'This is not normal': Concealed carry holder who fended off intruders says California politicians punish 'the wrong people'



A concealed carry holder in Los Angeles fought off two would-be home intruders in a gunfight. The homeowner added that California politicians need to go after criminals instead of law-abiding citizens.

As previously reported by Blaze News, Vince Ricci was approaching the door of his gated home where his wife, her friend, a nanny, and the couple's 5-month-old daughter were inside.

Behind him, two armed men jumped his fence. One of the attackers encroached on the homeowner wielding a pistol as the altercation started.

"Out of nowhere, boom, I had a gun to my back. And there was another guy running up at the same time and I couldn’t really make out what he was saying," Ricci recalled, according to the New York Post.

Luckily for the homeowner, he was carrying hot tea on his way into his house and was able to use it as a defense mechanism.

"It was burning my hand and I couldn’t wait to go into the house and put honey in the tea so I could drink it," he said. "I f**king slammed him in the face [with the tea]."

After a brief scuffle with the first attacker, Ricci broke free and pulled his gun as the second suspect pulled his.

"At that point, I knew I was getting shot by the other guy and I couldn’t see who else was coming in. And this kid was also turning back around with a gun pointed back at me, and I just started firing and they both started firing," Ricci explained.

Ricci refrained from shooting the intruders as they fled, though they still fired bullets during their retreat.

"I know I didn’t do anything wrong, because I had two chances I could have shot both kids in the back. I chose not to do it. But in the video, it looks like ‘oh, they were running away.’ They weren’t running. They were firing back at me."

@crimebroadcast The heart-stopping moments were captured on his home surveillance camera. In the footage, Ricci can be seen getting out of his car as his gate closes behind him. Closely into the video, two men are seen hopping over the gate and trying to run up on him. Now, Ricci was returning home from the gym and had his ear pods in along with his coffee in his hand, and was completely unaware that intruders were following him this whole time. Seconds later, one of the men tries to attack Ricci at gunpoint. However, he quickly throws his coffee at one of the masked robbers who are covered in all black. The Hubble Studios owner who has his CCW permit and was armed, immediately drew his weapon and began firing at the armed guys. Although they attempted to flee, they still tried to harm Ricci by returning fire. His wife was on the other side of the door when they attempted to shoot at him again. Thankfully, Ricci or his wife did not get hurt. After the attack, the family filed a report with LAPD’s Olympic Division. #losangeles #news #robbery #concealedcarrying #surveillance #video #foryou #crime #tiktok ♬ ■ News News-Drone-IT-AI(963995) - ImoKenpi-Dou

"It saved our lives," Ricci said. "I’m a tough guy … but there’s only so much I could do against a gun. They would have pistol-whipped me, they would have pistol-whipped my wife. They would have come in the house and there’s nothing in my house."

Ricci has since called out California politicians in comments to Fox News Digital, saying that "every single person that I know has gotten stuck up."

Specifically, he named Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon and said that the government official has been "picking the wrong people to go after."

"This Gascon is screwing [the cops] so much that he's not gonna to take up the case either way," Ricci went on, adding that Gascon was "not gonna care" about his case even if the criminals were identified.

Repeated crimes in the area have Ricci thinking about moving back to the Bronx, New York, where he said it is safer.

"This is not normal. This isn't worth it. I'd rather just go back to living in an apartment building in the Bronx. This would never happen there."

"I came here for a better life. I don't want to run out of fear, but I'm not gonna stubbornly keep my family here if it’s not safe," the father added.

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'Highway f***ing robbery': NBA star Jimmy Butler shocked by astronomical gas prices in LA



Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler was in total disbelief after a workout in Los Angeles when he noticed how much he was paying at a California gas station.

While standing at the pump in sweats, Butler was recorded saying, "This is highway f**king robbery," as the number on the display kept going up. “Man, I’m trying to get some of this gas back. Do you think if I go in there and tell them I put the wrong gas in here they’ll give me a refund? This is crazy; I’m going electric!" the basketball player joked.

Once inside his luxury car, Butler rhetorically asked, “Can y’all believe it costs $145 to fill up a Bugatti?” as he drove away from the gas station.

Most relatable Jimmy Butler moment \ud83e\udd23
— Brady Hawk (@Brady Hawk) 1695765778

When even a man as wealthy as Butler is noticing that gas prices have skyrocketed, there might be a problem.

The 34-year-old from Houston, Texas, is likely used to lower prices in his home state, which averaged $3.38/gallon at the time of this publication, according to AAA. In Florida, where the player makes his money, the average price is $3.56, compared to a massive $5.89 average in California.

Butler is set to make $45 million for the 2023-24 NBA season, with that salary increasing to $52 million by 2025. His career earnings surpass $218 million and will total $364 million by the end of his current contract.

This is the cheapest #gas station in #LosAngeles - our #government is failing us. #feds are making it worse!
— NORTHHOLLYWOODCA (@NORTHHOLLYWOODCA) 1695139496

The Biden administration's attempt to swiftly usher out fossil fuels has not gone swimmingly, with roadblocks seemingly coming at every turn as reality hits manufacturers in the face.

An autoworkers' strike threatens production of American-made vehicles at the same time a Chinese state-run firm is set to receive more than $536 million in state incentives and tax breaks to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Illinois.

At the same time, Ford has halted work on a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan.

Even toy company Lego had to learn a harsh lesson about the world's need for oil. The company indicated in 2018 that it had set a target to swap the oil-based plastics it uses in the 110-120 billion pieces it produces every year for sustainable materials by 2030. The Danish company eventually admitted that not only would it need to change its entire production facilities to "go green," it would end up being worse for the environment.

"In order to scale production [of recycled PET], the level of disruption to the manufacturing environment was such that we needed to change everything in our factories. After all that, the carbon footprint would have been higher. It was disappointing," said Tim Brooks, Lego’s head of sustainability.

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VIDEO: Violent clashes erupt between Antifa and police during protests over naked transgender person at Wi Spa in LA: 'Antifa's gonna kill you!'



Los Angeles Police Department officers and Antifa militants engaged in violent clashes on Saturday during protests sparked by the incident where a biological man, who identified as a female, was reportedly naked at a California spa in front of women and young girls in late June. There were dueling demonstrations outside the Wi Spa in Los Angeles, which escalated when police attempted to separate a protest by Antifa and transgender activists from a counter-protest by religious demonstrators, conservatives, and feminist activists.

Independent journalist Brendan Gutenschwager covered the protests and the ensuing violence, and posted video of the confrontations, which became violent at times.

(Content Warning: Graphic video):

Protesters have arrived outside the Wi Spa in Los Angeles, calling for women-only spaces after an incident where a… https://t.co/K0ZTBok4I8

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) 1626547014.0

The demonstrations quickly escalated after Antifa members reportedly threw "several smoke bombs and water bottles" at the opposing protesters. LAPD officers immediately took action against Antifa, and are seen hitting the agitators with batons.

Police clash with Antifa counter-protesting at the Wi Spa, after several smoke bombs & water bottles were thrown at… https://t.co/d1eRLuS4a0

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) 1626547174.0


Antifa launch a smoke bomb at police, who bat it away as they separate opposing groups outside the Wi Spa in Los An… https://t.co/ut79SOpnQ1

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) 1626547775.0


Police push the crowd of counter-protesters away from the Wi Spa, giving orders to leave the area after declaring a… https://t.co/MSYUVBQ5KK

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) 1626550501.0


Yells of “Why are you arresting a medic?” as LAPD begin detaining people near the Wi Spa this afternoon… https://t.co/mDMkkaUiNA

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) 1626551557.0

An officer fired a non-lethal munition at a woman during the skirmish.

Earlier: LAPD shoot what appears to be a rubber bullet or other non-lethal munition, striking a woman a few feet in… https://t.co/lqsaHwkLJ1

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) 1626557410.0


Woman was just shot by a rubber bullet as she asked to please put down your guns— https://t.co/YkZUjW007l

— waterspider (@waterspider__) 1626545632.0

Investigative reporter Drew Hernandez shared a compilation video of protesters being verbally abusive toward police officers.

WI SPA LA: The SOY, LARPING and OVER THE TOP DRAMATIC THEATRICS were on overload today with ANTIFA and the SJW’s in… https://t.co/IMKUWIFXxo

— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) 1626575298.0

In a video shared on Twitter by Post Millennial editor-at-large Andy Ngo, a protester screams at cops, "Antifa's gonna kill you, b*tch!"

“Antifa’s gonna kill you, bitch.”An antifa member verbally threatens to kill at the violent protest in Los Angele… https://t.co/otTVSXUhgH

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) 1626567194.0

The LAPD released a statement saying that smoke bombs and other projectiles were thrown at its officers. The police department said "several dozen" people were arrested. The LAPD noted that knives, pepper spray, and a stungun were confiscated.

At a protest near Wilshire Bl & Rampart Bl, 2 groups clashed. Smoke bombs/projectiles were thrown at ofcrs & a disp… https://t.co/kgACG5AkZW

— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) 1626563292.0

One Antifa group was reportedly made a plea on social media to raise funds to bail out "comrades" who were in jail. The @SocalAntifa Twitter account also said the LAPD "have always and will always side with fascists."

Antifa are crowdfunding bail for their comrades arrested at the riot in Los Angeles yesterday. @Twitter, @CashApp,… https://t.co/ELVto0e48R

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) 1626589924.0

Pro-Antifa graffiti defaced buildings near the Wi Spa, including the Los Angeles Housing Authority.

Antifa tags on the LA Housing Authority and other buildings around the Wi Spa #LosAngeles #WiSpa https://t.co/G4c1m8kAZp

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) 1626559848.0


Ominous graffiti this morning on Wiltshire at the LA housing authority, a block east of WiSpa. https://t.co/1DinRifdcQ

— Jeremy Lee Quinn (@JLeeQuinn) 1626561845.0

VIDEO: Crowd swarms pickup during Hollywood protest after driver strikes protester. As things get crazy, pickup speeds off.



Thursday night protests in Hollywood, California, saw one demonstrator struck by a vehicle as they were reportedly blocking the road.

What are the details?

According to KABC-TV, demonstrators marched through Hollywood Thursday night in protest of police brutality and the recent indictment announcement in the Breonna Taylor case.

During one incident, a pickup was seen attempting to maneuver its way through a crowd of protesters on Sunset Boulevard.

The LAPD, in a statement posted to Twitter, addressed one of the many incidents, captioning it, "The LAPD is aware of an incident in Hollywood involving several vehicles and a large group of protesters. Here is the information we can verify at this time."

The statement said, "Just after 7:00 pm Thursday evening, a group of more than 300 protesters marched through Hollywood. While there were isolated reports of vandalism, the group was largely peaceful. The group eventually made its way onto Sunset Boulevard."

The LAPD said that a blue pickup truck that was traveling down Sunset Boulevard "became involved in an altercation" as it attempted to make its way through the crowd.

While attempting to get away from the protest, the driver reportedly struck a protester who was standing in the road. The protester was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for minor injuries.

"Shortly after 9:00 pm a blue pick-up truck traveling on Sunset maneuvered through the crowd and became involved in an altercation," the LAPD's statement continued. "As the driver attempted to get away from the situation, he struck a protester standing in the street. That individual was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries."

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The LAPD is are aware of an incident in Hollywood involving several vehicles and a large group of protestors. Here… https://t.co/nPBRokpxdk
— LAPD HQ (@LAPD HQ)1601015213.0

What else?

A video shared on social media shows the moments leading up to the driver of the blue pickup truck striking the protester, who has what appears to be a sign in their hands and can be seen sliding on their back across the ground.

After the truck struck the protester, the crowd began to swarm the pickup. As tension built, the pickup driver sped off.

People can be heard screaming and shouting "Oh my God" as the driver leaves the scene.

A social media user shared the clip on Twitter, captioning it, "Full Clip, Truck hits protestor [sic], protestors [sic] swarm vehicle to apprehend/stop driver, Driver flees scene, runs completely over the protestor [sic] he hit."

The LAPD in its statement did not confirm that the protester in question was "completely" run over as the driver left the scene, as reported on social media, or if the protester was in the direct path of the blue pickup truck as it drove away, striking them a second time.

(Content warning: Rough language):

GRAPHIC:Full Clip, Truck hits protestor, protestors swarm vehicle to apprehend/stop driver, Driver flees scene, r… https://t.co/LujR0CARDJ
— 🤸🏼‍♀️ (@🤸🏼‍♀️)1601008680.0
Another angle 4 those saying they swarmed 1st. Note when the truck comes into view, as he stops, the woman’s white… https://t.co/xGfYuNnVZ6
— 🤸🏼‍♀️ (@🤸🏼‍♀️)1601011540.0

A second social media video shows what appears to be the moment demonstrators attempt to wrest open the blue pickup truck's doors, which took place after the truck struck the protester and immediately before its driver fled the scene.

Content warning: rough language:

Rioters in Hollywood blocked and then tried to open the door of that black truck before he drove off. #LosAngeles https://t.co/KnAoDKakeS
— CIA-Simulation Warlord 🇺🇸😈🇺🇸 (@CIA-Simulation Warlord 🇺🇸😈🇺🇸)1601007468.0