Concealed Handgun Permit Holders Fatally Shoot Each Other During Argument: VPC Concealed Carry Killers August Update

Two Florida concealed handgun permit holders
who got into a confrontation and shot and killed each other on a neighborhood
street are among the additions and updates to Concealed Carry Killers, a
Violence Policy Center (VPC) on-line resource that tallies news reports of
killings by concealed handgun permit holders.

Since May 2007, concealed handgun permit holders have killed
at least 189 individuals--including nine law enforcement officers--in 26
states. Of the 114 incidents that resulted in the deaths, in more than
half (63 incidents) the concealed handgun permit holder has already been
convicted, committed suicide after the shooting, or was killed in the
incident. Of the 51 cases still pending, the vast majority (44) of
concealed handgun permit holders have been charged with criminal homicide, two
were deemed incompetent to stand trial, two incidents were unintentional shootings,
and three incidents are still under investigation. Of the 114 incidents,
16 were mass shootings where concealed handgun permit holders claimed the lives
of 65 victims.

A summary of each of the 114 incidents is available at https://www.vpc.org/ccwkillers.htm,
clicking on each category leads to a state-by-state breakout for the incidents
with current known status. To review all killings by concealed handgun permit
holders, click on "Total People Killed by Concealed Handgun Permit
Holders." While the incident summaries of the few concealed handgun
permit holders eventually found not guilty of their crimes are listed on the
site, those numbers are not included in the VPC's totals.

Updates and additions for August include:

o In April 2010, Florida neighbors and concealed handgun
permit holders Robert G. Webster, 63, and Charles E. Ingram, 57, got into
an argument that escalated to the point where Webster walked out of his yard
with a gun at his side and then raised it. Ingram, who had also left his
yard, standing in the sidewalk and street, raised his gun as Webster
approached. Both men fired at approximately the same time. Webster
died at the scene. Ingram died less than a month later from wounds inflicted
by Webster. Detectives investigating the shooting concluded that both men
might have faced criminal charges had they lived.

o In July 2010, Michigan
concealed handgun permit holder Justin Luckhardt, 32, shot and killed Kim
Luchie, 25, at the Cabin bar in what was described as a "jealous,
race-fueled rage" before taking his own life. Luckhardt, who was
separated from his wife and was convinced she had an African-American
boyfriend, had spent his day drinking and playing golf when he saw Luchie, an
African-American, drinking with Luckhardt's sister-in-law.
Luckhardt shot and killed Luchie with a .357 Glock pistol. Luchie, who
had a long-time girlfriend, was not romantically involved with
Luckhardt's wife or his in-laws. Luckhardt then left the bar,
crashed his car, and fatally shot himself.

o In July 2009, Alabama
concealed handgun permit holder Laquintta Turk, 23, shot and killed Rosetia
Smith, 24, in a parking lot. The shooting occurred during a confrontation
involving two other women--Tiffany Allen and Lashan Catlin, both 23--over the
fact that Allen's sister had had a baby with Catlin's ex-high
school boyfriend. Each woman had arrived in a separate car with
additional passengers, including friends and children. As Catlin and
Smith fought, Turk shot Smith. The fatal bullet landed at the foot of
Smith's oldest child. During Turk's trial, Prosecutor Mike Philpott
told jurors, "This is a case about a woman who brought a gun to a fist
fight, and the tragedy that resulted." Turk was convicted of
reckless murder and faces up to life in prison. Turk and Smith did not
know each other.

Violence Policy Center Legislative Director Kristen Rand states, "This month we found out what
happens when two concealed handgun permit holders get into an argument--they
shoot each other and die. Is this really what the law's supporters
had in mind?"

Because most state systems that allow the carrying of
concealed handguns in public by private citizens release little data about
crimes committed by permit holders, the VPC reviews and tallies concealed
handgun permit holder killings primarily as reported by news outlets. It
is likely that the actual number of fatal incidents involving concealed handgun
permit holders is far higher.