Man shoots and kills estranged wife and four of her family members at son's birthday party

35-year-old Tan Do was quiet during his son's birthday party at a skating rink in Grand Prairie, Texas. When his mother-in-law was preparing to leave the party Tan Do pulled out a gun and began shooting. Within minutes Tan Do had killed his estranged wife, Trini Do, 29, her sisters Michelle Ta Pham, 28 and Lynn Ta, 16, her brother Hien Ta, 21, and sister-in-law Thuy Nguyen, 25. He also wounded four more of this wife's relatives. He then killed himself.
Tan Do had no criminal record and was legally eligible to possess a gun. He did, however, have a history of domestic abuse. His wife had obtained a protection from abuse order last December, citing a pattern of physical violence and threats, including an incident last year when she said Tan Do fired shots into the ceiling after threatening to shoot her. But shortly after obtaining the order Trini Do changed her mind. She asked the court twice to dismiss the order. In March the order was withdrawn, along with the prohibition against Tan Do possessing firearms, based on Trini Do's statement that her husband had promised to change.
"I hope that I am making the right decision," Trini Do said in an affidavit.
The couples' two children, ages 10 and 3, who were both present when their father shot and killed their mother and then killed himself, are now living with Tan Do's parents.

Nevada man charged with murder after chasing, shooting at group who stole two of his solar lights

36-year-old Gregory Wallin-Reed, of Reno, Nevada, is facing eight felony counts, including murder, after he admitted to firing on a group of men during a car chase. According to reports, Wallin-Reed began to chase the six men, ages 19 and 20, after he found them outside his residence. The men fled in a car and Wallin-Reed followed them in a pickup truck. The men said Wallin-Reed was firing a gun while closely pursuing their car. One of the men reportedly removed his white t-shirt and waved it in an attempt to make Wallin-Reed stop shooting.
After being chased for about seven miles, the men turned down a side road and while trying to escape Wallin-Reed opened fired with an AR-15 assault rifle, striking the driver, 20-year-old Rory McGuire, in the head. McGuire later died of his injuries. Two other passengers in the car sustained gunshot wounds to their lower legs.
After the incident, Wallin-Reed returned home and called the police, saying that the men had stolen two solar lights from his property and that the men in the fleeing car had fired a shot at him. However, police have found no evidence that any of the men in the car were armed.
"If that was the scenario, the charges that have been filed in this case would have been entirely different," said the District Attorney. "But that scenario is not something that I have seen from the evidence."
Wallin-Reed has no prior criminal record and is reported to be a former Army Ranger. He was armed with a .380 handgun and an AR-15 assault rifle. Because the shooting occurred in California, where assault rifles are banned, he has also been charged with illegal possession of an assault weapon.
A sign at the end of Wallin-Reed's driveway reads:
WARNING
YOU ARE ENTERING THE R.O.C.
This is a restricted area. Only Red Blooded Patriotic Christian Americans Are Authorized For Access Upon Approval And Verification Of Credentials By The Commanding Authority
The Use Of Deadly Force Is Authorized For Use On Those Found In Non-Compliance With Above

Massachusetts man arrested for OUI had loaded gun in car

When 53-year-old Lorenzo Pimentel of Framingham, Massachusetts went to the Ashland Police station to pick up his son who had been detained, police noticed his breath smelled of booze. Pimentel failed several roadside sobriety tests and was arrested for OUI. When police searched his car they found a loaded 9mm Beretta handgun under the driver's seat. Pimentel has a valid license to carry a gun but under Massachusetts law concealed weapons permit holders can only carry a loaded gun in a car if the gun is under their direct control. Pimentel was also charged with carrying a gun while intoxicated and improper storage of a gun.
His lawyer asked that Pimentel be relased without bail, saying her client had no criminal record and has a steady job. Pimentel was released without bail but is prohibited from possessing a gun while the case is pending.

Man who shot and killed three police officers sentenced to death

On April 4, 2009, 24-year-old Richard Poplawski of Pittsburgh, PA met police officers who were responding to a complaint at his doorway. He was wearing a bulletproof vest when he shot and killed two police officers and gunned down a third who later came to their aid. Poplawski surrendered after a four-hour gun battle.
Polawski had told his friends he was concerned that his guns were going to be seized during the Obama administration. His mother told police her son had been stockpiling guns and ammunition "because he believed that as a result of economic collapse, the police were no longer able to protect society."
Poplawski was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder. During the penalty phase of the trial Poplawski's attorney argued that he should not be sentenced to death because he had no previous criminal history and he had been raised in a dysfunctional home.
The jury rejected the argument and sentenced Poplawski to death.