OCTOBER 2003
Little Rock, Ark., man saved his own life late one night when three people broke into his house. Upon seeing the intruders, Eric Penny rushed into another room to retrieve his pistol when one man fired a rifle in his direction. Unhurt, Penny returned fire, striking all three. The armed assailant was shot in the head and later died of his wounds. His two alleged accomplices, who fled the scene after being shot, were located at a nearby medical clinic. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Little Rock, AR, 06/16/03)
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A Gardnerville, Nev., home-owner shot and killed a man who broke into his home. According to police reports, Walter Francis Hetrick of Antioch, Calif., broke a window next to a door at 11:24 p.m. and then entered through the door. Charles Cryderman heard someone breaking in and called police. The homeowner, armed with a .357-cal. revolver, then shot the intruder when he entered his home. Douglas County Sheriff’s investigator Mike Biaggini said that a man protecting “his castle” against someone committing a felony such as home invasion and burglary is allowed to defend himself. “He was in fear of his life,” Biaggini explained. “His whole family was there.” (The Record-Courier, Gardnerville, NV, 08/06/03)
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It was not the first time R&R Jewelers of Oklahoma City, Okla. had been robbed. When an armed man demanded money from storeowner Larry Rowell, he complied and gave the miscreant some cash. But then the robber turned to the diamond display case. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire Rowell was wounded in the chest and the robber was killed. (The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, OK, 06/18/03)
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A 76-year-old Chicago man was making his usual stop at the local gas station when things went very wrong. Charles Smith, a 27-year army veteran, was getting back into his car when he felt a gun at the back of his head. “Start the car and get out or I will kill you,” was all the teenager, later identified as Blannie Hanes, said. Smith complied, but then confronted the teen from the passenger window, showing his .380-cal. pistol. When Hanes extended his gun, Smith fired, fatally striking the carjacker in the chest. (Chicago Sun Times, Chicago, IL, 04/24/03)
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When a masked bandit tried to hold up a San Dimas, Calif., convenience store, he was shot dead by the clerk who kept a handgun behind the register. It was later revealed that the robber, who pointed what looked like a .357 revolver at the clerk, was actually holding a BB gun. During the investigation, an officer of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department said, “I think it’s apparent at this stage of the investigation that there were self-defense issues.” (Inland Valley, Ontario, CA, 06/16/03)
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When a man came to his door asking to use a phone, an elderly Beaver Valley, Ariz., resident did not expect what would happen next. The visit suddenly turned deadly when the man pulled a knife on homeowner Ray Freisen, demanded his wallet and car keys and then tied him to a chair. Freisen was able to free himself and retrieve his gun, but not before the intruder stabbed Freisen’s wife. In defense of his wife, Freisen shot the home invader several times, killing him. By the time medical personnel arrived, Annie, Freisen’s wife of 53 years, had also died from her wounds. (Payson Roundup, Payson, AZ, 07/01/03)
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A would-be robber had the bad fortune of choosing the wrong restaurant to rob when he was shot and killed by an employee at the Oriental Express restaurant in Laurel, Md. Prince George’s County police spokeswoman Cpl. Tammy Sparkman reported that a man entered the restaurant about 9:30 p.m., drew a gun, demanded money and grabbed a restaurant worker. Upon seeing a coworker held at gunpoint, another employee, armed with a gun, ran out of the restaurant’s kitchen and fatally shot the robber. (The Washington Post, Washington, DC, 07/14/03)
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David Ronald Washington, the alleged Memphis, Tenn., “cat burglar” tied to a string of residential burglaries, was killed during an altercation with a homeowner. Washington, who had crept through a window, came face to face with the resident who shot him during the ensuing struggle. The burglary spree began in early May, and despite stepped up patrols by police, they were unable to catch the criminal. Burglary Bureau Maj. Billy Garrett said, “I hate for someone to lose their life, but for all of those innocent victims out there … they don’t have to worry about this particular guy.” (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, 06/16/03)
*Above pasted from the NRA website. They give open authorization for reposting of The Armed Citizen.
