In Columbia, S.C., a pair of escaped convicts looking for an easy target picked the wrong home. After managing to escape from the county jail, one convict kicked in the back door, then armed himself with a knife sharpener before advancing to an upstairs bedroom. Roused by the 3 a.m. disturbance, the homeowner grabbed her firearm and shot the intruder as he came into her bedroom. “This was a big guy. If she hadn’t had a weapon there’s no telling what would have happened,” said County Sheriff Rick Clark. “This is the shining example of why owning and knowing how to use a gun is important. She came out on the good on this end and the other guy, the bad guy, didn’t.” (The Times and Democrat, Columbia, S.C., 12/5/18)
The Armed Citizen Extra
A Florida home invasion was thwarted by the quick reactions of an armed citizen. When two masked intruders entered a Brevard County house, one occupant grabbed a gun and shot both men. Of the two invaders, one was pronounced dead on the scene, while the other ran down the street, collapsed and later died at a hospital. No certain motive for the break in is yet known. (Spectrum News 13, Titusville, Fla., 02/08/19)
From the Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1962
Tampa, Fla., night service station operator Alfonso Pierce was approached by a man with a gun and told to 'reach'. Pierce took a cal. .38 revolver from his pocket and fired 3 shots as the bandit ran. An anonymous tip led police to the man, dead in a trailer. (AP)