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 Missouri. 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: Jericho Perry UNINTENTIONAL
Date: March 31, 2018
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On March 31, 2018, Jermon Perry, seven, was shot and killed by his five-year-old brother with a gun he had found in his parents’ bedroom dresser drawer while searching for candy. He carried the gun back to Jermon’s bedroom where he shot his older brother who was sitting in a chair playing a video game. Jermon’s twin brother was also in the room at the time of the shooting. The gun belonged to concealed handgun permit holder Jericho Perry, 39, Jermon’s father. According to the mother’s god-sister, the five-year-old probably did not know the difference between a real and toy gun. The shooting occurred as the boy’s father had just gone out to help a relative. The god-sister added, “He never thought the kids would get to the gun. They were in a upstairs bedroom and their mother was in the kitchen cooking.”
Source: “Family believes St. Louis boy was looking for candy when he found a gun – and killed his brother, 7,” www.stltoday.com, April 2, 2018.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Daron Simpson CONVICTED
Date: January 24, 2015
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On January 24, 2015, concealed handgun permit holder Daron Simpson, 34, allegedly shot and killed Andrew Clary, 36, after driving his vehicle through the garage door of Clary’s home. According to court documents, after entering Clary’s house through the garage, Simpson made his way to the bedroom where he allegedly shot and killed Clary and allegedly shot and wounded his ex-wife Amanda Simpson, 33, in the face. Amanda Simpson was being treated for serious facial injuries but was in stable condition and is expected to survive. Simpson turned himself in to police and was charged with second-degree murder. After the shooting, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office filed a petition to revoke Simpson’s concealed carry permit.
UPDATE: On September 12, 2016, Daron Simpson entered an Alford plea to charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault. As part of the plea agreement, Simpson was sentenced to 25 years in prison on each charge.
Source: “Simpson pleads in fatal Faucett shooting,” St. Joseph News-Press, September 12, 2016; “Sheriff files petition to revoke accused killer’s concealed carry permit,” stjosephpost.com, January 29, 2015; “One man charged with murder in Buchanan County killing,” kshb.com, January 24, 2015.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Antawan T. Ross CONVICTED
Date: June 5, 2012
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On June 5, 2012, concealed handgun permit holder Antawan T. Ross, 39, shot and killed Deshon Lernell Randolph, 37, before planting a knife near his body and claiming he was an intruder. According to trial testimony, Ross arrived at his exgirlfriend’s home to drop off their teenage son and daughter when he realized someone else was there. He saw his ex-girlfriend leave her bedroom in her underwear and said he wanted to meet the man. He went to his car and got a gun before returning to the bedroom and shooting Randolph in the head. Ross then planted a knife by Randolph’s body and ordered his ex-girlfriend to take the children and leave. After waiting several minutes, he called 911 and claimed he shot an intruder. On October 23, 2014, Ross was convicted of second degree murder and armed criminal action. The jury recommended he serve 17 years for the murder and five years for the weapons conviction.
Source: “Man convicted of killing ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend in Pagedale,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 27, 2014.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Clinton Gallagher SUICIDE
Date: December 2010
People Killed: 2 (including shooter)
Circumstances: In December 2010, concealed handgun permit holder Clinton Gallagher, 35, shot and killed his six-year-old son Alex and then himself in a murder-suicide in his home. Court documents filed the prior week by Gallagher’s wife revealed that she feared for her son’s life as well as her own. According to new reports, in her filing she expressed concerns about a gun Gallagher owned and requested temporary custody of Alex. She wrote, ‘I’m afraid he will use it on me at this time being that he is in a rage.” In 2009, Gallagher pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge against his wife. As a result, he lost his concealed weapons permit. He then sued the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in 2010 to have his permit re-issued and won the case. Even though Gallagher’s misdemeanor domestic violence conviction prohibited him from possessing firearms under federal law, Missouri law enforcement quoted in news articles stated that the misdemeanor conviction would not have prevented Gallagher from possessing a gun in his own home. Brandy Gaylord, who ran the child care facility that Alex Gallagher had attended for the past four years stated that “he will truly be missed by everyone…He was a joy to have. His smile would light up a room. His laughter would draw you close to that room.”
Source: “Clinton Gallagher’s wife feared for her life; Gallagher identified in Lone Jack killings,” Kansas City News, December 16, 2010; “Court Documents Paint Picture in Lone Jack Killings,” KCTV5.com, December 15, 2010; “Father, Son Deaths Ruled Murder-Suicide in Lone Jack,” www.fox4kc.com, December 15, 2010.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Akbar Rana PENDING-FLED THE COUNTRY
Date: September 3, 2010
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On September 3, 2010, concealed handgun permit holder Akbar Rana, 33, allegedly shot and killed Frederick Jones. According to investigators, Jones walked into the Shell station where Rana worked and got into an argument with the staff. Jones was forced outside by one of the clerks and a struggle ensued. Rana also stepped outside and used a stun gun on Jones. Jones then tried to punch Rana and was shot as he was running away. Jones was not armed. Rana was charged with voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. If convicted he could face a minimum of five years in jail on the manslaughter charge.
UPDATE: According to news reports, Rana has fled the country.
Source: “Akbar Rana, convenience store clerk, shot Frederick Jones Jr. in the back as he ran away, prosecutors say (updated),” www.pitch.com, October 29, 2010; “Store Clerk Charged In Man’s Shooting Death,” msnbc.com, October 27, 2010.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Johnnie Pulley CONVICTED
Date: July 1, 2009
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: Concealed handgun permit holder Johnnie Pulley, 61, was convicted of shooting and killing 17-year-old Brandon Colenburg after Pulley mistook Colenburg for the person who had beaten him on a public transit bus in April 2009. Pulley was unarmed the day he was beaten, but had his 357 Magnum handgun the day he saw Colenburg months later on a transit bus. Convinced that Colenburg was his assailant, Pulley followed Colenburg as he transferred buses and then continued on foot. Pulley claimed that he shot Colenburg in self-defense after the teen lunged at him. However, two witnesses—a Jehovah’s Witness who was knocking on doors and a mother dropping her child off at day care—said that Colenburg did not attack Pulley and that the youth had his arms at his side when he was shot. A jury rejected Pulley’s self-defense claim and found him guilty of second-degree murder. The mother of one of Colenburg’s friends testified that he had been at her home at the time of the original assault on Pulley.
Source: “Jury rejects self-defense claim in killing,” STLtoday.com, May 27, 2010; “Nothing normal about this murder trial,” STLtoday.com, May 26, 2010; “Defendant, 61, says killing of teen was justified,” STLtoday.com, May 26, 2010.