Latest news with #selfdefense
Auto Blog
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Dealer replaces Ford F-150 of man who ran over alleged church shooter
Driver Says Pickup Truck Was A Substitute Weapon Of Self Defense A Michigan dealership has replaced the 2018 Ford F-150 of Richard Pryor, who ran over a man he saw firing a rifle and handgun outside a suburban Detroit church, reports Automotive News. Pryor, a deacon at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, was arriving late for June 22 services when he saw the shooter, clad in a tactical vest. 'I'm just realizing there's no time,' Pryor told Automotive News and other media July 10, saying the man, later identified as Brian Browning, who had attended the church occasionally with his mother. 'I didn't have a weapon on me, in the truck or anything, so what are your options?' Pryor ran over Browning, who reports say began firing at the truck. Browning was killed by two other church staff members armed with their own guns. Police told ABC News that the actions of the three church staff 'prevented a large-scale mass shooting.' But while this use of a vehicle as a weapon appears to have done some good, others, such as the 2017 attack on protestors in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a Dodge Challenger, show that like any other weapon, a car can be dangerous in the wrong hands. F-150 Reward The truck was Pryor's only vehicle, and was left out of commission after the incident. Jack Demmer Ford reportedly gave Pryor a free two-year lease on a new F-150, worth about $70,000. Full-size pickups can get much more expensive than that, of course, given the tendency of Ford and other brands to devise lineups top-heavy with high-end models. The F-Series—encompassing the half-ton F-150 and the heavy-duty Super Duty trucks—has been the bestselling vehicle line in the United States for decades, and that trend continued with Ford's recently-reported second-quarter sales results. The automaker reported an 11.5% increase in F-Series sales to 222,459—the best quarter for the truck line since 2019. However, Ford also issued 89 recalls in the first six months of 2025, surpassing a record for annual recalls set by General Motors in 2014. The F-150 is included in some of them, including one recall of over a million vehicles to address a software issue that prevents rearview cameras from displaying a proper live feed. About the Author Stephen Edelstein View Profile
Fox News
2 days ago
- Fox News
Preppy party murder suspect's lawyer says client's testimony key to acquittal
The attorney for the man who stood accused of murdering suburban Connecticut prep school lacrosse player James "Jimmy" McGrath in 2023 revealed the critical key to his client's acquittal. Raul Valle, 20, took the stand in his own defense, which attorney Kevin Smith said was necessary for proving his client's innocence. "He was going to have to take the stand in a self-defense case when you are telling folks you felt a certain way, and you were in such danger," Smith told WFSB. "I can think of few instances where there would be enough other evidence to put it on and say you had a self-defense claim." "Nobody ever wants to have to take another life," Smith said. "Mr. Valle certainly never wanted to do that. I think the evidence is clear." Smith noted that, like Valle, he was relieved that the trial had finished. He said that he lost 15 pounds during the ordeal. The trial lasted eight days, and was followed by two-and-a-half days of jury deliberation. He told his client to keep a low profile after the acquittal. "I've told him to avoid public places where he may be subjected to some behavior he doesn't need, doesn't need people harassing him, keeping a low profile, which he did during the trial," he stated. On Wednesday, Valle was found not guilty of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of McGrath, which stemmed from a booze-fueled party in May 2022 where a brawl broke out between 25 students on the lawn of a suburban Connecticut home. He was also cleared on charges of intentional manslaughter and intentional assault. The jury deadlocked on reckless manslaughter and reckless assault charges, and a partial mistrial was declared. Valle could be retried on those charges. Valle was 16 at the time of the stabbing, and McGrath was 17. Jury foreman Jim Stuhlman said ultimately, prosecutors didn not provide enough evidence to prove their case. He said the jury spent very little time deliberating on whether Valle had acted in self-defense because the jury believed that the state had failed to prove that he intended to kill McGrath. "There was so much inconsistencies and contradictions," he continued. "Not everyone will be happy with the conclusion, we weren't happy we couldn't find an agreement on the final counts, but we did everything we could have to get as far as we did."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Jury finds airman not guilty of assault
An Air Force member accused of first-degree assault was found not guilty earlier this month in Carter County. Dametric McGrue, 29, of La Grange, North Carolina, has claimed self-defense since an incident occurred on Aug. 11, 2023. At the end of his trial, that claim was solidified as a jury spent 3 hours and 15 minutes to determine McGrue should be acquitted. Attorney Sebastian Joy, who represented McGrue, announced the acquittal on social media on July 3. According to a police report, McGrue said he shot the victim on South Hord Street in self-defense after the man entered the apartment uninvited. According to the apartment tenant and McGrue, McGrue and the victim had a shoving match before the shooting happened. McGrue's only criminal history was a speeding ticket prior to the incident. That remains the extent of his history now. Joy said Airman First Class McGrue was applauded for his service to the country and shook many hands on his way out the door. He remained active and in good standing with the Air Force throughout the nearly two-year process. (606) 326-2664 | asnyder@
Fox News
4 days ago
- Fox News
Pastor sounds alarm on 'Godless generation' after fighting back against teen carjacker
A Connecticut pastor is sounding the alarm on a "Godless generation" after getting attacked by a teen carjacker during a trip to Baltimore to perform a funeral. Pastor Kenneth Moales, Jr. fought back, wrestling the gun away from the 16-year-old suspect before tackling him to the ground. When Moales realized the attacker was only a teen, he offered not to press charges and let him go, but the suspect refused and still took the car after getting his gun back. The attacker was later arrested with two other teens and the car was recovered. Speaking to "Fox & Friends First" on Thursday, the pastor revealed what was going through his mind during the attack last month. "I'm thinking about one thing – life," he told Fox News' Todd Piro. "I'm thinking that I need to find a way to make sure I don't die in the streets of Baltimore, Maryland. I'm thinking about my wife and my children. I'm trying to make sure I get back home." Moales said he "absolutely" hesitated to jump into action when the attacker approached and tapped on the vehicle with a gun, but once the suspect opened the door, "fight mode" turned on. "I start to size them up, look at what's going on, and realize that I can take him, and I knew then I have to decide quickly, 'What are you going to do? Are you going to get the gun?'" he said. At that point, the suspect aimed the gun at Moales' chest, forcing him to fight for his life. "[It was] not much of a fight at all…" he said. "But let me be clear, I am in no way a hero. I'm a miracle. I am glad the Lord covered my life and kept me." Moales revealed his identity as a pastor in hopes of defusing the situation, but said the young suspect's lack of "reverence" for his role hurt him the most. "I'm like, 'Hey, relax. I'm a pastor, I'm not going to hurt you. We need to stop. This is crazy. I'm not going to press charges,' and before I knew it, he's pushing me down, and believe it or not, that's what hurts me more. Not that he robbed, took the car… this is such a Godless generation. How could he not at least back off knowing I'm a pastor? And he didn't care."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Judge clears Concordia man in American Legion fight
CLOUD COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — A judge has dismissed all charges against Nathan Robinson, the man once accused of stabbing four people outside the American Legion in Concordia in early 2024. Robinson had faced four counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated battery stemming from the Feb. 3 incident. Prosecutors said he stabbed multiple people after a fight spilled outside the Legion building. But new court documents reveal that a Cloud County judge has granted Robinson immunity under Kansas' self-defense law. Second suspect pleads guilty in 2023 Wichita homicide The ruling followed a May hearing where Robinson's attorney argued he acted in self-defense after being surrounded and attacked by a group of men. According to the court, video evidence contradicted key witness testimony from the prosecution and supported Robinson's claim that he was ambushed outside the Legion after a previous altercation inside. Twelfth Judicial District Judge Kim W. Cudney found that prosecutors did not present enough evidence to show Robinson's use of force was unjustified. The court granted him self-defense immunity, and all charges were dismissed. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
