Armed citizens making a difference thread.

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https://krdo.com/news/2020/10/28/no-...ned-in-august/

Charges dropped for Colorado Springs man in self-defense shooting
Shelby FilangiOctober 28, 2020
News

crime scene generic
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- No charges have been filed against a Colorado Springs man in relation to a shooting that happened in August.

On August 1 Colorado Springs Police responded to a shooting at the Vineyards of Colorado Springs on Mira Linda Point.

When they arrived on the scene Daniel Ritchie, 31, was dead from a gunshot wound. The shooter, Jason Wall, 31, was taken to the hospital with multiple injuries.

Investigators say Ritchie attacked Wall in his apartment after a night of drinking. Wall sustained injuries to his head and face, including skull fractures, during the attack.

The District Attorney's Office ruled last week Wall was justified in shooting Ritchie in self-defense.

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https://www.commercialappeal.com/sto...01/5862832002/

The 901: Shooting of alleged carjacker at Memphis Kroger looks like self-defense
The 901 is your morning blend of Memphis news and commentary

Memphis Police Department officers work the scene of a shooting Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, at the Kroger gas station near the corner of Kirby Parkway and Poplar Avenue in Memphis.
Good Tuesday morning from Memphis, where the University of Memphis says it will get another Bengal tiger — you'll just have to go to the zoo to see it. But first ...

Yesterday, at a Kroger gas station near Poplar and Kirby, in an area about as "east" as East Memphis gets, the owner of an SUV shot and killed an allegedly armed carjacker.

Here's how it went down, according to Memphis police and as reported by our own Daniel Connolly: Three or four people, reportedly armed, allegedly tried to jack a white Mercedes G-Class at about 1:20 p.m. The owner retrieved a handgun and shot and killed one person and wounded another, who was in non-critical condition yesterday.

Police detained the owner of the SUV "pending further investigation":

The deceased seems like to be a young man — as young as 16, according to one person interviewed by WREG News Channel 3. Police haven't confirmed his age.

As Memphis braces for what could be a record-breaking year for homicides, probably thanks in no small part to the shutdowns triggered by COVID-19, the city seems to be growing increasingly fed up with the violence. Afterward, amidst an outpouring of support, the SUV owner was hailed as a "hero" in Facebook comments on our story.

Meanwhile, witness Sonya Mull, who was leaving the nearby Tropical Smoothie Cafe when she heard the shots, had a different, more pensive read on the situation:

"It's just very sobering to think that this happened on both sides as a result of something material, that someone would want to take something of someone, another person's possessions and that someone would value that possession enough to take someone's life."

New facts could still surface, so we shouldn't rush into any judgments. But, based on what we know, we can speculate that the shooter could have been reasonably afraid for his life. That would make this a question of self-defense, not just possession-defense.

Of course, killing someone to stop them from taking your car — or a $2 beer, like in Dorian Harris' case — is wrong, morally and legally. But killing someone trying to steal your car who is also threatening you with a gun? That's murkier territory, morally and legally. Because state law is so vague on the question of self-defense in public settings, it's hard to say with any degree of certainty whether the SUV owner will face charges.

But here's what we can say: Even if this shooting was justified — and it probably was, based on the facts we have now, although those facts could change — this shooting should not be celebrated. This is another tragedy for a city that has seen too many of them; too many funerals, too many mourning mothers, too many lives derailed by thoughtless crimes. This is another life lost, even if it was lost because of poor choices.

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https://www.toledoblade.com/local/co...es/20201009097

Jury finds woman acted in self-defense after shooting man in parking lot
A Lucas County jury determined that a woman was acting in self-defense when she fatally shot a man during an altercation in a West Toledo bar parking lot.

Shantoria Hankins, 28, was found guilty of fatally shooting Sterling Parker, 25, in the parking lot of the former Walle Rocket*s Bar on Oct. 23, but they determined that she was acting in self-defense, so she will not serve any time in incarceration. She may also request to have the firearm involved in the case returned to her.

*Therefore, I believe Ms. Hankins is not criminally liable under the affirmative defense of self-defense on the two counts the jury found her guilty,* Judge Joe McNamara said from the bench on Friday.

The jury found Ms. Hankins not guilty on a single charge of murder, but found her guilty of a separate murder offense and felonious assault with a firearm specification. If she had been found guilty and not acting in self-defense, she could have faced up to life in prison.

Allison Dunn

Jury hears testimony in Walle Rocket's murder trial

*Ms. Hankins, you can be unshackled because you are free to go,* the judge said to her on Friday.

Her defense attorney, Merle Dech, declined to comment following the verdict.

Prosecutors claimed that Ms. Hankins intentionally shot Mr. Parker following a physical dispute with his sister. Witnesses testified that Mr. Parker never touched Ms. Hankins, but that he was trying to calm the situation by keeping her in the vehicle to prevent additional fighting.

While prosecutors said they respected the jury*s verdict, they disagreed with the decision.

*You have an unarmed man who was shot and killed at point blank range. Other than the testimony from the defendant, the other three [witnesses,] whether the jury found them to be completely credible or not, all indicated that he was actually a peacemaker trying to de-escalate the situation,* said Frank Spryszak, deputy chief of the criminal division at the Lucas County Prosecutor*s Office. *That*s why I find this to be a troubling verdict.*

The jury sifted through varying accounts and testimony throughout the week of what happened that evening. They began deliberating at approximately 11:45 a.m. Thursday before breaking for the evening. They returned to deliberate on Friday and returned the verdict at approximately 10:45 a.m.

Ms. Hankins interacted with Mr. Parker at the former bar that night, but a dispute erupted outside of the bar. Witnesses gave varying conflicting testimony of what happened and the defense*s own witness, Saitazia Stephens, blamed Ms. Hankins for the escalation that led to the shooting.

Allison Dunn

Toledo woman testifies in her murder trial, jury begins deliberations

On Thursday, Ms. Hankins testified that she was in fear for her life when Mr. Parker reached into her vehicle and began strangling her.

*I was scared I couldn*t breathe so I drew my weapon at him because I thought I was going to pass out and die,* Ms. Hankins said about the incident.

Ms. Hankins testified that Mr. Parker opened her car door and then put his hands around her neck. She said she called for him to get off of her as she attempted to hit his arms in order to break free.

Ms. Hankins said she reached behind her for her legally-owned handgun, popped the safety with her thumb, racked the slide.

Mr. Parker told the woman that she didn*t have any bullets in the gun, witnesses said.

Then, Ms. Hankins fired a single round at Mr. Parker, hitting him in the chest. The man later died from his injuries.

Ms. Hankins was arrested at the scene and she was indicted by a Lucas County grand jury on Nov. 1. She has been held at the Lucas County jail in lieu of $1 million bond throughout the pending case.

Because Ms. Hankins was in her vehicle, she did not have a duty to retreat under state law, Mr. Dech told the jury on Thursday. Changes to the self-defense law in 2019 put the burden on the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the individual did not act in self-defense.

*That law change definitely makes things more difficult for us in prosecuting cases like this,* Mr. Spryszak said.

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https://www.wmbfnews.com/2021/02/14/...-self-defense/

12-year-old shoots home intruder in self-defense
By WITN Staff February 14, 2021 at 3:41 PM EST - Updated February 15 at 8:16 AM
GOLDSBORO, N.C. (WITN) - The Goldsboro Police Department is investigating a deadly robbery where a 12-year-old shot at an armed suspect in self-defense, according to Goldsboro police.

Police responded to a shooting at an apartment on 402 S. William Street in Goldsboro on Saturday around 12:30 a.m. and found 73-year-old Linda Ellis suffering from a gunshot wound.

Police said a 12-year-old who lived in the apartment with Ellis is believed to have shot at the masked suspects with a gun in self-defense, according to the investigation. They say two masked suspects forced their way into the apartment and demanded money from Ellis and shot her.

Another person, Khalil Herring, was found suffering from a gunshot wound near the intersection of William Street and Elm Street.

Ellis and Herring were both transported to Wayne UNC Health Care but Herring died from his injuries. Ellis is in stable condition, according to police.

Police said evidence suggests Herring was one of the two masked intruders and was shot during the robbery.

The Goldsboro Police Department does not plan on charging the 12-year-old juvenile that fired at the suspects. The investigation is ongoing.

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https://www.wjbf.com/top-stories/one...s-and-strikes/

One injured, four arrested after self-defense shooting at Stars and Strikes

UPDATE * After responding to a shooting at Stars and Strikes on Wrightsboro Road, Richmond County deputies found 30-year old Jamal Morgan who was shot in the upper right arm. They say the shooter, 35-year old Dennis Murray was acting in self defense.

Those involved and arrested for Battery are Jamal Morgan, 30-year old Chaquita Lane, and a juvenile, 15-years old. A warrant was issued for 34-year old Jasmine Morgan.

Murray is not on the list of those arrested in the dispute.

Morgan was taken to the hospital for treatment.

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https://www.wect.com/2021/02/12/poli...rage-incident/

Police: Fatal shooting at Loris gas station was ‘self-defense’ following alleged road rage incident
WMBF News Staff
LORIS, S.C. (WMBF) - Authorities are investigating a deadly shooting that occurred in Horry County on Thursday.

The Loris Police Department said the incident happened at around 5:30 p.m. at the Speedway location at 5370 Broad St.

Detectives later determined it may have stemmed from a road rage incident that spilled into the parking lot of the Speedway, according to police.

Police said witnesses told officers a truck allegedly pulled up to the gas pumps with a second truck following closely behind. A man in the second truck then left his vehicle with what appeared to be a knife and approached the first truck.

Witnesses also told police after opening the door to the truck that wasn’t his, the man with the knife was shot by the driver in self-defense. Police responded to the scene and officers performed CPR after finding the victim unresponsive.

The victim, identified as a 34-year-old, died after being taken to the hospital according to Horry County Coroner Robert Edge.

Edge said the identity of the victim will be released sometime Friday.

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https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/iowa...s-self-defense

Iowa teen dies in shooting police say was self-defense
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) *
File photo of an ambulance
A man who shot and killed one teenager and injured another in Des Moines on Monday will not be charged after authorities determined he was acting in self-defense, police announced.

Police said two 16-year-old males who both had handguns tried to rob a group of people in north Des Monies. An adult man in the group drew his gun and fired several times, hitting the teenagers, police said.

The man had a concealed carry permit for his gun.

Liem Deng, of Des Moines, died in the shooting. The other teenager remains hospitalized but is expected to survive.

After an investigation and consultation with the Polk County Attorney*s office, the shooting was ruled justified self-defense and no charges will be filed, police said.

The robbery investigation is continuing.

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https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/...ng/3944960001/

PBSO: Man acted in self defense in Wellington shooting
breaking news
WELLINGTON — A Wellington man was acting in self defense when he shot and killed another man during a fight Monday night, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

Andrew Hodges, 52, was "the aggressor" when he was fatally shot by Joshua Zero, 21, who was defending himself, PBSO detectives determined.

The shooting happened about 8 p.m. Monday at a single-family, one-story home on Capeside Circle just inside the entrance to Wellington Lakes. The neighborhood is on the west side of Big Blue Trace and north of South Shore Boulevard.

It was the first fatal shooting in Wellington since January 2017, according to a Palm Beach Post database.

No charges have been filed, and detectives are still investigating, PBSO said.

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https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc...rje-story.html

DA releases video of Easton shooting where authorities say woman acted in self-defense
Sarah M. Wojcik
The Morning Call |

Sep 02, 2020 at 5:20 PM

The Northampton County District Attorney Office has determined that a woman who opened fire on Aug. 17 in Easton acted in self defense after she was attacked.
Authorities have determined that a woman who opened fire on another woman during an assault in Easton on Aug. 17 did so in self-defense.

Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck announced Wednesday that the woman who was shot, Tiasha Ennis, is now facing aggravated assault charges for allegedly attacking the armed woman on a porch in the 900 block of Ferry Street in the city.

There will be no charges filed against the woman who opened fire, Houck said. She was not identified in court records, but Houck said she had a legal permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Houck said the woman and Ennis did not know each other.

Authorities released video footage taken of the assault to illustrate why Ennis was being charged and why the woman who fired her gun was not.

*We believe this was self-defense,* Houck said of the shooting. *From my perspective, you can see that the accused has a size advantage and just launches herself at the other woman. If you*re going to go after someone like that, you*d better be aware that there are people out there who are armed legally.*

Ennis, 30, of the 100 block of South Ninth Street, had a gunshot wound on the right side of her chest and another on the right side of her back. Doctors say these were the entry and exit wounds caused by a single bullet. She also suffered a collapsed lung from the shooting, but doctors say she is likely to fully recover.

Ennis faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment. She was arraigned this morning before District Judge Robert Weber and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

According to court records:

Police were called to the 900 block of Ferry Street for reports of a woman who was shot at 12:55 p.m. Aug. 17. Authorities say the woman who fired the weapon, identified in court records only as N.S., was still on the scene and was bleeding from her mouth, with scrapes, cuts and bite marks on her face and hands.

N.S. immediately surrendered her firearm and said she*d cooperate with police. She told officers that she was visiting family members on Ferry Street when Ennis confronted her on the sidewalk in front of the home.

N.S. said Ennis accused her of having a relationship with Ennis* boyfriend. N.S. said she didn*t know Ennis and denied the allegations, but that Ennis then charged her.

N.S. said she was unable to break free from the assault and felt overpowered, terrified and afraid for her life as Ennis continued to punch, scratch and bite her. N.S. said she pulled her gun from her fanny pack and warned Ennis she was armed.

Ennis tried to grab the firearm and N.S. said she fired the weapon then, hitting Ennis with a single bullet. N.S. said she immediately called for help when she realized Ennis was shot.

Police say they spoke with two witnesses to the fight who arrived at the Ferry Street home with Ennis. They told police they were driving through the neighborhood when Ennis ordered them to stop in front of the house where N.S. was exiting. They saw her fight with N.S., heard a loud pop and then saw N.S. urging someone to call 911.

When police were able to interview Ennis in the hospital, she told them she tracked N.S. down through social media after finding out that her boyfriend was being unfaithful. She said her friends were driving her to a doctor*s appointment when she spotted N.S. and told them to stop the car.

Ennis said she told N.S. why she was there and when N.S. denied the allegations, Ennis felt *disrespected.*

*I put my heads on her first and I grabbed her by the hair,* Ennis allegedly told police. *I was beating her up and punching her.*

She said she heard the gunshot then and crumpled to the ground.

A St. Luke*s University Health Network trauma surgeon told police that Ennis would likely make a full recovery. She was released from the hospital on Aug. 20.

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https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news...-self-defense/

No charges after deadly Seneca shooting ruled self-defense
Sep 22, 2020 / 04:52 PM EDT
Local News
by: WSPA Staff

Posted: Sep 22, 2020 / 04:52 PM EDT / Updated:

SENECA, SC (WSPA) – Police say a shooting at a Seneca apartment complex which left a man dead was self defense and that there will be no charges.

The shooting happened on September 12 at the Fair Oaks Apartments on Fairoaks Circle.

Seneca Police responded to the shooting around 2:10am and found a man who had been shot multiple times.

The victim, 35-year-old Charles Antonio Clark of Seneca, died at the scene.

Police said investigators interviewed more than 20 people, reviewed several hours of video from the apartment complex, searched several locations, and gathered around 400 pieces of evidence.

Investigators reviewed the findings with the 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and determined the shooting was the result of self-defense and no charges will be filed.