Wednesday, October 28, 2009



CO: Sushi bar owner claims self-defense in fatal shooting: "A businessman facing murder charges stemming from a shooting in his restaurant on the 16th Street Mall told investigators he shot the victim in self-defense after being choked. … Yang, who goes by the first name of ‘Dave,’ told investigators that he kicked an ‘intoxicated’ man out of the sushi bar on Friday, Oct. 16 and that the man came back on Wednesday with two others, looking for him and making threats of reprisals, according to the affidavit. On Thursday, Yang received a threatening call on his cell phone voice mail, he told investigators, from a man who said ‘people would be coming to the restaurant to kill him.’ A short time later on Thursday, two men entered the restaurant, including the intoxicated man who had been kicked out the week before, the affidavit related. One man grabbed Yang from behind and the other started choking him, Yang told investigators. ‘He felt as if they would kill him, and he got his gun out of his pocket and shot the male choking him,’ the affidavit said. The other man fled.”


SC man cleared of killing deputy: "Thomas Grover Rye, who killed a man in a 2004 incident that followed repeated shootings of Rye's pet cats on his Lower Richland property, has been found not guilty of murder. Odam was a Beaufort County deputy when he visited Rye's neighborhood and - carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle - went onto Rye's property in Eastover on Aug. 14, 2004. The property was fenced and posted with No Trespassing signs, according to testimony. An altercation developed, and Rye, who was carrying a .30 caliber rifle, shot and killed Odam. Rye claimed self-defense and defense of his house and property. The Supreme Court called events surrounding the case "disturbing and bizarre." In 2004, in the two months prior to Odam's shooting, someone had gone onto Rye's property and shot to death 13 cats and wounded several others, testimony at the trial indicated. A structure on the property also had been broken into and some $600 worth of tools taken. Rye, who had owned the property 30 years, kept cats he rescued there. He visited the property almost every day and lived elsewhere. On the fatal day, Rye had found more dead cats on his property and called 911. Then, hearing gunshots, he grabbed his rifle and ran to where the shots were fired, according to testimony. His intent was to hold the shooter until the deputy arrived. On encountering Odam at the rear of his property, Rye said, "Put down your gun." Evidence at the trial indicated Odam refused, saying "I'm not doing anything wrong - you go ahead and put down your gun." Rye immediately fired and killed Odam. Rye testified he shot Odam because Odam was pointing his gun at him and he feared for his life." Odam had been a Beaufort County deputy for about two years at the time of his death"


NV: Shooting death of both homeowner and intruder: "Reno police are continuing to investigate the shooting death of a 73-year-old homeowner who is believed to have fatally shot one intruder, and wounded another last week. Clarence “Johnny” Johnson was killed the morning of Oct. 21 after Donald Edward Gray and Dennis VanFleet, both unemployed 29-year-olds, walked through the back unlocked door of Johnson’s Winston Drive home. VanFleet is still recovering at a Reno hospital after he was believed to have been shot in the leg by Johnson. Police said he denies involvement, and claims he came into the house to help Gray after hearing gun shots fired. Lt. Mike Whan said that Johnson was known to carry a gun in his pocket and confronted the intruders. The men, who were known to Johnson, had tried to disguise themselves. Johnson’s wife recognized the men, and an altercation ensued. At least one of the men was armed. Police said Johnson was fatally shot in his home, while Gray died a short time later of a gunshot wound to his leg after he fled with VanFleet in Johnson’s Toyota Tacoma. Officers found some of Johnson’s property in his truck. Whan said detectives suspect the men intended to burglarize Johnson."


Gun registration an expensive failure: "While U.S. gun control advocates push the Obama administration to enact more stringent gun control measures and want to use the California ammunition registry as a blueprint for getting all guns registered, Canadian officials are having a tough time justifying their registry and may move away from it. ‘It was a stupid idea in the first place and a ridiculous waste of money on an ongoing basis,’ said Canadian Taxpayers Federation director Kevin Gaudet of the 14-year registry scheme which reportedly costs hundreds of millions of dollars a year to maintain.”

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