Since just before Christmas, I have received nearly two dozen emails detailing various crimes that, collectively, should alarm us all. The sheer volume of incidents reported in the news is staggering. However, we must also acknowledge that many crimes go unreported or are never covered by the media for various reasons.
These incidents range from assaults involving individuals to attacks carried out by groups. What is particularly unsettling is that most of these crimes occurred during routine, everyday activities. The methods of attack varied—some involved firearms, others involved knives, vehicles, or even bare fists. Tragically, several of these incidents turned deadly, while many others left victims injured. These crimes targeted a diverse range of individuals, from young women to elderly citizens, creating a pervasive sense of fear and insecurity in our communities as people attempt to go about their daily lives.
What follows is a summary of some of these incidents. Based on my experience and training, I believe that many of these situations could have been prevented or effectively countered with the proper skills and awareness. My observations, shaped by the information I’ve received and the clarity of hindsight, are not intended to cast blame on the victims or those involved. Rather, my intent is to provide insights that may help others learn and better prepare for similar situations in the future.
(Note: The incidents described are in no specific order and include events from all parts of the country over the last thirty days.)
Aggressive/Assaultive Homeless/Panhandler: A young woman was accosted by a homeless woman demanding cash and gas at a Sam's Club gas station in Savannah, GA, when the woman repeatedly shoved the victim up against her van. An individual eventually stood by the young women as she pumped the gas. The attacker ran into the woods before she could get a picture of her. No injuries were reported.
Home Invasion/Robbery/Assault: Investigators say a home invasion happened on Jan. 11 in Savannah, GA. Apparently, the 66-year-old victim, who is a bartender, heard a knock on his door, saw two men he believed were Amazon drivers, and opened the door. When he opened the door, the men reportedly forced their way into his home and hit him on the head. Police shared surveillance video of two men wearing jackets that looked very similar to those worn by Amazon drivers.
Sexual Assault: In Detroit, MI, a security guard is facing charges in connection with the sexual assault of a teenage student. A 24 year old male has been charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and is currently being held without bond. Prosecutors claim the incident came to light after a student reported witnessing suspicious behavior between the male and the victim in a stairwell, an area reportedly not covered by surveillance cameras
Fire and Explosion: A propane-butane cylinder explosion at a restaurant in Most, Czech Republic, approximately 62 miles north of Prague, killed six people and injured eight others on January 11. The blast occurred when a gas heater toppled over in the restaurant’s glass-enclosed outdoor terrace, spreading flames rapidly through the establishment.
Assault/Burglary: A 75-year-old Fort Lauderdale, FL resident returned home from a routine chore, only to be confronted by an intruder who had broken into his apartment. Authorities reported that the intruder, after being discovered ransacking the elderly man’s home, viciously assaulted him with a trophy and attempted to strangle him. The assailant then fled the scene, taking with him $4,000 in cash and the victim’s bicycle.
Stabbing: A community is grappling with grief after a 14-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the Bronx, NY. The suspect has been taken into custody, accused of carrying out the attack on a promising high school student and football player. Authorities say the victim was in route to the Bronx Leadership Academy when he was attacked. As the incident unfolded, Rios managed to call his father, expressing his fear and struggle to breathe, moments before collapsing on the street. Passersby intervened, flagging down an emergency vehicle, but Rios succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Shooting: A woman was found with a gunshot wound near a bus stop close to Desert Ridge Marketplace in North Phoenix, AZ. The Phoenix Police Department received a call about a possible injury and upon arrival, officers discovered the woman suffering from at least one gunshot wound. She was quickly transported to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.
Stabbing: A United States Postal Service letter carrier was fatally stabbed inside a Harlem deli in New York City after an altercation erupted over the order of customers in line. Ray Hodges, an on-duty postal worker, was ordering a sandwich when he became involved in a dispute with another customer, according to police officials. According to witnesses, the confrontation began when a woman became angry, claiming the postal worker had cut in front of her in the line.
Home Invasion: A routine evening at home turned into a moment of sheer terror for Hillary Delaney when she discovered three masked men attempting a break-in at her Hollywood, CA residence. Delaney noticed the intruders in her backyard, sparking a confrontation. The sight of one man wielding a metal object, trying to smash a window, transformed Delaney from a potential victim into a defiant defender of her home. Security footage captured the intruders as they rapidly retreated, their plan thwarted by Delaney’s quick thinking and boldness.
Shooting: A holiday shopping trip turned chaotic on Christmas Eve at a Clarksville, TN Walmart, leaving one person injured and another facing charges. The incident unfolded when an argument inside the store rapidly escalated into gunfire. According to police, the altercation involved two individuals who both drew firearms during the dispute. A 19-year-old man, identified as one of the instigators, was transported to the hospital with injuries and now faces charges of aggravated assault. The second individual involved in the shooting reportedly acted in defense of his family.
Shooting: A chaotic scene unfolded at an Albuquerque, NM gas station, where police officers shot and killed a gunman, inadvertently wounding three innocent bystanders. The incident began when employees called 911, reporting that 33-year-old Anthony Hernandez, who appeared intoxicated, had brandished a firearm inside the store and was accompanied by his three-year-old. Shortly after, Hernandez was observed outside the gas station, allegedly pointing his weapon and behaving menacingly toward people in the parking lot. Officers arrived at the scene and attempted to detain Hernandez, who initially walked towards them with his gun concealed behind his back. As tensions escalated, Hernandez turned and fired a single shot, prompting officers to return fire. In the ensuing exchange, bullets struck a nearby vehicle, injuring both a male driver, who was shot in the hand, and a female passenger, who was hit in the arm. Another man standing close to Hernandez sustained a gunshot wound to the torso. Albuquerque Police Department officials later confirmed that the bystanders were hit by officers’ bullets.
Kidnapping: A Louisiana man is in custody, accused of abducting a teenager and holding her captive in the woods of Tangipahoa Parish, LA. Authorities report that a male allegedly lured the 14-year-old girl from her Tennessee home after meeting her through online gaming. The teenager was discovered in a tent situated in a remote forest area between Hammond and Ponchatoula. Although she was found to be physically unharmed, officials say she was visibly distressed by the experience.
Burglary: A homeowner in a quiet Bradenton, FL neighborhood confronted a terrifying scenario when two masked men attempted to break into his home. The confrontation ended with one suspect fatally shot and the other apprehended after a brief chase on foot, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Stabbing: A chaotic scene unfolded at a popular dining spot in Oak Forest, IL, leaving several individuals injured and three in custody. Details remain scarce but witnesses report that the restaurant became the backdrop for a confrontation that escalated quickly. The altercation resulted in multiple people suffering stab wounds, prompting an urgent response from local law enforcement.
Stabbing: A routine pizza delivery in Oola County, FL took a violent turn leaving a pregnant woman fighting for her life and the 22-year-old suspect in custody, facing serious charges. According to authorities, the victim had been in town to celebrate her boyfriend’s birthday with her 5-year-old daughter. The evening took a dark turn after a pizza delivery, totaling $330. The delivery driver/suspect was dissatisfied with the gratuity, and returned with an accomplice, and both suspects reportedly wore face masks as they forced their way into the room brutally assaulting the victim. Investigators say the suspect repeatedly stabbed the pregnant woman - 14 times - as her young daughter witnessed the horrific scene. The attackers then fled, leaving the victim gravely injured.
Stabbing: Authorities are searching for a suspect involved in the fatal stabbing of a homeless shelter employee in Brownsville, NY. Law enforcement officials believe he is responsible for the murder of a 35-year-old employee at a local shelter. The victim was found with stab wounds to the neck and stomach. Despite efforts to save him, the victim succumbed to his injuries at Brookdale Hospital. The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Kidnapping/Robbery: A 35-year-old man was arrested on Christmas Day in connection with a kidnapping and robbery that occurred in Haltom City, TX. According to police, the suspect kidnapped a 22-year-old woman at gunpoint on Christmas Eve. The ordeal began when the woman was leaving her apartment for work and an armed man wearing a mask reportedly forced her into the back seat of her own vehicle. The suspect made her withdraw $400 from an ATM before driving around for about an hour. The harrowing journey ended when the suspect tied the victim to a tree in Grapevine using her shoelace and then drove off in her car.
Shooting: Ten people, mainly teenagers, were injured when gunmen opened fire outside a Concert Hall in Jamaica, Queens, NY, during a private memorial event. The victims, ranging from 16 to 20 years old, were among a crowd gathered outside the venue when three or four men approached and fired approximately 30 shots.
Hit with Vehicle: – A small Northern Colorado community is grappling with grief and frustration after a tragic incident at a local gas station claimed the life of a pregnant woman. The victim was struck and killed, leaving her family and community in mourning. The victim, who was three months pregnant, was walking in the gas station parking lot when a driver pulled into a spot, fatally hitting her. The victim also left behind two young sons.
Kidnapping/Robbery/Assault: A harrowing incident when a 19-year-old woman was reportedly kidnapped, assaulted, and robbed before managing a daring escape. The young woman was allegedly lured to a residence in Akron, OH by individuals she believed to be friends. Once there, she was held captive in a basement and subjected to a brutal attack. The ordeal was not only physically traumatizing but was also reportedly filmed by her assailants, adding a disturbing layer to the crime. The victim managed to flee the house, running into the street without any clothing where a passerby noticed her distress and stopped to assist.
Hit With Vehicle: A chilling series of hit-and-run incidents has left residents of Salt Lake County, UT on edge. The unsettling spree has unfolded over several months, and has been captured on security cameras, revealing a pattern that law enforcement is actively piecing together. The suspect, a 26-year-old male, was apprehended in a damaged white car shortly after a woman suffered critical injuries. His arrest has tied him to six separate hit-and-run cases, all aimed at women.
Road Rage: Out on a night marking their 20th wedding anniversary, a couple was in route to a celebratory evening when a terrifying encounter unfolded. As they traveled along Interstate 595 near Miami, FL, a black truck approached them at high speed. The husband shifted lanes to allow the vehicle to pass, however, the truck continued to tailgate them aggressively. “I warned my wife to duck just as the gunshot rang out.” In a split second, a bullet narrowly missing the husband and struck his wife in the head. The impact left her with a severe injury, but her husband’s quick response to pull over and call 911 likely saved her life.
Shooting – A typical Monday evening turned chaotic for shoppers and employees at a Walmart in Holland, OH, after a shooting incident inside the store forced an evacuation. The incident unfolded just before 4 p.m. when a 17-year-old allegedly fired a gun during an altercation involving two other juveniles and an adult. According to a Sheriff’s deputy, the altercation escalated quickly, leading to the teenager discharging a firearm. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Stabbing - A 71-year-old American Airlines flight attendant, Celinda Levno, based in Phoenix, Arizona was fatally stabbed during a layover in downtown Denver, CO on January 11, 2025. She was one of two victims who died in a series of random attacks that left two dead and two wounded over the weekend in downtown Denver. Police arrested 24-year-old Elijah D. Caudill in connection with four separate stabbings that occurred between Saturday evening and Sunday evening. The attacks began Saturday with the first victim suffering non-life-threatening injuries. Levno was the second victim, followed by another survivor. The fourth victim was stabbed just before midnight on Sunday and also died from their injuries.
Just a cursory review of the above narratives gives you a pretty good illustration of what we are up against regarding criminal behavior. If you total these up, you have the following:
· Road Rage – 1
· Assault with a Vehicle – 2
· Kidnapping – 3
· Shooting – 6
· Robbery – 3
· Stabbing – 10
· Burglary – 3
· Home Invasion – 2
· Assault – 3
· Sexual Assault – 1
· Fire/Explosion* – 1
TOTAL EVENTS – 35
(*Note: While not a crime, this is included to illustrate the kind of events you need to be prepared for.)
Several years ago, I began developing a manual titled PERTAC: Personal Tactics for an Uncertain World. The PERTAC concept was created for both armed and unarmed individuals who are committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect themselves and their families. PERTAC embodies the idea of the "All-Around Warrior/Martialist/Generalist"—someone who possesses a working knowledge of essential "hard skills" (e.g., empty-hand combat, edged and contact weapons, chemical weapons, firearms, and trauma care) alongside critical "soft skills" like situational awareness and verbal de-escalation.
One thing that stands out in the incidents described is the sheer unpredictability and suddenness of these events. Whether eating dinner, shopping, pumping gas, or simply walking down the street, you can unexpectedly find yourself a victim or a bystander when others are harmed. This underscores the importance of having the skills and training to respond effectively in an emergency. If I were to recommend a hierarchy of skills to focus on, it would look like this:
1. Situational/Environmental Awareness
2. Trauma/First Aid
3. De-Escalation
4. Less Lethal Weapons (e.g., Pepper Spray)
5. Empty-Hand Combatives/Self-Defense
6. Firearms
Carrying a firearm may not align with everyone’s plan, and that’s okay. However, studies show firearms are used defensively between 500,000 and 3 million times annually, not to mention the countless instances where other self-defense tools—like pepper spray or hand-to-hand techniques—are employed. The potential need to rely on these skills is significant.
Crime happens constantly, often without our awareness. In the era of 24-hour news, we can become desensitized to reports of violence. Staying informed and alert is vital to navigating a world where dangers can arise when we least expect them.
