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

Washington, DC--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 http://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:

• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.

The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury. Follow the VPC on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.