Florida crook accused of ditching stolen car, hiding from cops in home's garage. But homeowner has a gun.

A 34-year-old male is accused of ditching a stolen car and hiding from police in a home's garage in Orange Park, Florida, on Monday, WJAX-TV reported. Orange Park is about a half hour south of Jacksonville.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office said it received word about a stolen car just after 3:30 p.m., and deputies within five minutes found the car at Blanding Boulevard and Camp Francis Johnson Road.

'Hey, you know what? If they stole a car, and he ran in my house, I’d shoot him too. Good for him.'

The driver fled and crashed into two sheriff's office patrol vehicles as well as a citizen's car, officials said, adding that no one was hurt in the crashes.

But two suspects bailed out of the car along Blanding Boulevard and ran in opposite directions, officials said, adding that both suspects were pursued on foot.

Officials said "the female suspect/passenger was caught within minutes; the male suspect, who was behind the wheel of the stolen car, continued to run and went through several backyards of a nearby neighborhood until he entered a resident's detached garage" on Grafton Drive.

WJAX reported that the male suspect was trying to hide in the garage.

However, officials said that once the male suspect entered the garage, the homeowner — who was armed with a gun — confronted him.

Sheriff Michelle Cook told WJAX the homeowner "intervened and actually shot the suspect who had entered his detached garage. The suspect was shot in the leg by the homeowner.”

Officials said deputies rendered first aid to the suspect who was taken to a local hospital; there are no outstanding suspects.

The arrested suspects are William Tracy White Jr. and Amanda Jean Strickland, WJAX said.

Neighbor Anita Jones told the station that at first she "thought somebody had died."

Jones added to WJAX that she wasn’t home when it all went down but that nothing like this has happened since she moved into the neighborhood four years ago.

“I can’t believe it happened here,” Jones added to the station. "Hey, you know what? If they stole a car, and he ran in my house, I’d shoot him too. Good for him."

The sheriff told WJAX that White has two outstanding warrants for grand theft and armed robbery.

According to jail records, White remained incarcerated Tuesday and was charged with aggravated fleeing with injury or damage, burglary, and other charges. His bond was just over $35,000. There is no jail record for Strickland, who is 32.

Officials said those with information that could assist in the investigation are encouraged to contact the sheriff's office at 904-264-6512; tips can be submitted through the SaferWatch or by calling First Coast Crime Stoppers by dialing **TIPS.

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Florida thug, 19, allegedly puts gun to head of man delivering banana pudding. But victim is armed — and turns the tables.

Things have gone from bad to much worse for a 19-year-old Florida male who allegedly put a gun to the head of a man delivering banana pudding of all things earlier this month.

According to an arrest warrant, a food delivery man on Aug. 6 was dropping off an order of banana pudding in the 20300 block of Northwest 34th Court in Miami Gardens when Jabari Thomas and another man — 20-year-old Demetrius Tromain Travis — tried to rob him, WTVJ-TV reported.

'Threw his life away for a couple of bucks! Make it make sense ... smh.'

Thomas got into the back seat of the victim's car and at one point allegedly put a gun to the delivery man's head, the station said, citing the warrant.

The suspects also were trying to access the delivery man's CashApp when the victim pulled his own gun and opened fire, WTVJ reported, citing the warrant.

Travis was shot in the leg, chest, and face, the station said, adding that he was airlifted to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The delivery man stayed at the scene and wasn't charged, WTVJ added.

Witnesses said a second suspect was seen fleeing the scene and running toward a white vehicle, the station said, adding that police issued a "Be On the Lookout" for the car.

The vehicle later was found in Miramar, police told WTVJ, and Thomas was taken into custody.

Thomas is facing charges for armed robbery — as well as second-degree felony murder, the station said.

Why the murder charge? WTVJ said Thomas is being blamed for Travis' death because the killing happened during the alleged armed robbery.

Thomas appeared in court in Miami-Dade on Wednesday where he was ordered held without bond, the station said, adding that he could face life in prison if he's convicted.

Commenters under WTVJ's Facebook post about the incident were incredulous:

"Threw his life away for a couple of bucks!" one commenter exclaimed. "Make it make sense ... smh."
"Felony murder charges are the best," another user quipped.
"Chair," another commenter bluntly stated.

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Threatening male begins beating up Florida mobile homeowner, but victim pulls gun, fires once — 'and the threat was over'

A Florida male threatened and began beating up a homeowner in a Fort Pierce mobile home park earlier this week, but police said the victim pulled a gun, fired once, and ended the threat.

The shooting occurred at 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Seminole Mobile Home Park, WPEC-TV reported.

The sheriff told WFLX-TV the victim 'shot the suspect ... point blank in the chest.'

St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard R. Del Toro told the station the two men knew each other and had been involved in a dispute that included verbal arguments and threatening text messages.

Investigators said the 37-year-old suspect — who has yet to be identified — made several threats before showing up at the home of the 22-year-old man, WPEC noted.

Deputies said the 37-year-old knocked on the front door and was let inside before a brawl broke out, the station said.

Investigators said the suspect pushed the 22-year-old homeowner and punched him several times in the stomach, WPEC reported.

"The victim disengaged ... pulled out a handgun, shot one time, and the threat was over," Del Toro told the station.

The sheriff told WFLX-TV the victim "shot the suspect ... point blank in the chest."

The suspect was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, WPEC reported.

"It's not fair, because my son has no father now. He's 5 years old, and what am I gonna tell him? We didn't even get to say goodbye," Naomi Pallarez, the girlfriend of the man who died, told WPEC.

Del Toro told WPEC the homeowner remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators; the homeowner's girlfriend and sister also were inside the residence and provided corroborating statements.

Deputies recovered the handgun after executing a search warrant at the residence, WPEC said.

No charges have been filed against the homeowner, WPEC reported, adding that investigators are working with the State Attorney's Office to determine if the shooting falls under Florida's stand-your-ground self-defense law.

"Obviously, you have to be in defense of yourself, but at the same time, you have to be in fear for your life anytime you're going to use deadly force," Del Toro added to the station.

Shotgun-toting homeowner blasts tires out of burglary suspects' car — and alleged crooks hilariously fall in line

A homeowner in Richmond, New York, noticed something on his home security system Sunday night that prompted him to call 911 — and also to grab his shotgun and confront the disturbance himself.

"He was receiving live surveillance footage of two individuals entering a property that he owns," Undersheriff Michael Rago of the Ontario County Sheriff's Office told WHAM-TV. "He lives close by, and while he remained on the phone with the 911 center, he responded to the location."

'We actually received a 911 call from one of the occupants in the residence.'

The homeowner arrived to find a suspicious vehicle parked discreetly on the property and lights flickering inside the home, Rago added to the station.

With that, the homeowner called out to those inside his property and shot out the vehicle's tires, WHAM said.

"At that time, we actually received a 911 call from one of the occupants in the residence, stating that they were in there and that they were going to cooperatively exit with their hands up," Rago added to the station.

When deputies arrived, they took 19-year-old Alexandria Mosher and 22-year-old Dominick Wood, both of Lima, into custody, WHAM reported.

Deputies found Mosher and Wood in possession of items from inside the home, the sheriff's office told the station, adding that the pair were charged with second-degree burglary before being released after their arraignment.

The homeowner has not been charged, the station said.

"A word to the wise is to understand ... when you can and can't use deadly physical force," Rago noted to WHAM. "This wouldn't be considered deadly physical force. ..."

The undersheriff also offered the following advice, according to the station: "At the end of the day, you know ... we don't need more victims. We don't need victims injured. We don't need suspects or defendants, you know, injured. ... I come back to being a being a good witness for law enforcement."

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'Heroic' bystander who fired at gunman suspected in deadly shooting at Idaho In-N-Out shares how he prepared for the danger

Jordan Salinas told the Idaho Statesman he pulled up to the In-N-Out Burger off of Blue Lakes Boulevard in Twin Falls around 2:30 p.m. Saturday when he saw people running out of the fast-food restaurant.

The 35-year-old thought it was a kitchen fire, the Statesman said — until he heard the “pop-pop-pop” of gunshots.

'As soon as some rounds started coming at him, everything changed ... all that bravado he had immediately crumbled.'

Salinas added to ABC News that he saw a person aiming a rifle at passing cars: "I peeked around the right-hand side of that sign closest to the road, and that's where I saw the individual with his rifle pointed at the vehicles."

Turns out Salinas happened upon a deadly shooting at the fast-food restaurant — which opened for business only last month — that took the lives of three victims and left seven others injured.

Salinas did not run from the danger; instead he ran toward it, the Statesman said, adding that Salinas characterized his response as “automatic” and “mechanical."

The paper said Salinas reached for his shoulder holster and pulled his FN Five-Seven — a semi-automatic gun with a suppressor on the barrel — and then went through four steps borrowed from the military that he'd been drilling every week for years.

Suspect in deadly shooting at Idaho In-N-Out died of self-inflicted gunshot wound; 2 'heroic' bystanders fired at him: Police

The suspect in a deadly shooting at an Idaho In-N-Out Burger over the weekend died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound — and two "heroic" bystanders fired at the suspect and diverted him from the scene, police said, according to the Associated Press.

Investigators said the gunman — identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams — acted alone during Saturday afternoon's shooting at the Twin Falls fast-food restaurant, Police Chief Matthew Hicks said at a news conference, the AP reported.

'People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary.'

Hicks also said an off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen — whose identities weren’t immediately disclosed — both fired back and diverted the gunman from the In-N-Out, the outlet added.

Three victims died and seven others were injured in the shooting, the outlet noted, adding that authorities said Sunday two of the injured were treated at a hospital and released, three were listed as stable, and two were in critical condition.

Hicks said detectives are working to determine Williams’ motives and that the suspect’s family was cooperating fully with law enforcement, the AP reported. Hicks also warned of misinformation spreading online identifying a different male as the shooter, noting that the individual had “no involvement in this incident whatsoever," the outlet reported.

Police who responded to the shooting found the body of the suspected gunman in an area near the restaurant, Twin Falls spokesperson Josh Palmer said, according to the AP.

Palmer added to the outlet that investigators were interviewing witnesses. The In-N-Out location — which had opened about a week earlier on July 24 as part of the California-based company’s recent expansion to Idaho — is in a busy shopping plaza, and hundreds of people were in the area when the shooting occurred around 2 p.m., the AP said.

Lane Koehn, 34, told the outlet he was at a stoplight near the In-N-Out when he saw a person with an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru while a man with a pistol started firing at the shooter.

Koehn then saw someone in an In-N-Out uniform drag a person also wearing a uniform — who was bleeding from a gunshot wound to her chest — across the parking lot, the AP reported. The employee, Koehn, and the man with the pistol stayed until paramedics arrived for her, the outlet added.

“She was pretty bad off, but I don’t know," Koehn told the AP. "I hope she made it."

He said the shooter fired at least three or four rounds, but it was not clear if anyone in particular was targeted, the outlet said.

In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder said one of those killed was an employee, the AP reported.

“My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I’ve shed. We lost one of our beautiful associates tonight,” Snyder said in a statement released early Sunday on social media, the outlet added. “In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season.”

Snyder did not identify the worker in question, the AP said. Officials were still trying to notify relatives of victims and therefore were not yet releasing the victims' names, ages or other details about them, Palmer said, according to the outlet.

Thug allegedly threatens to kill homeowner, enters victim's residence. But homeowner fights back with baseball bat — and gun.

After a reported shooting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Wednesday night, the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to the 5900 block of South 59th West Avenue.

Arriving deputies spoke with the homeowner, who said the suspect — later identified as 37-year-old Joshua Arena — came onto the property, threatened to steal the homeowner's truck, and told the homeowner he would kill him if he resisted, officials said.

'The truck owner was within all right[s] to have ended his life.'

The homeowner told deputies he turned to go back inside his house, but Arena followed him into the residence, officials said.

With that, the homeowner grabbed a baseball bat and struck Arena, and the two began fighting, officials said.

The fight continued outside, and the homeowner told deputies Arena turned and charged at him again.

But the homeowner fired a single shot and hit Arena in the thigh, officials said.

Joshua Arena. Image source: Tulsa County (Okla.) Sheriff's Office

Officials said Arena was transported to a hospital for treatment before being booked into the Tulsa County Jail on complaints of first-degree attempted robbery by force, first-degree burglary, and assault and battery. Arena's jail record does not show the assault and battery charge but indicates his total bail is $70,000 for the other two charges.

A number of commenters under the sheriff's office Facebook post about the incident wrote that Arena was "lucky":

"He's jerking the trigger. Needs to start dry firing," one commenter said. "At least he cut meat and stopped the aggressive behavior."
"He's lucky," another user said. "Those who know shoot center mass."
"He's lucky it wasn't someone with a gun who was properly trained to use that gun," another commenter said.
"I see a lot of people in this area scoping out people's places," another user said. "They walk around, but my dogs don't allow them to even look over to us."
"The face of FAFO ladies and gentlemen," another commenter said. "He's one of the lucky ones!"
"That's a face that knows he's lucky to be alive, and he's grateful for it," another user said. "I applaud the homeowner for executing the lawful steps with proficiency. Nice job!"
"The truck owner was within all right[s] to have ended his life," another commenter said.
"Lucky homeowner didn't put one between his eyes," another user said.

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Machete-wielding male drags woman down Texas street, goes after man who told him to stop — but Good Samaritan also has a gun

A machete-wielding male who dragged a woman down a Texas street Sunday night went after a man who told him to stop — but the Good Samaritan also had a gun on hand.

Fort Worth Police said officers were called to the 2900 block of Ross Avenue around 10:20 p.m. regarding a male with a weapon, KXAS-TV reported.

'If you see a lady that's in danger, I mean, what would you do in that situation?'

When officers arrived, they found a male with an apparent gunshot wound, the station said, adding that officers and Fort Worth firefighters provided medical care before the wounded male was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Witnesses told investigators that before the shooting, the male in question had been involved in a verbal argument with a woman that turned physical — specifically, he was "dragging the female down the street with a machete in his hand," KXAS reported.

A neighbor who heard the woman screaming came outside and saw the male dragging the woman and told him to stop, the station said.

Police were told the male with the machete approached the man confronting him, KXAS said, adding that the intervening man shot the machete-wielding male at least once.

Police said witnesses called 911, the station said.

The man who shot the machete-wielding male remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, KXAS reported, adding that homicide detectives interviewed him.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the man's identity, as well as the official cause and manner of death, the station said.

Officials did not say if the woman had been injured, KXAS said.

No arrests have been made in the case, the station added.

Nicole Flores told KXAS that the male with the machete has caused issues in the neighborhood before.

KXAS interviewed another witness who said, "If you see a lady that's in danger, I mean, what would you do in that situation?"

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Man allegedly catches burglar taking TV from his wall, turning and reaching into bag — then homeowner ends heist with his gun

Memphis Police on Tuesday afternoon responded to the 6600 block of West Quailbrook Cove at the GreenBrook Apartments after a break-in and shooting, WHBQ-TV reported.

The homeowner told police he arrived at his residence just before 3:15 p.m. and saw a masked man trying to take his television from a wall, the station added.

'This is the direct result of what happens when the system to protect people fails completely. People take care of themselves. We've entered this phase.'

Police said the homeowner indicated the suspect then turned around toward him and reached into a bag, WHBQ added.

The homeowner told officers that with that, he pulled out a gun and shot the suspect twice, the station said.

In addition, the homeowner said the suspect ran from the apartment and headed west toward GreenBrook Bend, WHBQ reported.

The homeowner added to police that he fired two more shots as the suspect ran away, the station said, adding that the homeowner said the suspect fell, dropped the bag, got back up, and continued running off.

WHBQ said that when officers tried to make contact with the suspect, police said he fled on foot in the apartment complex.

Police told the station that officers conducted an extensive search and found a man injured in the 6400 block of Macon Road.

WHBQ added that the injured male was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

What's more, the station said police released to the homeowner's wife a white PlayStation 5, pink and white Jordan 1 sneakers, black and pink Jordan 1 sneakers, all-black Nike Air Max 97 sneakers, white Air Force sneakers, a black Roku controller, and a purple PlayStation controller.

WHBQ reported that the homeowner's wife said all items belonged to the couple.

Individuals commenting underneath the station's Facebook post about the incident seemed squarely behind the homeowner who fought back:

"Awesome job, homeowner," one commenter wrote. "Don't commit burglary; won't get shot."
"Good!" another user exclaimed. "More people need to fight back and make Memphis great again!"
"U got shot for a PS5 and some shoes," another commenter lamented.
"The thief got straight to FO part of FAFO," another user quipped.
"315 in the afternoon. That is hella bold," another commenter observed.
"This is the direct result of what happens when the system to protect people fails completely," another user stated. "People take care of themselves. We've entered this phase."

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California man finds home intruder allegedly firing shotgun at his wife — and ends the threat permanently

A California homeowner was visiting with his neighbors when he heard gunshots and screaming coming from his house and rushed back to find a shocking threat.

Riverside County Sheriff's deputies were called to the residence on Heron Way in San Jacinto on Friday just before 10:30 p.m. on reports of gunshots being fired.

'His goal was to get his daughter out safely, regardless of what happened to him.'

They found a man with gunshot injuries and declared him dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Times. They identified the deceased male as 45-year-old Ismael Martinez.

The father of the home told them that he had rushed to the house after his wife said a home intruder was firing a gun. The homeowner armed himself with a gun from his garage and exchanged gunfire with Martinez.

Martinez was struck, but no other injuries were reported.

A police investigation found that Martinez assaulted his 52-year-old girlfriend with a knife before running off to attack the family at the Heron Way home. The woman was found inside a vehicle and transported to a hospital for treatment. She was reported to be in stable condition.

Police said there was no evidence that Martinez or his girlfriend had any connection with the residents of the home he allegedly invaded.

A neighbor named Frankie Aguilar said the husband and wife of the family had been at his home when the incident unfolded. He said the wife had gone back to her house to charge up her phone when she found the armed intruder.

"When she was screaming, he was shooting at her with a shotgun," Aguilar said.

Aguilar added that his neighbor's teenage daughter was also in the home during the shooting and home invasion.

"His goal was to get his daughter out safely, regardless of what happened to him," another neighbor named Robert Dorame said to KTLA-TV.

"I'm shattered for them because they're good people," he added.

Police said the shooting would be referred to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office for review.

Neighbors said they believed the homeowner had acted in self-defense. A friend of the family has opened a GoFundMe donation account to help them deal with the costs associated with the incident.

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Florida crook accused of ditching stolen car, hiding from cops in home's garage. But homeowner has a gun.

Florida thug, 19, allegedly puts gun to head of man delivering banana pudding. But victim is armed — and turns the tables.

Threatening male begins beating up Florida mobile homeowner, but victim pulls gun, fires once — 'and the threat was over'

Shotgun-toting homeowner blasts tires out of burglary suspects' car — and alleged crooks hilariously fall in line

'Heroic' bystander who fired at gunman suspected in deadly shooting at Idaho In-N-Out shares how he prepared for the danger

Suspect in deadly shooting at Idaho In-N-Out died of self-inflicted gunshot wound; 2 'heroic' bystanders fired at him: Police

Thug allegedly threatens to kill homeowner, enters victim's residence. But homeowner fights back with baseball bat — and gun.

Machete-wielding male drags woman down Texas street, goes after man who told him to stop — but Good Samaritan also has a gun

Man allegedly catches burglar taking TV from his wall, turning and reaching into bag — then homeowner ends heist with his gun

California man finds home intruder allegedly firing shotgun at his wife — and ends the threat permanently

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