Two adults, who were enjoying the rare appearance of a blue moon along the banks of the Mississippi River, won’t be charged in the death of a teen who attempted to rob them near a World War I monument in St. Paul, Minn. The incident occurred after a man and a woman—who met near the river bluffs, where they had gone to see the moon—had struck up a conversation. As they were talking, a teen approached and asked to use a cell phone. Moments later, another teen—this one wearing a mask and gloves—appeared, pulled a gun and demanded their valuables. The male victim, who has a right-to-carry permit, instead drew his gun and shot the suspect. The other teen ran away. The female victim called 911 while the armed citizen rendered first aid, but the wounded suspect died at the scene. Investigators have since arrested and charged several teens, one of whom was allegedly involved in the night attack and others who were allegedly accomplices in crimes the dead teen committed earlier in the day. (St. Paul Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN, 8/4/15)
The Armed Citizen® Extra
A Bridgeport, Conn., criminal learned quickly that the target he had chosen to rob wasn’t quite as defenseless as he had thought. The armed creep entered a liquor store and demanded all the money from the register. As the proprietor’s wife started opening the register to comply, the store owner drew his own firearm, which sent the robber flying out the door. This is not the first time this family-owned business has been harassed by thieves. The suspect remains at large, but surveillance video of the incident has been turned over to the authorities. (CBSNewYork, New York, NY, 12/4/15
From the Armed Citizen® Archives
December 1970
An electronic alarm sounding at Neill Doane’s home one night alerted him that his Londonderry, Vt., sporting goods store had been illegally entered. After notifying the police, he called several friends, and then went armed to the shop. They captured three burglars emerging from the shop laden with guns and ammunition, and held them at gunpoint until police arrived. (Daily Reformer, Brattleboro, VT)