FLA CCW licenseholder dies to save family

Father Killed While Buying Milk For His Daughter - Victim Shoots Back
September 1, 2003

A Jacksonville man is dead after defending his family from an assailant at a gas station late Saturday.

Charles Day, 30, of the 3500 block of Broadway Avenue, died about 7:30 yesterday morning after he was shot in the stomach, said homicide Sgt. Shannon Douberly of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

The suspect was in critical condition Monday with bullet wounds to the head and chest, inflicted by the man he killed.

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Douberly said Day and his wife stopped at the station in the 800 block of Edgewood Avenue North about 11:30 p.m., and that Day was at a pass-through window making a purchase when the suspect approached and drew a handgun. Douberly said Day, who had a concealed weapons permit, drew his handgun and the two shot at each other. The 17-year-old male suspect was shot in the head and chest, Douberly said.

Day was stopping to pick up milk and a morning snack for his 7-year-old daughter at a gas station on Broadway and Edgewood around midnight.

"Everywhere he went that baby was with him...it's gonna kill her," said close family friend Joyce Bledsoe.

Detectives said Day was carrying a gun as well. They said he had a concealed weapons permit and shot back in self-defense.

Police said Day's quick thinking saved his wife's life. She was sitting in the car watching it all.

Bledsoe said this was a senseless crime that tore a young girl away from her father.

"She says 'Nanna do you know about my dad?' I says yes and I said, 'Do you know where your dad's at?' She says 'He's dead, he's in the ground, no he's in heaven,' Bledsoe said.

OFCC PAC Commentary
Incidents like these occur in every state in our nation. People are attacked in their personal vehciels, and cannot "drive off", as suggested by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Unlike citizens of Ohio, however, most U.S. citizens have the right to choose to protect themselves if attacked in their vehicle. The political whims of a few continue to turn more Ohioans into defenseless victims.

Police say Charles Day saved his wife's life. We say Charles Day is a hero.

Click here to read the story from the Jacksonville (FL) Times-Union.