The Armed Citizen® July 20, 2020

by
posted on July 20, 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 (5)
Armed Citizen® Today

A passing motorist found himself in a defensive situation against an armed assailant as he was stopped at an intersection in Brownsburg, Ind. on Tuesday afternoon, July 15.

It all started when the attacker drove to Brownsburg Cemetery and approached two workers on the site. The attacker then opened fire on the two workers who split up and tried to run for cover. The assailant chased on foot and shot one of the workers dead in the street before turning his attention to the second worker and chasing him through a residential neighborhood.

The second worker ran back towards the main road with the assailant in hot pursuit, where the two got into a physical altercation and more shots where fired. The motorist was stopped at an intersection nearby when he witnessed the attacker trying to shoot the surviving worker, and was himself struck in his vehicle by a stray shot. In response the motorist produced his licensed carry arm and returned fire.

The motorist opened fire just as the attacker pointed his firearm at the head of the worker. The armed citizen is credited with saving himself, the worker and innocent bystanders in the area in this unexpected scenario. The attacker died of his wounds, while the motorist and second worker sustained non-life-threatening injuries. (WISHTV, Indianapolis, Ind., 07/15/2020)
  
  
From the Armed Citizen® Archives March 1982

When an armed robber pointed a .22-cal. pistol at him and demanded money, Tulsa, Okla., liquor store owner Thomas Shaw reached instead for a .357 Mag. revolver. He opened up and hit the criminal once in the head and three times in the chest, killing him on the spot.

The robber had a criminal record dating back to 1942 and had killed a man in 1952. Police called the dead man an "11-time loser." (The Tribune, Tulsa, Okla.)

Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 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.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.