Late on March 1, in Albuquerque, N.M., a woman was sharing an evening dancing and singing with her 4-year-old granddaughter, when an unknown man burst into the home and demanded her keys. He stated he didn’t want to be arrested and threatened to hurt the woman and her granddaughter. The woman dialed 911 as the man looked for the keys, but she also was complying and trying to calm the man down. “I told him not to hurt us, that I would do whatever he wanted. I would give him keys, money, whatever it took,” the woman told reporters later. The man finally departed with the vehicle’s key fob, and the woman took her granddaughter into the bedroom and retrieved her firearm. The 911 recording then picks up sirens and the man banging on the door, then kicking it in. The woman repeatedly warned the man to get back, then shot him when he did not comply. She then assisted the man with his injuries until police arrived and removed him from the residence. The man had been fleeing officers on foot after spike strips had disabled a car he reportedly stole. He had a lengthy criminal history, including five felony convictions, but was released last September pending a charge for vehicle theft. The armed citizen told reporters her granddaughter has been struggling to feel safe since that night, but she still feels “God was watching over us.” (krqe.com, Albuquerque, N.M., 4/25/24)
A 60-year-old man was withdrawing cash from an ATM at 5:30 a.m. on March 8 in Chicago, Ill., when an unknown man rode up on a bicycle. The cyclist threw his bike to the ground, pulled out a firearm and demanded the man’s valuables. The man drew his own firearm and defended himself, striking the would-be robber several times, but unfortunately was shot twice himself. Both men were transported to the hospital, where the assailant was pronounced dead; the armed citizen was stabilized and is expected to recover. (cbsnews.com, Chicago, Ill., 3/8/24)
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