Man critically injured in home invasion shooting because of an unlocked door!

One of the best ways to defend yourself is to make yourself a harder person to target. This can be a simple as locking the door. A 20 yr old man was taken from his home after a home invasion by 3 masked gunman and shot. The gunmen entered the home through an unlocked side door. If the door was locked this young man could have avoided such a horrible ending.

Every time I  come home or leave my house I double check to make sure all the doors are locked. My kids and wife sometimes complain because they have to pull out their key or knock on the door if they leave and come back and the door is locked. Every time they complain I remind them of stories like this and help them to remember that a few seconds of inconvenience can mean the difference between a good and bad end of the story. 

Don't let laziness set you up to become the next victim. Aggressors will seek the easy target and the best way to keep that from happening to you is become the hardest target possible. Don't be a victim LOCK THE DOORS!

TRAIN, DEFEND, AND LIVE!

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Man critically injured in home invasion shooting

January 23rd, 2011 @ 4:44pm

By ksl.com

HOLLADAY -- A 20-year-old man remains in extremely critical condition after being shot during a home invasion robbery Saturday night.

Unified Police officers were called to the area of 5200 South and Highland Drive about 9:50 p.m. Saturday on a report of a home invasion. At the same time, they received a report of shots fired in the same area, said UPD Sgt. Justin Hoyal.

Unified Police officers were called to this house, near 5200 South and Highland Drive, on a report of a home invasion robbery.

It wasn't until about 10:15 p.m., however, that the shooting victim was discovered. A woman returning to her home about a half-block away from the home invasion saw a man lying in the road in a secluded area. Her screams drew the attention of police officers, who rushed to the area.

The incident began at a rental house where three men told police they were inside playing video games. Two men wearing ski masks, dark clothing and each armed with a handgun, entered the residence through an unlocked side door, Hoyal said.
The invaders made the residents get on the ground, and then demanded undisclosed "valuables," Hoyal said. When the intruders left, two of the victims realized their friend was no longer in the house. The men reportedly did not see their friend being taken from the home.
How the third man, who was shot, got from the house to where the woman found him, was unknown Sunday. Investigators did not have any description of a possible suspect vehicle.
It's unknown whether anything was taken from the house or if the home invasion was random. The victims told police they did not know the gunmen.
"We're looking at all possibilities as to why this occurred," Hoyal said. "The victims are saying they don't know why they were targeted. We're keeping all options open."
The search continued Sunday for two men described as white with medium builds, both about 20 years old. Anyone with information on the robbery or shooting can call police at 801-743-7000.

Chicago Teen Denzel Pittman Charged in Triple Murder of Girlfriend's Family

CHICAGO (CBS/AP) Authorities have arrested Chicago teen Denzel Pittman, believed to be the boyfriend of a 17-year-old girl who was found fatally stabbed along with her mother and younger sister in their home on the city's South Side.

Pittman was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the deaths of 17-year-old Jade Hannah, Hannah's mother, 43-year-old Stacy Cochran-Hill and Hannah's younger sister, 11-year-old Joi Cochran.

According to The Chicago Sun-Times, authorities said Pittman was involved in a domestic altercation with Jade Hannah late Monday when he pulled out a knife and fatally stabbed her.

The 18-year-old then used the knife on her mother and sister.

Witnesses reportedly observed Pittman fleeing the scene and were able to provide an accurate description of the teen to police.

Officers caught up with Pittman who was found walking, and proceeded to pursue the suspect on foot before  apprehending him in the city's Morgan Park neighborhood, reports The Chicago Sun-Times.

All three of the victims were found unresponsive with multiple stab wounds in their apartment not far from where Pittman was detained.

"That's it, my babies are gone," Sharon Ramey, Cochran-Hill's mother and the girls' grandmother, told The Chicago Tribune a few hours after learning of their violent deaths. "Right now I'm just in limbo."

Pittman was scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday.

Full Story

Break In's are on the Rise as Gold Prices Increase! Our Elders are at Risk! If they were Attacked Would they Know What to Do?

As the economy struggles and gold prices increase criminals are given greater motivation to violently rob people of all ages. In Springfield, Mass a Elderly man was attacked in his own home as he was robbed for his gold. 


"(P)olice say break-ins are on the rise and they're asking residents to be vigilant. As gold prices go up, many burglars are targeting jewelry and some are searching for prescription drugs or even big jars of change; anything they can turn to cash quickly." (Click for Full Story)


All ages are at risk but our elders are easy targets many times with stashes of old family heirloom jewelry and jars of change. Just because later years doesn't mean our elders have to be victims. Ultimate Defense is means being ready for any threat, any time, at any age. 


There is a recent rapid increase in a growing population of practitioners starting in martial arts at ages 55 +. With longer life spans and increase violent crimes against senior citizens, many seniors are being martial arts training later on in life. 


In addition to the self-defense aspect, many seniors are also taking up martial arts and self-defense to not only protect themselves but to also improve health. “The ranks of older enthusiasts seeking black belts are bound to rise,” says Vonda Wright, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Sports Medicine who specializes in treating older athletes "I see them increasingly reaching above and beyond the limits of what they have been told their bodies can do," she says*. 


As opposed to many seniors forty years ago, today's seniors are likely to work full time, exercise extensively, and travel even more. Seniors are not only capable of exercise, but require it to maintain independence, good mental function, and to reduce the risk of disease**. According to the American Council of Exercise, a good senior fitness program is one that includes aerobics, muscular conditioning, along with exercises to stretch your body and promote good posture***.


Good health is the side benefit life unharmed is the greater. Each person young or old, male or female, weak or strong, has the right and ability to defend themselves. Age, size, or strength only determines how you defend yourself not that you can or not. If you have an loved one that you provide care for you need to be prepared to defend a threat. If you are an elder you need to be ready to defend yourself. Effective self-defense doesn't expect you to be someone you are not. Effective self-defense is about leveraging what you do have.


Gold is increasing, robberies are up. Will you learn how to leverage what you have and Ultimately Defend yourself, or will you just make excuses set yourself up to be the next target or victim. No matter your age you can learn to defend yourself. 


Don't Be A Victim! Learn how to defend yourself no matter your age and Ultimately Defend yourself.


*Johnson, R. (2010, 05 15). Kicking From the Hip. Retrieved 07 30, 2010, from online.wsj.com: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304506904575180162241451770.html



**Hunter, R. (2010). Active Seniors are the norm now. Retrieved 08 14, 2010, from catalogs.com: http://www.catalogs.com/info/seniors/active-seniors-are-the-norm-now.html


***American Council on Exercise. (2010). Active Seniors Enjoy Life More. Retrieved 08 14, 2010, from acefitness.org: http://www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/fitfacts_display.aspx?itemid=14

Elderly man attacked during break-in

Man hit in the head after discovering break-in

Updated: Wednesday, 10 Nov 2010, 7:59 PM EST
Published : Wednesday, 10 Nov 2010, 7:59 PM EST

• Elysia Rodriguez

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A frightening morning for an elderly Springfield man who left his home briefly then returned and was attacked by an alleged burglar inside his home. 

Wednesday morning an 85-year-old Springfield man was unaware he was in the process of being robbed when he walked into his home. 

Springfield Police Sergeant John Delaney told 22News that the suspect, realizing someone was home, snuck up behind the elderly man and struck him. 

That suspect then took off from the home on Island Pond Road with jewelry and other valuables. 

The elderly man was rushed to the hospital; Sergeant Delaney said he is expected to be okay. 

Police are still searching for suspects. However; from Springfield to Longmeadow, police say break-ins are on the rise and they're asking residents to be vigilant. 

As gold prices go up, many burglars are targeting jewelry and some are searching for prescription drugs or even big jars of change; anything they can turn to cash quickly. 

Police in Agawam, East Longmeadow and Chicopee told 22News that breaks-ins have been a problem, but they are slowing down as the temperatures drop. 

Some residents offered their advice. Barbar Wurszt of Ludlow said, “I think anywhere you live nowadays you have to make sure you're always watching around your neighborhood for strange cars, we live out in the woods and we're always looking out for strange cars." 
Dee Dee Watkins of Springfield told 22News, “I feel like if people would stay off Facebook a lot of their information wouldn't get out for people to target their homes, tell everybody where they're going, what they're doing at home and that just makes them a target, an easy target." 

However, it's not just homes; in Wilbraham there has been a rash of car break-ins as well. 

Officer Shawn Baldwin of the Wilbraham Police Department told 22News, “We're asking for a lot of the communities help, put your exterior lights on, lock your cars, if you hear anything in the night, bumps, bangs, anything out of the ordinary, call us immediately, don't wait until the next day."

Chalk Another One Up for Self-Defense! Would You Pull the Trigger or Be a Potential Victim?

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Bitter sweet story tonight as another person has defended themselves against an attacker. This story also comes from Utah where a homeowner rightfully shot and killed 19yr old Kyle Poulton as he attempted to break into the homeowner's home in the middle of the night. The homeowner saw the threat and reacted effectively protecting his home and his two small children from the threat. 

I wrote in previous posts (Click to go to post) you must be ready for any threat even if it happens in the middle of the night and by a kid that everyone else "says" was a good kid. In that posting the "kids" broke in and hacked to death a 42 yr old mother with a machete. When the threat is there you don't have a lot of time to debate the attackers real intention. If they make aggressive force to potentially harm you or your family you need to respond. 

Make sure you understand your local laws on protective and lethal force. You don't need to go to jail in the process of protecting yourself from an attacker. (Click here for your local laws on lethal force).

In most states you have the right to protect yourself, your home, and your family. The real question is would you? Would you pull the trigger or would be the next potential victim? Decide that now and be prepared because an attack happens many times without rhyme or reason if you are prepared you have no need to fear. 

Click for Full Story

Police arrest accomplice in botched Kearns burglary, Other is Shot and Killed by Homeowner

November 8th, 2010 @ 9:22pm

By ksl.com

KEARNS -- Prosecutors must decide whether a Kearns homeowner acted in self-defense when he shot and killed an apparent burglar in the middle of the night. Less than 24 hours later, police arrested an accomplice in the burglary who told them the same chain of events.

Friends, family shocked by Poulton's death

People who knew the accused burglar who was shot to death early Monday morning say they are stunned. Nineteen-year-old Kyle Poulton's father says he has no idea what his son was doing at that home or what went wrong.

Police say Poulton was killed as he and 18-year-old Derek Sego tried to break into the home near 5600 South and 5100 West. Lt. Don Hutson of the Unified Police Department says the homeowner was unaware of another burglar, but investigators were able to track Sego down after talking with acquaintances of the young men.

Pam Marrs, who manages the Sconecutter restaurant in Kearns where Poulton worked, says he was well-liked.

18-year-old Derek Sego

19-year-old Kyle Poulton

"It's unbelievable to me to even think he would break into a home," she said.

Marrs says Poulton was supposed to be at work Monday night.

"He worked a lot with me," she said. "He was a really good worker, did everything I told him. So, I don't know, it's just sad."

Poulton's father says his son was the youngest of four children, had a job and was considering joining the military. He says the family can't understand what he was doing.

Police: Attempted break-in led to shooting

Around 3 a.m., police say the Kearns homeowner heard noise and saw a person trying to break in the rear glass door. Earlier, a mysterious ring of the doorbell had awakened the family. The homeowner told police at that time, he went outside to look around; so when he later heard the noise out back, fearing an intruder, he armed himself with a handgun.

"He fired one round through the glass," Hutson said. "The person ran away, and he immediately called 911."

Police found Poulton dead in the street.

After further investigation, police arrested Sego on burglary charges and obstruction of justice. Police say Sego admitted he was trying to break into a window when Poulton was shot, and he ran.

Neighbors defended the homeowner.

"What do you do when someone is trying to break into your house?" asked Jason Dickinson.

Natalia Neaniffe said the homeowner had two young children in the home.

"Sometimes you do whatever it takes to cover their safety," she said.

So far, Unified Police say evidence and the story from the other accused burglar match the homeowner's version of events.

"This homeowner had two small children in the home," Hutson said. "Clearly, someone was attempting to break into the home, and this is something that is going to have be looked at by the [district attorney's] office."

Lawyer: State law will likely protect homeowner

A local attorney and author believes the homeowner will not be charged with a crime. Mitch Vilos says Utah's self-defense statute allows someone "to use deadly force to prevent the commission of a forcible felony; and burglary is a forcible felony."

The author of the book "The Self Defense Law of all 50 States" says an intruder doesn't have to be in the home to open fire. Vilos says the burglar just has to be trying to get into the home.

But Vilos says a gun-toting homeowner shouldn't go too far. He said, "Once that force against you has ceased, you have a responsibility to stop using force."

Vilos encourages all gun owners to brush up on the law. He says Utah has one of the strongest home-defense laws in the nation

Meanwhile, Poulton's family says they are hoping to have his organs donated.

Less Telemarketing = Increases in Home Invasion Threats! Will you open the door?

The changes in telemarketing laws has created a new surge of door to door salesman. This is especially true in the new high speed internet rush where door to door salesman are racing to every neighborhood to bring faster and faster speeds of internet.

With the stringent telemarketing laws, companies can no longer reach people in their homes by just calling. In addition to this, less and less people have phone numbers listed in calling directories because they going to cell phones. This shift in sales tactics due to the telemarketing laws and less calling directories, is driving companies to send out more and more door to door salesman.

Many of these sales companies do no background or criminal checks and so even greater number of criminals are drawn to these types of jobs. This increase in door to door sales men means more potential threats are coming right to our front doors. In a recent post I did, a women was raped by a criminal door to door salesman who was selling satellite TV. (Story Click Here)

These salesman are very charismatic and can seem none threatening but keep in mind, if they are a predator these attackers will use that charisma to gain your trust and get you to let them in where no one can see what they can do. Even worse, most of these salesman come to homes in the middle of the day when few people are home to notice if there is anything wrong. These criminal salesman can even go unnoticed because we are getting accustom to seeing them more and more, giving them free reign to scope out homes and potential victims.

Women don't answer your door when these sales men come around especially when you are home alone. Be smart, Ultimate Defense is not just about how to handle yourself in the face of threat, it is also about avoiding the potential threat all together. Don't answer the door, don't even come to the door and peer out. Nothing they have to sell do you really need and if you don't even come to the door your risk of attack is lowered dramatically. If you even have a small chance of attack is it worth it?

Woman Raped In Her Own Home By Door-to-Door Salesman

Nigerian immigrant Charles Woghiren was invited in to discuss a pay-TV deal, but then forced the Cannock woman, aged in her 20s, to have sex, Stafford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Woghiren, aged 36, of no fixed address, was jailed for 54 months after admitting a charge of rape.

Judge Mark Eades told him: “You took advantage of a situation and for a woman to be raped in her own home is particularly terrifying. You thought you had done nothing wrong, which in itself is an alarming issue.”

The court heard that Woghiren’s visa to remain in the UK has been revoked by the Home Office and he is likely to be deported back to Nigeria when freed.

Mr David Munro, prosecuting, said the rape took place in March and that the woman was crying throughout her ordeal, but the defendant “just made small talk and then left”.

Woghiren later sent her a text message asking if she was angry with him and he was arrested.

Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010/10/30/sky-tv-salesman-jailed-for-raping-cannock-woman/#ixzz14ZScz0iw

You have the RIGHT to defend yourself, your home, and family!

Since 2006, there have been significant U.S. legislative changes that support and encourage self-defense. These statutes, which have been adopted by most state and local governments, protect individuals who are standing up to protect themselves against attack.

The two most significant statues are the “Stand Your Ground” and the “Castle” statutes. The “Stand Your Ground” laws give individuals the right to use deadly force to protect a residence, place of business, vehicle or other property (Washington Crime News Service, 2006)1.

The “Castle” law, adopted by other states, gives people the right to use deadly force against intruders entering their homes. Those protected by the Castle laws no longer need to prove that they feared for their safety only that the person they killed had intruded unlawfully and forcefully.

The Castle Laws also extends this principle to vehicles (Liptak, 2006)2. These significant changes in most U.S. states laws show a growing trend in individuals who want to be able to defend themselves against attackers. With more people with the right to defend themselves more people will seek training on how they can effectively defend themselves and family against attack.

This growing trend will hopefully drive greater interest in American's to seek home and self-defense training so they can be prepared for any threat and no longer be a potential victim.

States with the "Stand Your Ground" Law:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Florida
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Kentucky [2]
• Louisiana
• Montana
• Nevada
• Oklahoma Title 21§1289.25
• South Carolina (Persons not "required to needlessly retreat.")
• Tennessee 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts Ch. 210 (Amends Tenn. Code. Ann. § 39-11-611)
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington (Homicide justifiable in the lawful defense of self or other persons present; and there is imminent danger of such design being accomplished ...or in the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony... or upon or in a dwelling, or other place...)

States with a Castle Law

No duty to retreat if in the home.

• Alaska
• California (California Penal Code § 198.5 sets forth that unlawful, forcible entry into one's residence by someone not a member of the household creates the presumption that the resident held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury should he or she use deadly force against the intruder. This would make the homicide justifiable under CPC § 197 [3]. CALCRIM 506 gives the instruction, "A defendant is not required to retreat. He or she is entitled to stand his or her ground and defend himself or herself and, if reasonably necessary, to pursue an assailant until the danger ... has passed. This is so even if safety could have been achieved by retreating." However, it also states that "[People v. Ceballos] specifically held that burglaries which 'do not reasonably create a fear of great bodily harm' are not sufficient 'cause for exaction of human life.'” The court held that because a "trap-gun" was used, the doctrine did not apply. [4]
• Colorado "...any occupant of a dwelling is justified in using any degree of physical force, including deadly physical force, against another person when that other person has made an unlawful entry into the dwelling, and when the occupant has a reasonable belief that such other person has committed a crime in the dwelling in addition to the uninvited entry, or is committing or intends to commit a crime against a person or property in addition to the uninvited entry, and when the occupant reasonably believes that such other person might use any physical force, no matter how slight, against any occupant." 18-1-704.5 Use of deadly physical force against an intruder.
• Connecticut
• Hawaii (Retreat required outside the home if it can be done in "complete safety.")
• Illinois (Use of deadly force justified. Specific legislation prevents filing claim against defender of dwelling. Illinois has no requirement of retreat.)
• Kansas (§ 21-3212. Use of force in defense of dwelling; no duty to retreat.)
• Maine (Deadly force justified to terminate criminal trespass AND another crime within home, or to stop unlawful and imminent use of deadly force, or to effect a citizen's arrest against deadly force; duty to retreat not specifically removed)^[28]
• Maryland See Maryland self-defense (Case-law, not statute, incorporates the commonlaw castle-doctrine into Maryland self-defense law. Invitees or guests may have duty to retreat based on mixed case law.)
• Massachusetts
• Michigan (more recent law—Act 309 of 2006—does not relieve duty to retreat "unless [deadly force is] necessary to prevent imminent death;" this represents no change from common law, which does not require retreat unless it can be safely done)
• Minnesota No duty to retreat before using deadly force to prevent a felony in one's place of abode; no duty to retreat before using deadly force in self defense in one's place of abode^[29]) This isn't as clear as it appears, however. There are four cases in Minnesota where duty of retreat was upheld.^[30]
• Mississippi (to use reference, select "Code of 1972" and search "retreat")
• Missouri (Extends to any building, inhabitable structure, or conveyance of any kind, whether the building, inhabitable structure, or conveyance is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile (e.g., a camper, RV or mobile home), which has a roof over it, including a tent, and is designed to be occupied by people lodging therein at night, whether the person is residing there temporarily, permanently or visiting (e.g., a hotel or motel), and any vehicle. The defense against civil suits is absolute and includes the award of attorney's fees, court costs, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff.)
• Nevada
• New Jersey ("Statutes" link in sidebar, see New Jersey Statutes 2C:3-4, retreat required outside home if actor knows he can avoid necessity of deadly force in complete safety, etc.)
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio (Extends to vehicles of self and immediate family; effective September 9, 2008.^[31] Section 2901.09)
• Oregon. (ORS 161.209-229. Use of force justifiable in a range of scenarios without a duty to retreat specified. Oregon Supreme Court affirmed in State of Oregon v. Sandoval that the law "sets out a specific set of circumstances that justify a person's use of deadly force (that the person reasonably believes that another person is using or about to use deadly force against him or her) and does not interpose any additional requirement (including a requirement that there be no means of escape).")
• Rhode Island
• Utah
• West Virginia (Senate bill 145 signed March 12, 2008. WV code §55-7-22)
• Wyoming

States with weak or no specific Castle Law

These states uphold castle doctrine in general, but may rely on case law instead of specific legislation, may enforce a duty to retreat, and may impose specific restrictions on the use of deadly force.

• Idaho (Homicide is justified if defending a home from "tumultuous" entry; duty to retreat not specifically removed)
• New York (May not use deadly physical force if he or she knows that with complete personal safety, to oneself and others he or she may avoid the necessity of so doing by retreating; except that the actor is under no duty to retreat if he or she is in his or her dwelling and not the initial aggressor.)
• Pennsylvania 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 505 on the defense of self says there is no obligation to retreat from the home or workplace unless the actor was the initial aggressor or, in the latter case, set upon by a co-worker; however, "surrendering possession of a thing to a person asserting a claim of right thereto" and "complying with a demand that [one] abstain from any action which [one] has no duty to take" are listed in addition to retreating as avenues which, if open to the actor but not taken, invalidate justification for the use of deadly force. Deadly force itself is not justifiable unless "the actor believes that such force is necessary to protect himself against death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat." 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 507 allows the use of deadly force if the actor believes there has been an unlawful entry into his or her dwelling and believes that nothing less than deadly force will end the incursion; if the person on the receiving end of the deadly force is "attempting to dispossess [the actor] of his dwelling otherwise than under a claim of right to its possession;" or if deadly force is the only thing that will prevent a felony from being committed in the dwelling. In any of those cases, the property owner must first ask the interloper to desist — unless the owner believes that doing so would be "useless," "dangerous," or would result in the property being defended coming to substantial harm before the request to desist could be effectively communicated.
• South Dakota "Homicide is justifiable if committed by any person while resisting any attempt to murder such person, or to commit any felony upon him or her, or upon or in any dwelling house in which such person is." SD Codified Laws 22-16-34 (2005).
• Iowa (^[32])
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire (A proposed law was vetoed in 2007.^[3])
• New Mexico
• Virginia
• Vermont
• District of Columbia

1. Washington Crime News Service. (2006, 11 08). 16 States Adopt 'Stand Your Ground' Laws Authorizing Use Of Deadly Force. Retrieved 08 02, 2010, from findarticles.com: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4440/is_200608/ai_n17175535/12

2. Liptak, A. (2006, 08 07). 15 States Expand Right to Shoot in Self-Defense. Retrieved 08 02, 2010, from nytimes.com: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/us/07shoot.html?_r=1