The Armed Citizen® August 31, 2020

by
posted on August 31, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
armed-citizen-main-image.jpg (4)
Armed Citizen® Today

A homeowner defended himself and his family in Lakeland, Fla., when a 6-ft. 250-lb. man forced his way into the home on the morning of Aug. 28, 2020. 

The home invasion occurred after a spree of incidents where the intruder had acted violently toward others in the area. The series of incidents began earlier that Friday morning around 6:10 a.m. when the man and a woman with him were driving a pickup on Old Polk City Rd. from Orlando. The truck started swerving and eventually drove off the road, through a fence and crashed into a tree.

After the crash, the man reportedly became crazed and left the vehicle walking back into the road. On the road, the man, bleeding, screaming and growling, began jumping onto vehicles passing by. The man targeted a school bus with at least one child onboard and attempted to enter it, but was thwarted when the driver locked the doors.

The crazed man then made his way to the homeowner's residence and crashed through the glass front door. At the time, the homeowner's parents, grandparents and 9-year-old child were also in the residence. The homeowner called the police and verbally attempted to make the intruder leave to no avail. After the crazed intruder grabbed a large piece of glass from the door and threw it at him, the homeowner shot the intruder.

Police arrived shortly afterward and attempted to aid the intruder, who died of his wounds. Authorities said that the homeowner was justified in his action of shooting the intruder in self defense. (orlandosentinel.com
, Orlando, Fla., 08/28/2020)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives February 1987  

A vacationing Texas policeman and his wife were parked on a New Orleans, La., street looking at a map when they were approached by three men. The trio walked away after asking Rudolpho Salazar for the time, but one returned with a gun when Salazar got out of his car.

The armed man tried to rob him and threatened his life. The policeman waited for the would-be burglar to repeat the demand several times, then drew a .25-cal. pistol from his pocket and fatally wounded the armed man. (The State-Times, New Orleans, La.)

Latest

Belt1 1911 Timer
Belt1 1911 Timer

Tactical Belts For The Rest Of Us

Most shooters don’t need a "war belt." While enthusiasts like the idea of preparing for every contingency, the vast majority of us need a reliable platform for a range session, a training class or a local club match.

18 New Shotguns for 2026

Among today's firearm platforms, the shotgun remains one of the most time-tested, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Today's new crop of shotguns runs the gamut, giving modern shotgunners new options in nearly every conceivable category.

Derya Arms RAN Series: A New Take on the Lever-Action

Derya Arms' latest entry in the lever-action market, the RAN series of rifles and pistols, seeks to “reimagine” the modern lever gun.

Gun of the Week: Robinson Armament XCR-L

One man, Alex Robinson, took it upon himself to address what he saw as several shortcomings in the AR-15 design. He consulted with special forces operators and asked what they wanted in a rifle platform. The result was the Robinson Armament XCR.

Maryland Bans Glocks and the NRA Responds

Legislation recently signed into law by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore essentially bans nearly every Glock and Glock-style pistol on the market from being sold within the state.

The Armed Citizen® May 29, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.