On the night of Dec. 13, 2020, in Nicetown, Pa., two men stopped to get gas but became the victims of an attempted carjacking. While the driver was pumping gas, the passenger of his vehicle went inside the gas station. At approximately the same time, a dark SUV drove up and attempted to carjack the man at the pump. Fortunately, the passenger inside the gas station was legally armed. When he saw what was happening, he came to his friend’s rescue, firing his gun at the carjackers and shooting one of them in the chest. The second suspect fled the scene in the dark SUV. Police transported the man who was shot to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. (fox29.com, Nicetown, Pa., 12/13/20)
Christmas Day 2020 went horribly wrong for one Stockton, Calif., family when a neighbor forced his way into their apartment and assaulted them. At 2:45 that Friday afternoon, a 29-year-old female resident was confronted by her 32-year-old male neighbor. They got into an argument, then the man forced his way into the woman’s apartment, assaulting her and her family. Luckily, she was able to get to her firearm and shoot the suspect, ending the attack. According to the Stockton Police Department, the suspect received a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. (sacramento.cbslocal.com, Stockton, Calif., 12/25/20)
On the evening of Dec. 1, 2020, a 19-year-old man was shot in the leg after attempting to hide in a woman’s attic. The 38-year-old homeowner allegedly observed a man entering her Detroit, Mich., home earlier in the day via security cameras, but he was never seen inside or found anywhere outside. Later that evening, the homeowner heard noises coming from the attic area. She grabbed her legally owned firearm and moved toward the noise, warning whoever was there to show themselves. When the intruder made a sudden movement, the homeowner fired at and struck the intruder. When officers arrived, they stabilized the suspect and transported him to a nearby hospital. Authorities said they believed the suspect was waiting in the attic for the right time to burglarize the home. (detroitnews.com. and clickondetroit.com, Detroit, Mich., 12/1/20)
Two men met at a store parking lot in Rosedale, Md., after one agreed through a popular app to purchase an expensive pair of shoes from the other. However, during the transaction on Dec. 13, 2020, the 20-year-old buyer threatened the seller with a gun and attempted to rob him. The seller responded by drawing his own handgun and shooting the robber once in the upper body. He then called 911 and stayed on the scene, fully cooperating with the Baltimore County Police investigation. The assailant was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he later died. (baltimoresun.com, Baltimore, Md., 12/13/20)
On Christmas Eve of 2020, a 59-year-old Daytona Beach, Fla., resident was lying in her bed when her live-in boyfriend came up to the bed and raised a tomahawk with a two-foot handle over his head. The woman believed he intended to kill her, so she grabbed her gun and shot him once, killing him. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation, concluding that the woman feared for her life and shot her partner in self-defense. They said she will not be charged. (clickorlando.com, Daytona Beach, Fla., 12/24/20)
A suspect’s luck finally ran out when he attempted to rob a fourth convenience store. The man started his crime spree the afternoon of Dec. 23, 2020, when he allegedly robbed a Kwik Fill in Victor, N.Y. The second robbery happened about three hours later at a FastTrac. Less than thirty minutes later, he reportedly robbed a Family Dollar. Apparently, this was still not enough for the alleged thief, who attempted a fourth robbery within the same hour. While he was attempting the fourth robbery, however, the legally armed store owner fired at the suspect, striking him. The store owner then held the suspect until the Rochester Police arrived. (rochesterfirst.com, Rochester, N.Y., 12/23/20)
On Dec. 26, 2020, a concealed-carry permit holder was forced to defend himself and the occupants of a cell phone store. A would-be robber entered the store around 7 p.m., presented a handgun and demanded property. One employee, who is legally allowed to carry his firearm, fired shots towards the suspect, hitting him in the chest and abdomen. The alleged armed robber was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. (nbcchicago.com, and fox32chicago.com, Chicago, Ill., 12/26/20)
