Tulsa, Okla., is a quiet town smack dab in the middle of the United States, where residents aren’t afraid to fight back when confronted with danger. Below are five stories of Tulsans taking up arms in defense of themselves and their families.
Eighty-four-year-old Doug Jandebeur of Tulsa, Okla., was getting into his truck when an unidentified man punched him in the head and took his wallet. When Jandebeur saw the robber heading toward the door of the shop where his wife was, he pulled his concealed pistol, causing the much younger and much larger assailant to flee at a dead run.
Police did not apprehend the suspect at the scene, but his face was caught on a nearby surveillance camera. The senior citizen later explained, “Anybody who doesn't arm themselves is asking for trouble.” (KOTV 6, Tulsa, Okla., 3/18/15)
Irene Parker, 78, and Beverly Wright, 43, were volunteers walking door-to-door ministering and distributing religious literature just before the Easter holiday. Parker visited one home where a woman answered the door. Before Parker was able to speak to the woman, a large dog lunged forward from inside. The screen door flew open and Parker landed in the yard. Parker could do nothing but try to protect her face as the dog tore at her flesh. Wright, who was just two doors down the street, ran toward Parker in an effort to help. Wright took a baseball bat from the dog’s owner and swung at the dog, but only caused the dog to turn its attention toward her. Wright screamed when the dog attacked. Two blocks away, Mike Harrell could hear the desperate cries for help. Harrell kept a gun in his truck, so he drove to the residence and immediately took action. Harrell fired one shot, killing the dog. Parker and Wright suffered severe injuries, but after extensive surgeries both women survived the attack. (The Tulsa World, Tulsa, Okla., 3/24/13)
A homeowner in Tulsa, Okla., was returning home from a walk when he became aware of an intruder who had broken into his house. The homeowner retrieved a gun, found the burglar and fired at him, striking him three times. The criminal was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. (The Tulsa World, Tulsa, Okla., 10/12/13)
A criminal in Tulsa, Okla., crashed a stolen tow truck into an occupied SUV and fled the scene as police were on their way. The thief then broke into a nearby home, only to be confronted by an armed homeowner. The homeowner opened fire on the home invader, striking the burglar in both legs and incapacitating him until police could arrive. Police pieced together the two incidents and brought the criminal to a nearby hospital, where after release he will face charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, leaving the scene of an injury accident and first-degree burglary. This wasn’t the home invader’s first brush with law enforcement. An investigation revealed that the criminal has several prior convictions, which include grand larceny, possessing a stolen vehicle and pointing a gun. (The Tulsa World, Tulsa, Okla., 7/5/12)
Sixty-five-year-old Jerry Springer’s storage business in Tulsa, Okla., has been the target of at least a dozen burglaries since January 2012, when he underwent triple bypass surgery. So when Springer was alerted by a friend to yet another break-in at the facility, he grabbed a gun and went to investigate. When Springer arrived he spotted a pair of thieves pilfering cables and auto parts from one of the storage trailers. Springer confronted the criminals and held them at gunpoint until police could arrive. In an interview with local media, Springer made clear how upset he was with the thieves, stating, “I’ve earned what I got and I’m tired of people stealing it.” Springer went on to warn any would-be burglars, saying, “When they get in that yard I think it's second degree, that’s two to four years; if you get caught by me that may be an eternity.” (KOKI, Tulsa, Okla., 5/22/12)
