Kenneth Byrd, 67, traded gunfire with masked intruders after they entered his home and tried to rape his 19-year-old granddaughter. The incident began when Byrd opened the door for a man who had knocked and asked for water for his vehicle, and two other men then forced their way into the home. All three men were armed. Byrd was instructed to open a safe, but instead grabbed a gun and shot two of the suspects. The men fled in Byrd’s car. Two assailants were apprehended at a nearby hospital after seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. The third suspect sustained fatal injuries. Byrd also sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and was taken to the hospital. He was listed in critical condition. The suspects will reportedly be charged upon their release from the hospital. (The Fayetteville Observer, Lumberton, NC, 10/22/14)
The Armed Citizen® Extra
An unidentified man with a black hood pulled tightly around his face entered a Cleveland convenience store Tuesday evening, demanded money, drew a .22-cal. handgun and almost immediately opened fire on the business’s owner. After finding himself under attack, the store owner retrieved his own firearm and returned fire. Following a brief firefight, the criminal fled the scene on foot. The proprietor was not injured in the exchange, but the authorities believe the gunman may have been struck in the left arm or ribcage before he was able to escape. Local police are still investigating the incident in the hopes of identifying and arresting the robber. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, 1/10/15)
From the Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1961
After beating and kicking 61-year-old Benjamin Bailer in his Philadelphia tavern, three bandits cleaned out the register and sauntered to the door. Bailer crawled to a shelf where he kept his .38 revolver, fired at his tormentors, then got to his feet and began a pursuit. He found one of the men dead in the street a short distance away and abandoned the chase to have his own wounds dressed. (Philadelphia Bulletin, Philadelphia, PA)
