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 North Dakota. 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: Lance Rick SUICIDE
Date: May 30, 2015
People Killed: 2 (including shooter)
Circumstances: On May 30, 2015, concealed handgun permit holder Lance Rick, 44, shot and killed his wife Sharon Connell-Rick, 44, with a handgun in the basement of the couple’s home before turning the gun on himself. Connell-Rick had filed for divorce in March 2015 and Lance Rick had moved to Washington where he was living with another woman. Rick, an “avid gun collector,” was expected to meet his wife at their home around 5pm to return some items to her. Instead, he showed up two hours early, armed with a gun he had brought with him on his flight from Washington to Fargo. According to police, Rick shot his wife once in the body and once in the head before shooting himself in the head. Rick had permits to carry a weapon issued from both North Dakota and Utah.
Source:“New details emerge about West Fargo murder-suicide,” West Fargo Pioneer, October 14, 2015.