Preparedness
Texas Self-Defense Claim Unravels: Homeowner Arrested in Murky Intruder Case
Douglas Watters, 56, found himself in hot water recently after the police were called to his home in Corpus Christi, Texas. Watters dialed 911 at approximately 7:51 a.m., claiming he had shot and killed a man who was attempting to break into his home, assisted by a female accomplice.
However, upon arriving at the scene, the Corpus Christi Police Department was met with details that didn’t quite add up. Watters openly expressed his frustration with the police for their delay in responding to his distress call. But the police, in their defense, claimed to have arrived only 13 minutes after the call was made.
Upon entering Watters’ home, the officers discovered the lifeless body of a 48-year-old man. From Watters’ account, he’d shot the man a mere seven minutes prior to making the 911 call. However, the state of the body disagreed with his narration.
A senior police officer brought attention to the fact that the body appeared “stiff and pale,” a state that indicated death had occurred hours prior to Watters’ 911 call.
This was subsequently confirmed by medics who arrived on the scene, asserting that the body had indeed been dead for several hours. The mystery deepened as police found a pump-action shotgun with an unspent shell and one spent shell at the scene. The medical examiner’s report revealed the deceased had been shot twice in the left torso underneath his armpit.
The following day, Watters was arrested on a murder charge and is currently being held on a $500,000 bond.
The condition of the home posed its own challenges to the investigation. It was reported as extremely cluttered, to the point where navigating around was difficult. Police also noted the house appeared to be abandoned and without electricity.
In a twist to the story, an individual interviewed by police claimed that while Watters was indeed the owner of the house, he did not reside there. Further information gathered by KIII-TV revealed that Watters owned several properties within the county.
The details of this case, including the booking photo of the accused and a video of the home, were made public via a news video on KIII’s YouTube channel.
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Preparedness
Dad’s Heroic Fight Saves Son from Mountain Lion Attack
A California family experienced a terrifying ordeal during their Labor Day picnic when their 5-year-old son was attacked by a mountain lion. The incident occurred just before 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Tapia Day Use Area of Malibu State Creek Park in Calabasas, as reported by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
The boy’s family and several other adults and children were enjoying their time when the mountain lion suddenly grabbed the child by the head and began to run.
“Somebody screamed the baby’s name, and his dad started running,” the boy’s aunt recounted.
“The father grabbed the mountain lion with his hands, and he just fought. Then the mountain lion let go.”
The dramatic rescue unfolded in front of about 40 onlookers, some of whom noted that the mountain lion appeared completely unafraid during the attack.
Male mountain lions can weigh up to 150 pounds and measure up to 8 feet in length, making the father’s actions even more heroic.
The boy was promptly airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. He was released later that Sunday but had to return to the hospital on Monday due to complications involving his eyes.
Upon arrival at the scene, California State Park rangers and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers found the mountain lion crouched in a tree near the picnic area.
The animal was deemed a threat to public safety and was euthanized by a ranger.
Wildlife officers collected evidence from the boy’s injuries, including DNA swabs from the bite marks, which were matched to the mountain lion.
“CDFW and State Park officials are thankful that the family is safe, and the child is recovering and no one else was injured,” the CDFW stated.
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Preparedness
Oakland Chao: Gunfire With No Police In Sight While Residents Fear For Safety
Just a month ago, five individuals were injured during a chaotic street takeover in Oakland. These unruly events, commonly referred to as “sideshows,” involve drivers blocking intersections and performing dangerous stunts like peeling out and burning rubber, all while large crowds gather to watch and record the spectacle.
Early Saturday morning, Oakland experienced yet another street takeover. This one lasted an hour and included participants firing guns into the air, all of which was captured on video. Shocked residents complained about the absence of police, as reported by KTVU-TV.
“We know that we don’t have enough police officers. … We can’t afford it.”
A video report shows what appears to be cellphone footage of individuals discharging firearms during the sideshow. Residents expressed their fear that stray bullets might cause serious injuries or worse.
“I just heard gunshots, like gunshots coming from all directions, people trying to hide. They just fire up in the air, and you don’t know where it’s going to land,” a neighbor who requested anonymity told the station.
This resident was among several who mentioned that such sideshows near 98th Avenue and Empire Boulevard have become routine occurrences.
“Like a whole hour. No police. I didn’t hear no sirens at all. … Some people were on top of that house’s roof. There were fireworks included. There were blue lasers, green lasers,” another neighbor revealed to the station.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Police Chief Floyd Mitchell have made appearances at recent town halls, promising to take more action against these sideshows. Potential solutions discussed include using new technologies like drones and cameras, as well as enlisting the help of the California Highway Patrol.
“We know that we don’t have enough police officers,” the mayor said at one town hall, according to KTVU. “We can’t afford it, but that doesn’t mean that we use that as an excuse or reason not to be sure that people feel safe.”
Chief Mitchell noted that police are “working hard to try to curb this activity. We have a sideshow detail that goes out every Friday and Saturday,” the station reported.
Mitchell also mentioned that redesigned intersections could potentially help, but KTVU reported that residents near Saturday’s sideshow are still waiting for city leaders to fulfill their promises.
“I’ve been here my whole life, and it has changed, it has changed so much, and it’s frustrating because it seems like they don’t care,” a neighbor told the station.
KTVU said it reached out to both the police and the mayor’s office for comments on the residents’ concerns about local crime, but the station did not receive a response in time for its report.
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Preparedness
Chicago Mom Defends Daughter from Intruder with Concealed-Carry Firearm
A mother from Chicago, who holds a concealed-carry license, found herself in a harrowing situation over the weekend when she had to use her firearm to protect her daughter.
The incident occurred at the family’s South Shore apartment late Saturday night. The mother, who requested anonymity, shared her experience with WLS-TV.
“That motherly instincts kick in, so as soon as something happens, it’s like fight or flight,” she explained.
Her 18-year-old daughter had just finished bathing and returned to her bedroom shortly before 11 p.m. when she noticed a man attempting to climb through her window.
“So, I put the towel on, and I run out my room, and I ran right there. I’m like, ‘Yo, somebody’s trying to come through my window.’ So, my mom immediately acted on it,” the daughter recounted to the station.
The mother, a long-time concealed-carry license holder, had never fired her gun until that night.
“He was, like, hanging on her window. I just told him that ‘I have a gun. I’m going to shoot.’ And he just didn’t stop. I fired a warning shot. I didn’t even know that he got hit,” she told WLS.
The police later discovered the 36-year-old suspect on East 69th Street near Oglesby, with a gunshot wound to his leg. He was taken to a hospital and was reported to be in fair condition. Charges against him were pending as of Sunday night.
Both the mother and daughter had some stern words for the intruder.
“Next time you think about coming through somebody’s window, you just remember how that bullet felt,” the daughter warned.
Her mother echoed this sentiment, advising, “Try not to be out here committing crimes, especially trying to come into somebody’s house, because you never know what’s on the other side of that window.”
In the aftermath of the incident, the police confiscated the mother’s firearm.
This event highlights the importance of preparedness and the potential consequences of criminal actions, especially when intruding into someone’s home.
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
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Don
August 7, 2024 at 12:34 pm
The man is innocent until proven guilty by law. So either prove it or shut up.
DAVE CHOQUETTE
August 7, 2024 at 3:00 pm
The second amendment Codifies the God-given right of self-defense to every person. The authorities are obligated to secure the scene and the assailant if the evidence warrants it. In too many areas, the authorities go against the second amendment and the individual’s rights like the Army sergeant in Houston right, not far away, that was arrested and tried for murder when he obviously shot in self-defense when a man pointed an AK-47 at him during a riot, that he got stuck in without knowing what he was getting into.