Armed citizens making a difference thread.

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https://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com...ki-not-guilty/


Jury finds Luciano Pogorzelski not guilty on all counts
Carie CanterburyMay 12, 2021 at 2:15 p.m.
Luciano Pogorzelski
Luciano Pogorzelski
A jury on Wednesday found Luciano Pogorzelski not guilty of murder in the second degree in the shooting death of 39-year-old Richard Fay on Sept. 28, 2019.

The jury also found him not guilty of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and tampering with physical evidence.

Pogorzelski was released from custody and the case was closed.

District Judge Ramsey Lama said Pogorzelski qualified for his records to be sealed.

The attorneys for Pogorzelski, 24, claim he shot Fay in self-defense after Fay allegedly ran after him and started punching him in the face when he and his girlfriend, Madison Blackburn, were leaving Fay*s parents* home on Spruce Court.

Defense attorney Tracey Eubanks said Blackburn and Pogorzelski, who were 21 and 23 at the time of the shooting, respectively, found themselves fearful after having been caught up in a situation that was over their heads.

Prosecutor: Luciano Pogorzelski shot Richard Fay *to bleed and die alone*

*Those are legitimate fears,* she said during closing arguments Tuesday.

Eubanks said it was tragic that someone died, but she said the victim wasn*t the same Richard Fay that was a coin collector and jewelry maker as was described by the prosecution during the trial.

*This was the Richard Fay that was high on methamphetamine * This wasn*t safe Richard Fay,* she said.

Prosecuting attorney Anthony Santos argued that a 23-year-old man who carries a firearm, who smokes methamphetamine and who goes to people*s houses that he doesn*t know is not a child.

*There has been no physical evidence of self-defense,* he said during closing arguments Tuesday. ** Every single second, every minute and every state line as he fled back home, he could have stopped and he could have called the police and shown them these supposed injuries, but he didn*t.*

He said Fay was not a *maniac* and he wasn*t going to go in his own front yard, with houses all around, and try to kidnap somebody.

*(Pogorzelski) pulled his gun out, pointed it at Richard Fay and he pulled the trigger knowing what was going to happen next,* he said.

[internet troll]

https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/43...-rage-incident

No charges against man who shot driver in road rage incident
Wednesday, May 12th 2021, 12:37 PM EDT
By KIM ST. ONGE
Click here for updates on this story

LAKE SAINT LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV) -- The St. Charles County Prosecutor's office has decided not to file charges against the man who shot another man several times during a suspected road rage incident in Lake St. Louis.

The shooting happened on March 20 just before 7 p.m. outside a popular shopping plaza at the intersection of Hawk Ridge Trail and Ronald Reagan Drive. St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar said it was clear both drivers were involved in road rage.

“At one point, the driver in front stops his car, he exits his vehicle, he has a weapon. The driver in the second car sees the weapon and he notifies the first driver that he has a weapon too and the first driver made a sort of an assertive action toward the car that was occupied by the second driver and his family and as a result, he discharged his weapon in an effort to protect himself," said St. Charles County prosecutor Tim Lohmar.

Lake St. Louis Police shared cellphone video a witness recorded that caught part of the shooting. Lohmar said there were also several witnesses who shared consistent stories about what happened.

“Based on all the evidence, we believe the shooter was justified in firing his weapon and as a result, we’ve chosen not to file charges," said Lohmar.

News 4 wanted to know when it is considered self-defense. We took our question to Paul Bastean, who has trained Lake St. Louis Police in use of force for 20 years and owns Ultimate Defense Firing Range in St. Peters, where he trains people when deadly force can be used.

“The formula we use is this acronym and the acronym is AIM," said Bastean.

The acronym AIM stands for:

AccessIntentMeans

“If somebody has access to you and the ability to get to where you are, if they have intent do harm and the means to do harm," said Bastean.

Just being scared for your life is not always enough, he said. There are only five conditions, Bastean explained, where you can use deadly force in Missouri.

“State statute says a reasonable belief exists that the use of force is necessary to protect yourself or someone else from death, serious injury, rape, sodomy, or kidnapping," said Bastean.

Lohmar said what is concerning is how often these incidents are escalating to violence.

“We’re seeing, and not just road rage cases, we’re seeing situations that historically would have just been the first fight now turn into gun battles," said Lohmar.

He warns you should assume everyone has a gun the next time you get upset behind the wheel.

“I think we’re going to have more lost lives before people really recognize the severity of it now," said Lohmar.

Lohmar said the man who was shot made a full recovery.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2021/...se/4931089001/

Reno police say shooter who killed two men in a parking lot last month acted in self-defense
A glass door of a mobile phone business was shattered in a shooting that left two dead in the parking lot of the Mixer Bar April 28, 2021.
The shooter who fatally shot two men at a parking lot last month is believed to have acted in self-defense, Reno police said in a press statement Tuesday evening.

RPD came to this conclusion after detectives conducted interviews and reviewed surveillance video footage of the surrounding area, they said.

At this time, no arrests will be made in this case, according to the press release.

Officers responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of the Mixers Bar, located at 2900 Clear Acre Lane just before midnight on April 28.

On the following Friday, officials released the identities of two men who were killed in the shooting.

Dustin Hall, 25, of Sun Valley and Jay Canchola, 41, of Sparks died from their wounds after being transported to Renown Regional Medical Center, according to the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office.

The glass door of a mobile phone business next to the bar was shattered in the shooting. Employees could be seen sweeping up broken glass the following day.

Mixers Bar Owner Daniel Jones has said that officers told him that the fight started as a "fender bender" and then escalated.

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https://www.wkyt.com/2021/05/12/intr...-in-frankfort/

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) - Frankfort police say a man is dead after breaking into a home.

Police say the shooting happened just after 9:30 Tuesday morning at a home on Wallace Avenue-- off of Collins and Holmes Streets.

Police say the homeowner told dispatch he shot an intruder. Officers say that was 35-year-old Stephen Smallwood.

Smallwood later died at UK Hospital.

Police are still investigating.

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https://eastcountytoday.net/antioch-...atal-shooting/

Antioch Police Say Neighbor Dispute Led to Self-Defense Fatal Shooting

ECTMay 12, 2021
Antioch Police said Wednesday that a man who was shot in a neighbor dispute on April 17 has died after being in critical condition for weeks.

According to police, on April17 at about 7:52 am, Antioch Police patrol officers were dispatched to the 3100 Block of Contra Loma Boulevard for a shooting.

It was determined that two neighbors were involved in an argument stemming from long term issues between the two.

During the argument 70-year-old James Bain produced a knife and attempted to stab the 62-year-old male he was arguing with. The 62-year-old male was carrying a firearm and shot Bain as Bain was attempting to stab him.

Bain was transported to a local trauma center where he remained in critical condition until May 12, 2021, when he died from the injuries he sustained during the shooting.

The 62-year-old male was originally arrested for this case but was later released once it was determined the shooting was in self-defense. Police are not releasing the62-year-old male*s name at this time.

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https://www.inforum.com/news/crime-a...court-docs-say


Fargo man fired shots at alleged trespasser in self-defense, court docs say
Joseph Larson’s attorney, Cash Aaland, said his client discharged his weapon while in fear of his life and retreating from James Mayerhofer’s vehicle.

Written By: April Baumgarten | 7:36 pm, May 12, 2021
James Mayerhofer
James John Mayerhofer, 41, of Fargo, appeared Wednesday, May 12, in Cass County District Court in connection to the shooting that happened late Monday night at 1212 49th Ave. N., Fargo. That’s where 59-year-old Joseph Larson requested help from law enforcement to remove Mayerhofer from Larson’s property.

Larson told Mayerhofer to leave his property, and suddenly, Mayerhofer drove his vehicle toward Larson, court documents alleged.

The homeowner told police Mayerhofer was “trying to run me down,” court documents said. As he retreated to the house, Larson shot at the vehicle, court documents said.

Larson’s bullets did not strike Mayerhofer, Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner said Tuesday in a news conference. Larson believes he shot about five or six shots, according to court documents.

Even after shooting the vehicle, Larson said Mayerhoffer continued to come at the homeowner with a vehicle, according to a criminal complaint.

When deputies arrived at the scene, Mayerhofer tried to drive away but crashed his vehicle into a fallen tree, court documents said. Mayerhofer told police his daughter was in the vehicle with him as deputies talked to him, but the suspect was the only person in the vehicle, court documents said.

He also claimed his daughter was in Larson's home and that Larson took her, but the daughter was not in the house, court documents said.

Mayerhofer appeared to be impaired by methamphetamine, a deputy said in the complaint. He was arrested after being cleared by medical staff.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of fleeing police, driving under the influence, refusal to submit to a chemical test and criminal trespass. He does not have an attorney, though he has applied for a public defender.

Mayerhofer is being held at the Cass County Jail.

The State’s Attorney’s Office had not decided as of Wednesday if Larson should face criminal charges, though it is unlikely since Mayerhofer was not forthcoming in interviews with deputies, State’s Attorney Birch Burdick said.

Jahner said Mayerhofer did not cooperate in answering questions about the case.

Larson’s attorney, Cash Aaland, said his client discharged his weapon while in fear of his life and retreating from Mayerhofer’s vehicle. Aaland noted Mayerhofer’s long criminal history, which included vehicle theft, assault, burglary and robbery.

Larson was not injured during the incident, Jahner said.

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https://news.yahoo.com/charges-dropp...185600872.html


Charges dropped in St. Petersburg shooting that killed 19-year-old
Thu, May 13, 2021, 2:56 PM
ST. PETERSBURG * Prosecutors will not pursue murder charges against two men arrested in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old in March.

Pinellas-Pasco Executive Assistant State Attorney Kendall Davidson said if the cases went to trial, his office doesn*t believe it could refute a claim of self-defense by Ajay Alvarez, 19, who had been charged with second-degree murder in the March 30 killing of D*Quaz Davis.

In their initial account of the shooting, St. Petersburg police said Alvarez sat in a car outside a home on Fargo Street S, then rolled down a window and opened fire on Davis as he approached.

But Davidson said Davis may have been armed: A *credible witness* told investigators that, before officers arrived, they saw someone approach the crime scene in a car, pick up a gun from the ground next to Davis* body, then drive off.

It*s not clear whether Davis pulled the gun or threatened Alvarez with it before Alvarez shot him, and Davidson said police haven*t located the gun the witness said they saw being taken from the scene.

Still, Davidson said, the muddiness * combined with social media posts in which Alvarez and Davis had traded threats, and inconsistent witness statements * would have impeded prosecutors in a trial.

*Unfortunately, it*s hard to get a lot of good evidence on some of these crimes,* Davidson said.

The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney*s Office also dropped charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault against Paul Reaves, 21, who police placed at the crime scene.

Davidson said Reaves was arrested based on the statements of witnesses who later changed their stories, and that prosecutors had no evidence he went to the scene with the intent to harm Davis or Alvarez.

Prosecutors filed notice that they were dropping the charges on May 7. But Reaves still faces a charge of illegally possessing a firearm * prohibited due to his juvenile criminal record, according to an arrest report. He remains in the Pinellas County jail, where he is being held in lieu of $10,000 bond.

Alvarez faces no other charges and was released from jail on Monday, records show. He could not be reached for comment on Thursday. A phone number listed for him in court records was no longer in service.

Davis*s mother, Tiffany Webster, said Thursday that she doesn*t wish to comment at this time.

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https://wach.com/news/local/police-s...s-self-defense

Police: Shooting at Columbia apartment complex was self-defense
Police: Shooting at Columbia apartment complex was self-defense (Image credit: SBG)
COLUMBIA, SC (WACH) – Officers have determined a shooting that happened at a Columbia apartment complex was self-defense, according to the Columbia Police Department.

No charges will be filed, according to the department.

The shooting happened at the Capri Apartments on E. Chapel Dr. just after 11 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, according to police.

Police said the 23-year-old man found dead was the armed aggressor and fought with another man in the apartment.

The man went to the apartment unannounced and began arguing and assaulting the man inside with a gun.

The victim’s brother saw the assault, pushed his brother out of the way for safety and fatally shot the aggressor, according to police.

The two men inside the apartment immediately called 911.

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https://nypost.com/2021/03/29/no-cha...hers-arrested/


No charges for man who drew gun at dueling Oregon protests; four others arrested
By Jesse O*Neill
A man who drew a gun during Sunday*s dueling statehouse protests in Salem, Oregon, was not arrested after complying with police officers.

The incident was captured in dramatic video, as Antifa protesters clashed with demonstrators taking part in a *Freedom Rally.*

The white-haired man got out of his American flag-adorned pickup truck to look at the damage allegedly caused by Antifa protesters. That*s when he was attacked with pepper spray, by a mob that was surrounding him, police said.

He dropped his weapon at the orders of police, the video showed.

*After being assaulted with pepper spray, the person pulled a handgun from his waistband to defend himself,* Oregon State Police said in a statement.

*He did not point the weapon at anyone and dropped it when ordered to do so by Law Enforcement. This person has a valid concealed handgun license. This person was detained, interviewed and then released.*

Four men were arrested during the demonstration and counter-protest. Two were charged with disorderly conduct, one was charged with interfering with an officer, and another is accused of unlawfully pointing a laser, police said.

Opposed groups stage protest and counter-protest in Oregon
A crowd of protesters at the Oregon State Capitol building in Salem, Oregon on March 28, 2021.
John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
More than 100 left-wing protesters * many linked to the Youth Liberation Front * turned up to *prevent the Freedom Rally caravan* that was planning to meet at the Capitol, police said.

Some in the mob were accused of damaging vehicles, including the gunman*s.

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https://www.12newsnow.com/article/ne...2-088ea35c705e


Homeowner shoots man in chest after reported forced entry over custody issue
Deputies responded to a reported shooting at a home on County Road 3260 on Thursday around 4:30 p.m.

COLMESNEIL, Texas — Tyler County deputies are investigating a fatal shooting that may be linked to a “lengthy child custody issue,” according to a news release from the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to a reported shooting at a home on County Road 3260 on Thursday around 4:30 p.m.

Witnesses on the scene told investigators a man forced himself into the home and was shot in the chest by the homeowner, according to the release.

The man was declared dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Milton Powers. Officials are not releasing the name of the man at this time.

The homeowner and witnesses were taken in for questioning, the release says.