Chainsaw-wielding fugitive walks toward deputy, who orders him to put it down. Instead, fugitive grabs shotgun, points it at deputy — who then opens fire on suspect.



An Indiana sheriff's deputy shot a fugitive last week who authorities said raised a shotgun at the deputy who was attempting to serve warrants to him.

What are the details?

Three fully uniformed Harrison County sheriff's deputies in marked patrol vehicles traveled Friday to a residence on North Tobacco Landing Road in Laconia to serve active felony warrants out of Kentucky and Indiana to 28-year-old Michael W. Kerns, authorities said.

The deputies arrived at the location around 11:40 a.m. and went to a detached garage in the rear of the residence — and that's where Kerns' white pickup truck was seen in front of the garage.

Deputy Sean O’Sullivan saw Kerns inside the garage — and after the deputy made contact with the fugitive, Kerns began approaching O'Sullivan while holding a chainsaw.

O'Sullivan ordered Kerns to put the chainsaw down and come outside, but Kerns wouldn't comply and instead walked toward a room in the garage.

With that, the deputy entered the garage and continued to order Kerns to come outside, but Kerns walked into the room in question and grabbed a shotgun.

O'Sullivan ordered Kerns to put the shotgun down, retreated out of the garage, told his fellow deputies that Kerns was armed, and took cover behind Kerns' pickup truck.

Kerns then ran out of the garage and raised the shotgun toward the deputy, who responded by firing three 9mm rounds at Kerns, striking him once in the right shoulder, authorities said.

Kerns was immediately taken into custody, and the shotgun was secured. No deputies were hurt, WAVE-TV reported.

What happened next?

Kerns was taken to a hospital, after which the sheriff's department asked detectives and crime scene investigators from the Indiana State Police to process the scene and investigate the shooting. All body camera and in-car videos were given to the state police, and O'Sullivan was placed on paid administrated leave amid the investigation.

Kerns was charged with possession of over 10 grams of methamphetamine with a firearm, intimidation, criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement, and pointing a firearm — all felonies, Harrison County Sheriff Nick Smith told TheBlaze on Wednesday. Smith added to TheBlaze that Kerns is behind bars.

(H/T: The Police Tribune)

Man shot in leg after fighting off would-be robbers in mall parking lot grabs his own gun from car, apparently shoots one suspect in stomach



A man who was shot in the leg after fighting off would-be robbers in a Florida mall parking lot Monday afternoon managed to grab his own gun from his vehicle and apparently shot one suspect in the stomach.

What are the details?

The Hillsborough County sheriff's office said deputies responded to Westfield Brandon Mall around 2:15 p.m. after getting several calls about shots fired.

Upon arrival, deputies found a man outside the east side of Dillard's with a gunshot wound to one of his legs; he was taken to Tampa General Hospital in stable condition.

Preliminary information indicates the shooting victim parked his vehicle outside Dillard's and entered the mall to visit a jewelry store.

After leaving the mall, the victim made his way to his car, and two suspects approached him. One suspect pointed a gun at the victim, while the second suspect tried to take a gold chain valued at tens of thousands of dollars from the victim.

A fight ensued, and the victim was able to hold on to his chain — but as the suspects took off running, one shot at the victim, striking him in the leg.

The victim was able to get a gun from his vehicle, and he shot at the fleeing suspects.

What happened next?

Later in the afternoon, a male was dropped off at Advent Health at 3100 E. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa with a gunshot wound to the stomach. The male is believed to be one of the suspects in the mall shooting, the sheriff's office said.

The Advent Health facility is just over 20 minutes northwest of the mall.

The victim in the would-be robbery was taken to Tampa General Hospital in stable condition, the sheriff's office said.

'Deplorable'

Sheriff Chad Chronister afterward remarked that "the violence seen this afternoon in such a public place is deplorable. We believe this to be a targeted attack with the intent of robbing the victim and are grateful no one else was hurt in the area."

The mall was never placed on lockdown, the sheriff's office said, and it was not an active shooter situation. Detectives are working to determine whether the victim and the suspects know each other, the sheriff's office added.

Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of the second suspect can call the sheriff's office at 813-247-8200.

'He's got a gun! Shoot him! Shoot him!': Suspect grabs gun in struggle with 3 sheriff's deputies before one of them shoots him in the head



A suspect grabbed his gun during a struggle with multiple sheriff's deputies in a southern California Walmart before one of the officers shot the suspect in the head, according to Orange County Sheriff's Department body camera video released Tuesday.

What are the details?

Ernest Aguilar, 30 of Santa Ana, survived the Jan. 19 shooting and was recovering in jail, Sgt. Todd Hylton told the Orange County Register, adding there were no other injuries.

Aguilar has been charged with multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer and other felonies following the incident in Foothill Ranch, which is part of Lake Forest, the paper said.

Aguilar was one of three people trying to use a fake receipt to either exit the Walmart with high-end electronics or fraudulently return the merchandise for cash, sheriff’s officials said, according to the Register.

Responding deputies approached Aguilar and a woman he was with as they stood in a checkout line with large items, the paper said.

Deputies told Aguilar they wouldn't arrest him or the woman; instead, he said they were to be detained and were to exit with the deputies who would then get their information for a trespassing report and that the pair would then be banned from re-entering the store.

As deputies escorted Aguilar out, one of them began to chastise the suspect: "You're like 40 years old, and you're still stealing, dude? Get a job. Let's go."

Image source: Orange County Sheriff's Department

When another deputy noticed Aguilar had a knife hanging off his jeans, the deputy talking to Aguilar got angry when the suspect appeared to reach for his knife: "Get your f***ing hand off the knife! Get the f*** out of the store!" Audio seemed to indicate the deputy pulled the knife from its sheath.

"How stupid are you?" another deputy asked Aguilar.

With that, the first deputy pulled Aguilar's wrists backward and attempted to restrain him, but it took three deputies to get the suspect on the floor; a civilian also ran over to help.

Image source: Orange County Sheriff's Department

Image source: Orange County Sheriff's Department

Image source: Orange County Sheriff's Department

'He’s got a gun! He’s got a gun! Shoot him! Shoot him!'

While Aguilar was trying to free himself from the deputies, video shows him reaching to his right pant leg and grabbing a gun.

"He’s got a gun! He’s got a gun! Shoot him! Shoot him!" one deputy hollers.

Image source: Orange County Sheriff's Department

One deputy restrained Aguilar's hand that was gripping the gun, and another deputy shot Aguilar.

Image source: Orange County Sheriff's Department

Anything else?

Aguilar remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of bail exceeding $2.2 million, the Register said, citing inmate records. He's been charged with three counts of assault on a peace officer using a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a gun missing a serial number, and two counts of identity theft, the paper added.

In 2017, he pleaded guilty to counterfeiting and driving with a suspended license, the Register also said, citing court records, adding that Aguilar was a defendant in eight additional open felony cases involving allegations of robbery, burglary, assault, criminal threats, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and other offenses.

The paper said the public defender assigned to represent Aguilar did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The woman with Aguilar and another man who was waiting outside the store for them fled the area in a minivan, authorities told the Register, adding that they soon were detained about 20 miles away in Midway City. It was not immediately clear if they also will face charges in connection with the Walmart incident, the paper said.