Property Owner Kills Home Invaders

Shooting Was Self Defense
Louisville, KY June 3, 2008

Two teens are dead, but police aren't charging the man who shot them with a crime.
"For sure, there's not a doubt in my mind, my wife and I would be dead if I didn't do what I did," said property owner Billy Jackson.
Jackson said he was sprucing up an apartment in the house he owns at 3517 West Broadway when two masked men forced their way inside. He said one had a large gun, and threatened to kill him and his wife.
"I figured I was going to die and they were going to die, too," said Jackson. "I faked a heart attack; shot him in the side."
"At least one of the suspects was armed with a handgun," said Metro Police Detective Phil Russell. "The property owner was assaulted. He sustained minor injuries."

The two dead would be robbers names are Earl Springer and Dazmond Turner. Both were 19 years old.

Police said Springer died at the scene, while Turner died early Wednesday morning at University Hospital.
"They will confer with the commonwealth attorney's office in order to determine if charges need to be placed," Russell said. "At this time in the investigation, it looks as though this was self-defense."

Good for you Mr. Jackson! Once again an armed citizen refuses to be a victim. Two less scumbags and potential career criminals on our streets.
Here is the troubling part of this story. The local media is not portraying one of these two masked bandits as a criminal. They are making him out like he is the victim. This particular reporter interviews the invader's aunt. (video here) In which she tells the reporter about how the this home invader was going to get his GED. He was going to be a father. He wanted to play in the NBA. He was supposed to be going to Florida to be with his mommy...

Boo f*****g Hoo!

This man broke into someone's home! He or his partner had a gun! At least one of them assaulted the homeowner and threatened his life! I do not feel sorry for him at all. Personally, I am thrilled that there are two less criminals on the streets.

Concealed Carry Stops Shooting Spree

Please check out this story from the Reno Gazette-Journal
Winnemucca, NV

On Sunday May 25, 2008 at approximately 2:30 a.m. the Winnemucca Police Department was dispatched to the Players Bar and Grill located at 1062 South Grass Valley Road on the report of numerous shots fired and multiple gunshot victims.

The officers on scene discovered three adult males who had died from obvious gunshot wounds. Two additional gunshot victims were also located.

Those two gunshot victims had non-life threatening injuries and were later release from the hospital.

The initial investigation indicated that there had been two separate shooters during the incident. One of the alleged shooters, Ernesto Fuentes Villagomez, age 30 of Winnemucca, was among the three men who were dead on arrival. The other was a 48 year old Reno man who was initially taken into custody at the scene as a person of interest.

The subsequent investigation lead detectives to believe that Villagomez entered the bar and at some point began firing multiple rounds. At least two of these rounds struck and killed the other two decedents, Jose Torres age, 20 and his brother Margarito Torres, age 19 both of Winnemucca. At some point during this shooting spree Villagomez allegedly stopped and according to witnesses reloaded his high capacity handgun and began shooting again.

It was at this point that the second shooter, the Reno resident, produced a concealed handgun and proceeded to fire upon Villagomez who succumbed to his wounds. The Reno resident was in possession of a valid Concealed Carry Permit issued through the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.

The shooting was determined to be a justifiable homicide and the unnamed Reno man was released with no charges filed against him.

Good for him. I hope the man gets a medal.

The difference between victim and victor

This story actually happened back in November but it has just come to my attention. I wanted to post it and add a few comments.

911 audio (may not be suitable for all listeners): http://www.nbc5.com/download/2008/0110/15020797.mp3

Original story:

Hammond woman fatally shoots alleged stalker

November 14, 2007 (HAMMOND, Ind.) -- A northwest Indiana woman shot her alleged stalker to death.

Police say 41-year-old Ryan Lee Bergner broke into the woman's home in Hammond Monday night. The 51-year-old woman called 9-1-1 and hid in a closet with a gun she had been given for protection. She says she shot him when he opened the closet door and started choking her.

His family says Bergner was a good man. Neighbors say the woman's action is understandable.

"There is no way there should be any charges on her. It is justifiable homicide. She was on the phone with police. They told her exactly what to do. What more are you asking for when some guy's coming at you? I mean, that's defense," said Alison Joseph, woman's neighbor.

Story update can be found here:

She said she was watching television when she heard a window break and called 911. She was hiding in a closet when she says 41-year-old Ryan Bergner came into the room. That's when she shot him with a gun she acquired that day. (emphasis added by EMB)

"What are you doing? Stop it. Stop it, stop it," the victims says in the emergency call.

"He's in the room with her," the 911 operator says.

"Stop it, stop it," the victim continues, then a scream is heard.

Earlier this week, the prosecutor decided not to charge the woman. (emphasis added - EMB)

This is a prime example of how a person turned the tables on her attacker and refused to be a victim. By defending herself she very well may have saved her own life.

As good as the police are, they simply cannot be everywhere. As the 911 audio shows, it can take several minutes for the police to get to you when you need them most. This woman did everything she could to avoid this man. Everything that all of the anti-gun people tell you to do. Call 911. Lock the doors. Retreat to another room. Hide.

None of which did any good. He still came after her. Locked doors did not stop him. Locked windows did not stop him. A call to 911 did not stop him. An armed citizen did.