The following vignettes describe the circumstances for killings not ruled self-defense by private individuals with permits to carry concealed handguns. The incidents below all occurred in Arizona. The descriptions include the current, known status of any charges filed against the concealed carry killer as reported by news sources as well as noting instances where the perpetrator committed suicide.
The Violence Policy Center welcomes any new information regarding the status of any case (with verifiable source(s)). Use this link to contact the VPC: http://www.vpc.org/contact.htm.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Ryan Schlesinger PENDING
Date: November 29, 2018
People Killed: 1
Law Enforcement Officers Killed: 1
Circumstances: On November 29, 2018, concealed carry permit holder Ryan Schlesinger, 26, shot and killed Deputy U.S. Marshal Chase White with a multi-caliber rifle outside a house in Tucson, Arizona. White and other officers were serving an arrest warrant issued against Schlesinger for stalking a law enforcement officer. Schlesinger opened fired as the officers forced their way into the home, hitting White, who later died after being taken to Banner-University Medical Center. The other officers fired back, resulting in a standoff that lasted for approximately an hour. Schlesinger, wearing a ballistic vest and helmet, eventually surrendered to police. According to a federal complaint, Schlesinger had threatened to kill officers that were serving an emergency mental-health petition at his residence in August 2017. During the 2017 incident, Schlesinger was shocked by a stun gun and taken into custody. Officers also confiscated his Glock pistol and ammunition. In the following months Schlesinger sent emails to the Tucson police demanding the gun be returned. Although active injunctions prohibited Schlesinger from possessing firearms, he was still able to purchase a gun because he possessed a valid concealed weapons permit. The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirmed that they are not notified when a protection order is issued and under Arizona Statue it is the responsibly of the individual to turn over a CCW permit to DPS if an injunction is made against them. It is unclear how Schlesinger obtained the gun used to kill White. Schlesinger was indicted by a grand jury on 13 counts related to the shooting. The charges were one count of first-degree murder of a federal officer, three counts of attempted murder of a federal officer, four counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, and five counts of discharging a weapon while committing a crime.
Source: “Tucson man indicted on multiple charges in killing of deputy marshal,” Tucson.com, December 29, 2018; “Man accused of killing deputy U.S. marshal points out gun loophole,” kvoa.com, December 5, 2018.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Michael Voden CONVICTED
Date: November 9, 2013
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On November 9, 2013, concealed handgun permit holder Michael Voden, 72, shot and killed his neighbor Randy Burnett following a dispute over a dog. According to news reports, Burnett entered Voden’s yard to retrieve his dog Scooter who was running around Voden’s yard and barking. Voden called 911 after hearing the dog, but despite the 911 dispatcher urging him to stay in his house, Voden went outside to confront Burnett. According to the 911 call, Voden was heard saying, “Get this, get this [expletive] dog out of my yard right now.” Voden shot Burnett four times in the chest and back during the confrontation. Burnett’s wife testified that her husband was not threatening Burnett and had his hands up in the air when Voden shot him. Voden claimed Burnett was walking toward him as though he intended to overpower him and take his Glock pistol. On May 29, 2015, Voden was found guilty of manslaughter and faces a sentence of seven to 21 years in prison.
Source: “Voden convicted of manslaughter,” Payson Roundup, May 29, 2015; “Voden Murder Trial Court Date Det,” Payson Roundup, September 2, 2014; “Payson man Michael Alan Voden accused of killing neighbor over dispute about dog,” abc15.com, November 20, 2013.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Thomas Bodine PENDING
Date: June 15, 2012
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On June 15, 2012, concealed handgun permit holder Thomas Bodine, 67, allegedly shot and killed his 64-year-old wife as she was sleeping. Bodine told police that he arrived at his home to find his wife dead with a pillow over her face and a gun in her hand. Yet, the police investigation quickly found numerous inconsistencies in his story, including the fact that wife had no blood on her hands which would indicate she was not shot at close range, ruling out suicide. Bodine, who was diagnosed with clinical depression approximately two years earlier, was arrested on suspicion of first degree murder.
Source: “Glendale man accused in wife’s shooting death,” Tucson Citizen, June 19, 2012.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Candice Lynne Wright CONVICTED
Date: September 2, 2007
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On September 2, 2007, concealed handgun permit holder Candice Lynne Wright shot and killed her 73-year-old husband with a Kel-Tec .32 handgun. Wright frequently carried a .32 handgun at her side and she had fired a handgun during an incident outside her home a few weeks before the murder. Wright claimed that she left her husband to go the grocery store to obtain more steak for their dinner and was at the store for 35 to 45 minutes before returning home to find him dead, when she called 911. Video from the grocery store showed that Wright was only in the store for three minutes. Trial testimony revealed that Wright’s relationship with her husband was marked by conflict, “stemming at least in part from Wright’s chronic alcoholism.” Wright’s
husband’s daughter testified that Wright threw a drink in the victim’s face on Father’s Day. Wright was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison. In July 2011, an appeals court upheld the conviction.
Source: State of Arizona v. Candice Lynne Wright, Court of Appeals of Arizona, Division One, Department B, July 7, 2011.