Man Learns His Family Taken Hostage, Is Shot, and Returns Fire

Another Example of a Firearm Being Used for Self-defense That You Haven’t, and Probably Won’t, Hear About

From The Daily Jeffersonian of Cambridge, OH, February 29, 2012

A hostage situation led to a pair of shootings in Liberty Township on Tuesday afternoon and sent two men to Southeastern Med with gunshot wounds.

As of press time Wednesday, the names of the men had not released by the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a Southeastern Med spokesperson, the male assailant who allegedly held the second man’s family hostage was in “critical” condition following surgery at the hospital and the male victim who was initially shot was in “serious” condition following surgery.

“They were both taken by ambulance to Southeastern Med,” Guernsey County Sheriff Mike McCauley said. “I do know the victim was shot in the back.”

Authorities declined to say where the second male was shot.

The preliminary investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s office suggested the victim arrived home from work to a hostage situation.

“When he arrived home, his family was being held hostage,” McCauley said.

Deputies were alerted to the shooting at 3:44 p.m. via a 911 call from the victim’s wife.

According to a press release issued by the Sheriff’s office, the victim was reportedly confronted by the assailant in his driveway.

The assailant was armed and pointed the gun at the victim while ordering him inside the residence.

Once inside the home, the victim was ordered downstairs, at which time he was reportedly shot in the back by the assailant while walking down the stairs.

The victim was then able to return fire.

“The victim managed to get a firearm and he returned fire,” striking the shooter, McCauley said.

Struck by the return fire, the assailant fled the residence on foot with the firearm. He was later located by deputies inside a nearby residence.

Both men were reportedly transported to the hospital by United Ambulance.

The Sheriff’s Critical Incident Team was dispatched to the scene on Tyner Road to conduct the investigation.

The family of the victim was reportedly not injured.

Authorities did not release what type of weapons were used in the shootings.

The incident remained under investigation by the Sheriff’s office.

Locator Chips Keep Track of Students in Brazil

From The Associated Press by Stan Lehman, March 22, 2012

SAO PAULO (AP) — Grade-school students in a northeastern Brazilian city are using uniforms embedded with locator chips that help alert parents if they’re cutting classes, the city’s education secretary said Thursday.

Twenty thousand students in 25 of Vitoria da Conquista’s 213 public schools started using T-shirts with chips earlier this week, secretary Coriolano Moraes said by telephone.

By 2013, all of the city’s 43,000 public school students, aged 4 to 14, will be using the chip-embedded T-shirts, he added.

Radio frequency chips in “intelligent uniforms” let a computer know when children enter school and it sends a text message to their cell phones. Parents are also alerted if kids don’t show up 20 minutes after classes begin with the following message: “Your child has still not arrived at school.”

“We noticed that many parents would bring their children to school but would not see if they actually entered the building because they always left in a hurry to get to work on time,” Moraes said in a telephone interview. “They would always be surprised when told of the number times their children skipped class.

After a student skips classes three times parents will be asked to explain the absences. If they fail to do so, the school may notify authorities, Moares said.

The city government invested $670,000 to design, test and make the microchipped T-shirts, he said.

The chips, similar to those used to track pets in many countries, are placed underneath each school’s coat-of-arms or on one of the sleeves below a phrase that says: “Education does not transform the world. Education changes people and people transform the world.”

The T-shirts, can be washed and ironed without damaging the chips, Moraes said adding that the chips have a “security system that makes tampering virtually impossible.”

Moraes said that Vitoria da Conquista is the first city in Brazil “and maybe in the world” to use this system.

“I believe we may be setting a trend because we have received many requests from all over Brazil for information on how our system works,” he said.

Evan Boye Address the Stonehaven Community

By Evan Boye, March 21, 2012

This letter is intended to reach everyone in the Stonehaven neighborhood, but is directed mainly to those in which the
circumstances encompassed and affected directly.

I want to sincerely apologize for causing any harm, stress, and for the malcontent of my actions. I am truly sorry to have hurt people in our community and remorse is in my heart.

I wish the circumstances were not as they are, or were, but I have acknowledged that the actions I chose were a mistake; a mistake of undeniable wrong doing to those who did not deserve the sort.

What I did, I cannot change, but I can change myself and move forward to right the wrongs I created.

I would like people to know, though my mistakes are grave, I have taken it upon myself to come clean and use this chance to change the way I was living life and to come forward with this apology while I have the chance.

Again, I apologize to the whole community and to those it matters most, I am sorry, from the very core of my being.

I hope everyone gets a chance to read this and to know that I am headed in a different and positive direction.

Sincerely,
Evan Boye

CMPD Responds to Third Murder in 24 Hours

By Sharon Smith, Weekend Anchor, Reporter – March 18, 2012

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – A woman was in critical condition as of late Sunday night and a man was dead after police say a domestic situation turned violent.

The shooting happened Sunday evening on Sharon Pointe Road off Sharon Amity in east Charlotte. Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department officers say they were called to the scene at an apartment around 8:00 pm.

Police say the man shot the woman, then turned the gun on himself. Police say the two had a relationship and that the woman was pregnant.

As of Sunday night, she was in surgery.

No names have been released.

In the other homicides, police say 17-year-old John Kempsen, Junior was shot and killed on Lone Pine Lane in east Charlotte close to midnight Saturday. Another teen was arrested and charged with his murder, while another teen was charged with assault.

In south Charlotte, a man and woman were stabbed multiple times in a car found off Nations Ford Road. The man died, the woman has very serious wounds. Police have not named any suspects in that case, or released the names of the victims.

Three Charlotte Convenience Stores Robbed Within Hours

From http://www.wcnc.com by by MICHELLE BOUDIN,March 14, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte police are trying to figure out if three robberies that took place at three different Circle K convenience stores within a matter of hours are connected.

Surveillance cameras showed a would-be robber at 9:30 Wednesday morning breezing in to the Circle K on South Boulevard.  The man is seen demanding money, even hopping the counter to get to the register.

The robber left with nothing after the clerk slammed the cash register closed.

But did he strike again?

Just an hour after the South boulevard store was hit, and just a couple of miles away on Freedom Drive, a robber held up another Circle K.

A third Circle K was robbed very early Wednesday morning on Monroe Road about 10 miles from the other two.

The manager there was reaching out to the other stores to see if there were similar descriptions, and so were police.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say they’re not sure at this point if there’s a connection, but it is something they’re investigating.

Man Arrested After Elderly Woman Dragged During Purse Theft

From http://www.wcnc.com, March 16, 2012

MINT HILL, N.C. — Mint Hill police arrested a man who allegedly attacked an elderly woman and stole her purse.

Police said a 67-year-old woman was entering a business off of Margaret-Wallace Road Thursday morning when a man attacked her and stole her purse.

On Friday, police said they arrested 18-year-old Brenton Tarell Samuels at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, where he was a student.

According to the police report, Samuels acted like he was going to hold the door open for the victim.  As he held the door he grabbed the woman’s purse and attempted to flee.

“The woman refused to let go of her purse and fell to the ground still holding the purse.  The victim was dragged a short distance before letting go of the purse,” the police report stated.

Police said they found the purse a short distance from the business after Samuels fled the scene. The woman was transported to a local hospital after suffering minor injuries.

Samuels is charged with aggravated assault on a handicapped person and common law robbery.

If anyone has information on this crime they’re asked to contact Mint Hill police at 704-545-1085.

2nd Man Arrested After North Charlotte Neighborhood Shooting

By NewsChannel 36 Staff, March 16, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested a second person after a triple shooting in north Charlotte early Wednesday evening.

Terry O’Neal Tedder, 26, was arrested at 7 a.m. Friday and is charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and felony firearm possession.

Three people were shot Wednesday in the Dillehay Court neighborhood at the intersection of Pine Street and West 28th Street.

On Wednesday Onslow Cerqure Black, 31, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, felony firearm possession, cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to witnesses, dozens of children were playing in the community when one of the two men opened fire. Police said one of the men tried to target the other man, but instead the bullets hit three women standing in a nearby yard.

One of those victims is just 15 years old. Police said the women were all innocent bystanders.

People in the neighborhood said the shooting started over a card game between Tedder and Black.

All of the victims are expected to recover.

 

Man Cuts Off Electronic Monitor, 6th To Do So This Year – Police Say Ankle Bracelet Removal Is Not a Problem

By NewsChannel 36 Staff, March 15, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are searching for a man who cut off his electronic monitoring device, the sixth person to do so in Mecklenburg County this year.

Bernard Anthony Smith, 37, was expected to appear in court Thursday to plead guilty on various charges, but before the hearing police say he cut off his electronic monitoring device on Harri Ann Drive in the Independence Division.

Smith is facing several charges, including robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony firearm possession and carrying a concealed weapon.  He was put on the monitoring system after posting $91,000 bond last November 1.

“Smith has an extensive criminal history including several arrests for robbery, drugs, felony firearm, and assaults charges,” the report states.

If you have any information that can lead to the arrest of Smith, you are asked to call the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team at 704-336-VCAT.

Police Say Ankle Bracelet Removal Is Not a Problem

From http://www.wcnc.com by Dianne Gallagher, March 16, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police are still looking for the man who cut his electronic monitoring bracelet off just before he was due to appear in court Thursday.

Bernard Smith, 37, was arrested on armed robbery charges in October 2011 and was issued the monitor in November after posting $91,000 bond. Shaw is the sixth person this year to remove the monitoring device.

Officers say that number is about average.  According to CMPD records, each year roughly one to two percent of all people wearing the device will remove it.  So far, in 2012 a little more than 600 people have been forced to wear an ankle bracelet while out on bond awaiting trial.

The bracelet, manufactured by Omnilink Solutions, consists of a plastic, electronic GPS monitor attached to a band made of rubber and fiber optic sensors.  He admitted they are easy to cut off, but said federal safety regulations prevent anyone from putting a device on a person that cannot be removed.

“If an offender wants to get this device off, they will,” said Sgt. Dave Scheppegrell.  “But within 10 seconds of cutting or stretching the band, we receive an alert. Often times the offender has already run away by the time we can respond, but we usually catch them within 48 hours.”

Records show, with the exception of Smith who is still on the run, all of the people who cut monitors off in 2012 were apprehended in that timeframe.

Sgt. Scheppegrell noted nearly every person wearing a device has been charged with a crime and is out on bond.

“They would be out there on the street with or without a monitor. So if they are out there, we would rather them wear a monitor. This way we can track what they are doing and where they are going. We know if they are obeying curfew, if it’s been set. And if another crime is committed, we know if the person was there,” explained Sgt. Scheppegrell.  “The monitors have helped us solve crimes committed by offenders while out on bond.”

He said in certain in cases, like Bernard Smith’s case, electronic monitoring is not the preferred method.

“The police department would rather Mr. Smith be in jail. But he is innocent until proven guilty, and the court afforded him a bond.”

Charlotte citizen watchdog organization Court Watch believes that is the problem.

“Judges and magistrates are setting bonds too low.  People are being allowed back out on the street too easily,” said Marcus Philemon of Court Watch.  “The police wouldn’t have to keep up with where hundreds of people are each day if the courts made it harder to bond out of jail.”

Tampering with an electronic monitoring bracelet is a crime.  It can be classified as a felony or misdemeanor, depending on the current charges against the offender.  Court Watch would like for it to only be classified as a felony.

CMPD Still Searching for Second Suspect in North Charlotte Shooting

From http://www.wsoctv.com By Tina Terry, March 15, 2012

The Charlotte Housing Authority told Eyewitness News it is stepping up security after a brazen shooting at one of its properties.

Charlotte Mecklenburgpolice are searching for the second person responsible for a shooting at Dillehay Courts Apartment Complex in North Charlotte. The gunfire hit three people, including a teenaged girl.

“Bullets was flying, ricocheting everywhere,” said victim Takiya McClain.

McClain, 22, walked away from the shooting with a broken shoulder and a bullet still lodged in her arm.

She was visiting her cousin at the apartment complex when two people got into an argument and started shooting into a neighborhood full of children. She said she’s grateful to have walked away at all.

“I thank God every day,” she said. “Who knows what could have happened?”

For years now, Allison Preston has been working to control what happens at Dillehay Courts and with some success. Just this year, the housing authority’s resident safety department installed surveillance cameras at Dillehay Courts and at 12 other communities over the past year and a half.

He told Eyewitness News the cameras along with working together with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police to increase patrols has been very helpful. He said so far this quarter there has been a 33-percent decrease in crime.

He said if those charged with this latest crimes are residents at Dillehay Courts they would no longer be allowed to live there.

“We’re going to meet with the residents to resolve this matter. To make sure this doesn’t happen again involving the same people,” he said.

Good news to McClain, who still can’t believe what happened.

“It makes me mad because the situation could have been handled much differently,” she said. “Whoever was beefing at the time could have just come together and talked about it.”

Police arrested Onslow Black Wednesday night, charging him with multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Thursday they told Eyewitness News they had a second suspect that they were still searching for, but they hadn’t released that person’s name.

1 Suspect Arrested in North Charlotte Shooting

From http://www.wsoctv.com By Tenikka Smith, March 14, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —

Police have arrested one person and are looking for another in a shooting that injured two women and a 15-year-old girl.

The incident happened Wednesday afternoon at the Dillehay Courts Apartments on Pine Street.

Police arrested Onslow Black on Wednesday night. He is charged with multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Investigators have not released the name of the second person they are looking for in connection with the shooting.

Police swarmed the area Wednesday after several shots were fired. The three people who were hit were taken to a hospital and are expected to be OK.

Neighbors described the chaotic scene.

“We were in the house, and we heard four gunshots and then we heard, like, six more,” said resident Latasha Pickens.

Jalisa Walker’s family lives across the street from where the shooting happened.

“He was just shooting in broad daylight like it was the wild, wild west or something,” Walker said.

Investigators said two people got into an argument that escalated into gunfire.   Neighbors said dozens of families and children were outside at the time.

“I looked out the door and saw everybody running, and then we saw our friend running and she was bleeding,” Pickens said.

Walker said the women who were shot were trying to protect their children.  The brazen shooting has unnerved many residents.

“I just feel like we need more safety out here, like the office needs to do something like community police officers or something,” Walker said. “This is not a place for anyone to live if crime is going to be done like that.”

Why Gun Control Laws Are Entirely Impotent Against the Criminally Inclined

From The Buckeye Firearms Association by Chad Baus, March 7, 2012

WHIO (CBS Dayton) is reporting that a Dayton man, who was convicted on Tuesday, February 21 of carrying a concealed weapon without a license, was caught carrying a stolen gun just five days later.

From the article:

According to a Dayton Police arrest report, Mark A. Hinton, Jr., 25, was detained by security officers at Good Samaritan Hospital Sunday evening for drinking in the parking lot.

The officers reported seeing Hinton sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked Toyota Corolla in the emergency room parking lot drinking from a 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor. A male passenger was drinking from a 20-ounce can of malt liquor. The keys were in the ignition of the car.

Officers performed a pat down on Hinton after he revealed that he did not have a driver’s license. They found a loaded .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun tucked into his waistband. He was also in possession of 5.6 grams of marijuana, according to the report.

Dayton Police were called to the scene and discovered that the gun was reported stolen from Miamisburg in January.
When officers told Hinton he would be charged with receiving stolen property he asked how that could be because he “got that gun form the streets,” the report states.

The article states that Hinton was convicted of one count of carrying a concealed weapon on Feb. 21 and sentenced to 5 years probation. That charge came after an arrest Dec. 8. He is now charged with another count of carrying a concealed weapon, in addition to one count of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. He was also issued a minor misdemeanor for drug possession and a citation for having an open container in a vehicle. A receiving stolen property charge was dismissed by detectives.

All the gun control laws and all the “no-guns” signs in the world will not stop a criminal who is intent on obtaining and carrying a gun.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.