CA: Teens' gun death rate vindicates gun restrictions (NOT): "A troubling rise in the rate of teen gun deaths and a spike in the number of babies killed by their parents are among the key findings of the yearly review of all child deaths in Sacramento County. The findings by the Child Death Review Team are to be released today in a report to the county Board of Supervisors. The 16th annual report is a study of deaths that occurred in 2005 of those 18 and younger. There were 167 teens, children and infants who died that year. Of particular concern to team members is the sharp rise in the number of teenagers killed by firearms in homicides and suicides in 2005. In 2004, the rate of teen deaths, ages 13 to 17, from guns was 10 percent. In 2005, the rate quadrupled. Among 13- to 17-year-olds who died, 39 percent were killed by guns: six by homicide and five by suicide. Murder and suicide -- by guns and other means -- accounted for 57 percent of teen deaths in Sacramento County, the report said.


NC Homeowner Charged With Murder: "Statesville police say a deadly shooting that they originally thought happened during a home invasion actually happened after a social gathering. That shooting on Wilson Lee Boulevard killed 17-year-old Shannon Lackey, a [black] junior at Statesville High School, late Monday. Police said the homeowner, 39-year-old Kevin Turner, told them Lackey broke into his house and he was defending himself. Officers found Lackey dead of a gunshot wound to his stomach in the living room of the man's home shortly before 8 p.m. But officers now say new information leads them to believe Lackey was not shot in self-defense, and they have charged Turner with murder and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. Another person was shot in the leg and was treated and released from a local hospital. About 20 people were present during the fray, and police are still searching for a motive. They are trying to get in contact with people who were at the party in order to interview them." [The above story is from January. A grand jury has now cleared the homeowner]


Arkansas robber chooses tough victim: "A Craighead County man got more than he bargained for early Friday morning after apparently choosing the wrong resident to rob. The early-morning alleged attempted robbery ended in a shoot-out, though no one was injured, police said. Walter D. Hatton, 22, 820 West Huntington Ave., Jonesboro, was arrested around 4 a.m. Friday after he allegedly forced his way inside a Jonesboro home and fired a shot at the 64-year-old man inside. Detective Chad Hogard wrote in his probable cause affidavit that officers were dispatched to 211 Maple St. around 3:45 a.m. He wrote that patrol officers "had picked Dale Hatton up just down the street with blood coming from his head. The victim was in bed and heard someone trying to kick in his front door." The victim, Ray Horton, told police the suspect entered his home and fired a 9mm bullet at him during a struggle and missed. But Horton had a weapon of his own -- a shotgun. "During the struggle the victim struck Hatton in the head with the barrel of a shotgun," Hogard wrote. "The two then wrestled onto the bed leaving blood evidence on the bed sheets." Horton then attempted to shoot Hatton, but the suspect managed to grab the barrel of the shotgun, forcing it toward the ceiling where the blast struck. "Hatton then grabbed the shotgun away from the victim and ran out the door," Hogard added. "Both guns were recovered." The shotgun was recovered in a tree line near Parker Park and the 9mm on a lawn across the street from the park.