Category: Slugs For Thugs

Iowa represent

Polk County deputies search for burglary suspect shot by homeowner

BONDURANT, Iowa —
Polk County deputies say they are trying to track down a burglar who broke into a home.

It happened near Bondurant around 5 p.m. Monday. The sheriff’s office says the homeowner called authorities about a home invasion before firing shots at the intruder.

“Evidence on scene indicates he was probably hit. But we have not located that person yet,” Lt. Ryan Evans said.

Deputies say they are looking for an older white man who may be driving a mid-2000s white Buick LeSabre.

Perry homeowner defends family, shoots intruder

PERRY, Iowa – A man is in the Dallas County Jail after officials say he tried to break into a rural Perry residence Sunday night and was shot multiple times by the homeowner.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office says it happened at a property in the 19000 block of 123rd Place around 10:48 p.m.

When deputies from the sheriff’s office and officers from the Perry Police Department arrived, they found 22-year-old Hunter Keasey suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Two men shot outside Des Moines bar on Saturday
Investigators determined Keasey was trying to break into the home when the homeowner opened fire to defend his family.

Officials say Keasey was transported by air ambulance to Methodist hospital in Des Moines, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He was discharged and taken into custody on charges of third-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal mischief, and simple assault.

Officials say it doesn’t appear Keasey and the residents of the home had any relationship and this was an isolated incident.

Shooting death of 26-year-old man in Birmingham ruled justifiable

The shooting death of a 26-year-old man earlier this week on Birmingham’s east side has been ruled justifiable.

Birmingham police on Friday announced no criminal charges will be filed in the Wednesday killing of Jonathan Earl Dancer.

East Precinct officers were dispatched at 11:40 a.m. to a report of a person shot at 6648 Division Avenue. When they arrived, they found Dancer suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Dancer was taken to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead 12:26 p.m.

Police said the preliminary investigation suggests an altercation took place just before the shooting happened.
The shooter was detained for questioning and released. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office deemed the deadly shooting was self-defense.

Birmingham has had 30 homicides so far this year. Of those, three have now been ruled justifiable.

Whether or not you agree with the legality of marijuana, these businesses have a problem. The owners are almost unable to get business banking services,  and thus business credit card services, which makes it a cash only business and a tempting target for thugs.

Suspected pot shop robber fatally shot in Covington

COVINGTON, Wash. — A suspected pot shop robber was fatally shot Thursday night in Covington.

King County sheriff’s deputies were called at about 8 p.m. to the 27600 block of Covington Way Southeast.

A witness told KIRO 7 that the suspected robber had put someone in a headlock in the parking lot.

The suspect then walked the person to the pot shop with a gun to their head, according to the witness.

KIRO 7 was also told that an armed worker at the pot shop confronted the suspect, stopping them from going in, which is when the worker shot the suspect in “self-defense.”

The investigation is ongoing.

What a prosecutor, not.

Justin Smith case dismissed
Craig man’s attempted murder trial does not go to jury after motion granted

A judge dismissed a case that included charges of attempted murder against a Craig man Wednesday.

Justin Smith, who had been accused in September of attempted murder of a man whom he was alleged to have stabbed, did not have his case proceed to trial after defense made a motion for dismissal, and judge Sandra Gardner granted the motion.

Smith is now free and clear of the charges.

A trial was scheduled for May 23, but the court dismissed the case ahead of the jury proceedings after Wednesday’s hearing.

Smith’s charge had stemmed from an incident in which police said he had stabbed a man who had entered the Craig house where Smith was living at the time. Police said he stabbed the man, who recovered from the wounds, three times. Smith contended he was acting in self defense.

In a phone interview with the Craig Press Thursday, Smith said that his alleged victim had entered his house with two other men at 1 a.m. without warning or invitation. Smith said he had pointed a gun at the men, but put the gun down at their urging. Smith said at that time one of the men picked up the gun and, menacing him, attempted to rob Smith. When Smith was going to a back room to get the money the man was instructing him to retrieve at gunpoint, Smith said he then turned suddenly and stabbed the man.

Smith, who was 31 at the time of the incident, turned himself into Moffat County Jail in mid-September, shortly after the incident. He was also charged at the time with Felony Menacing.

Had the case proceeded to trial and Smith been found guilty, he would have faced a possible maximum penalty of 32 years in the Department of Corrections.

Deadly shooting by Clarksville Pike, shooter claims self-defense

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — No charges are being placed currently after a deadly shooting of a man by a Clarksville Pike convenience store clerk on Thursday morning as detectives continie to investigate the clerk’s claim of self-defense.

The victim was identified as 23-year-old Cornell M. Evans of Memphis, according to Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD).

North Precinct officers were dispatched to a shooting call at the 7-eleven store on 3200 Clarksville PIke around 5: 30 a.m.

The clerk, 23-year-old Devyon Johnson, told detectives that Evans entered the store and went directly to the restroom, staying there for an unusual period of time.

This prompted Johnson asking him to leave. Johnson said Evans exited the bathroom in a furious state as he berated him and other employees.

After Evans was repeatedly asked to leave and left the store, Johnson walked to the front of the parking lot, trying to persuade Evans to leave the property.

While on a sidewalk in front of the business, Johnson said Evans approached him aggressively and took a fighting stance.

A physical fight began and Johnson said as he was being punched from behind, he drew a pistol and shot at Evans to protect himself.

Evans was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died shortly after arrival.

Johnson provided a detailed statement to Homicide detectives and the case will be staffed with the District Attorney’s Office at the conclusion of the investigation.

Only problem here is the article referring to the shot intruder as a victim, which is a common theme in locales not friendly to gun ownership.

Vermont police investigating suspected home invasion, shooting

WESTMINSTER, Vt. — One man was shot Monday during a suspected home invasion in southern Vermont, according to investigators with state police.

Police said they received notice of a shooting inside a Westminster home just before 11 a.m. The victim, 40-year-old Daniel King, was driven to a local care center before being flown to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

In an updated release Monday night, police said King was in “stable” condition at the hospital. His condition was previously unknown.

Investigators said the shooting followed a home invasion at Shady Pines Park, a mobile home park in the community. The man shot is accused of intruding with another person — the property owner reportedly opened fire on both.

No other injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

State police said no one was in custody as of Monday night and no charged had been filed.

Authorities said the investigation remains in the preliminary stages.

Sure sounds like the prosecutor really wanted to charge and prosecute, but realized he didn’t have a case

Homeowner who shot alleged burglar in self defense won’t face charges

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Hennepin County Attorney is declining to file charges against the homeowner accused of shooting an intruder last month in Minneapolis who claimed she acted in self-defense.

Thirty-year-old Martin Lee Johnson was shot and killed outside a home along the 3300 block of 25th Avenue South on February 22.

According to police, Johnson was shot after apparently trying to break into a home that night. The county attorney says Ring camera video shows Johnson jumping six-foot privacy fence that surrounds the backyard of the home and trying to enter through a patio door.

Prosecutors say the video shows that, after failing to get in the patio door, Johnson then went into a detached garage through a door in the backyard.

Is it self-defense to shoot an intruder who has entered your detached garage? The Hennepin County Attorney’s office said Monday it is “deferring” a charging decision in the Feb. 22 shooting that left a man dead.

By this point, prosecutors say the homeowner had spotted Johnson on the Ring camera. Arming herself with a pistol, the homeowner went to make sure Johnson had left and had not tried to enter her home. Police say she also told her son to grab a rifle from downstairs in case the man tried to get inside. According to prosecutors, the homeowner has a legal permit to carry.

After realizing the man was still in the garage, the homeowner told police she fired warning shots with the pistol and warned the man to leave. But the homeowner says the man continue walking towards the homeowner and her son.

Ultimately, police say the man was shot once in the chest and later died from those injuries. The homeowner told police the man appeared to reach into his waistband when she shot him with the rifle.

Prosecutors say, after the shooting, the homeowner gave voluntary interviews with officers and allowed investigators to access the Ring camera footage.

As for the evidence, prosecutors say the medical examiner was unable to determine, with 100 percent certainty, which gun fired the fatal bullet. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says they don’t have evidence to disapprove a self-defense argument.

“While this case is tragic, there is not sufficient proof that the homeowner and/or her son are guilty of a crime,” a news release from the county attorney reads. “Based on the evidence provided to our office, it appears the woman and her son would have valid self-defense claims.”

Pennsylvania man returns home to find armed burglar, shootout erupts

COATESVILLE, Pa. – Authorities say a Pennsylvania man had a brief shootout with a burglar who stole two guns and a video game console from the victim’s apartment Friday morning.

Officers from the City of Coatesville Police Department were called to a property on East Lincoln Highway for reports of a shooting.

According to investigators, the victim returned home to find a man armed with an AR-15 standing in his doorway.

After a brief struggle, police say the suspect fired at least 7 shots and the victim returned fire with his legally-owned firearm.

No one was struck during the brief shootout, according to police.

The AR-15 used in the shooting was stolen from the victim’s home along with another gun and a Playstation 5, police said.

Authorities did not provide a description of the suspect.

Teen killed in self-defense in double shooting in Lithonia

LITHONIA, Ga. — DeKalb police said that an 18-year-old was killed in self-defense in a shooting that also left a 25-year-old man in critical condition Monday night.

Officers were called to the 6300 block of Stablewood Way in Lithonia around 6:30 p.m. in reference to a shooting.

Police found a man with at least one gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

A short time later, officers found a second man who had been shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police later said that the two victims got into an argument, which led to the 18-year-old opening fire. A third man fatally shot the 18-year-old.

Police said that the third man will not face any charges at this time because he shot in self-defense. Police did not say if the 25-year-old victim would face any charges.

Police have not released the identities of the three people involved.

Fontana Homeowner Fatally Shoots Attempted Burglar
Police are investigating a Saturday night fatal shooting in Fontana, after a home owner says he had to defend himself during an attempted burglary.

Police are investigating a Saturday night fatal shooting in Fontana [California] , after a home owner says he had to defend himself during an attempted burglary.

The homeowner, whose name has not been released by authorities, called the Fontana Police Department at 10:47 p.m. Saturday.

He told police multiple people were attempting to break into his house at the corner of Cypress Avenue and Baseline, that he believed at least one of them was inside, and that he believed they were armed. The home owner then armed himself with a handgun before the call with Fontana PD disconnected.

When police arrived at the scene, the home owner came out of the house and surrendered himself, saying he had shot someone inside the home.

When police went inside, they found a man dead in the hallway. The dead man was wearing gloves and a COVID-19 mask, and looked to be between 20 and 30 years old, according to the police.

The dead man also had a semi-automatic handgun next to his hand, and according to police, there were signs of a shootout in the home. Brass casings from two different weapons were found.

The other individuals the home owner said tried to break in ran away. Police are searching for those individuals.

Neighbors in the Fontana community are on high alert after the incident occurred.

“If they came here, what exactly would have happened?” said Michelle Luna, a neighbor.

Police are conducting a thorough investigation, but believe the man found dead inside the house was attempting to burglarize the home, and the home owner defended himself against an armed subject. If the investigation finds that to be the case, the home owner will not face charges.

The home owner was not injured in the incident.

Homeowner shoots, kills intruder who broke into his home as he slept

HOUSTON — A man was shot and killed by a homeowner after police say he broke into the man’s home, according to the Houston Police Department.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. Thursday in the 2200 block of Naomi Street in southwest Houston.

Police say the homeowner was asleep on the second floor of his house when he heard the glass break

The intruder entered the home and then made his way up the stairs, when the intruder saw him and discharged his weapon. According to HPD, the homeowner shot the intruder in the neck.

After being shot, police say the intruder ran out the same way he came in, then knocked on nearby doors letting neighbors know he was shot.

HPD says the man later collapsed a few houses away and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Other neighbors say they witnessed the intruder knocking on other houses in the area before the shooting happened.

“I have a newborn son,” Jalen Ross told KHOU 11 News. “That’s all I thought about…him, his mother. I didn’t have a weapon in the household. I was at a disadvantage.”

Ross says he saw the intruder through his door peephole. When he didn’t open the door, the intruder keyed his car before breaking in to the home next door.

Police did not say if the intruder was armed during the break-in.

The homeowner, who has not been identified, is fully cooperating with investigators according to HPD, and is not expected to face any charges.

Minneapolis homeowner claims self-defense in deadly shooting of possible burglar

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A 53-year-old woman and Minneapolis homeowner is claiming self-defense, and protection of property in a deadly shooting in her yard last week. Court documents reveal on Feb. 22 a man died after he was shot in the 3300 block of 25th Avenue South in Minneapolis’ Corcoran neighborhood. The homeowner who pulled the trigger claims, she fired several warning shots. But the man advanced towards her.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has identified the man killed as Martin Lee Johnson, 30 of Minneapolis. A search warrant reports Johnson broke into the woman’s detached garage about 8:30 p.m. FOX 9 is not publicly naming the homeowner.

She told detectives she first fired four warning shots into the air with a handgun, but when he advanced and appeared to reach into his waistband, she eventually shot him with a rifle.

“She is just a loving person. It’s unfortunate that had to happen,” Katherine Wiley, a neighbor, told FOX 9.

Wiley is a long-time friend of the homeowner, and runs a daycare in the MPD first precinct neighborhood that sits right on the backside of the Hiawatha light rail tracks.

“Police can’t do it all themselves. That’s why we look out for each other. Our eyes and ears is for the community. That’s what it’s about nowadays,” Wiley explained.

According to the search warrant, investigators located both weapons, the handgun and rifle, in plain sight inside the home. They also requested access to the woman’s cell phones, as well as, Ring doorbell and home surveillance video recordings. The house appears to have several cameras and spotlights in the back of the home and garage where the shooting is said to have taken place.

“You have to do what we all have to do to protect ourselves and protect out home. If someone tries to come up and invade your space. You know, you have to call police. You have a weapon and ask someone to leave, you are going to do whatever,” said Wiley.

The search warrant says the homeowner did call 911, but did not indicate whether Johnson was armed. The ultimate decision is now in the hands of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to determine whether charges are warranted, or whether this was a justified use of deadly force.

Homeowner shot armed intruder in Denham Springs

DENHAM SPRINGS – A homeowner shot an armed suspect who entered their residence early Monday morning, according to sheriff’s deputies.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office reported the shooting happened around 6 a.m. on Hammack Road near LA 16. The department said the property owner shot the suspect, who was also armed with a weapon, after that person entered the home.

The intruder and the homeowner knew one another, according to the sheriff’s office.

The suspect was taken to a hospital. The homeowner was uninjured.

No other details related to the shooting were immediately available.

Homeowner shoots, kills armed intruder in Northland

A man was shot and killed Sunday morning after breaking into a residence in the Northland, Kansas City police said. Officers with the Kansas City Police Department were dispatched to a disturbance in the 3800 block of Northwest Barry Road around 9:30 a.m. Sunday. While arriving, they were told there was a shooting nearby in the 3800 block of Northwest 85th Terrace.

At the scene of the shooting, officers made contact with the resident of the home, who said an armed intruder had broken in, said Capt. Leslie Foreman, a spokeswoman for the department.

The resident of the apartment complex said he shot the intruder, who police said was declared dead at the scene. Foreman said police do not know at this point whether the intruder and the resident had any relation or knew one another. She said they’re also working to figure out whether the initial disturbance call and the shooting were connected.

Police said the resident of the home is cooperating with detectives. They do not believe any other suspects are involved. Detectives and investigators were on the scene canvassing for witnesses and processing the scene for evidence through at least late Sunday morning.

Sunday’s killing marks the 24th homicide reported this year in Kansas City, according to data kept by The Star, which includes police shootings. Last year saw 157 killings, one of the highest numbers recorded in the city’s history after 2020, which saw the most homicides ever for Kansas City.

Are Ukraine’s armed citizens making a difference?

One of the go-to arguments of gun control advocates who try to portray our Second Amendment as an outdated anachronism is that armed citizens just wouldn’t stand a chance against the might of a modern military force bristling with tanks, missiles, and even nuclear weapons (looking at you, Eric Swalwell).

The armed citizens of Ukraine, however, are helping to put that argument to rest. So far the nation has defied expectations and has continued to to resist the Russian invasion, repelling many of the attacks against the country’s biggest cities, and the country’s Territorial Defense Force, which includes many individuals who were simply private citizens a couple of weeks ago, is having an impact, according to Ukrainian officials.

“In the city itself, the territorial defense detachments are working quite effectively,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential chief of staff, said in a statement Saturday morning. “It turned out that people are coming out, defending their homes. It wasn’t expected by analysts of the Russian General Staff.”

I don’t think it was expected even for some of those who’ve shown up to volunteer, many of whom may never have thought about defending their country with a gun until last week but who are now heading down to their nearest recruitment center.

Men from their 20s to late 50s, from a range of backgrounds, showed up. Igor, 37, an economist for an online retailing company, who didn’t want his last name published for safety reasons, stood in line for his gun. He spoke at barely a whisper and his lips trembled. The dull thud of bombs or artillery could be heard in the distance.

“I never served in the army or with the police or anything,” he said. He said he hoped to be able to figure it out. He was worried, he said. “But people who are really afraid are sitting at home. They aren’t out here now.”

“Everybody in our country needs to defend — women, girls, everybody,” said Denis Matash, 33, the manager of Milk, a Kyiv nightclub, standing in line with about 50 other men at the recruitment center. “I don’t think they understand where they came,” he said of the Russians. “Look at what is happening here.”

Grigory Mamchur, 40, who works as a male strip dancer at the Milk nightclub, part of the now shuttered but once booming nightlife scene in Kyiv, was also in line for a Kalashnikov.

“There wasn’t even anything to think about,” Mr. Mamchur said. “We will defend the country however we can. This could be our last chance.”

The Territorial Defense Force and the private citizens who are taking up arms against their country’s invaders can’t thwart the Russian military on their own, but they can and have made life hell for Russian troops. In addition, the massive mobilization of civilian volunteers serves as a psychological boost for Ukrainians and is helping to obliterate the argument made by Vladimir Putin that the Ukrainian campaign is about “liberating” a grateful populace from their democratically-elected overlords.

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They Held the Line: Ukrainians in Kyiv Hold Out Against Hellacious Russian Assault

I will say this about the Ukrainians. They’re holding out. They’re putting up a tenacious fight against their Russian invaders. It was something Moscow was not expecting. Vladimir Putin has the better military, but they’re struggling in achieving their objectives. Kyiv was projected to be surrounded by Russian forces by this time. At one point this week, they were only a mere 20 miles from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv which was already being bombed.

Last night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was clear that last night was a fight for the nation. they needed to keep Kyiv, but it was going to be difficult as the full might of Russia’s war machine was going to be unleashed upon the city. The nation has been virtually mustered. Citizens can carry firearms in public for the national defense. All males 18-60 cannot leave. Martial law has been declared. The people are ready to fight with whatever means available. Ukrainian soldiers were teaching civilians how to make Molotov cocktails prior to the Russian assault. Russian troops reached the outskirts of the city yesterday evening and fighting did break out in the streets reportedly.

The Ukrainians held the line. The city remains in their hands. Zelensky had rebuffed an American offer of an evacuation—he was in the city during the assault—adding that he needed ammunition, not a ride (via NBC News):

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Man with Lee County ties reportedly killed, was wanted in shooting of Taylor County deputy

A man with connections to Lehigh Acres who was wanted in connection with the shooting of a Taylor County Sheriff’s Office deputy Tuesday night is reported dead.

Gregory Mediema, 33, has listed an Arbordale Street address in Lehigh Acres as a residence. The alert said Miedema was last seen near U.S. 19 South Deer Run Road in Perry, between Tallahassee and Gainesville.

Tallahasee television station WCTV Wednesday reported that the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office says a suspect was killed during a home invasion in Steinhatchee in southern Taylor County.

That suspect’s body was found near the same car that was listed in a part Florida Blue Alert issued late Tuesday night.

The Taylor Sheriff’s Office identified the deputy who was shot as Troy Andersen with the agency’s K-9 unit. The Sheriff’s Office said Andersen was stable at Shands Hospital in Gainesville.

The Florida Blue Alert on Miedema was issued shortly before midnight seeking information on his whereabouts. Blue alerts are issued through the state’s Emergency Alert System to phones, television, radio and message boards across the highway when a law enforcement officer is killed, seriously injured or missing in the line of duty and there’s still an imminent threat to the public.

The alert was cancelled Wednesday morning.

A Facebook post from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday said Miedema had been killed but included no other information.

Suspect shot, another arrested after break-in at Deep Ellum business

DALLAS — One suspect was shot and another was arrested after a reported break-in at a business in the Deep Ellum area early Monday, according to the Dallas Police Department.

Based on preliminary information, officers responded to a shooting in the 3000 block of Canton Street, near South Malcolm X Boulevard.

A business owner was asleep inside his own business, according to an officer on the scene.

The officer said two men kicked in the door and went inside, and the business owner shot one of the men. That man was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

The other man who broke into the business was not injured and was arrested, according to police at the scene. Police said the case would be referred to a grand jury to determine if it was self-defense.

Police were still investigating the shooting Monday morning, and more information was not available.

Man Shot By Homeowner After Alleged Break-In

OKLAHOMA CITY – A man was shot while allegedly trying to break into a home early Saturday morning. It happened in a southwest OKC neighborhood, as officers say the suspect was taken to a hospital.
Police said the man was inside his home when he heard what sounded like someone trying to break in. He quickly grabbed his gun and when he saw the intruder, he aimed and fired.

Officers arrived on the scene just before 6 a.m. at a home near SW 15th and Westwood. When they got there, they found the suspect who had been shot.

“It was a non-life-threatening injury as far as we know at this time,” said Rob Robertson, with OKC Police. “I don’t know that any arrests have been made at this time.”

The suspect was taken to a local hospital and neither the homeowner nor anyone else in the area was injured. Police are now continuing to investigate the scene.

“The most important thing is conducting interviews,” said Robertson. “Collecting evidence, collecting the weapon, that sort of thing. “If there’s any video surveillance or anything like that yeah know a lot of people have video surveillance now.”

It’s uncertain how the suspect got inside the home and what he planned to take. Robertson says you never know how incidents like this could turn out and it’s fortunate no one was critically injured.

“We don’t want anybody hurt, it’s always unfortunate and what a lot of people discount or disregard is what the victim is going through as well,” Robertson said. “That’s every little bit as traumatic for them as maybe the suspect who got hit.”