THE ARMED CITIZEN...TRUE STORIES
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
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In Chesterfield County, S. Carolina, on Dec. 28, 2024, a man entered a convenience store around 8:45 p.m. and put a gun to the clerk’s head, demanding money. The clerk, however, was also armed and, fearing for his life, managed to draw his own firearm and shoot the assailant multiple times, killing him. Security cameras in the store confirmed his account and no charges are expected against the defender. The Sheriff reminded citizens: “A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in another place where he has a right to be, including his place of business, has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if he reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury to himself or another person or to prevent the commission of a violent crime.” (Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office Facebook, Chesterfield County, S.C., 12/30/24)
On the morning of Dec. 8, 2024, a man broke into an apartment in West Chester, Ohio, through the balcony door. An armed citizen was home, however, and, after hearing noises, found the intruder and shot him. The suspect was transported to the hospital but died there; the investigation was ongoing. (wcpo.com, Cincinnati, Ohio, 12/8/24)
An armed robber entered a gas station convenience store Dec. 21, 2023, around 1 a.m. in South Bend, Ind., and demanded money from the clerk at gunpoint. When the man then got into an altercation with the clerk, a customer believed the clerk to be in danger of his life, so he drew his firearm and fatally shot the assailant. The would-be robber managed to flee the store but collapsed nearby. The store’s security footage quickly confirmed the armed citizen’s account of events and the prosecutor was able to tell reporters the same day that the shooting was justified in defense of someone’s life and they would not seek to press charges. (wndu.com, South Bend, Ind., 12/21/23)
On New Year’s Day, a masked man allegedly entered a Taco Bell in Akron, Ohio, pulled out a gun and fired at an employee behind the counter. Another employee, a 21-year-old man, drew his own gun and fired back at the assailant, striking him in the chest. The would-be robber then fled with some of the money, only to show up at the hospital a short time later. Another man, who drove him to the hospital and who was apparently involved in the incident in some way, was arrested. The wounded suspect was in stable condition and was expected to face charges upon release. The police chief said, “To some degree, [he] could’ve saved or prevented someone from being seriously injured or killed—himself or others.” (news5cleveland.com, Cleveland, Ohio, 1/2/24)
On Jan. 21, a woman in Fruita, Colo., discovered an intruder in her home. To protect the victim, reports don’t provide many details on the incident, but do indicate that the woman was able to defend herself with her firearm, causing the man to flee. Fruita police reminded area residents to always keep their homes and cars locked and to “take all precautions necessary to protect yourself and your property, regardless of how safe you think your neighborhood is.” (kjct8.com, Grand Junction, Colo., 1/22/24)
A homeowner in Georgia, Vt., used a muzzleloading rifle to defend himself against several home intruders just before midnight on Jan. 30. The three suspects reportedly were forcing entry through a locked door. The homeowner shot one of the alleged intruders, a 39-year-old man, critically wounding him, then shut the door and called police. The other would-be home invaders fled before police arrived, but officers found the wounded man in a neighbor’s yard and transported him to the hospital. The investigation was still ongoing. (mychamplainvalley.com, Colchester, Vt., 1/31/24)
On Feb. 11 in East Greenwich, R.I., a man called police to report that a man wielding a knife had followed him into his garage and demanded his car. The homeowner, however, was an armed citizen, and the suspect ran off after he drew his firearm. He was later found allegedly using a rock to break into a nearby home through the sliding-glass door. Police quickly arrested the 30-year-old suspect, who faces multiple charges. (wmur.com, Manchester, N.H., 2/11/24)