The Armed Citizen® Feb. 14, 2025

Armed Citizen® Today

A break-in by a man with a known criminal history in Decatur, Ill., ended with the burglar dead, thanks to the fortuitous arrival of an armed family member.

At 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, police say a 35-year-old male unlawfully entered a house in which a lone 66-year-old woman was living. During the alleged break-in, a 48-year-old male relative of the woman entered the home and encountered the burglar. The man, who had an active Illinois Concealed Carry License and was carrying at the time, drew his gun and fired at the intruder four times.

When police arrived, they transported the suspect to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The 66-year-old woman was also transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say the deceased suspect was on a "Mandatory Supervised Release" through the Illinois Dept. of Corrections at the time of the break-in. (WCIA; Decatur, Ill.; 11/19/24)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – July 1986

Posing as a package carrier, a man forced his way into Charisse Gross' Baltimore, Md., home, drew a handgun and demanded money and jewelry. The gunman herded the 28-year-old woman upstairs to her son's bedroom, where he attempted to tie up the boy. While he was distracted, Gross slipped away, grabbed her .38-cal. handgun, and fired at the intruder, striking him. The man fled, and a suspect was arrested later by authorities. (The Sun; Baltimore, Md.)