Grandmother shoots intruder in north Arlington

[Paladin]

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/13121933.htm

"Posted on Wed, Nov. 09, 2005

Grandmother shoots intruder in north Arlington

By BILL MILLER and NATHANIEL JONES

Star-Telegram Staff Writers


A 66-year-old grandmother shot an intruder in her north Arlington home early Wednesday as he grabbed for her gun, she told police.
Susan Gaylord Buxton said the training she received to earn her concealed-handgun permit saved her life.

"If I didn't have a gun to protect myself, I probably wouldn't be here," she said.

The man, identified as Christopher Lessner, 22, was under police guard Wednesday at Harris Methodist Fort Worth, where he was being treated for a leg wound, said Christy Gilfour, Arlington police spokeswoman.

Buxton said she used a .38-caliber revolver. Gilfour confirmed that the woman has a gun permit.

Lessner was shot sometime after 12:30 a.m. He had initially fled from officers at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday during a traffic stop on Interstate 30 at Fielder Road, Gilfour said.

Buxton told officers that she was letting her dog out about 12:30 a.m. when she noticed a muddy footprint on her back porch.

Buxton told police that she usually carried her gun because she was afraid of coyotes attacking her dogs.

She said her 28-year-old granddaughter, who was in the house, heard glass breaking. Buxton also noticed that her cats were out of their room and that items in another room had been moved, police said.

When she yanked open the door of her front closet and pulled a coat away, she saw the face of a man, who motioned for her to be quiet, the woman said.

He then "jumped out of there like a jack-in-a-box,'' she said.

She told him to get on the floor or she'd shoot. He fumbled with the front door with one hand and reached for the gun with the other, Buxton said.

She then fired her revolver, which was loaded with hollow-point bullets, she said.

Buxton said she could have killed the man because her concealed-carry instructors taught her to aim for the torso. But she said she aimed for his leg. He was hit in the upper leg, police said.

"He said, 'Ow, you shot me!''' Buxton said.

Police said the woman fired another shot but missed.

Gilfour said officers searching for the suspect heard a gunshot, and dispatchers soon directed them to a 911 caller on Northaven Court, a cul-de-sac southwest of I-30 and Fielder.

"We found him a couple houses to the east, lying on a balcony,'' Gilfour said.

The black Chevrolet pickup Lessner was driving was reported stolen out of Euless, Gilfour said. She did not know his address.

During the traffic stop, Gilfour said, officers tried to pull the truck over for speeding, but it turned north onto Fielder and into a neighborhood north of the interstate.

Officers said Lessner leaped from the moving truck on Parkcrest Terrace, which is just east of Randol Mill Park.

"The suspect climbed an eight-foot fence, jumped over a chain-link fence and ran into a heavily wooded area,'' Gilfour said.

Officers combed the neighborhood for about one hour and 15 minutes, street by street, with a Fort Worth police helicopter overhead and search dogs. At some point the man crossed to the south side of the interstate.

Gilfour said Lessner faces charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest, criminal mischief and criminal trespass.

She said police "do not anticipate" filing charges against Buxton"

[anygunanywhere]

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/13121933.htm
She said police "do not anticipate" filing charges against Buxton"

That anyone would even ask the question amazes me. :x

[dws1117]

"He said, 'Ow, you shot me!''' Buxton said.

Duh! Good for her. Score another for the good guys and gals.

So much for the argument that your gun will be taken from you and used against you.

While it's terrific that she has a CHL, she was in her own home. Why is it even relevent to the story that she possess a CHL?

[KBCraig]

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/13121933.htm

Buxton said she used a .38-caliber revolver. Gilfour confirmed that the woman has a gun permit.

Aaargh! No she doesn't, and a "permit"/license has no bearing in this story. She was in her own home!

Buxton said she could have killed the man because her concealed-carry instructors taught her to aim for the torso. But she said she aimed for his leg.

Aaaaaaaaargh! Why don't CHL classes include at least an hour of "learn to remain quiet lessons"?

I guess she hasn't read Ayoob much...

Kevin

[Charles L. Cotton]

He then "jumped out of there like a jack-in-a-box,'' she said.

I bet he did!!

[HighVelocity]

This happened one frwy exit away from me. The sewage in Arlington is backing up into Fort Worth. :x

[KinnyLee]

"He said, 'Ow, you shot me!''' Buxton said.

Duh!

LMAO! I was thinking of the same thing. What does he expect her to do? Invite him in for coffee?

[gigag04]

IF I am ever in a SD shooting during a home invastion - after I am cleared I am going to make it CRYSTAL clear to the media that I did not have any kind of permit to own a gun.



Also - could it maybe have been better to gather your loved ones and exit the house? Or is clearing it yourself smart?

I understand the "its my house" mentality for sure, and I tend to lean that way, but for conversation's sake is not the best gun fight the one you don't get into?

[KinnyLee]

IF I am ever in a SD shooting during a home invastion - after I am cleared I am going to make it CRYSTAL clear to the media that I did not have any kind of permit to own a gun.



Also - could it maybe have been better to gather your loved ones and exit the house? Or is clearing it yourself smart?

I understand the "its my house" mentality for sure, and I tend to lean that way, but for conversation's sake is not the best gun fight the one you don't get into?

Gather your family to a safe location is my first choice, but since my room is away from others, I may not have a choice but clear the house by myself while my family lock themselves in their room.

[Paladin]

Also - could it maybe have been better to gather your loved ones and exit the house? Or is clearing it yourself smart?

I understand the "its my house" mentality for sure, and I tend to lean that way, but for conversation's sake is not the best gun fight the one you don't get into?

The usual advice is to gather loved ones in a safe room and wait till BG moves into the room (BANG BANG BANG) or help arrives. Not a bad plan.

I'm a believer in keeping the house locked up tight, spotting criminals before they make their entry, and waiting for them as they do.

Things go best if you have early warning (alarm, motion alert, barking dogs). Waking up to a gun in your face is not good.

[ghentry]

IF I am ever in a SD shooting during a home invastion - after I am cleared I am going to make it CRYSTAL clear to the media that I did not have any kind of permit to own a gun.

[mschadt]

Here's a video interview with the "Grandma" and 911 recordings.

[Milorider]

Thanks for the video! I did'nt get a chance to hear the 911 call until now.

[KBCraig]

Okay, why is the 911 operator telling her to stop shooting? The operator has no idea is the shooting is warranted, or what the immediate circumstances are.

She's also lucky this is Texas. She shot him through the front door as the guy is trying to leave. An anti-gun prosecutor's wet dream.

Kevin

[stevie_d_64]

Now this is what I call reporting...

"Oww, you shot me?"!!!

Good for her...I may adopt her as my new grandmother!!!