs, Easby-Smith grabbed his .45-caliber handgun from a bedside table and went to investigate. Encountering the burglars, he fired several shots, hitting one of the men and causing the trio to flee the home. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, AR, 01/23/09)

California
Around 12:30 a.m. drunk driver Nicole Galvez, drove into homeowner Chris Saletta’s backyard in Los Osos, Calif. Galvez drove through a fence, a trampoline and hit a backyard well. Galvez then began driving towards Saletta’s children’s bedroom. Saletta retrieved his rifle and fired into the car, striking Galvez in the arm, ending the drunken rampage. Galvez was treated in a local hospital and arrested for driving under the influence. An investigation of the shooting by Sheriff’s deputies found Saletta acted lawfully since he feared for his family’s safety. (KSBY, Santa Maria, CA 03/13/09)

Colorado
One morning, a man armed with a knife broke into a home in Colorado Springs, Colo. When the homeowner became aware of the break-in, she retrieved a gun and fired at the criminal, striking him in the leg and causing him to flee. Soon after, the police arrived with a K-9 unit and were able to locate the wounded intruder. The homeowner does not face any charges. (KKTV, Colorado Springs, CO, 04/18/09)

Connecticut
The owner of a barbershop in New Haven, CT., was at the shop around 11 p.m. when two armed men tried to rob him. The two men, in masks and carrying guns, ran up to the owner while he was throwing out some trash. One of the robbers put a gun to his back, the other to his head, and demanded money. The owner complied with the robbers' demands. Then as the owner states, “They told me to go to the back of the building and that’s when I knew they were probably going to shoot me.” That’s when two brothers who own a restaurant next to the barbershop, noticed their neighbor in trouble. The two brothers ran out of their restaurant with their guns to help. A shootout ensued, resulting in the robbers fleeing, a possible injury to one of the robber’s legs, and no injuries for any of the businessmen. Afterwards, the victim was grateful for the two brothers help, stating, “If it wasn’t for them, I think I would have lost my life last night,” A city spokesperson confirmed that the brothers are legal gun owners. (The New Haven Register, New Haven, CT, 12/03/08)

District of Columbia
One night a woman awoke to the screams of her daughter, who was being bound and gagged by two kidnappers in her Washington, D.C., home. She confronted the men, one of whom was carrying a knife, and brought the attack to a quick halt when she was able to break free and retrieve a .32-cal. revolver from the basement, shooting the knife-wielder four times. The other suspect fled. The woman and one daughter were slashed during the attack. Some news accounts made no mention that the handgun that saved this family was illegal in the District. (The Times, Washington, DC, 12/14/1994)

Delaware
A Wilmington, DE liquor store owner was rushing to close up shop in order to buy Valentine’s Day flowers for his wife, when he was startled by four teenagers intent on robbing him. After one of the youths shot at the owner with a .22-caliber rifle, the owner pulled his pistol out and fired back, injuring the rifle-toting youth in the thigh. All four youths were eventually arrested. One local patron of the store, a City Councilwoman, said, “I'm glad he opened right back up to let them know that he wasn't going to be intimidated by all of this madness.” (The News Journal, Wilmington, DE, 02/15/08)

Florida
Police believe an armed intruder may have used a sliding door to enter the home of Heath Miller, a popular middle school music teacher. Miller’s dogs began barking, waking Miller and his wife. Miller retrieved his .38-caliber pistol and readied himself as the masked intruder approached the bedroom door. It is unclear who fired the first shot. When the exchange of gunfire ended, the intruder lay dead. The Millers were not injured. (Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, FL, 02/16/09)

Georgia
A Papa John's pizza deliveryman made a delivery to what turned out to be a vacant home on Dent Street Sunday night. An 18 year-old pointed a handgun (which turned out to be a BB pistol) at the pizza deliveryman and demanded money. The pizza deliveryman drew his S&W .40-caliber handgun and shot the would be robber several times in the stomach. The suspect was taken to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where he was said to be in serious, but stable condition on Monday morning. The Richmond County said the pizza deliveryman had a license to carry and would not be charged with anything resulting from this incident. (The Augusta Chronicle, Augusta, GA 04/21/09)

Hawaii
When a would-be burglar armed with a handgun entered a Waialua, Hawaii, residence intent on robbing the owner, he initially received cooperation--or so he thought. The resident told the home invader that the money was in a backpack. Rather than booty, however, the burglar received a boom when the homeowner pulled a 9 mm handgun and fired two shots. After jumping from a second-floor window, the burglar ran, trailing blood and dropping his own gun. (West Hawaii Today, Kailua, HI, 09/08/1998)

Idaho
After an Idaho woman went outside her home to investigate a strange noise, she found a former co-worker hiding in the bushes. He told her his pickup truck had broken down and he needed a lift home. She reluctantly agreed and took a .380-caliber handgun with her. Police say that when they reached the co-worker's driveway, he began to assault her. "He grabbed her and physically attacked her and told her she was coming with him," said a Sheriffs Captain. The woman drew her gun and shot the man in the abdomen, killing him. An autopsy of the assailant, who was a registered sex offender, showed he had a blood-alcohol content of .26 percent. Investigators say his truck was later found near the woman's home, and it appeared that its engine was intentionally disabled. (Associated Press, ID, 09/17/05)

Illinois
According to police, the teenage suspects in a burglary knew the homeowner was hospitalized, but they didn't know he had a house sitter. One suspect waited in the car while his three accomplices broke into the house. The house sitter heard glass breaking, got a handgun and hid in a bedroom while the suspects stole guns, money and jewelry. When he thought the intruders had left, he stepped into the hallway -- only to find himself face to face with a gun-toting burglar. The house sitter quickly fired two shots, killing the suspect. The other suspects fled, but were later arrested. (Telegraph, Dixon, IL, 04/11/08)

Indiana
While fetching wood from her garage one evening, a 70-year-old woman heard what sounded like people fighting. “I looked over into the road to see what was going on, and about that time a guy comes running around the house,” she explained. The woman ran inside, got her gun and dialed 911. The man circled the house, pounding on all the windows. He broke through the living room window and knocked over the television. The woman can be heard on the 911 tape yelling at the man, “You stay right where you’re at!” Police say she aimed her gun at the intruder and told him, “If you come any closer, you’re going to be dead.” She then ordered him to the floor and he obeyed, collapsing into a fetal position. He remained that way until police arrested him. (South Bend Tribune, South Bend, IN, 01/06/09)

Iowa
A Pizza Hut deliveryman thought he was making a routine delivery, but was walking into an ambush instead. As he approached the delivery location, an armed man sprang at him with a gun, but he, a concealed-carry permit holder, was no easy target. Police say he struggled hard with the assailant until he was able to produce his handgun. "It was a long ordeal ... my life was, without a doubt, in danger," he recalls. The deliveryman shot the suspect three times. The suspect fled and was arrested at the hospital. (The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, IA, 04/03/08)

Kansas
Two shoplifters entered a liquor store in Topeka, KS with the goal of making off with some stolen whiskey. After picking a bottle, one of the shoplifters distracted the clerk by pretending to look for his money while the other ran out of the store with the whiskey. The clerk, a right to carry permit holder, pulled out her gun, and held the remaining shoplifter at gunpoint until the police arrived. Afterwards, a Topeka police Sergeant stated that the clerk was within her rights when she protected the store’s property, adding, “Everything she did was completely legal,” The clerk had the following to say about the incident, “We have shoplifters every so often; Most of them aren't as dumb as these two.” (The Capital-Journal, Topeka, KS, 10/29/08)

Kentucky
Around 3p.m., a father and his two adult sons broke into a home in Louisville, KY. The men were armed with duct tape, wire and a handgun. Upon becoming aware of the break-in, the homeowner retrieved his semi-automatic rifle. After a physical altercation with the group, the homeowner fired at the criminals, striking and killing the father, while the two sons fled. One of the sons was later arrested and charged with burglary, assault, kidnapping and even the murder of his father, since his death occurred as a result of a felonious act the son was engaged in. The other son is still at large. A Lieutenant with the Louisville Metro Police stated that the homeowner has not been charged in the incident and went on to say, “The homeowner has a right to protect himself.” (WAVE, Louisville, KY, 02/10/09)

Louisiana
Two armed robbers broke into a Ville Platte, LA home. After robbing the homeowner, the criminals took him at gunpoint to the home of his girlfriend. As the girlfriend opened the door, the armed criminals ordered her to the floor and one hit her with his gun. Her mother, who was also at the home, began to scream. The two criminals pushed down woman’s mother, who distracted them long enough for the girlfriend to retrieve her gun. She confronted the armed men with her gun drawn and told them to leave. The original victim then began struggling with one of the armed criminals. His girlfriend fired at the struggling criminal, striking and killing him. The remaining armed criminal, as well as an accomplice who planned the robbery, were found by police, arrested, and placed on $500,000 bail. The woman said of her armed defense, “I hated to do it. But I had to.” (The Associated Press, Ville Platte, LA, 03/05/09)

Maine
Around 1:30 a.m., a burglar broke into a Kennebunkport, ME home occupied by a husband and wife. The wife, who had been asleep downstairs on a couch, heard a loud noise and followed it to find the intoxicated burglar using a tool to break apart their door. As the burglar came inside, the wife shouted at him, telling him to leave. Rather than leave, he went back out the destroyed door and around to a barn attached to the house. The wife called 911 and ran to get her husband, a Vietnam veteran, who retrieved his shotgun and headed towards the barn. The husband confronted the burglar, who was once again headed toward the house by way of the barn, and fired the shotgun, causing the burglar to flee. Once the police arrived, they were able to track the burglar back to his residence by following his footprints in the snow. Police later confirmed that the burglar had several previous convictions for theft and called the would-be burglars "pros." (Seacoastonlin, Kennebunkport, ME, 02/02/09)

Maryland
When a robber, armed with a knife, walked into St. Paul Cleaners and Tailors in North Baltimore Wednesday afternoon and demanded money, the owner of the store acted quickly. The store owner drew a gun and fired several times, striking the man in the hip, arm and hand. The robber staggered out of the store and, after a witness called 911, was put under police custody while recovering in the hospital. Authorities said they expect the man to be charged with several offenses when he is released from the hospital and may have been responsible for additional robberies in the area. (The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD, 06/12/08)

Massachusetts
A man and his family had just returned to their home in Rochester, MA when a stranger knocked on the door. With his children safe in bed, the man tucked his handgun into his pants before answering the door to a disheveled looking stranger who said his car had broken down on the interstate. The husband and wife invited him into their home and offered the use of their telephone along with warm tea and fresh clothes, but when the husband began noticing inconsistencies in the man’s story, he called the police and learned the man was a fugitive. The husband held the fugitive at gunpoint until police arrived. Rochester Police Chief said, “I commend the man for his actions. He did what he needed to do, and I am glad it worked out well and nobody got hurt.” (SouthCoastToday.com, Rochester, MA, 02/28/08)

Michigan
Richard Creed had just finished helping a customer at this insurance agency when two men burst in wearing masks and carrying pistols. Police say the intruders forced Creed to an office in the rear of the store, which, unbeknownst to them, was where he stored a revolver. Creed kept his cool as they neared his gun. “It was none of the flashy lights,” he explained. “It was, ‘If you’re gonna live, this is what you gotta do,’ and you think about it real fast. It was pretty clearheaded.” Creed grabbed his revolver and shot one of the men several times, causing both assailants to run. Police apprehended the suspects and discovered that their pistols were realistic toys. (The Saginaw News, Saginaw, MI, 01/23/09)

Minnesota
When the burglar alarm woke the victim’s wife, she figured her husband had yet again tripped it while fetching the newspaper. But the victim was sleeping at her side. "I think there's somebody in the house," the victim remembers his wife whispering. Despite his reluctance to believe his house had been invaded, he walked to the stairs to investigate. Then he saw someone move. Quickly he went for his gun. "As I stepped around the corner, he hit me ... right between the eyes. And I fired the gun. Down on the ground he went, and I insisted, in a not very nice way, that he not move. I held him at gunpoint until the police arrived." Police say the intruder, who was armed with a knife, has a lengthy criminal record. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, 05/02/08)

Mississippi
Though he held the door shut against a 20-year-old intruder for as long as he could, police say an 84-year-old homeowner then grew tired. In desperation, he yelled for his wife to retrieve his .45-caliber handgun. He fired one shot at the intruder, who will be arrested pending his release from the hospital. "You could tell [the homeowner] was devastated," Hancock County, Miss., Sheriff's Investigator Andre Fizer said of the 911 tape, "You could tell he was scared." (The Sun Herald, Biloxi, MS, 07/29/08)

Missouri
Around 12:30 a.m., a suspect drove up to a home in Clay County, MO. The suspect got out of his car and began yelling towards the home, asking the inhabitants to come out and let him in. After hearing the suspect yell, the homeowners called the police. While the homeowners were still on the phone with the 911 dispatcher, the suspect broke through the front door and came into the home. Once it became clear the suspect was inside, one of the homeowners fired at the suspect with a handgun, striking him. Shortly afterwards, the suspect was taken to a local hospital. He was charged with first-degree burglary upon his release. The Clay County Prosecutor will not pursue any charges against the homeowners, and went on to say, “The homeowner in this instance acted with remarkable restraint… He ensured the safety of his family, repeatedly advised England that England was neither his friend nor acquaintance, only shot when England forced open the front door of the residence.” (The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, MO, 01/26/09)

Nebraska
The owner of Midwest Grillz and Jewelry let two men into his store while a third man waited outside. The men expressed interest in purchasing a decorative mouthpiece known as a grill, but an argument ensued. The man outside recalls hearing, “Why you playing games with us, man? Where’s our teeth? Can you give a refund? Then give me my teeth!: Police say one of the men pulled a gun and fired two shots into the wall where the owner had been standing. The owner grabbed a semi-automatic rifle from behind the counter and killed both assailants. (Omaha World-Herald, Omaha, NE, 01/17/09)

Nevada
A homeowner in Las Vegas, NV, arrived home around 4:15 p.m. and found his house being burglarized. As the homeowner went inside, he was confronted by what turned out to be a career burglar, who pulled out a gun and pointed it at the homeowner. The homeowner, a Right-To-Carry permit holder, drew his gun and fired at the burglar, killing him. Police later discovered that the burglar, who had a history of burglary dating back to 1992, had used a pellet gun during the incident. Las Vegas police did not charge the homeowner in the case and a Homicide Lieutenant said, “You either shoot him, or he shoots you.” A local gun shop owner and frequent expert firearm witness also agreed with the homeowner’s actions in the case and stated, “Bringing a fake gun to a gunfight is not a healthy thing to do." (Fox5Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, 02/16/09)

New Hampshire
A Hollis, N.H., man was awakened one night to the sounds of screaming in his back yard. The homeowner, Donald Narkis, grabbed his gun and headed downstairs when he heard glass breaking in the kitchen. Narkis fired in the direction of the intruder, who, undeterred, continued to advance as he screamed and smashed furniture. Together with his armed daughter, Narkis ordered the intruder onto the floor, but the man wouldn't stay down. Narkis fired again, but the shot hit next to the intruder's leg. When police arrived on the scene, the intruder, identified as Peter Camplin, complained, "that psycho tried to shoot me." Camplin, who had moved into the neighborhood only months previously, was found to have a significant amount of cocaine and alcohol in his system. (The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 01/19/05)

New Jersey
Around 8:30 p.m. a man armed with a knife entered the Windsor Pharmacy in Bristol Township, NJ. The knife-wielding robber demanded oxycontin pills from the clerk behind the counter. Another store clerk, who has a permit to carry a handgun, came upon the scene, drew his handgun and fired, striking the robber and ending the incident. The robber is being treated at a local hospital and is expected to survive. (NJ.com, Bristol Township, NJ, 03/13/09)

New Mexico
Having had his home burglarized three times in a week, the 85-year-old homeowner was tired of being victimized. So, the next morning he left home at his normal time, but quietly returned. Once inside, he found signs of a burglary in progress. Even more disturbing, according to police, two feet were sticking out from below his bed. The homeowner ordered the intruder to come out and called 9-1-1. He kept a handgun trained on the burglar until police arrived. Several of the victim’s missing items were found at the suspect's home a block away. (The Associated Press, Clovis, NM, 08/10/07)

New York
Two armed robbers entered the victim’s convenience store in Brooklyn, NY. After initiating the robbery, the two criminals exchanged gunfire with owner. The criminals shot the owner in his side and in both legs. Despite his wounds, the owner was able to shoot both robbers, killing one instantly and critically wounding the other, who would later die at the hospital. According to police, at least one of the armed robbers had an extensive criminal history. (The New York Post, New York, NY, 11/18/08)

North Carolina
Turkey farmer Bryan Tew was driving his tractor down the road for refueling when he noticed a strange car, its trunk open, parked in his garage. Parking his tractor in front of the car, he reached into his pickup for a .22 caliber rifle. Police say that’s when a man kicked open Tew’s back door and stepped outside with his arms full of electronics and money. “You ever see those cartoons where their eyes get as big as saucers? That’s what he looked like,” Tew said. “I yelled at him and when he saw that gun, he sat the stuff down…and ran back into the house.” The suspect slipped on the linoleum inside the home and Tew held him at gunpoint for police. “A friend of mine said your body only produces a teaspoon of adrenaline in a lifetime,” Tew said. “Well, I think I used my whole teaspoon.” Police are investigating the suspect’s involvement in several other break-ins. (The Daily Record, Dunn, NC, 02/13/09)

North Dakota
An Iraq veteran reacted immediately when he heard shattering glass followed by a woman's scream outside his Bismarck, ND, home. Retrieving a handgun, he went outside and confronted a 19-year old, who then fled. The veteran chased him down and held him at gunpoint until police arrived. The suspect was later charged with several offenses, including burglary and terrorizing. (Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck, ND, 07/27/04)

Ohio
A man armed with a shotgun entered Your Pizza Shop in Akron, Ohio and demanded money. An employee retrieved a firearm and shot the criminal, ending the attempted robbery. Once the authorities arrived, the criminal was taken to a local hospital, where he died. When asked about the incident, a pizza shop employee simply stated, “The guy came in to rob the place and it didn't work out.” (The Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, 04/01/09)

Oklahoma
Police say two suspected burglars have already been dealt a great deal of punishment. First, a homeowner caught the suspects rifling through his garage. “I asked him what the hell he was doing and he said, ‘Cleaning the garage,’” the homeowner recalls. The homeowner ran inside to get a gun, and the suspects fled. Police caught one of the men hiding under a nearby vehicle. His accomplice was arrested after he brazenly broke into a second home. In that incident, the homeowner shot the suspect with a shotgun and held him for police. (The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, OK, 12/20/08)

Oregon
A husband was taking his turn caring for his 4-day-old daughter while his wife rested. He was interrupted by loud knocks at the door and answered it to find two large men. One asked for someone the victim didn't know." I said, 'There's no-body here by that name, and I shut the door as soon as I could," he explained. That's when police say the biggest man took a running start and slammed into the door. The husband called for his wife to take their baby, lock herself in the bathroom and phone police. He loaded his 9 mm handgun and yelled for the man to leave, but the suspect continued trying to breach the door. "I'm shouting, 'I have a gun! Why are you trying to break into my house? I'll shoot you if you don't go away,' the victim recalled. But the suspect didn't heed the warning. The victim fired two shots, wounding the suspect and holding him for police. " ... A gun in a good responsible citizen's hand is a blessing," the victim said. (Statesman Journal, Salem, OR, 09/20/07)

Pennsylvania
A resident of South Philadelphia, Pa., returned home to find an intruder in his bedroom. The resident, a right to carry permit holder, drew his gun and told the intruder to leave. The intruder then grabbed for the resident’s gun, resulting in a struggle in which the resident shot the intruder in the chest, ceasing the attack. The intruder later died at a local hospital. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, 11/22/08)

Rhode Island
The tranquility of a poet was shattered one evening when an intruder suddenly appeared on the second floor of the poet’s Providence, RH home. The 83-year-old poet defended himself with a gun, sending the man fleeing. Police later caught the suspect who sustained a gunshot wound to the chest that required hospitalization. The poet had been assaulted in his house the previous afternoon and had been the victim of a break-in little more than a week earlier. (Providence Journal, Providence, RI, 06/18/1999)

South Carolina
Around 10:45 p.m. an armed robber entered an Alcoholics Anonymous center in Columbia, S.C. The robber brandished a handgun and ordered the people inside the center to “Gimme what you got.” One of the AA visitors, who is also a Right-To-Carry permit holder, drew his gun and fired at the armed criminal, striking him multiple times, ending the robbery. The robber was taken to a local hospital where he died. (The State, Columbia, SC, 04/13/09)

South Dakota
The owner of Larry’s I-29 Truck Plaza in South Dakota was busy working in the Plaza’s office early one morning when he heard strange noises in the building. He went to investigate with his handgun and confronted a masked, pry bar-wielding intruder. The owner quickly fired off one round at the fleeing intruder, hitting him in the buttocks. Police caught up with the injured intruder less than a mile from the Truck Plaza. (Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, SD, 03/10/08)

Tennessee
A trucker in Knoxville, Tenn. was sleeping in the cab of his truck around 2:30 a.m. when he was awakened by a career criminal knocking on the door. When there was no answer, the suspect left but returned soon after with a rock, and used it to break the truck’s window. The suspect then tried to climb into the truck, but the driver retrieved his gun and fired at the intruder, killing him. The criminal had a long history of criminal behavior including theft, burglary, aggravated assault, and drugs and weapons charges. (The Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville, TX, 03/12/09)

Texas
The residents of an apartment complex say their typically safe neighborhood had fallen victim to a rash of break-ins. Crime reached its zenith when someone broke into an apartment occupied by a woman and her children. The woman retreated to her bedroom with the children, locked the door and armed herself with a handgun. According to police, when the suspect approached the bedroom door, the woman fired a single shot. The suspect was found outside the complex suffering from a gunshot wound. He was placed under armed guard at the hospital. (Tyler Morning Telegraph, Tyler, TX, 02/03/09)

Utah
Around 9:15 a.m., a homeowner in Ogden, UT was disturbed by a loud noise just outside his home. When the homeowner went to the front door to investigate, he found two men trying to force their way through the front door. The homeowner retrieved his 9mm handgun and confronted the burglars, who began to flee. The homeowner followed the criminals, and asked what they were doing. The criminals then fired at the homeowner, at which point the homeowner returned fire. No one was injured during the incident and the criminals managed to escape. Once the police arrived, the homeowner was able to give a description of the men who had attacked him. The police had had a previous run-in with one of the men fitting the homeowner’s description and were able to track him down and arrest him. The armed criminal is facing charges of aggravated assault and attempted burglary. (The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, UT, 12/16/08)

Virginia
Around 10:40 p.m. a man approached a home in Troutville, VA and began pounding on the home and yelling. The homeowner rushed his family to a locked bedroom, called 911 and retrieved his shotgun. The intruder used a piece of patio furniture to break a glass door and gain access to the house. When the homeowner saw the intruder inside, he fired at him, striking him twice, ending the incident. Police arrived soon after the shots were fired and the intruder was taken to a local hospital where he died. The Boutetourt County Commonwealth Attorney noted that the incident “appears to be justifiable homicide…When you have someone entering a home in the night and in a threatening manner, it is the kind of thing that rises to the level of justifiable.” One of the homeowner’s neighbors, was proud of his actions, stating, “When I heard someone tried to break in, I was just grateful he had a gun to protect his family…There's a reason the Second Amendment exists. We support gun rights and we would have done the same thing.” (The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA, 04/12/09)

Washington
A group of doctors holding a lunch meeting at an upscale restaurant first thought a man was pulling a joke on them, but they realized the seriousness of the situation when the man forcefully tugged a doctor’s tie and demanded his wallet. Police say the robber took the doctor’s money and left, but soon returned. At that point, one of the doctors had enough. "Before we knew it, [the doctor] pulls his gun out and told the guy, 'Get away, get out of this restaurant now,'" recalls Dr. Charles Weatherby. "The guy looked back and [the doctor] said, 'If you look back again, I'm going to shoot you.'" The doctor escorted the robber outside at gunpoint, where he was arrested. (KIRO 7 News, Seattle, WA, 07/22/08)

West Virginia
Shortly after midnight, two armed robbers broke into a home in Gallipolis, WV. Once inside, the burglars confronted the homeowner with a weapon. The homeowner was able to retrieve his shotgun and fired at the burglars, hitting one in the shoulder. After the shots were fired, both burglars fled the scene. Later on that night, police tracked down the injured burglar, when they received word that a man had been checked into a local hospital with a gunshot wound. (WSAZ, Huntington, WV, 12/03/08)

Wisconsin
According to police, a not-so-stealthy intruder awakened a couple by loudly whistling in their basement. The homeowner grabbed his shotgun to investigate "and that's when the situation got even more bizarre. The intruder was covered in barbecue sauce and wearing the homeowner's hat and his wife's jacket." The homeowner escorted the sticky intruder upstairs at gunpoint. The disturbed man told police he'd obtained the sauce from the couple's refrigerator in order to don "an urban disguise, if you will," because he believed the FBI was after him. (The Post-Crescent, Appleton, WI, 08/03/08)

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