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

Icarry Diamondback Sdr Galco 1
Icarry Diamondback Sdr Galco 1

I Carry: Diamondback SDR in a Galco Hornet Holster

For our latest "I Carry" episode above, we paired the six-round Diamondback SDR DA/SA snubnose revolver with a simple leather holster from Galco, along with one of the latest EDC flashlights from Streamlight.

The Armed Citizen® May 8, 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.

Creating the Ideal First-Time Shooting Experience

That first time behind a trigger can shape a newcomer’s attitude towards firearms. Here are five ways to make the experience a success.

Henry Repeating Arms Founder & CEO Honored as Law Enforcement Supporter of the Year

Henry Repeating Arms founder and CEO Anthony Imperato has been named Law Enforcement Supporter of the Year by New York State Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Lodge 100.

New For 2026: TriStar Arms APOC Pro

The new APOC Pro takes the original TriStar Arms APOC pistol design introduced in 2025 and makes it optics- and suppressor-ready.

7 New Over-Under Shotguns for 2026

Ever since the development of the iconic Browning Superposed shotgun in the early 1930s, the concept of an over-under shotgun has remained popular not just with American shooters but shotgunners the world over.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.