3 thugs try to rob California tobacco shop, but armed owner opens fire with lethal consequences



An armed business owner in California gunned down one of three armed thugs who were trying to rob his tobacco shop on Tuesday morning.

KTLA-TV reported that the three thugs walked into the Classic Tobacco Shop on the corner of Firestone Blvd. and Studebaker Road in the city of Norwalk at about 9 in the morning.

He was acting in self-defense.

While the group was armed, so was the business owner who opened fire on them and was able to hit one in the chest.

The three tried to run away by rushing into their getaway car, but the vehicle was reportedly boxed in at the parking lot.

The alleged robber who was shot in the chest was later found by police in a nearby alleyway and transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The other two suspects tried to escape into a residential area on Elmcroft Avenue near the Lakeside Middle School, according to KTLA. The school was not in session at the time.

Police responded by setting up a containment area and with the help of a SWAT Team were able to take the two suspects into custody at about 11:30 a.m.

The shop owner was not injured and told investigators he was acting in self-defense.

A KTLA news helicopter report showed the aftermath of the law enforcement action.

Norwalk is a city of about 107k residents located only 17 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

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California police say man won't face charges after shooting and killing home intruder who was an ex-boyfriend of his girlfriend



A California man will not face charges after shooting and killing his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend who had broken into their apartment, according to police.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said officers responded to a call about a shooting at about 2 in the morning early on Sunday at the Sutter Crossing Apartments complex in Carmichael, a city in Sacramento County.

'He's entitled to defend himself and kill that intruder.'

Police said that they found a man who had been shot dead, and he was identified as an ex-boyfriend of a woman who lived in the apartment. The ex allegedly banged on the door for 20 minutes before the woman opened the door and he forced his way in.

The man then got into a fight with the woman's current boyfriend before he shot the home intruder, according to the sheriff's office.

The current boyfriend told police that he was choked by the ex before he retrieved his gun from beneath his pillow and shot at the man once. He was declared dead at the scene.

The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office determined that the shooter should not face charges after receiving the investigative report from police.

The sheriff's office said that the current boyfriend called the police and that they were cooperating with the investigation. Officials added that the gun was licensed and registered to the shooter.

A local attorney named Michael Wise told KOVR-TV that California has "stand your ground" protections in the law.

"If this gentleman was presented with a lethal threat that he did not trigger in any way, then he's entitled to defend himself and kill that intruder," Wise explained.

"Ironically you can still be charged for illegal possession of a firearm if you're not allowed to possess one," he added, "but the actual use of deadly force to defend yourself is still justified even if you use a weapon that is not registered in California or if you're not allowed to possess one."

KOVR reported that many in the neighborhood were stunned to find that the shooter was not charged, and they said they knew the victim well. None of those involved were publicly identified, but the victim's name will be released after the medical examiner contacts his next of kin.

Carmichael is a city of about 80k residents located 10 miles northeast of Sacramento.

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