Defensive Gun Use weekly roundup
Eight recent DGUs from the last few weeks, along with an acquittal in a DGU from 2024.
We were out last week, so this is two weeks of new stories.
The usual caveats apply: We don’t pretend that this represents every newsroom that covered any given story, and everyone is innocent until proved guilty.
Alabama
Tuscaloosa
On Sunday evening, July 12, something went wrong at a Circle K — wrong enough that someone ended up shot in the parking lot around 5:40 PM.
Officers arrived to find the man down with critical injuries. Notably, everyone else involved stayed put and talked to police.
The Violent Crimes Unit took over, interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage. The witness accounts and video told the same story: The shooting appears to have been self-defense during a possible robbery attempt.
The wounded man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, and for now no charges have been filed and the investigation is continuing.
Investigation underway after 1 shot in Tuscaloosa Sunday (WBRC)
Shooting at Tuscaloosa gas station may have been self-defense during robbery attempt (WVTM 13)
One person critically injured in possible self-defense shooting in Tuscaloosa (ABC 3340)
Shooting at Tuscaloosa Circle K under investigation (CBS 42)
Investigation underway after shooting at Tuscaloosa gas station (Tuscaloosa News)
Preliminary investigation suggests self-defense is cause of Sunday shooting in Tuscaloosa (WVUA 23)
California
Cerritos
Around 2:15 PM on July 19, a man ran into Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que — he was already wounded and armed with a knife, and he reportedly ran through the kitchen and service areas, scaring customers and staff.
One customer, who held a valid concealed carry permit, confronted him and ordered the man to drop the knife. An employee described the scene: “He pointed a gun at him, told him to put the knife down, the guy kept walking toward him like Michael Myers.” The man with the knife charged the customer, and the customer fired at him.
Deputies arrived to find the man dead from a gunshot wound and lacerations, including self-inflicted knife wounds that investigators say happened nearby at a Starbucks, close to where he had abandoned a stolen truck. The customer stayed and cooperated fully.
Man With Knife Fatally Shot After Charging Armed Customer at Cerritos Restaurant (Los Cerritos Community News)
Man with knife shot and killed at barbecue restaurant in Cerritos, LASD says (NBC Los Angeles)
‘Lawfully armed’ diner shoots attacker at busy SoCal restaurant: Police (The Desert Sun, paywalled)
Illinois
Chicago
Just before 11 PM on Friday, July 17, an argument inside a Chicago home turned violent. Marcus Young, 38, produced a sharp object and stabbed a 22-year-old woman in the stomach, then dragged her out of the home.
A woman who was inside the house witnessed the attack, drew a gun, and shot Young in the chest.
The stabbing victim was taken to the hospital in good condition. Young was taken to the same hospital and pronounced dead. The gun was recovered and the shooter was taken into custody, with “charges pending as of Saturday afternoon,” but no indication what those charges may be.
Man shot and killed after stabbing woman during fight at Englewood home: Police — NBC Chicago
Person arrested for fatally shooting man who stabbed woman in Englewood — Chicago Sun-Times
Man killed after allegedly stabbing woman in Englewood near Marquette and Stewart, police say — ABC7 Chicago
Man fatally shot after stabbing woman during argument on the South Side — WGN-TV
Man shot to death after stabbing woman on South Side, police say — FOX 32 Chicago
