Concealed-carrying food vendor in Chicago serves up lethal dish for thug who pulls gun on him



A Chicago food vendor who was carrying concealed fatally shot a male who pulled a gun on him Friday night.

Chicago police told WLS-TV the shooting occurred in the South Austin neighborhood's 300 block of South Central Avenue just before 9 p.m.

'Good outcome. The robber won't be turned loose on the street by the useless court system to reoffend.'

The male approached the 35-year-old food vendor, and a brief struggle ensued, police told the station.

Police said the male pulled out a gun, and the food vendor — who has a concealed carry license — also took out a gun, WLS reported.

In an exchange of gunfire, the male who approached the food vendor suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his body, and he was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, the station said.

The Cook County Medical Examiner identified the male who was killed as 34-year-old Demitrius Manning, WLS noted.

The food vendor was shot in his right arm, and he was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, police added to the station.

Police told WLS the incident is being investigated as an attempted robbery and that there were two guns at the scene.

How are people reacting?

Individuals posting comments under the WLS Facebook post about the incident seem to be squarely in the food vendor's corner.

  • "Great news this time around," one commenter wrote.
  • "Thank goodness he was able to protect himself," another user noted.
  • "Good," another commenter said. "[People] are tired and starting to fight back."
  • "We need more of this," another user declared. "Good guys and girls with guns. Only way to stop bad people with guns."
  • "Good outcome," another commenter stated. "The robber won't be turned loose on the street by the useless court system to reoffend."
  • "I’m so glad the food vendor is OK," another user said. "We should all buy from this hard-working person. He deserves a medal."
  • "He better not have to go through a trial," another commenter wrote.
  • "Hell yeah love this!!!" another user exclaimed. "Stop messing with [people]."
  • "Score one for the good guy," another commenter opined.

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Masked male caught on video allegedly trying to kidnap 6-year-old boy while victim holds his father's hand on sidewalk



A masked male was caught on video allegedly trying to kidnap a 6-year-old boy while the victim was holding his father's hand on a sidewalk in Brooklyn over the weekend.

WABC-TV reported that the 28-year-old male was seen on surveillance videos yanking the boy so hard while he held on to his father's hand that the victim's feet came off the ground — but the the dad and son continued to hold hands tight.

'I don't think it was a hate crime, but it was scary.'

The father is seen on the clip quickly turning around and shoving the culprit, and the incident appears to end at that point.

You can view a video report here about the incident, which includes a pair of surveillance clips showing the suspect grabbing the child.

The incident occurred in front of multiple cameras on a block of Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights around 3:30 p.m. Saturday while the father and son were on their way to a Sabbath gathering, WABC said.

Incredibly, the boy's mother told the station that the suspect is actually their neighbor.

What's more, the couple noted to WABC that they've seen the suspect before and said he's never said or done anything unusual.

"He'd always hold the door, he always was nice," the mother added to the station.

The mother also told WABC she's heard from neighbors that something else was going on with the suspect, and he'd had a bad day.

She added to the station that while members of the Jewish community in the neighborhood already are on edge with a citywide increase in anti-Semitic incidents since October 7 of last year, the mother doesn't believe it was a hate crime.

"I don't think it was a hate crime, but it was scary," she told WABC. "It was like a scary incident. When you live in New York, you don't expect someone to attack a six-year-old and take him away from his parents."

The mother noted to the station that she's proud of her husband and son for the way they held on to each other and didn't let go.

She added to WABC that her boy will be getting therapy, and her family is hoping justice is served in court.

The station said Stephen Sowe is charged with attempted kidnapping, harassment, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Anything else?

In mid-October, a male was charged with a hate crime after he allegedly hollered, “I’m gonna kill you f***ing Jews!" during Yom Kippur in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn. Police said Muhammad Hashim's alleged outburst was directed at a 43-year-old man in Borough Park, according to the New York Post.

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Armed intruder breaks into home after midnight. But homeowner's son also has a gun — and permanently takes care of business.



An armed intruder broke into a Florida home after midnight Sunday — but the homeowner's adult son also had a gun and fatally shot the intruder.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said it received a call at 12:23 a.m. regarding an armed residential burglary in the 3000 block of Double D Ranch Trail in Ruskin. Ruskin is on the shore of Tampa Bay and is about a half hour south of the city of Tampa.

'This is a happy ending! Another reason why every law abiding person should be a trained gun owner.'

When deputies arrived on the scene, they found the suspect dead from multiple gunshot wounds, the sheriff's office said.

The deputies' investigation determined that the homeowner's adult son shot the suspect after he broke into the home, the sheriff's office said, adding that the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

Image source: Hillsborough County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office

The Tampa Bay Times, citing deputies, identified the break-in suspect as 46-year-old Tony Sei. The Times, citing deputies, said Sei was armed with a handgun.

"Imagine the fear of being awoken in the middle of the night to a stranger invading your home," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "This is every homeowner's greatest fear, a dangerous and brazen individual breaking in, showing a complete disregard for the safety and security of others. Our thoughts are with this family as they recover from the trauma of this event."

The sheriff's office said the investigation is active and that any updates will come from the Public Affairs Office.

How are people reacting?

Nearly 200 comments have appeared under the sheriff's office Facebook post about the break-in. The following is a sampling:

  • "This is a happy ending!" one commenter declared. "Another reason why every law abiding person should be a trained gun owner."
  • "FAFO quick! Glad the family is safe! Great job homeowners," another user noted.
  • "Anyone who knows that block would not try that," another commenter opined, adding that "most are good country folk and we love guns FAFO!"
  • "Outstanding job!" another user exclaimed. "That’s one taxpayers don’t have to pay to house, feed and defend."

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Security guard fatally shoots male who held gun to his head, threatened to kill him; prosecutors say guard won't be charged



A security guard fatally shot a male who held a gun to his the back of his head and threatened to kill him two months ago in Aurora, Colorado — and prosecutors on Monday said the guard acted in self-defense and won't be charged, KUSA-TV reported.

Police responded about 9 p.m. Aug. 31 to a report of a shooting outside a 7-Eleven in the 12000 block of East Colfax, the station said.

'He did his job, and he defended himself in the process.'

Prosecutors said Vernon Dorsey approached the guard, who was walking in front of the store, and placed a handgun to the back of the guard's head, KUSA said. Dorsey ordered the guard to hand over his gun and threatened to kill him, the station added.

KUSA said Dorsey and the guard fought as Dorsey attempted to disarm the guard.

But instead, the guard got hold of his own gun and shot Dorsey in the chest, KUSA said.

When officers arrived, they found Dorsey with a gunshot wound, the station said, adding that Dorsey later died. Dorsey was 36 years old, KUSA said in an earlier story.

The District Attorney’s Office and the Aurora Police Department agreed after reviewing evidence that the guard fired his weapon in self-defense and was legally justified, KUSA said.

Anything else?

The station said the guard was taken to police headquarters and questioned and that police at the time believed the guard was acting in self-defense.

The private company that supplies the guards for 7-Eleven — Iron Spear Protection Group LLC — said in a statement at the time that it's backing the guard in question with "absolute certainty" after reviewing the incident, KUSA reported.

Iron Spear's president stated at the time of the incident that the guard was in good condition and with his family, the station added.

How are observers reacting?

Commenters under KUSA's Facebook post about the incident were solidly behind the guard's actions:

  • "Good work, sir, here is a raise," one commenter said.
  • Good," another user added. "He did his job, and he defended himself in the process."
  • "Happy ending feel-good story!!!" another commenter exclaimed.

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Motorist with long criminal history allegedly tries to run over a father and son. But Dad has a gun.



A motorist with a long criminal history allegedly tried to run over a father and son Saturday in Florida — but authorities said the father fatally shot the motorist.

Marcus Blicker, 47, followed two vehicles driven by a neighbor’s son and his friend and aggressively swerved toward them in traffic, deputies from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office told the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Blicker was found dead in the driver’s seat of his pickup.

The neighbor's son called his father and told him he was being followed, the News-Journal said.

When the son and his friend got to the father's home on Jackson Lane in Port Orange, deputies told the paper that Blicker arrived there as well and started yelling and threatening the son and his friend. Port Orange is about 15 minutes south of Daytona Beach.

The homeowner fired warning shots, asking Blicker to leave, the News-Journal reported.

However, the paper said Blicker around 7:40 p.m. tried to ram them with his truck and was shot.

When deputies arrived at the scene, Blicker was found dead in the driver’s seat of his pickup, the sheriff's office told the News-Journal.

The incident was captured on video and audio recordings that support the accounts of the shooter and witnesses, deputies told the paper.

No criminal charges have been filed against the homeowner who shot Blicker, the News-Journal reported. The sheriff's office added to the paper that the shooting remains under investigation.

The News-Journal also noted that a Rottweiler in Blicker's truck was injured during the shooting, after which Volusia County Animal Services responded and took the dog for veterinary care. The dog is expected to recover, the paper said.

The News-Journal, citing court records, said Blicker has a long criminal history. He was arrested in 2020 for aggravated stalking, for which he served 12 months' probation, the paper said, adding that in 2012 he was sentenced to 12 months' probation for battery after punching a woman in the cheek at the Flagler Tavern in New Smyrna Beach.

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Male breaks into rural home, makes threats, ignores gun-toting resident's warning to stop. It ends badly for intruder.



A resident of a rural Illinois home fatally shot an intruder early Friday morning, Shelby County Sheriff Brian McReynolds told the Effingham Daily News.

“At 5:25 a.m., the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a home invasion in progress at a rural Herrick address within Shelby County,” McReynolds said in a press release, the paper said. “The suspect was identified as Wade M. Barnes, 19 years old, of Cowden. Barnes was known by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office due to prior involvements, including a current criminal case.”

It seems Barnes was in trouble with the law earlier this month. He was charged Oct. 9 with aggravated fleeing from a police officer, possessing a firearm without a state Firearm Owner's Identification Card, transporting liquor by a driver under 21, damage to property greater than $300, and operating an uninsured vehicle.

Barnes was threatening the home's occupants, the Daily News said, and McReynolds noted that an occupant retrieved a gun and verbally warned Barnes to stop.

“Barnes continued into the residence, ignoring the warning,” McReynolds said, according to the paper. “Shots were fired in the direction of Barnes, striking him. EMS was dispatched. EMS transported to Good Shepherd Hospital, in Shelbyville, where he succumbed to his injuries, and was pronounced deceased at 7:16 a.m.”

The Daily News said the sheriff's office is investigating the incident, and state police, the Shelby County Coroner, and the Shelby County State’s Attorney have been contacted to assist with the investigation.

What else do we know about the suspect?

It seems Barnes was in trouble with the law earlier this month. He was charged Oct. 9 with aggravated fleeing from a police officer, possessing a firearm without a state Firearm Owner's Identification Card, transporting liquor by a driver under 21, damage to property greater than $300, and operating an uninsured vehicle, according to the paper, which cited online court records. Barnes' next court appearance was scheduled for Nov. 20, the Daily News said.

Barnes also was charged on May 18, 2023, with aggravated fleeing and speeding 35 miles per hour over the speed limit, the paper said, adding that the fleeing charge was dismissed. Barnes paid a fine and was ordered to driver education and community service, the Daily News noted.

How are observers reacting?

Commenters under WICS-TV's Facebook post about the incident were decidedly behind the individual who ended the break-in threat. Here are a handful of those reactions:

  • "It’s about time people start defending themselves again!!! Great job!!!" one commenter wrote.
  • "If you are going to engage in criminal activity, you accept the consequences," another user added. "I did not get shot recently; probably because I don't do crimes. Hmmmmm."
  • "The criminals' anthem... another one bites the dust!" another commenter stated.
  • "Justice is served," another user declared.

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Woman stops car near cops, gets out, says male in car was holding her at gunpoint. Suspect points gun at cops, who open fire.



A woman stopped her car near Indianapolis police officers Sunday afternoon, exited the car, and told officers a male in the car had been holding her at gunpoint, the Indianapolis Star reported.

With that, police said the suspect in the car pointed a gun at officers, and one officer shot the suspect, the paper said.

'If anybody here, or out watching, has a solution to prevent what happened here today, I'm all ears. There's no way in my mind this could have been prevented other than the person not forcefully taking and kidnapping a woman, forcing her to drive around while a gun was pointed to her head.'

Kendale Adams, deputy chief of criminal investigations, told the Star the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of North Kealing Ave. between 10th and 11th Streets.

Citing preliminary information, the paper said officers were conducting an unrelated theft investigation when an uninvolved vehicle suddenly stopped near them.

Adams said the woman exited the car and told officers she was being held at gunpoint by a male inside the vehicle whom she did not know, the paper said.

An officer at the scene loudly told the male to put his hands up, but the male pointed a handgun toward nearby officers and at least one uninvolved citizen, Adams explained to the paper.

One officer fired his gun, striking the male at least once, before using a taser in an attempt to subdue him, the paper said.

Police ordered the male to drop the gun, but "the suspect was still holding the firearm. Officers then took the firearm out of the suspect's hand and pulled the suspect out of the car," Adams added to the Star.

Police said the male received first aid at the scene and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, the paper said, adding that Adams said he was still critical late Sunday but stable.

Adams also told the Star that the woman recalled seeing officers at the location where she stopped her vehicle, which is why she drove the car there and "alerted the officers to the situation."

The paper said the officer who fired his gun has been placed on administrative leave, per department policy, and internal affairs is investigating. Adams also told the Star that the Civilian Use of Force Review Board will conduct a hearing after the criminal process.

More from the paper:

The shooting comes at a time when IMPD is seeking solutions to reduce the number of officer-involved shootings in Indianapolis after seeing a spike last year. In April, the department announced that the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Policing Institute would review shootings by Indianapolis police officers. There were 17 shootings that year. IMPD Chief Chris Bailey, though, said the North Kealing Avenue incident is "pretty cut and dry."

"Our officers were here on a thief report and violence came to them," Bailey told the Star. "They weren't making a traffic stop. They weren't serving a search warrant. They were here trying to help another community member."

Bailey also told the paper, "If anybody here, or out watching, has a solution to prevent what happened here today, I'm all ears. There's no way in my mind this could have been prevented other than the person not forcefully taking and kidnapping a woman, forcing her to drive around while a gun was pointed to her head."

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Girl, 8, fights would-be kidnapper who entered her bedroom wearing clown mask in middle of the night, cops say



Police in Colorado said an 8-year-old girl fought a would-be kidnapper who entered her bedroom wearing a clown mask in the middle of the night last week.

Sterling Police were called around 2:30 a.m. Oct. 15 to a home on Walnut Street for a reported home invasion and kidnapping attempt, KUSA-TV reported, citing an arrest affidavit.

The victim's mother told police the suspect was in her home the previous weekend to help install a washer and dryer.

The suspect entered the home sometime between 1 and 2 a.m., the station said, adding that police said the suspect likely entered and exited through the back door, which may have been unlocked.

The victim told police the suspect came into her room, put a blindfold over her face, and grabbed her out of bed, KUSA reported. The affidavit says she started fighting back, after which the suspect hit her on the head, leaving her unconscious, the station said.

When the victim woke up, she ran into her mother's room to tell her what happened, KUSA said.

The suspect was wearing a cloth clown mask during the assault, the station said, citing the affidavit. The mask, along with a pair of gloves, were left in the child's room, KUSA noted.

Police said the suspect also took the victim's phone, the station reported. The affidavit says location data from the phone was used to help identify the suspect, according to KUSA.

The suspect — 56-year-old Thomas Gallegos — lives in the neighborhood, the station said, citing the affidavit. The victim's mother told police the suspect was in her home the previous weekend to help install a washer and dryer, KUSA reported.

Gallegos was taken into custody Saturday on suspicion of the following charges, police told the station: first-degree burglary, second-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, and child abuse.

The next court appearance for Gallegos is set for Nov. 4, KUSA said.

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Teenager planned ISIS-inspired 'bomb drone' terror attack at Pride festival, but authorities reportedly thwarted it



An Arizona teenager plotted an ISIS-inspired terror attack on the Phoenix Pride Festival, according to authorities. The alleged terror plot reportedly involved an explosive remote-controlled drone, but local authorities and the FBI said they thwarted the purported attack.

Marvin Aneer Jalo, 17, was arrested Friday — which coincided with the first day of LGBTQ events in the annual Phoenix Pride Festival, which culminated with the annual parade Sunday.

'Bomb 2024 Pride Parade and take over USA.'

A grand jury indicted Jalo, of Peoria, on two class 2 felonies: one count of terrorism and one count of conspiracy to commit terrorism. Jalo will be tried as an adult. He was being held on a $1 million cash-only bond.

According to a press release from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Jalo "participated in online chat rooms discussing the supplies necessary to make an improvised explosive device and then had those supplies shipped to him" between Nov. 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024.

"He discussed his intent to make TATP (triacetone triperoxide), an unstable explosive that can propel shrapnel and other dangerous items outward, causing serious injury or death to people in the area," according to the attorney’s office.

A search warrant on Jalo’s phone reportedly revealed an instructional video of an ISIS fighter making the TATP.

Officials said Jalo "posted various videos of himself making the TATP" after the ingredients for the explosives were delivered to him in November 2023. Months after receiving the explosive ingredients, Jalo allegedly was "continuing to reference a desire to use those explosives."

Prosecutors claimed Jalo had "expressed his plan to attack the Phoenix Pride Festival" that took place this month.

KTVK-TV reported that Jalo befriended alleged extremists online and wrote in one post that they could “bomb 2024 Pride Parade and take over USA.”

Jalo's mother reportedly told police that she got into an argument with her son after she discovered him "in chat rooms, with the use of his cell phone, speaking with other subjects whom she described as terrorists, who had been conspiring to conduct a possible attack."

The indictment claims that Jalo "intentionally or knowingly did provide advice, assistance, direction or management of an act of terrorism to further the goals, desires, aims, public pronouncements, manifestos or political objective of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria."

The station noted that investigators discovered chat messages in which Jalo allegedly planned to create a “bomb drone” by using a remote-controlled flying vehicle armed with explosives.

'I can tell you that this is an individual who does indicate that he does have some very radical ideas.'

According to prosecutors, Jalo was on Telegram where he had "conversations about making an RC-controlled bomb and attacking various targets, including in New York City."

"[Jalo] told police that he needed to gather more knowledge and better prepare himself before taking part in a terrorist event," according to KSAZ-TV.

The Phoenix Pride Festival is self-described as "an annual celebratory and educational event commemorating the 'Stonewall Riots,' acknowledged as the beginning of the modern gay rights movement. The Festival & Parade Celebration brings the entire local LGBT community together to celebrate openly and proudly with the greater public."

Phoenix Pride spokesperson Jeremy Helfgot said, "It was stopped. It was stopped safely. It was stopped in time, and our events were able to proceed safely and without incident, and that’s something important to the confidence of the community to know that we have partners who are watching our back. We have to continue to fight for the rights that don’t yet exist to protect all of the most vulnerable among our community, and to continue to ward off the kinds of threats that we saw this weekend, born out of hatred, born out of ignorance, born out of spite."

Arizona Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs was the grand marshal of this year's Phoenix Pride Parade and told KTVK, "I’m shocked and horrified at the alleged plot to attack innocent Arizonans and members of the LGBTQ community who attended the Phoenix Pride festival, and I’m grateful for the swift actions taken by law enforcement to prevent a potential tragedy."

The investigation that led to the teen's arrest was conducted by the Investigations Unit of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the FBI Phoenix Field Office, and the Buckeye and Glendale Police Departments.

“I can tell you that this is an individual who does indicate that he does have some very radical ideas. He is homophobic in his philosophy. He definitely took steps in the process of putting together something that would act as an explosive,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.

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Armed homeowner in New Mexico confronts alleged intruder who broke in before 4 a.m. It doesn't end well for uninvited guest.



A homeowner in New Mexico fatally shot an alleged intruder who broke into a residence early Tuesday morning, Bernalillo County deputies told KOB-TV.

The station said deputies responded to a call around 3:45 a.m. about an intruder at a home near Lost Horizon Drive on the West Mesa, the station said. The area is part of Albuquerque.

'That’s why we have our 2nd Amendment!!!'

The homeowner reported shooting the intruder, the sheriff's office told KOB.

Arriving deputies found the alleged intruder critically injured and tried life-saving measures on the individual, the station said.

Medics took the suspect to a hospital, but the suspect died, KOB reported.

Sheriff's office detectives who work on violent crimes and homicides are investigating the incident, the station said.

How are observers reacting?

Plenty of people are reacting to KOB's story on the station's Facebook page. Here's a sampling of what they had to say:

  • "Unfortunately we have to protect our own because by the time police show up — if they show up — it's too late," one commenter wrote. "We all work hard for our things and need [to] protect our families. When [suspects are] arrested, they're just let right back out to do it all over again..."
  • "This is great news! More criminals need this fate!" another user concluded.
  • "This was totally warranted!" another commenter said. "Good job protecting yourself, family, & your home! There needs to be ... repercussions for the outrageous amount of crime in this city."
  • "Good job!!!" another commenter exclaimed. "That’s why we have our 2nd Amendment!!!"
  • "Good," another commenter noted before adding, "Tired of this crap. When [they're] in your home, you gotta protect it. I stand for the homeowner. Job well done."
  • "Finally some good news today," another user stated before adding, "Great job on protecting your family and what’s yours. Sends a perfect message to thieves; [we've] had enough of their BS."

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