The Armed Citizen® Aug. 26, 2024

Armed Citizen® Today

One robber is hospitalized in critical condition and two others are on the run after facing an armed homeowner in Los Angeles, Calif., on July 8.

Police say the trio of robbers was allegedly scouting out homes in the Valley Village area of Los Angeles around 3 p.m. The homeowner's wife had just left the house in question, and police believe the robbers thought the home was empty when they broke in through a sliding glass door. Unbeknownst to them, the 56-year-old homeowner was inside and armed.

When the robbers encountered the homeowner, a scuffle broke out, and one of the robbers attempted to spray the homeowner with pepper spray. The homeowner opened fire, striking one of the thieves in the neck. The second suspect fled the home, getting into a waiting car driven by the third suspect.

Local reports indicate that the 35-year-old wounded robber has an extensive criminal history involving burglary, robbery and firearm possession. He was on probation at the time of the incident. Paramedics treated the homeowner at the scene for injuries related to the pepper spray, and no charges have been filed against him. (FOX 11 News; Los Angeles, Calif.; 7/9/24)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – November 1973

Alerted to a burglary taking place on a lower level of his Reno, Nev., apartment house, Douglas Stewart got a gun and confronted a thief removing stereo equipment. Stewart commanded the burglar to stop and turned him over to police. (The Nevada State Journal, Reno, Nev.)