Sanford, Maine, December 1, 2023 (FOX News, Portland Press Herald)
Police responded to the corner of Main and Lebanon streets just before 4 p.m. on Dec. 1, after witnesses said a man had been walking in the roadway, yelling at vehicles and carrying a knife…
Poto said he witnessed the unidentified man wielding a knife at motorists and threatening to kill them. He initially confronted the man without showing him he was holding a concealed firearm behind his leg, Poto told the Portsmouth Herald…
The food truck owner said he tried to calm the man and get him to sit down, but that the suspect continued walking toward Poto, even when the business owner pulled out his firearm…
When Schaffer was within lunging distance, Poto aimed the gun at his legs and fired. He said his goal was to stop the man, not kill him.
Gagne said there are currently no charges pending against Poto.
Emma Colton, “Armed food truck owner shoots knife-wielding man menacing motorists: cops,” FOX News, December 10, 2023.
Gillian Graham, “Sanford police charge man accused of waving knife downtown,” Portland Press Herald, December 12, 2023.
Auburndale, Florida, December 3, 2023 (ABC Action News)
Police said on Wednesday that Juan Jose Martinez, 36, from San Marcos, Texas, was shot after he reached into the victim’s vehicle and hit him in the face. He was shot once in the abdomen, police said. His injuries aren’t considered life-threatening.
Police said it happened at a 7-Eleven at 420 Magnolia Avenue just before 11 p.m. According to police, the victim and Martinez don’t know each other, and it’s unclear what led up to the altercation…
Officers then went to the gas station, where they found the shooter and several witnesses. Police said surveillance video at the gas station and witness testimony led them to determine the shooting was self-defense…
Emily McCain, “Texas man injured in Auburndale shooting deemed self-defense,” ABC Action News, December 6, 2023.
Miami, Florida, December 6, 2023 (NBC Miami)
The incident unfolded shortly before 5 a.m. at a community in the 8100 block of Northwest 8th Street.
Miami-Dade Police Det. Andre Martin said a resident was in his home when he heard power tools in the parking lot.
The resident saw two people under his vehicle trying to remove the catalytic converter, so he armed himself and confronted the suspects, Martin said.
“When I went out to walk my dog at 4:45, I hear power tools going off and I go ‘what the hell is going on?’ I lean over my balcony and I see two guys underneath my truck working to cut off the catalytic converter,” owner Luis Vega said. “They got out of the car and they had the gall to come walking. They wanted their tools because they knew they had their prints on them and I said ‘no, that’s not going to happen.’ So I came back up and I took shelter behind the wall. They go along a sidewalk. One of them crouches behind a pickup truck, points a gun and cranks out two rounds but of course I already took cover. What did I do? I returned fire and they ran.”
Martin said there was an exchange of gunfire, and the two suspects fled the scene in a vehicle…
Amanda Plasencia and Brian Hamacher, “Car owner exchanges gunfire with would-be catalytic converter thieves in Miami-Dade: Police,” NBC Miami, December 6, 2023.
Gardendale, Alabama, December 6, 2023 (AL.com)
Charges have been filed against a woman who was shot during a robbery at a Gardendale jewelry store…
The robbery happened just before 5 p.m. Wednesday at the store on Fieldstown Road…
“I knew then what was happening,’’ Dennis said, “so I drew my weapon.”…
She then immediately started spraying bear spray at the employees. Bear spray is a powerful aerosol spray meant to be used to ward off grizzlies and black bears.
“I stepped around the corner and fired and hit her pretty good,’’ Dennis said. “I hit her in the shoulder. It was a significant injury.”…
She dropped her purse and fled…
Carol Robinson, “Woman shot in Alabama jewelry store holdup charged with robbery, criminal use of chemical spray,” AL.com, December 8, 2023.
Pompano Beach, Florida, December 6, 2023 (Local10.com)
Detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests of 21-year-old Fred Vilbrun and 18-year-old Jamiel Willis in connection to a non-fatal triple shooting that occurred in Pompano Beach last December.
The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. Dec. 6 near the 1700 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
According to BSO spokeswoman Gerdy St. Louis, one victim told detectives that several people approached him as he was walking in the area and they got into a verbal altercation.
“According to the victim, when he began to walk away, three of the unknown individuals lifted their waistbands and revealed their guns,” St. Louis said in a news release. “That’s when the victim says he pulled out his gun and fired in self-defense as the subjects fired back.”…
Three people were hit during the shootout, according to detectives – the victim, an innocent bystander and another male subject…
Ryan Mackey, “Deputies ID suspects in connection with Pompano Beach triple shooting,” Local10.com, January 31, 2024.
Chicago, Illinois, December 9, 2023 (FOX 32 Chicago)
A 31-year-old man was outside in the 1600 block of North Hamlin Avenue at approximately 1:17 a.m. when two men approached him in a vehicle. The men in the vehicle began shooting.
The 31-year-old man, who is a CCL holder, returned fire, hitting both the men inside the vehicle. He was shot in the torso and transported to Stroger Hospital in fair condition.
A 44-year-old man who was inside the vehicle was shot in the chest and pronounced dead on scene. The second occupant, a 37-year-old man, was shot in the shoulder and transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital in fair condition.
Fox 32 Digital Staff, “3 shot, 1 fatally in exchange of gunfire in Humboldt Park: police,” FOX 32 Chicago, December 9, 2023.
Pleasant Hill, California, December 11, 2023 (FOX 26 News)
A group of young men who looked like they were about to commit a smash-and-grab robbery at a store in the East Bay were lucky to get out with just their lives after a worker pointed a handgun at them.
It happened Monday afternoon at Estates Consignments on Contra Costa Blvd. in Pleasant Hill…
The would-be robbers, one armed with a sledgehammer, ran toward the glass cases filled with jewelry, rings, and watches.
A woman working at the counter screamed and that’s when 73-year-old Albert Marcu came to her rescue and pointed a gun right at them.
“I showed them my gun, and I told them to stop it, I have a gun,” said Marcu.
“They panic and they run out.”
Marcu says he keeps his revolver on him because of recent similar incidents…
Stephen Hawkins, “Shopowner uses handgun to stop crooks from picking his store clean,” FOX 26 News, December 14, 2023.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 12, 2023 (FOX 9 KMSP, Star Tribune)
Police say a 45-year-old man died after being shot multiple times at the encampment known as “Camp Nenookaasi” shortly around 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Officers tried to revive the victim at the scene but say he was pronounced dead after being rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center…
Witnesses said the suspect fired at Tyrone J. Mohr after Mohr started a fight, county officials said…
Police arrested the suspect near the encampment; a gun was found nearby, police spokesman Aaron Rose said.
The County Attorney’s Office said it believes the shooter was acting in self-defense and that available evidence would not support a murder charge…
Maury Glover and FOX 9 Staff, “Man killed in shooting at Minneapolis encampment slated to be cleared,” FOX 9 KMSP, December 12, 2023.
Louis Krauss and Paul Walsh, “Fatal south Minneapolis encampment shooting was self-defense, county attorney’s office says,” Star Tribune, December 15, 2023.
Commerce City, Colorado, December 12, 2023 (KDVR)
The events took place off Tower Road in the Reunion neighborhood in Commerce City, according to the Commerce City Police Department.
Ashton Miller was working at the job site and jumped into action when he saw the physical altercation. As a legally armed citizen, he held the suspect at gunpoint until Commerce City officers arrived.
Miller’s actions allowed the gas-soaked woman to escape without injury, although the events were still traumatic.
FOX31’s Jim Hooley was the first reporter on the scene, and he spoke to witnesses working in the area. They told Hooley a Lexus sped into the area before coming to an abrupt stop and a woman jumped out of the driver’s side while a man jumped out of the passenger’s side.
Witnesses said the man ran to the woman, grabbed her and threw her on the ground, where he tried to light her on fire with a lighter.
The suspect, who has not been identified, was placed in the Adams County Jail on a $100,000 bond facing attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault charges.
Heather Willard, “Good Samaritan saves driver’s life when passenger tried to light her on fire,” KDVR, December 19, 2023.
Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 2023 (FOX 5 Atlanta)
The shooting happened just before midnight at a Texaco gas station on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Peyton Place…
Investigators say the teenager might have been trying to steal a vehicle or get into an unlocked vehicle to steal whatever’s inside.
Police believe the owner of the vehicle fired shots at the teen and then drove away…
Officers say the unnamed teen is wanted by law enforcement for multiple auto thefts around Atlanta…
FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team, “Suspected teen carjacker shot at Atlanta gas station has criminal history,” FOX 5 Atlanta, December 15, 2023.
Charlotte, North Carolina, December 15, 2023 (wsoctv.com)
A business owner armed with a handgun stopped a smash-and-grab robbery at a local jewelry store.
It happened during store hours Friday at Ballantyne Jewelers off Johnston Road in south Charlotte…
The owner, who didn’t want to be identified, said the thieves backed their car up near the front door. When they got inside, they went straight for the most expensive watches. He thinks they may have kept going if he didn’t grab his gun.
The sound of glass shattering is what moved the owner to get his gun…
Surveillance video captured him holding the loaded pistol as the thieves jumped into their getaway car…
Ken Lemon, “Armed shop owner stops smash-and-grab at south Charlotte jewelry store,” wsoctv.com, December 18, 2023.
Birmingham, Alabama, December 16, 2023 (AL.com)
A Pinson man has been identified as a patron shot to death during a confrontation with the owner of the Pita Stop on Birmingham’s Southside during Saturday’s lunch hour.
Ricardo Tafoya Garcia, 30, was shot at 12:11 p.m. Saturday inside the business in the 1100 block of 12th Street South…
The owner of the Pita Stop restaurant, a Middle Eastern institution in Birmingham’s Southside, said he had to shoot an intoxicated man who beat him in the kitchen Saturday in a violent dispute over a bill…
Islam said he shot the man three times and then called police, who stayed on the line with him until an officer arrived.
Islam said he was taken to the Birmingham Police Administration Building, interviewed and released. “So far, it’s self-defense, but they are still investigating,” Islam said…
Carol Robinson and Jeremy Gray, “Man shot to death inside Birmingham’s Pita Stop identified,” AL.com, December 18, 2023.
McMinnville, Oregon, December 19, 2023 (FOX 12 Oregon)
An attempted carjacker in a Walmart parking lot in McMinnville was stopped in his tracks when the would-be victim pulled out a handgun, according to police.
On Tuesday, Dec. 19 around 11:25 a.m., a man was loading items into his car when another man, holding a large knife, approached him and demanded his car keys, according to police.
Fearing for his life, the victim drew a handgun he had holstered on his hip and pointed it at the attempted carjacker, who then ran away…
Quiocho faces charges of Robbery in the First Degree, Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Attempted Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle…
FOX 12 Staff, “Attempted carjacking at McMinnville Walmart thwarted by man carrying pistol, police say,” FOX 12 Oregon, December 21, 2023.
Houston, Texas, December 20, 2023 (ABC 13 Eyewitness News, FOX 26 Houston)
A suspected robber is dead after a series of events that began at a Dollar General and ended with the suspect crashing into a METRO bus Wednesday afternoon…
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez says a deputy arrived in the 15000 block of Ella Boulevard after they were flagged down by someone for an alleged robbery. According to employees, a man attempted to rob the store with a pistol but an employee pulled out his weapon and hit the suspect at least once.
Officials say after the suspect left in his car, he crashed with a METRO bus a block away…
According to Gonzalez, the suspect’s car was involved in a robbery two days ago in the same area. Authorities also recovered the weapon the man used and learned it was an airsoft pistol, but looked like a legit one…
Gonzalez says it doesn’t look like anyone at Dollar General will be charged, but it will be left up to a grand jury…
Mycah Hatfield, “Dollar General manager shoots robbery suspect, who died after crashing into METRO bus, deputies say,” ABC 13 Eyewitness News, December 20, 2023.
FOX 26 Digital Staff, “Houston robbery suspect dead after crashing into METRO bus near Ella Boulevard,” FOX 26 Houston, December 20, 2023.
