'Target' turns tables on gunmen
Man with permit to carry gun wounds teen with weapon

By Kelli Wynn
Dayton Daily News

DAYTON | Two teens with guns approached a 40-year-old man at Riverview Avenue and Catalpa Drive early Friday. The man backed away, with outstretched hands.

The targeted man, Mark Hill, pulled out a Glock 23 handgun — he has a concealed-carry permit — and fired several shots, hitting one of the gunmen, a Dayton police report said.

It was Dayton's first shooting by a holder of a concealed weapons permit, according to Sgt. Dennis Chaney.

Police went to the 2000 block of West Riverview about 12:45 a.m. in response to numerous calls about the shooting.

Police found Mark Hill at his residence. He told them he was walking west on Riverview when two teenage males in dark clothing approached him from Catalpa. One shoved him, he turned around and both flashed handguns, a police report said.

Hill "began to back away in a bent-over position with his hands outstretched," according to the report. Then he pulled out a Glock 23, a .40-caliber handgun, and fired, hitting one of the gunmen several times.

The two ran off, the report said.

Shortly after the shooting, a 17-year-old showed up at Good Samaritan Hospital. He was admitted with gunshot wounds to his leg, abdomen and arms, Chaney said. Hospital officials called police.

He was with two 16-year-olds. Police said all three matched the description of the gunmen and a male seen by the man in an alley north of the Riverview and Catalpa during the robbery attempt.

Police arrested the younger teens as they tried to leave the hospital, Chaney said.

The three had shown up in a Jeep Cherokee stolen Thursday on Lakeview Avenue, Chaney said.

"We don't know if they stole it (originally)," Chaney said.

The 16-year-olds were in the Family Court Center, pending delinquency charges of aggravated robbery and receiving stolen property.

Chaney said Hill, who has both a Dayton Firearms Owner's Identification Card and Montgomery County Concealed Carry Card, acted in self-defense.

Contact Kelli Wynn at 937-225-2414.

Man describes shooting teen robbers
'These kids reminded me of my kid'

By Ben Sutherly
Dayton Daily News

DAYTON | Facing two armed teenagers intent on robbing him early Friday, Mark Hill pulled out his Glock 23 handgun, then hesitated.

"These kids reminded me of my kid," Hill said Saturday. "Then I really had to protect myself after that."

Hill fired several shots, hitting one of the gunmen. The shooting was the first by a holder of a concealed weapons permit in Dayton, police said.

Hill, 40, a lifelong resident of Dayton, said the two teenagers then opened fire on him, but missed.

Police said Hill, who has both a Dayton firearms owner's identification card and Montgomery County concealed carry card, acted in self-defense.

Shortly after the 12:45 a.m. shooting, a 17-year-old showed up at Good Samaritan Hospital in a stolen Jeep. He was admitted with gunshot wounds to his leg, abdomen and arms, according to Dayton police, who were contacted by hospital officials. The 17-year-old was in fair condition Saturday evening.

The 17-year-old was with two 16-year-olds. Police said all three matched the description of the gunmen and a male seen by Hill in an alley north of Riverview Avenue and Catalpa Drive, where the attempted robbery occurred.

Police arrested the younger teens as they tried to leave the hospital. They were taken to the Family Court Center, pending delinquency charges of aggravated robbery and receiving stolen property.

Hill had been walking to a local store when two teenagers wearing dark clothing approached him. One shoved him, he turned around, and both flashed handguns, according to a police report.

The two males demanded money, Hill said in an interview Saturday. He grabbed one gunman's weapon, then let go and backed away with outstretched hands when he realized another gun was targeting him, he said. He then pulled his weapon and, after hesitating, fired.

Hill said he's a single parent of a 20-year-old son, teaches martial arts, and was robbed 20 years ago while working at a convenience store on Gettysburg Avenue near Necco Avenue — all factors in his decision to obtain a concealed weapon permit.

"I wish we all would have missed each other," Hill said in recalling the exchange of gunfire. But he added, "I want to live, too."

Contact Ben Sutherly at 937-335-0509.