From DailyMail.co.uk…
A US woman ‘saved lives’ when she shot a man who opened fire on a crowd of people with a semi-automatic rifle.
The woman, who has not been named, had been at a birthday party in the city of Charleston, West Virginia, when Dennis Butler began shooting at the group of around 40 people.
Police say 37-year-old Butler, who has an extensive criminal history, used an AR-15-type rifle in the incident, and was killed when the woman fired back at him.
Spokesman Tony Hazelett said the woman will not be charged, and that she most likely ‘saved several lives’ by firing back.
He said: ‘She’s just a member of the community who was carrying her weapon lawfully.
And instead of running from the threat she engaged with the threat and saved several lives.’
No one else was injured in the shooting, which took place late on Wednesday, May 25 near the Vista View Apartment Complex on the northeast side of Charleston.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Hazelett said the incident appeared to have stemmed from Butler being told to slow down while driving through an area where children were playing at the party.
He said the felon left the complex, before coming back later with an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle and began firing into the crowd.
The woman, who was attending the party, drew her own weapon and shot back, killing him, WCHS Eyewitness News reports.
The news site reports that Butler had frequently been arrested in West Virginia, with charges often dismissed when witnesses failed to appear.
