First, a brief word about criteria. The FBI considers any incident where four or more people are shot to be a "mass shooting". In many cases where a citizen stops an active shooter, they do so before four people are shot. In a classic catch-22, it can be clear that the shooter intended to shoot many more people, but the FBI won't count it because the intervention was successful. Additionally, many shootings that meet this criteria and domestic or gang related and do not present a threat to the general public. Finally, most public mass shootings take place where even licensed individuals are not permitted to carry firearms.
So, the each of the following media reports documents an incident where:
1) The active shooter shot, or likely intended to shoot, more than four people.
2) A legally armed citizen confronted the attacker.
3) Other than the active shooter, no additional persons were shot after the lawfully armed citizen intervened.
Man Admits Guilt In Deadly Shooting Rampage
Note: Although only two people were shot, police are universally of the opinion that "many more would have died" if not for the permit holder's actions.
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania - 26 year old William Allabaugh pleaded guilty to Third Degree Murder and Attempted Murder charges in the 2012 shooting rampage at a Plymouth bar. Allabaugh admits he shot Stephen Holloman in the head inside the bar and shot and killed 39 year old Scott Luzetsky outside the bar on the night of September 9, 2012. Allabaugh was told to leave Bonnies Food and Spirits after customers complained he was carrying a gun. Allabaugh shot and wounded Holloman and then shot Luzetsky. Prosecutors believe he wold have shot more people if he himself had mnot been shot by another customer Mark Kytor who was hiding behind a car on Main Street. Kytor and the bar's manager said Allabaugh was walking toward them with a gun when Kytor opend fire hitting Allabaugh. Assistant District Attorney Jarrett Ferentino said, "We have no doubt based on the video footage and other evidence that this could have been much much worse that night." Denise Johnson, Hollomans mother, lashed out at Allabaugh in court calling him a coward. She told Eyewitness News, "I wanted him to know how much he hurt our two families." Allabaugh had nothing to say when questioned by this reporter on the way out of the courthouse. He will spend 25 to 50 years in prison.
Armed Churchgoers Subdue Gunman
Two siblings have been charged after one of them kicked open the side door at a Boiling Springs church and pointed a shotgun at the pastor and congregation.
Church members, including Aaron Guyton, a concealed weapons permit holder, acted quickly.
Aaron Guyton held Gates at gunpoint, as church members Jesse Smith and Leland Powers held him on the floor and waited for deputies to arrive. The Rev. Guyton said he stepped onto a chair, climbed down a 3-foot bannister surrounding the pulpit and took the shotgun from Jesse Gates.
No Charges For Chicago Uber Driver Who Shot Gunman
An Uber driver put his concealed carry permit to use Friday night when he pulled a gun and opened fire on a man he saw firing a pistol into a group of people on a Logan Square sidewalk, according to prosecutors.
Six blasts from his gun injured a 22-year-old man identified as Everardo Custodio.
Custodio suffered wounds to his shin, knee and lower back and was still in Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center on Sunday, when Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas refused to grant bail on charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and illegal possession of a firearm.
The 47-year-old Uber driver “was acting in self-defense and in the defense of others,” Assistant State’s Attorney Barry Quinn said.
Custodio, who lives about a block from the site of the shooting, was the only person injured in the confrontation that happened about 11:50 p.m. in the 2900 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
The Uber driver had dropped off a passenger minutes before the shooting occurred, said Uber spokeswoman Jen Mullin. She had no comment on the driver’s actions other than to say the company requires all its drivers to abide by local, state and federal laws pertaining to transporting firearms in vehicles.
Doctor 'Saved Lives' By Shooting Hospital Gunman
Jul 25, 2014 - Pennsylvania patient who allegedly killed caseworker, shot doctor had 39 more bullets, intended mass shooting: DA
The Pennsylvania patient accused of killing his caseworker in a psychiatric center shooting carried dozens of bullets — and he would have likely continued shooting if a doctor didn’t fire back, officials said.
Richard Plotts, 49, is expected to be charged with murder for allegedly opening fire at Sister Marie Lenahan Wellness Center in Darby Thursday.
After he killed his caseworker, 53-year-old Theresa Hunt, and shot his psychiatrist, Lee Silverman, the wounded doctor fired back, stopping the attack, District Attorney Jack Whelan said in a Friday press conference.
Plotts had 39 more bullets on him. He intended a mass shooting, Whelan said.
“We believe that after he killed the caseworker, and after he tried to kill Dr. Silverman, he was not going to stop there,” he said.
Hero Stopped Mass Murder By Crazed Bar Patron
Hero Stopped Mass Murder By Crazed Bar Patron Who Was Armed To The Teeth, Police Say
MAY 4 2017 - A concealed carry holder is being heralded as a hero by Arlington police for preventing mass murder by killing an "incoherent" gunman at a sports bar Wednesday evening.
Before he was shot about 6:15 p.m., the gunman killed the manager of Zona Caliente in the 6500 block of South Cooper Street, police spokesman Christopher Cook said.
Police later identified the gunman as 48-year-old James Jones of Grand Prairie and the victim as 37-year-old Cesar Perez of Duncanville. The man who killed Jones has not been identified.
Authorities later found two loaded guns and two knives on Jones, Cook said Thursday.
Jeanne Assam Stops Active Shooter At New Life Church
Dec. 9, 2007 - Jeanne Assam, a volunteer church security team member, carry a pistol by virtue of a CCW permit, stopped a heavily armed active shooter who was attempting to gain access to the Sanctuary, where several hundred people were present. Had she not been there, or had not been armed, the death toll would have been much higher - perhaps over 100.
Oregon Mall Shooting Stopped By CCW Licensee
This case illustrates the biggest problems in finding active shooter stops:
1) First, when an armed citizen does stop an active shooter, often the number of people shot falls below four, which is the FBI's standard for a mass shooting. In other words, it's a Catch-22. If an armed citizen stops a mass shooting, there is a good chance here will not be one - at least not one fitting the FBI's definition.
2) The most common response when an active shooter encounters armed opposition is suicide. Mass shootings are, in the vast majority of cases, planned events, The shooter knows how he wants it to end. Armed opposition threatens his control of the outcome. Therefore, they implement their end game plan. Usually this is suicide, less often surrender.
This case illustrates both problems - but as someone who has looked at the details of hundreds of these public mass shootings, I can say that there is little doubt that Nick Meli's actions ended this shooting, even though he quite correctly held his fire. Without an armed citizen many more people would have died. To those who say the gunman did not stop because of Meli's action, I have a challenge: Explain why he stopped.
Finally, it should be noted that this mall is a phony gun free zone - in other words, it is secured by signs. Meli reasoned (correctly) that the signs wouldn't stop anyone - so he decided to carry his gun past them. Thank God he did.
CCW License Holder Stops Magnet Package Store Shooting
What cannot be seen in the video is the reason the gunman fled: A CCW permit holder drew his firearm and began shooting back.
(Via ConcealedNation.com) CONYERS, GEORGIA — An armed citizen is being hailed a hero after drawing his firearm and stopping a mass shooting inside a Georgia liquor store.
In the video above, you can see suspect Jeffrey Scott Pitts, 36, enter the store and begin to open fire on anyone he sets his eyes on. What the video doesn’t show is 44-year-old Todd C. Scott, off camera, drawing his firearm and shooting back at Pitts.
Once Pitts was met with armed resistance, he immediately fled the scene.
Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett held a press conference and hailed Scott a hero for his actions and quick thinking.
“I believe that if Mr. Scott did not return fire at the suspect then more of those customers would have hit by a gun,” said Levett. “It didn’t appear that he cared who he shot or where he was shooting until someone was shooting back at him. So in my opinion he saved other lives in that store.”
Pitts killed the store clerk and a customer in the store. After he left, he went to his home where he wounded both of his parents. Police arrived at the home and Pitts began firing at them. He was killed by return fire.
Gunman Shot, Killed Inside West Philly Barbershop
Police say a man likely saved the lives of several people when he shot and killed a gunman inside a West Philadelphia barbershop.
A 40-year-old man was inside Falah Barber Shop Inc. on the 600 block of Preston Street shortly before 3 p.m. Sunday when police say he began fighting with another person inside.
"They were arguing," said 16-year-old Yusaf Mack who was a customer inside the shop at the time. "They were taking it too far and one of the barbers said, 'chill out.'"
The fight quickly escalated and the 40-year-old man took out his gun and opened fire on customers and barbers, police said.
"I heard gunshots so I ducked and I ran," said Mack.
As he was shooting, another man outside heard the gunfire, ran into the shop and took out his own gun, according to investigators. He then opened fire, striking the 40-year-old man once in the chest.
The 40-year-old man was taken to Presbyterian Hospital where he later died from his injuries. Police have not yet revealed his identity.
Police said there were children inside the shop at the time but no one else was hurt.
The man who killed the gunman later surrendered to police at the 16th District Headquarters. Investigators say at this point it appears the shooting was in self-defense and the man likely will not face any charges. They continue to investigate however.
Sutherland Springs Texas Church Shooting
Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Freeman Martin reported this information at a presser on the incident, saying:
“At approximately 11:20 this morning a suspect was seen at a Valero gas station in Sutherland Springs, Texas. He was dressed in all black. That suspect crossed the street to the church, exited his vehicle and began firing at the church. That suspect then moved to the right side of the church and then continued to fire. That suspect entered the church and continued to fire. As he exited the church, a local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged that suspect. The suspect dropped his rifle, which was a Ruger AR assault-type rifle and fled from the church.”
Additionally, this same citizen (Jonathan Willeford) with the help of a driver who was passing by (Johnnie Langendorff), pursued the shooter until he eventually lost control and crashed. They then covered the shoter's vehicle until law enforcement arrived. The shooter apparently committed suicide. It was found that, even though he was wearing plate body armor, the citizen's rounds had struck him in both a leg and in the chest.
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