Birmingham, AL

2/5/22 AL.com:

A teen robbery suspect was shot to death Saturday afternoon by a parking lot attendant near the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.

Police identified the slain teen as Chico Guest. He was 17 and lived in Center Point.

The shooting happened just before 4 p.m. at 10th Avenue and 18th Street North. That is near the DEA and FBI headquarters.

Sgt. Rod Mauldin said officers responded to a report of a person shot. They arrived on the scene to find Guest unresponsive on the ground with a gunshot wound to the chest.

He was pronounced dead on the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service....

Mauldin said the preliminary investigation suggests Guest and the other wounded person were involved in a robbery when they were shot. The victim of the robbery – the shooter - was working as a parking lot attendant when the robbery occurred, and he shot the suspects.

Mauldin said the attendant has been cooperative in the investigation.

Limestone Co. AL

6/19/19 KTXA:

LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (CBS Local) — A 75-year-old grandmother in Alabama helped capture a suspect wanted for car theft, holding him at gunpoint Monday until deputies arrived.

“I walked out and said, ‘can I help you?’ And he said, ‘yes ma’am, I’d like to use your phone,'” Marcia Black, a grandmother of four, told WAAY.

Investigators said the suspect, Cameron Powers, had been on the run for some four hours after crashing a stolen car during a high-speed chase with deputies near Black’s home in Limestone County.

Birmingham, AL

10/28/18 AL.com:

One person was killed and two others - including a juvenile - were wounded when gunfire erupted inside a southwest Birmingham McDonald’s Saturday night.

The shooting happened about 10:45 p.m. at the Lomb Avenue restaurant. Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Bryan Shelton said one juvenile and two adults were injured. All three were transported to area hospitals where one of the adult victims was later pronounced dead.

Initial police scanner reports said the shooting may have happened during a robbery, but police have not confirmed that report. Shelton said the restaurant was closing for the night and the manager was unlocking the door to let out a father and his two teen sons.
As the door was opened, a masked man burst inside and opened fire. The exiting customer was able to return fire, striking the masked man who ultimately died at the hospital.

Center Point, AL

3/29/17 WIAT:

CENTER POINT, Ala. (WIAT) — An elderly homeowner is recovering after a deadly home invasion. It happened at a home on the 2400 block of Ormond Drive.

At 1 a.m. Wednesday morning 79-year-old John Croft was asleep when he awoke to a noise in his basement. Officials say two suspects broke in through the basement window and went up the stairs to Croft’s bedroom, where he was still in bed.

“The suspect said ‘Don’t move,'” Croft recalled. Croft said he reached for his gun and fired shots.

“It was just “Pow, Pow, Pow. I have a .38—I got off five shots. I think he must have got off at least one–it hit me, as I was running after him. I fell twice,” said Croft.Investigators said one of the suspects was pronounced dead on the scene. Croft was also shot.

“See the bandage right here [pointing to his ankle], the bullet just came in and went right out, I never felt it. I didn’t know I was shot until the deputy insisted I go to the hospital,” said Croft.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Randy Christian said Croft’s fatal shooting of the suspect was ruled justifiable.

Talladega, AL

4/29/16 WPTV:

TALLADEGA, Ala. - (WVTM/NBC) - An 11-year-old boy who shot a home intruder in Alabama said the would-be burglar “cried like a baby.”

The child, Chris Gaither, was home alone on Wednesday morning when he heard a noise and discovered someone had broken into his house.

"I told him I was going to kill him if he didn't get out of my house," said Chris.

He said even though he was scared, he grabbed a 9mm handgun.

"When he was coming down the stairs, that's when he told me he was going to kill me," said Chris.

Mobile, AL

1/19/16 Al.com:

According to police, a 28-year-old man who was robbed at gunpoint as he unloaded groceries from his car was able to shoot the robber with a handgun he had concealed in his jacket pocket.

"Everyone has a fundamental right to protect themselves from serious injury or death," Barber said. "When threatened, you can protect yourself."

Barber said police are continuing to investigate the shooting and will likely release more information later in the afternoon.

Police identified the robber as 18-year-old Michael L. Clark, who was found dead in the breezeway of one of the apartment buildings.

Clark was struck once in the center of the chest and once to the right side of his chest. He was not carrying identification at the time.

Adamsville, AL: Bringing a Gun to a Rape Is Bad Idea For Rapist

From Dec. 16, 2015 WVTM:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —Authorities have determined that a woman who shot and killed her accused abductor and rapist acted in self-defense.

The incident was reported at 6 p.m. Nov. 3  in the 2800 block of Pebble Creek Parkway in Forestdale. Adamsville police were asked to help located a 26-year-old woman who had been reported abducted earlier in the day.

The woman was found in the parking lot. Jeremy Arnold Ford, 25, was found dead in an apartment. He had suffered an apparent gunshot wound.

Investigators said the woman had been abducted at gunpoint, raped, driven to locations the suspect wanted to visit, then forced to drive back to Ford's apartment, where she was once again sexually assaulted. They say the victim shot Ford with his own gun.

Center Point-area robbery foiled after shots exchanged

Center Point, Alabama

From the October 21, 2009 Birmingham News:

A barrage of gunfire erupted during a robbery attempt in the Center Point area Tuesday night, authorities said today.

Two employees of the Phone Store at 2111 Center Point Road were closing up for the night about 8 p.m. when a man came from behind a trash bin and pointed a gun at the female employee as she was getting in her car, saying "Give up your money; you might as well give it up."

When the male employee tried to take cover, the gunman opened fire. The male employee returned fire, firing eight shots at the robber who took off running, said Jefferson County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Randy Christian.

Yantley, Alabama Convenience Store Robber Killed

Yantley, Alabama

From October 22, 2009 WTOK channel 11:

Authorities finally released the name of the person killed in an attempted robbery Tuesday morning in Yantley, Ala.

19-year-old Daniel Law, Jr., was shot and killed Oct. 20 when officials say he tried to rob the Citgo store on Highway 10.

Law was a 2009 graduate of Choctaw County High School.

Investigators say the owner of the store fired the fatal shot. No charge was filed.
The case will be presented to a grand jury.

13-Year-Old Shoots Father In Defense Of Mother

Bromley, Alabama

From the October 15, 2009 Alabama Press-Register:

BROMLEY, Ala. -- A 13-year-old boy shot his father Tuesday night to protect his mother from harm, authorities said Wednesday.

Joseph "Simp" Pruitt, 46, was shot in the arm and side after threatening his wife with a 9 mm pistol, according to Baldwin County Sheriff Huey "Hoss" Mack Jr.

Pruitt remained in critical condition at the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile, a hospital spokesman said Wednesday.

"We believe Mr. Pruitt was attempting to shoot Mrs. Pruitt," Mack said. "Their 13-year-old son became aware of this and retrieved a 20-gauge shotgun."

No one involved in the incident has been arrested, he said.

Deputies were called to a Williams Road address in the Bromley community about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday. Mack said the 911 call came from inside the residence, though operators received several calls from neighbors who heard gunshots.

Pruitt was conscious when emergency responders arrived, he said.

Alabama: 81-year-old man shoots Escambia County home invader to death

Brewton, Alabama

From the Press-Register of October 12, 2009

81-year-old man shoots Escambia County home invader to death

An 81-year-old man shot and killed a masked gunman during a home invasion early this morning at a residence north of Brewton, Escambia County Sheriff Grover Smith said.

The sheriff said the robber had been released from a Nebraska jail just two days before he was killed.

Smith declined to identify the homeowner, but said the man and his wife were in bed in their home along U.S. 31 north of town about 3 a.m. when the intruder kicked in the door to the home and entered their bedroom, demanding money.

Smith said the homeowner managed to retrieve a pistol from the bedside table and pointed it at the robber, who told the homeowner to drop the weapon.

Instead, Smith said, the homeowner fired the gun, striking the intruder in the forehead, killing him instantly.

Smith identified the intruder as Jeremy Paul McCall, believed to be 35 years old. Smith said McCall had a prior record, and had been released from a Nebraska jail about 48 hours before he was killed.

Smith said McCall's body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Mobile for autopsy.

The shooting will be presented to the grand jury, Smith said, but the sheriff said he doubted the homeowner would face any charges.

"The man was in his home, in bed with his wife, and he acted in self-defense," Smith said. "And as far as the wife, she had armed herself with a shotgun by the time I got there."

Alabama: Wetumpka man shoots alleged burglar

Birmingham, Alabama

From the Montgomery Advertiser of September 18, 2009

Wetumpka man shoots alleged burglar

A Montgomery County man is in a Birmingham hospital with life-threatening injuries after a Wetumpka homeowner shot him during an alleged burglary.

Michael Dale Roberts II, 36, of Hope Hull was in the critical care unit Thursday of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, said Jeremy Amerson, an investigator with the Elmore County Sheriff's Office. The incident occurred about 2:15 a.m. Thursday on Nancy Road in Wetumpka, police reports show.

Sheriff Bill Franklin declined to release the homeowner's name since he hasn't been charged with a crime in connection with the shooting.

The homeowner was awakened when he heard noises coming from his outside utility shed, Amerson said. The 64-year-old man told deputies he went to investigate and saw Roberts coming out of the shed carrying a grass trimmer and a chain saw.

"The two men got into a struggle, and then Roberts went to his car to try and get away, but the car wouldn't start," Amerson said. "He then got out of the car and told the homeowner he was going to shoot him."

Amerson said the homeowner went inside the house, and Roberts yelled from the yard that he was going to shoot him.

The homeowner then got a 20-gauge shotgun and shot Roberts in the chest, Amerson said.

Roberts faces three counts of theft, two counts of breaking and entering, and one count of burglary, court records show. Bond hasn't been set since he is in the hospital.

The homeowner acted within his rights, said District Attorney Randall Houston.

"The bad people need to realize that folks in Elmore County have guns and aren't afraid to use them," Houston said. "A man has the right to protect his life and his property, and all the evidence gathered in this case shows that's just what happened."

Houston said his office will present the case to a future session of the Elmore County grand jury, but he didn't expect any charges would be filed against the homeowner.

Alabama: Pregnant woman holds intruder at gun point

Mobile, Alabama

From Local 15 of September 10, 2009

Pregnant woman holds intruder at gun point

The lesson here is never threaten an expecting mother, especially if she's armed with a shotgun.

"I was angry," Randi Fairley says. "I was really mad that he was in my house."

At around 4 A.M. Sunday, Fairley was wide awake, because her unborn daughter was kicking. That is when she heard a noise; it sounded like someone touching a potato-chip bag downstairs.

"I came and looked over the stairs," Fairley says. "I saw this kid, down at the bottom of the stairs. He was about to grab my computer."

Fairley is six and a half months pregnant. So, she says she yelled down at Justin Delhomme, he walked out of the house and she grabbed a shotgun. In the street, Fairley confronted the 18 year old. "He pulled a gun on me, and I told him, 'You know, you need to put that away before I shoot you because mine's bigger,' and he put it back in his pocket."

Fairley saysshe held Delhomme until the cops came with a little help from her husband and mother. "He seemed really sorry and scared, you know, he started saying he was sorry and had a baby he had to take care of."

As for her own baby, Fairley says crime fighting seemed to stir something in her. "I couldn't get her to be still. For hours after that she was just kicking away, excited. We're probably just gonna laugh about it and tell her mom caught a burglar."

Fairley also has a 4-year-old son who got a kick out of all of this. Police say they believe Delhomme is responsible for at least 13 home and vehicle break-ins over the Labor Day weekend in the Regency and Pinehurst neighborhoods of Mobile. Investigators say in all but about one case, Delhomme got in through unlocked doors.

Police say they recovered several stolen items from Delhomme, including $5,000 in cash, electronics and marijuana. Court records show Delhomme was arrested earlier this year on similar charges.

Alabama: Teen burglary suspect killed

Decatur, Alabama

From the Decatur Daily of September 9, 2009

Teen burglary suspect killed

On Tuesday morning, 14-year-old Ta’veon Tashawn Mason should have been at his desk at Austin High School, but he and two friends skipped school.

Police said the ninth-grader died in a Southwest Decatur backyard from a single gunshot wound. A press release said a resident shot him inside the house during a burglary at about 10:30 a.m.

Noel Mclean at 1432 Fifth Ave. S.W. said he shot Mason. He said he was awakened by the intruders and he shot out of fear.

Lt. Jonathan Green, public information officer, said Mason was one of three teen boys suspected in the break-in.

Police said the trio broke a window at the back of the house and entered.

“The homeowner was asleep inside and was awakened by the intruders,” said Sgt. Rick Archer, supervisor of the Violent Crimes Unit. “He retrieved a handgun and confronted them.”

Archer said the man fired one shot, striking Mason, and the two other teens fled the house. Outside the home, a white sheet covered Mason’s body as it lay in the grass near the window where police said the break-in occurred.

Officer David Shutt caught a 16-year-old male soon after the shooting, and detectives found the third teen, 14, at his home later Tuesday afternoon, Archer said. The 14 and 16-year-olds are Austin High School students, but the 16-year-old is in the alternative school program, sources told The Daily.

Police charged both teens with second-degree burglary, booked them into Decatur City Jail and later transferred them to the Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Center in Tuscumbia. They will soon face a detention hearing, Archer said.

The Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville will perform an autopsy on Mason’s body, police said. Sharpley Funeral Home in Decatur will handle arrangements.

Detectives questioned the homeowner about the shooting, but Archer said police did not file any charges in connection with Mason’s death.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Tuscumbia, Alabama Woman Shoots At Burglar

Tuscumbia, Alabama

From the August 19, 2009 Times-Daily:

TUSCUMBIA - A man is in the Colbert County jail after he was accused of breaking into a home where the owner fired a shot at him.

John Allen Elom, 34, 4125 Woodmont Drive, Tuscumbia, is charged with second-degree burglary, Sheriff Ronnie May said.

May said Elom is accused of breaking into a residence only a few doors down from his house on Woodmont Drive early Monday.

During the break-in, May said the 32-year-old homeowner tried to protect herself and shot at Elom. The incident occurred around 1:20 a.m.

"The victim said she was awakened by dogs barking," May said. "She said she got out of bed, picked up her pistol (a 9 mm) and walked down the hallway."

May said the woman told authorities that when she got near the kitchen, she saw the suspect and fired the gun.

"She only had one bullet and she missed," May said.

At that point, Elom charged her and they struggled for a few minutes, the woman said.

"He was wearing a dark-colored hoodie, and during the struggle, she was able to see his face enough to recognize him," the sheriff said.

May said the suspect broke free and called the woman a derogatory name as he ran out the door.

"The victim ran out the back door and called 911," the sheriff said.

May said the woman gave authorities a description of the suspect and a name.

"Our investigators put together a lineup and she picked him out and he was arrested (Tuesday)," May said.

He said the back door was forced open. Investigators believe that's when the woman's dogs started barking.

Alabama: Bingo hall robber shot and killed by security guard in Walker County, Alabama

Walker County, Alabama

From the Birmingham News of August 3, 2009

Bingo hall robber shot and killed by security guard in Walker County, Alabama

A Walker County man who authorities say shot up a bingo hall Saturday night during a robbery was shot and killed by a security guard, according to the Walker County sheriff.

William G. Cantrell Jr., 43, was declared dead at the scene after he was shot multiple times by a security guard at It's Your Lucky Day Charity Bingo at 20 Pineywoods Sipsey Road, Walker County Sheriff John Mark Tirey said.

According to Tirey, Cantrell entered through the front door around 11 p.m., fired his shotgun into the ceiling and yelled: "This is a robbery. Everybody get out of here." As he headed toward the cashiers' cages, Cantrell fired more shots at the ceiling, then fired at a cashier's cage and a safe, Tirey said. As two security guards approached, Cantrell turned his gun toward them and one of the guards shot him multiple times, the sheriff said.

Security cameras captured much of the scene, Tirey said. Authorities also interviewed about 40 to 45 witnesses, he said.

"It is a regrettable situation," Tirey said. "We're very fortunate we didn't have a lot of injuries. The potential was there."

Tirey said Cantrell arrived at the bingo hall in a vehicle he had stolen a couple of hours earlier. He robbed a Jasper business of the vehicle around 8:40 p.m., the sheriff said.

Alabama: Store owner says robber shot himself

Birmingham, Alabama

From the Birmingham News of July 14, 2009

Store owner says robber shot himself

An owner of the Vineyard Food Market told The Birmingham News that a man shot himself dead as he ran after robbing the store on Tuesday night.

The owner said he fired a shot at the fleeing man, who had grabbed money in the store and ran, but he did not think he had hit him.

Police have not confirmed that account of the incident, but said the dead man had attempted to rob the store on Crestwood Boulevard.

Jerry Tucker, owner of Crestwood Antiques a few doors down from Vineyard Food Market, was called to the scene because an alarm went off at his business after a bullet went through a window. Tucker, who has been in business there for eight years, said it's a nice community, but there is a lot of crime.

Tucker said his son-in-law closed a computer store that he had owned in the same shopping center after several break-ins.

Tucker said the owners of the Vineyard are well-liked by members of the community.

"This is tragic. They are really good folks," he said.

Robbery Victim Shoots Robber in Buttocks

Opelika, Alabama

From the March 6, 2009 Opelika-Auburn News:

An Opelika man approached by a gunman demanding money Thursday night took matters into his own hands by drawing his own weapon and shooting the robber, police said.

The report states the robbery took place at 11:46 p.m. in the 1000 block of York Avenue, Opelika police Capt. Allan Elkins said. The victim shot the robber in the buttocks, Elkins said.

The injured robber was transported to East Alabama Medical Center, where he is being treated and detained, Elkins said. As of Friday morning, no arrest had been made, Elkins said.

Father Shoots Son In Self-Defense

Oak Grove, Alabama

From the January 16, 2009 Birmingham News:

An Oak Grove man shot his son late Wednesday after authorities say the son attacked his mother with a broomstick and then stabbed his girlfriend.

Colter Roberts, 21, was in stable condition at UAB Hospital with two wounds from his father's 12-gauge shotgun, said Jefferson County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Randy Christian.

Deputies received a 911 hang-up call from a home on Camp Oliver Road just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The dispatcher tried to call the number but got no answer. While deputies were en route, someone called back, screaming that a father had to shoot his son who was attacking the family, Christian said.

Investigators say Colter Roberts had first attacked his 48-year-old mother with his fists and then beat her with the broomstick. He then went after his 30-year-old girlfriend with a knife.

Colter Roberts' 7-year-old sister was in the home, but not injured, Christian said.

Colter Roberts then ran from the kitchen into a hallway with a knife, screaming that he was going to kill everyone in the house. He also used the knife to slash the walls of the hallway and headed into the bedroom where his father was sleeping.

Van Roberts, 48, tried to talk to his son, but told police his efforts were unsuccessful. He described his son as "a madman running at him with a knife, screaming," Christian said.

Van Roberts grabbed his shotgun and warned his son, but the son failed to drop the knife. Van Roberts fired one shot, striking his son in the arm.

Colter Roberts continued with the attack, and his father fired another shot, striking him in the torso, Christian said. Colter Roberts has a history of drug abuse and violence, Christian said.

Alabama: Man shoots alleged attacker

Pell City, Alabama

From the Cullman Times of January 5, 2009

Man shoots alleged attacker

A Pell City man is in the hospital with a gunshot wound after he allegedly broke into a Hanceville residence and attacked the owner Saturday.

According to Hanceville police reports, the gunshot victim was 32-year-old Charles Kendrick.

“He was shot once in the stomach with a 25-caliber automatic,” said Lt. Jimmy Rodgers of the Hanceville Police Department. “Further investigation has ruled it was a self-defense shooting.”

Rodgers said the shooting took place at approximately 7:20 p.m. at a residence on Commercial Street.

“The owner of the residence was at home when this guy (Kendrick) jumped on him and began to fight him,” Rodgers said. “The owner went inside and locked the door and retrieved a handgun.”

Rodgers said Kendrick allegedly then began smashing the back windows of the residence and tried to enter.

“The owner pointed the gun at him to prevent him from entering,” Rodgers said. “The gun was unloaded at this point.”

Undeterred, Kendrick allegedly continued to break the window and then entered the home, Rodgers said. The homeowner then went into his bedroom and locked the door.

“The perpetrator kicked in the door, at which point he was shot by the resident,” Rodgers said.

Paramedics treated Kendrick at the scene and then transported him to UAB Hospital.

An investigation revealed the attack was a type of domestic violence situation, Rodgers said.

“The homeowner’s girlfriend has kids by the perpetrator, and apparently he was upset about the kids and took it out on the boyfriend,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers noted Kendrick could face criminal charges once he is released from the hospital, including a charge of burglary.