Dept. Of Righteous Shootings

A couple Readers sent me this most excellent report (thankee), and I’ve waited a while to see if there have been any developments since but so far, no luck.  Anyway, here we are:

Chicago police said the gunfight unfolded just before 5:30 a.m. in the 900 block of South Homan Avenue in Homan Square.

According to police, the victim, a 28-year-old man who was operating a garbage truck for Flood Brothers Disposal and Recycling Services, was outside of his truck in the area when he was approached by two men, a 42-year-old and a 20-year-old.

Officers said the two suspects then pulled out guns and announced the robbery, but the victim, who has a valid FOID and CCL opened fire on the would-be robbers.

Amid the shootout, the 42-year-old suspect suffered a gunshot wound to his head and was pronounced dead on the scene. The 20-year-old was shot in the neck and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Almost a twofer, but he came thisclose.

I have to say that as a one-time (and long-time) resident of that putrid city, all these Righteous Shootings bring a tear or two to my old eyes, because back when I lived there the only dead people in scenarios like this one were generally the innocent victims, prevented by law from being able to defend themselves.

That situation has now been reversed, and it’s A Damn Good Thing, say I.

Dept. Of Righteous Shootings

Ahhhh Houston:

An aggressive driver was shot numerous times Friday night in Houston, Texas, after allegedly brake-checking, blocking, and chasing a couple riding in another vehicle.

The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m.

The [dead] suspect, a man in his 40s, was driving a pickup truck when he allegedly “zeroed in on a car driven by a 20-year-old man.” There was also a pregnant woman in the car with the younger man.

The driver allegedly brake-checked the 20-year-old, drove into oncoming traffic to get beside him, and finally, blocked the car’s forward motion, then exited his truck with his hand near his pockets.

The 20-year-old [allegedly] feared for himself and for the woman with him and [allegedly] opened fire, [allegedly] hitting the 40-year-old numerous times.

I added a few “allegedy”s in there, just to be all legal and stuff.

You know, Texas just isn’t a place where you want to do that “road rage” thing, something our corpus delicti  should have known but alas too late.

Dept. Of Righteous Shootings

Once again, Reader Mike L. comes to the rescue with this heads-up report:

A Florida man opened fire on two home intruders, killing one of them, on Thursday night, authorities said.

Given that this was in Florida, it hardly seems newsworthy.

“Why so, Kim?”

Because the local law enforcement has this attitude towards such fun ‘n games:

“This is the state of Florida. If you want to break into someone’s home, you should expect to be shot,” Sheriff Wells warned.

One would have thought that the Florida Crime Set would have figured this out by now, but then again, the corpus delicti  was a Mexican and the other an illegal immigrant from Chile, so maybe they just hadn’t got the news yet.

Whatever.

Speaking of the well-perforated choirboy:

Flores-Toledo had an active warrant for a parole violation and was considered by authorities to be armed and dangerous.  Back in 2023, he served four months in jail for residential burglary and was released on parole just last month.

Which to me is a sound argument against parole — release them and they’re gonna get killed — but once again, whatever.

All that said, maybe we should issue this t-shirt to parolees, both as aide-memoire  for them, and as an aid to homeowners:

Dept. Of Righteous Shootings

Reader Mike L. asks if this qualifies as a Righteous Shooting.  Why yes, yes it does:

Cecil Batiz, 16, died from a gunshot wound during the incident, which unfolded at the 8400 block of the South I-10 Service Road in New Orleans East.  The robbery occurred shortly before 8 p.m. when Batiz and another suspect, 18-year-old Teony Juarez, entered the store armed and demanded cash. 

Surveillance footage revealed the moments leading up to the fatal shooting.

The video shows Batiz brandishing a gun with an extended magazine at the store employee behind the counter. The employee complied, handing over cash, while the suspects stole items. 

As the suspects’ attention shifted, the employee retrieved a firearm and opened fire, striking Batiz, who collapsed to the floor.  The footage also shows Batiz moving slightly on the ground. The employee then fired additional shots. Batiz died at the scene, officials said. 

Juarez was also shot but survived. He was later arrested and booked into Orleans Parish Prison on multiple felony charges, including armed robbery, illegal use of a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm. 

No charges have been filed against the employee at this time. 

I should bloody well hope not.  Also note that Our Hero did the proper thing by shooting until the threat was ended.

It’s too bad that he didn’t smoke both the choirboys, but let’s not quibble because the wounded asshole is going to face murder charges anyway.

Does Louisiana still have the death penalty?  Asking for a friend.

Finally, Justice

Here’s an update to a Righteous Shooting aftermath:

Brian Camp, who was charged with manslaughter after shooting a man who broke into his girlfriend’s home, has been acquitted. The not guilty verdict was read in Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton. Prosecutors said Camp shot 27-year-old Jonathan Letendre when he showed up unannounced at Camp’s girlfriend’s home in Chesterfield in December of 2022.

The woman with whom Letendre had previously had a relationship was upstairs sleeping with Camp and her two young children. The news release from the DA’s office says that the woman and Camp woke up when they heard Letendre coming up the stairs to the second floor.

During a fight between Camp and Letendre, the woman called the police for help when gunfire was heard while talking with dispatchers. Approximately eight and a half minutes later, another shot was fired. At around 1 a.m. officers found Letendre, who was shot in the torso and the back of the head, on the kitchen floor.

Camp would’ve faced 20 years in state prison if he was convicted.

So someone finally saw sense and ended this bullshit.  The fact that it took two full years to get there is doubtless because all this happened in Massachusetts, where self-defense = murder.  Still:

Dept. Of Righteous Shootings

Several Readers sent me this happy little tale (and thankee, one and all).  Seems as though this goblin invaded a home armed with a butane torch, motive unknown but I think we can all make a good guess.  Anyway, his mistake was in threatening Our Hero’s grandchildren, whereupon said goblin received  a quick bullet to the vitals and expired shortly after.  (That’s the reason they’re called “the vitals” — destroy them and you’re dead.)

This lovely story, however, also contains a Quote Of The Day nugget from an attorney:

“The law doesn’t require someone to gamble on the intentions of an intruder.”

Which is why, even in the People’s Soviet of California, Our Hero is unlikely to face charges.

Also, it seems inadvisable to bring a butane torch to a gunfight.  Lesson learned, alas too late for the goblin.