Charles Carlson, 75, awoke around 2 a.m. when he heard noises coming from the kitchen of his farmhouse. He got up to investigate. When Carlson entered the kitchen, an intruder held a revolver to his head. Carlson's quick thinking may have saved his life. He pretended to be blind and hard of hearing, which made the intruder lower his weapon. At that moment, Carlson swiftly grabbed his own 9 mm handgun and told the intruder to get on the floor. He complied, but then stood up and advanced toward Carlson. Carlson ordered him to stop. When the man continued toward him, Carlson fired. After sustaining a gunshot wound to the leg, the intruder reached for the gun in his pocket, prompting Carlson fire a second time. The second gunshot proved fatal for the 23-year-old intruder. A second intruder heard the gunshots and fled. (Star Tribune, Sandstone, Minn., 11/17/13)
Two people broke into a home through a window just after midnight. The family who lived in the home were awake and playing video games in the basement at the time of the break-in. When they heard the ruckus upstairs, one resident retrieved a firearm and fired at the intruders. The intruders returned fire before retreating to a getaway car outside. The getaway driver, who sustained a gunshot wound, put the vehicle in reverse and drove across a median and into the home across the street, injuring a woman inside. It was last reported that the other two intruders fled the scene and remain at-large. (The Detroit News, Detroit, Mich., 4/18/14)
From The Armed Citizen® Archives
May 1933: After three successful holdups, a bandit carried his activities to the cafe of Ivan Burkett in Los Angeles from which he made a terrified exit when Burkett opened fire on him. (Los Angeles, Calif.)
