Preparedness
Vietnam Vet’s Sharp Defense against Knife-Wielding Intruder Unfolds
An elderly amputee and Vietnam War veteran, Danny Ricketts, recounted the harrowing experience of waking up to a knife-wielding intruder attempting to break into his bedroom in his Albuquerque, New Mexico home. Speaking to KOB-TV, Ricketts shared his quick response to the threat, which involved a gun and a stern warning.
According to Ricketts, the troubling incident unfolded early in the morning when he noticed a knife wiggling under his window, indicating an intruder’s attempt to break in. He stated, “I could see it was a knife sticking under the window, sort of wiggling back and forth, and the window was coming up.”
Given his physical condition, Ricketts, who uses a wheelchair and suffers from PTSD, keeps a firearm within reach for self-defense. He shared his immediate reaction, “I keep a pistol on my nightstand under a hat. I reached and got it and I said, I still don’t know quite what I said, ‘What the f*** you doing, get the hell away from here’ something like that.”
Ricketts fired a single shot causing the suspect to flee, and his first glance at the scene led him to believe his shot had missed. He said, “I looked at the window, and I didn’t see any blood, and I didn’t see any bodies. So I thought I missed initially, and I was kind of grateful at that.”
Albuquerque police, however, found the intruder mortally wounded in the street, as revealed by surveillance footage from a neighboring camera. The suspect was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Albuquerque Police Spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos stated that initial findings suggest Ricketts had acted in self-defense. Gallegos stated, “Sounds like this gentleman the other day he called police, he secured his firearm, I believe, he told them exactly what happened,” He cautioned citizens against pursuing suspects even in threatening situations, noting the legal implications, “You can protect yourself if there’s a fear of harm or protect somebody else. You can’t protect your property by using deadly force.”
The case remains under investigation and the final decision on whether Ricketts will face charges lies with the district attorney’s office.
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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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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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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 15, 2024 at 12:07 pm
Isn’t that nice that he is not being charged as of yet. If they find a MAGA hat in his position things will change.
Daniel Quigley
August 15, 2024 at 2:01 pm
Not just Veteran’s. Every single American has the Right to Defend themselves against Harm. The second someone brings any kind or type weapon along that’s when the use of Deadly Force should immediately be used. As for the Gun Grabbers their immediate response is always but there needs to be more training and stricter laws. News Flash you Mental Midgets a Criminal doesn’t care about Laws and the harder you make it for the Law Abiding Citizen to possess or carry a firearm the easier time the Criminal has. Case in point. Back quite a few years ago a man named Bernard Getz was minding his own business on the subway. Just after they pulled away from the station 12 kids started to taunt him with crowbars and sharpened screwdrivers. They told him they were going to rob him and cut him as well as beat him. So good Ole Bernie pulled his gun and started shooting them. He killed 2 or 3 and maimed a few others plus hitting several other’s with bullets but not causing severe injuries. Well Ole Bernie fled and for over 20 days the NYC Subway System was virtually crime free because the Criminal didn’t know who else might be packing heat. Bernie finally turned himself in somewhere in Connecticut and within 1 hour Crime was back in the Subway System. Statistics Prove that everyone a Law Abiding Citizen can easily obtain a CCL or Concealed Carry License the crime rate is way less than half of the areas where its pretty much impossible to get a CCL. We all know the Blue run Cities are the worst for crime and the reason is because the Liberal Democrat doesn’t believe anyone should carry a Gun except the police who they are trying to get rid of. I’m a Disabled Veteran and my Gun is never further then 1 foot away from wherever I happen to be sitting or laying down
MEP
August 15, 2024 at 5:16 pm
ALL Citizens Have The Right to Protect Themselves when confronted by a Criminal Breaking the Law and Threatening Society what’s Wrong with our Country under the Current Regime is they themselves have No Respect for Law and Order with All the Illegals coming into our Country bringing with Them the LAWLESS of where they came from with them AMERICANS Need to be READY to PROTECT themselves when the Woke will NOT lets Elect Conservative Politicians Judges Prosecutors who Respect Law and Order and rid Our Country of the Crap we See and hear about EVERY Single Day
Cosmo Aussie
August 15, 2024 at 5:17 pm
i AM IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS MAN SINCE HE WAS DISABLED, HOWEVER HE SHOULD HAVE LET THE GUY CRAWL THROUGH THE WINDOW BEFORE HE SHOT, TO BE ON THE INSIDE FO THE HOUSE WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.