Tragic Shooting Turns into Gun Debate

On Saturday April 21, 2007, Damon Wells was attacked near his home, by two teenage boys attempting to rob him. One of the buys pulled a gun. Wells, a concealed weapons permit holder drew his own weapon, and shot the boy, killing him. The resulting debate has a city up in arms.

Damon Wells was returning home from a trip to the corner store when he was approached by Arthur "Ace Boogy" Buford, 15, and another teenager. In an attempt to rob Wells, Buford pulled a gun and said "Don't move or Ill pop you." Wells, 25, a licensed concealed weapons permit holder pulled his own pistol, and shot Buford multiple times in the chest. Buford stumbled a block away before collapsing and dying. His accomplice fled the scene. The resulting debate has forced Wells to leave his home for fear of his life.

On Monday April 23, 2007, Cleveland Police, and city prosecutors cleared Wells of any wrong doing, stating that the shooting was justified, and he would not be charged. This however has sparked an outrage in the community, and divided the city on the topic. Protesters and mourners were gathered outside Wells' home, and set up a shrine to Buford on a near by utility pole. In the night, someone threw rocks through his windows. These events have forced Wells to leave his home, and stay with relatives in an undisclosed location. The upset public is calling on city leaders and the NAACP to get involved and hold Wells accountable for the loss of the 15 year old boys life, stating that the boy was living the "thug lifestyle" that they are forced to live in the impoverished neighborhood.

Other community members are outraged, stating that the boy was a criminal, and deserved what he got. Wells has been receiving offers of donations and assistance since this incident occurred. Several people have offered to replace his windows. The public is confused on this issue, wondering where the ministers and politicians are, and why they are not commenting. Both Wells and Buford are Black, adding a confusing twist to the incident. Under the normal circumstances, the community would expect a white on black crime, THAT they would know how to be upset about. Having both the victim, and the criminal being black, it has the normal rebel rouser's confused.

It has been reported that this is the first case of a concealed weapons license holder fatally using their weapon to defend their life since the Ohio law was passed three years ago. That is far from the "blood covered streets" that opponents envisioned when the law became reality. This incident, combined with the Virginia Tech tragedy has many people wondering if armed citizens is such a bad thing after all. Had a student or teacher at VT been armed, that situation could have ended much sooner. And if Wells had not been armed, his situation could have ended with him being a statistic. Perhaps it isn't such a bad thing to have legally armed citizens around.