Armed Citizen® Today
A July road-rage incident ended when the armed victim opened fire on his assailant, stopping the man's assault and leading to his death.
The early-morning incident began when, at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 6, when the 35-year-old driver of an Audi overtook a Prius and forced the car up onto a curb after pursuing it for two blocks. The driver of the Audi then exited his vehicle, armed with a metal baseball bat, approached the Prius and began striking the driver's side door of the car with the bat.
The driver of the Prius, fearing for his life, drew and fired, striking the 35-year-old assailant. The Prius driver then drove from the scene and parked a short distance away, called 911 and turned over his legally possessed firearm to responding officers. Police initially took the Prius driver into custody, but he was later released with no charges filed after the Lehigh Valley District Attorney's Office determined that he was justified in shooting and killing his attacker. (Lehigh Valley Live; Allentown, Pa.; 7/22/25)
From the Armed Citizen® Archives – June 1970
Joseph A. Panaro was alone in his Wilmington, De., liquor store when a gunman entered and demanded money. Panaro said he didn't have any, and the man ordered him to empty his pockets. Panaro pulled a .22-cal. pistol from his pocket, and the gunman turned and fled. (Evening Journal; Wilmington, Del.)
