Category: Slugs For Thugs

Suspected robber shot to death in southeast Houston shootout, police say  Another suspect on the run

HOUSTON — A man was shot to death in a shootout early Saturday morning after police believe he and one other person attempted to rob a woman at gunpoint in southeast Houston.

This happened around 1 a.m. on Maxwell Lane, which is south of the Gulf Freeway near Highway 90.

The Houston Police Department said a man and a woman had just gotten back from getting food when the man went up to his apartment and the woman was about to leave in her truck. That’s when two people reportedly approached her with pistols. Police said they forced the woman out of the truck at gunpoint. The man heard the commotion from his apartment and came out with his own firearm.

Police said a shootout occurred and one of the robbery suspects was killed. The other took off running. No other injuries were reported. Witnesses stayed at the scene and were cooperating with officers, according to HPD.

Watch the update police gave at the scene:

Oakton homeowner shoots & kills intruder who struck him with stick, rock

OAKTON, Va. (7News) — Detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department spent hours at the Oakton house Thursday where they say a homeowner shot and killed an intruder Wednesday evening.

“It’s still a very, very active investigation, but preliminarily, we are investigating this as a self-defense fatal shooting,” Second Lieutenant James Curry with the Fairfax County Police Department said on the scene Wednesday night.

Police identified the man who was killed Friday as 24-year-old Eduardo Santos of Herndon. They said it’s unclear why he walked up to that particular home at about 6 p.m. Wednesday. Police do not believe the homeowner knew the man.

Police said the homeowner was outside on his property, located in the 11400 block of Waples Mill Road in Oakton, when he first encountered the man.

“When he encountered this man, there was some sort of interaction that led to an altercation,” Curry said, adding that the homeowner then went inside the home. “He retrieved a firearm from inside the home and at some point the man made entry into the home with an object that appears to be a large landscaping rock. The homeowner then fired and shot the man.”

On Friday, police shared what they believe led to the shooting.

The homeowner saw Santos on his property and asked him to leave. Santos then allegedly assaulted the homeowner with a stick. When the homeowner tried to retreat inside his home, Santos tackled him and the homeowner was injured.

The homeowner got inside his home and grabbed his gun. Santos came into the home with the large landscaping rock and lunged at the homeowner. The homeowner shot Santos.

Curry said officers responding to the scene rendered immediate medical treatment, but Santos died on the scene.

Detectives said the homeowner’s family, including two kids, were inside the home when the shooting happened. 7News obtained dispatch audio, that describes the 911 call made by the homeowner’s wife:

Caller advised her husband fired his gun and shot someone that was approaching.

Investigators said there was one other call to the police from that neighborhood, earlier in the day on Wednesday.

“There was a call for service earlier in the day, where the man was seen in the area,” Curry said. “When officers responded, he was not found at that time.”

Neighbors who described their street as typically “quiet and peaceful” said they hoped to get more information soon from the police.

“We understand the investigation is ongoing, but we really need to know more about it,” one neighbor told 7News. “We really want to know who this guy was. We want to know more details.”

That neighbor also told 7News she knows the homeowner.

“Yes, we know them. Very nice guy, a very good lady. Small kids – just a very good man,” she said. “We’re so sorry to hear this. It’s terrible.”

Police did confirm neighbors’ reports that the man who was killed knocked on the door of another nearby home prior to the deadly encounter. Neighbors said that homeowner did not know the man and did not open the door.

7News asked police whether they’ve determined if alcohol, drugs, or mental health issues are involved, but those questions have not yet been answered.

Police did respond to an initial call about Santos Wednesday. Officers found him, but there was no crime. Santos refused to speak to police and walked away from the area. When the second call happened, police didn’t find Santos.

At the scene on Wednesday, Curry said the man’s identity could help investigators “start putting some puzzle pieces together, as far as why he was in this area, why was he at this home”.

Curry reiterated that police do not believe there’s any connection between that man and the homeowner.

Police said the homeowner sustained non-life-threatening injuries during his altercation with the man. The homeowner was taken to the hospital on Wednesday but is expected to be okay.

Indy homeowner says he fought off intruder, killed him with his own gun

INDIANAPOLIS — One man is dead following an attempted home invasion on Indy’s east side.

Today the homeowner who killed the suspect spoke out about the shooting a short time after he was released without charges.

The front of his home and car were riddled with bullets after the homeowner said he killed an intruder and then exchanged gunfire with additional suspects outside. That homeowner insists he had no choice but to defend his life.

Just before 7 p.m. Tuesday night, police were called to a neighborhood near 38th and Post after a homeowner reported a masked man forced his way into the home during an attempted robbery.

“He smacked me in the head with a gun and told me I knew what it was and then I yelled out he’s trying to rob me,” said Brent Smith.

During that struggle, Smith admits he shot the intruder with the suspect’s own gun.

Damon Swanigan Junior, 22, died on the front step of the home, which was then hit by a barrage of bullets from outside. That gunfire damaged the siding, the front door and shattered the windows of a car parked in the street.

“When the gun went off I heard thousands of gunshots,” said Smith. “It was a lot of gunfire man, a lot of gunfire.”

Smith said during that shootout, he grabbed his own gun and returned fire before the suspects in the street drove away leaving behind a pile of broken car glass.

“I didn’t even think them or me. I was just basically trying to survive myself man,” said Smith.

Police questioned Smith overnight, but because the law allows people to defend themselves and their home with deadly force, he was released pending further investigation.

The next morning Smith remained emotional thinking about the life he had taken.

“That doesn’t make no sense man. I didn’t want to do that,” said Smith. “I don’t know his intention, but I didn’t want to be shot. That’s just all there is to it.”

Police did not have any information on the suspects who may have fled the scene.

Veeeery lucky. While that last shot was quite problematic, from the crim being a long time loser, and even out on parole, the prosecutor likely decided the shooter did the city a favor and talked the GJ into a ‘No Bill’.

“Grand jury declines to file charges against man who killed robber at SW Houston taqueria”

– KHOU 11

Warning: graphic

https://t.co/PidsYVNRuA

— The Daily Sneed™ (@Tr00peRR) January 3, 2024

Man shot by resident after breaking into southwest Atlanta home

ATLANTA — A man is in the hospital after officials say he was shot while trying to break into a southwest Atlanta home.

Atlanta police told Channel 2 Action News on Sunday at 3:13 a.m. officers received reports of a person shot at a home on Richardson Street SW.

When officers arrived, they located a man who had been shot in the chest. He was taken to the hospital, where he is in critical condition.

The victim’s identity has not been released.

According to the investigation, the man was breaking into the home at that location when the homeowner shot him.

Suspected teenage home invader shot, critically injured in Lake County

MASCOTTE, Fla. —
A 16-year-old was shot and critically injured during a home invasion, Mascotte police say.

Police say the teen who was shot may have tried to break into at least two homes.

According to officials, Mascotte officers responded to an in-progress home invasion at Pine Needle Drive just after 6 a.m. on Dec. 28. There, they located a teenage male suspect who was shot by the homeowner.

The suspect was treated by Lake County EMS before being transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Officials say he is listed in critical condition.

According to officers, nobody in the home was injured and they are cooperating in the investigation, so they won’t be facing any charges.

Officers believe the suspect may be linked to an earlier call of a young man attempting to break into another residence in that area. This is an ongoing investigation.

WOULD-BE CARJACKER SHOT, KILLED IN APPARENT CASE OF SELF-DEFENSE

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A man is dead after being shot multiple times in Philadelphia’s Pennsport section early Tuesday morning.

Police responded to the 1400 block of S. Front Street around 5 a.m.

When they arrived, they found a man between 18 and 22 years old with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to police, the deceased was one of two individuals who attempted to carjack a 38-year-old man in the former United Artist Theater parking lot.

The victim pulled a weapon and shot one of the would-be carjackers in what police say looks like a case of self-defense.

The shooter did remain at the scene, was briefly detained, and then later released by investigators.

In a surveillance video viewed by Action News, you can see a person run from the direction of the parking lot and then collapse by a utility pole moments later.

About five minutes later, someone approaches the body to seemingly check on the person.

Neighbors who live nearby said they heard what sounded like gunshots during this time.

The noise was so loud that Zion Aregahegn said it woke her out of her sleep.

“I heard a loud boom or a bang kind of sound,” Aregahegn said. “A few seconds later, I heard someone shout. I couldn’t tell what they were saying. It was just-someone shouted.”

Aregahegn said she generally felt safe in the neighborhood but had some recent concerns about activity under the I-95 overpass. She said it was a place where people often parked and used drugs.

She’s called the police in the past but said she got little to no help.

“A lot of people pull up under here to fix their cars and I’ve seen people passed out doing drugs under there,” Aregahegn recalled.

Jordan Lewis, who lives up the street from where the incident happened, said she often passes the area on her morning run.

She said she had noticed people doing drugs under the overpass but never saw or heard of any violence breaking out there.

“Usually, it’s kind of quiet. I run on the trail along the water and there’s a lot of homeless people but they never really bother me or anything like that,” she said.

Lewis said she always tries to be aware of her surroundings but this incident heightened her instincts to be on the lookout even more.

No other details have been released at this time and police are investigating this incident.

North Redington Beach Homeowner Shoots Burglar in Defense of Wife and Residence

Detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a shooting in North Reddington Beach related to an occupied residential burglary.

On Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at approximately 3:16 a.m., deputies responded to a report of a 51-year-old male, identified as Robert Jackson, yelling on Gulf Boulevard near 164th Avenue.

Subsequently, another 911 call at 3:23 a.m. reported a residential burglary in the 200 block of Bath Club Boulevard North, where deputies found Jackson with a single gunshot wound.

Investigation reveals Jackson, after yelling on Gulf Boulevard, proceeded to break into a home on Bath Club Boulevard, engaging in a physical struggle with a 74-year-old female resident. He used a large rock, smashed through the front window, and entered the residence.

Responding to her distress, her 76-year-old husband shot Jackson in the right shoulder for their safety.

Following the shooting, Jackson unsuccessfully attempted another burglary before being apprehended by deputies.

Transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Jackson faces charges of Burglary with Battery and Attempted Residential Burglary.

Once released, he will be taken to the Pinellas County Jail. Detectives assert this was a random incident with no ongoing threat to the public.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Man shot, killed while attempting to rob two people in south St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – A man was shot and killed while trying to rob two others in south St. Louis Sunday morning, police say.

According to St. Louis Metropolitan Police, the shooting took place in the 3500 block of Minnesota Ave. around 3 a.m. Two men with a firearm approached two other people while they were sitting in their car, saying it was a robbery. One of the victims grabbed a firearm inside the car and shot one of the suspects. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The man was later identified as Donta Stone, 34, of Jennings Station Road.

The two victims fled in their car and contacted police shortly after the incident.

The Homicide Division responded and assumed the ongoing investigation.

Seattle Homeowner Uses Rifle to Fend Off 4 Home Invaders in Early Morning Home Invasion Attempt

Remember, no one needs more than ten rounds of ammunition to protect themselves. If you think you do, you’re doing it wrong. We’ve been reliably informed of that fact by the Civilian Disarmament Industrial Complex and all of the smartest people for years now on a regular basis. Magazine capacity limits are dubious in their effectiveness at best and are in the process of being swept into the ash heap of gun control history.

Still, though, they remain one of the primary footings on which the argument for civilian disarmament is based. And then things like this happen which, for some reason, don’t get quite as much coverage as the braying jackasses who know everything about “common sense gun safety.” Or something.

Let’s go now to the perpetually peaceful neighborhood of Beacon Hill Seattle which, we’re told, has been the location of a number of home invasions recently including one home that was the target of multiple attempts at illegal entry.

Shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to the location for a report of an attempted home invasion robbery. Police spoke to the homeowner, who said three men tried to break down his door but were unsuccessful and fled the scene.

The SPD says the suspects tried a second time at around 12:25 a.m. the next morning. 

Authorities say four men returned to the house to try breaking the door down with a sledgehammer.

The homeowner told police he was sleeping and woke up to loud banging at the door. He armed himself with a rifle, and when the suspects tried getting inside, he shot at them. 

It isn’t clear from the report, but we’d guess the un-named rifle the homeowner armed himself with was an AR pattern rifle of some sort. Fending off four men takes a good amount of ammo, more than any 10-round capacity limit would confine you to.

Authorities say the suspects fired back at the homeowner before speeding off in a vehicle. It remains unknown whether the homeowner shot any of the suspects during the incident.

Detectives processing the scene say they located bullet damage in the living room and bedroom windows.

Never mind the obvious utility of having a 15- or 17- round mag in your handgun, or a full-30 compliment in your rifle when facing multiple attackers as the Seattle homeowner did. The state of Washington has a “high capacity” magazine ban, but if the homeowner was using an AR as we suspect, any 30-round magazines he may have had or used were likely grandfathered in.

If you want to get really nit-picky about it, there’s also the fact that objective examinations of “high capacity” magazine bans have shown they do little if anything about limiting “gun violence.”

Magazine restrictions do not have appreciable effects on crime or violence. In an oft‐​cited study, Christopher Koper analyzed the effects of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which banned new magazines of more than 10 rounds but did little more than drive up the price of already‐​existing magazines.

But save your breath. Gun control zealots never waste their time with or allow themselves to be confused by facts. In the mean time, make sure you have the means and ability to defend yourself and your family against multiple attackers, just as this home owner did last week.

19-year-old shot and killed, possibly while trying to rob concealed carry holder in West Town

Chicago police are investigating after a 19-year-old man was shot and killed in West Town on Saturday afternoon. A concealed carry holder told police he shot the man because the man and three other people targeted him in an armed robbery.

The shooting occurred in an alley behind the 1700 block of West Cortez around 4:51 p.m.

In a media statement, the Chicago Police Department claimed “a 19-year-old male victim was in the alley when he sustained a gunshot wound to the chest by an unknown offender. The victim was transported to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced. Area Three Detectives are investigating.”

However, officers at the scene said the shooter was a 68-year-old concealed carry holder who remained on the scene. He reportedly told them that he shot the man, who celebrated his 19th birthday last week, in self-defense during an armed robbery. Three other people who participated in the robbery ran from the scene, according to initial information.

The shooting occurred in CPD’s Near West (12th) District, where robbery reports are up 57% compared to last year and up 118% compared to 2019.

The Sheriffs “thinks” this will be referred to a Grand Jury. What crap-for-brains and from a Texas LEO. All homicides – by Texas State Law – are automatically referred to a Grand Jury.

Dollar General robbery suspect shot by manager, crashes into bus, dies:

A man accused of robbing a Houston, Texas Dollar General and crashing his car into a METRO bus has died, according to authorities.

A Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy was heading to work around 1:16 p.m. Wednesday when someone flagged him down about an incident at the store, sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at a news conference.

Gonzalez said a man was driving a vehicle and parked it in front of the store. He then entered the store with a pistol and began making demands at gunpoint, trying to get the store’s safe open.

A store manager had a gun and shot at the suspect, hitting him once or twice, the sheriff said. The man then fled the location, got back into his vehicle and drove about a block away to an intersection.

“It appears he had been bleeding out based on some of the evidence we’re seeing inside the vehicle and collided with a METRO bus that was here and eventually came to a stop,” Gonzalez said.

The man was pulled from his vehicle and taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

His identity has not been released by authorities yet.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County said there were six people on the bus, including the driver. There were no life-threatening injuries to passengers on the bus but the driver was taken to the hospital to be checked out.

No passengers asked to be taken to the hospital, METRO said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Man entered store with Airsoft pistol, sheriff says
The weapon turned out to be an Airsoft pistol, Gonzalez said, similar to a BB gun or pellet gun.

“But again, they look very realistic and at the time when somebody’s facing that at gunpoint … they don’t know what kind of pistol it is,” he said.

The sheriff also said the man’s vehicle may have been involved in another incident two days earlier in the same area. Investigators are still looking into it, he said.

When local media asked if the Dollar General employee having a gun on-hand speaks to the area and its safety, Gonzalez said it’s “not a great area” or a place where people let their guards down.

It’s the busiest area in the sheriff’s office’s district and authorities have tried to combat crime over the past few years with more patrols, authorities said.

Regarding the Dollar General incident, the sheriff said he can’t speak for the store manager but it is well-known that it is a high-crime area.

“But there’s a lot of great businesses, a lot of wonderful residents, so it’s not indicative of everybody that’s out here,” he said.

When asked if the manager who shot the man would face charges, he said he can’t speak for investigators or prosecutors but thinks it will be referred to the grand jury.

“If somebody was trying to obviously protect themselves, this went down as an armed robbery from everything that they viewed and how things went down, then most likely it’s referred to … the grand jury.”

 

Attempted carjacking at McMinnville Walmart thwarted by man carrying pistol

MCMINNVILLE Ore. (KPTV) – 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.

Officers arrived on the scene and started searching for the subject, who they learned had left some luggage behind. One piece of luggage had a tag on it with the subject’s name. So officers were able to get a photograph of the subject and then found that person standing near the Panda Express restaurant on the other side of Hwy 99W.

He was taken into custody without incident and then interviewed, during which he admitted to his involvement in the attempted carjacking, according to police.

During the investigation, officers viewed video surveillance footage and an officer eventually found a piece of clothing near the WinCo Foods store that the subject ditched while fleeing the area. An officer on scene also learned that a bystander had found a large knife in the parking lot and had picked it up, not knowing it was involved in the carjacking incident.

The subject was identified by police as 22-year-old Aaron J. Quiocho of Beaverton. Quiocho allegedly told police he had been dropped off in McMinnville by a family member because they did not want him at their house in Beaverton anymore, and said he planned to take the victim’s car so he could go back to the family member’s house.

Quiocho faces charges of Robbery in the First Degree, Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Attempted Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle..

Man shot, killed during robbery in Polk County motel parking lot

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A man was shot and killed during an attempted robbery in a motel’s parking lot late Tuesday night.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said they received a call about the shooting at the Tropicana Resort Motel at 43420 Highway 27 in Davenport just before midnight.

When deputies arrived, they said Christian MacDonald, 44, told them Harold Omar Sepulveda-Cruz, 33, got into the backseat of the car he and Robert Rafael Pementel-Cruceta Jr., 31, were sitting in. Sepulveda-Cruz then started to demand money and drugs, threatening to kill them if they didn’t comply.

Deputies said when Sepulveda-Cruz’s demands became increasingly aggressive, MacDonald pulled a gun from his jacket pocket and shot it multiple times toward the backseat and the suspect, who was struck in the upper torso.

Sepulveda-Cruz had already passed away when deputies arrived. MacDonald allegedly admitted to deputies that he shot and killed Sepulveda-Cruz and that he was shooting in self-defense.

After investigating, deputies said the shooting was the result of a robbery and illegal drug transaction Sepulveda-Cruz and Pementel-Cruceta planned. When MacDonald asked Pementel-Cruceta about buying marijuana from him over the phone, they planned to meet in the parking lot.

Deputies said Pementel-Cruceta picked up Sepulveda-Cruz, who told him he wanted to get “quick cash” before Pementel-Cruceta dropped him off near the hotel.

MacDonald parked at the motel and got into Pementel-Cruceta’s 2017 white Kia. Shortly after, deputies said Sepulveda-Cruz got into the backseat and attempted the robbery using a “makeshift simulated” gun to hit MacDonald in the back multiple times, leading to the shooting.

According to deputies, Pementel-Cruceta was seen on motel surveillance video rummaging in the backseat of the Kia and throwing evidence over a fence after the shooting. Detectives found Sepulveda-Cruz’s ID, keys and cellphone on the other side of the fence later on.

Cruceta-Pementel was charged with the following:

• Felony Murder (2nd Degree)
• Conspiracy to commit robbery
• Possession of cannabis with intent to sell
• Possession of heroin
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription
• Maintaining a vehicle for drug use/sales
• Tampering with physical evidence
• Provide false information to LEO during investigation
• Unlawful use of two-way communication device

Officials added the investigation is still ongoing.

Alaska. .44 Magnum. Yep, sounds legit.

Wasilla woman kills home invader who stabbed husband

A 22-year-old Houston man was shot to death Sunday during a residential burglary in Wasilla when he fought with the couple who lived there, according to Alaska State Troopers.

An initial report of the home invasion reached troopers at 9 a.m. Sunday, an online dispatch said. Troopers found Justice Beaudoin-Martinez, who was unknown to the residents, suffering from a single gunshot wound. Medics attempted lifesaving measures, but he died at the home.

“Investigation revealed the two residents of the home had discovered Beaudoin-Martinez inside their home and a physical altercation ensued, during which the male resident was stabbed in the arm,” troopers said. “The female resident retrieved a firearm and fired a single gunshot, in defense of her husband, which struck Beaudoin-Martinez and resulted in his death.”

Medics took the husband to a local hospital for treatment of his non-life-threatening stab wound, according to the dispatch.

Troopers spokesman Tim DeSpain said in an email Monday morning that some of the homeowners’ belongings had been found in Beaudoin-Martinez’s backpack. The weapons involved in the encounter included a buck knife he used to stab the husband and a .44 Magnum revolver the wife fired at Beaudoin-Martinez in response, DeSpain said.

An investigation of the shooting was “consistent with an act of self-defense,” according to the trooper dispatch. No charges are being considered in the case, DeSpain said.

Beaudoin-Martinez’s family has been notified.

Waffle House customer fatally shoots man who threatened diners

The weekend violence in the Birmingham area continued early this morning when someone was shot to death outside an east Jefferson County Waffle House.

Jefferson County sheriff’s Lt. Joni Money said deputies were dispatched at 1:30 a.m. to the restaurant in the 2200 block of Center Point Parkway. The report was that a person was threatening to shoot patrons.

Before deputies got on the scene, Money said, the 26-year-old man got into an altercation with a patron. The patron then shot the man and left the location.

The 26-year-old was pronounced dead on the scene.