November 6, 2012
A masked criminal, wielding what looked like a handgun, entered the Tienda la Comadre convenience store in Hermiston, Ore. and attempted to rob the store. Police say the robber was in the store for all of five seconds before the owner retrieved a gun and fired at the criminal, causing him to flee. Nothing was taken from the store.
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November 2, 2012
A pair of armed intruders entered a home in St. Helena Island, S.C. and attempted to rob the 31-year-old woman who lives there. The homeowner responded by retrieving a gun and firing at the criminals, striking one and causing both to flee. The wounded criminal was discovered when he turned up at the Savannah Memorial University Medical Center seeking treatment; the other was captured a day later. The home invaders face charges of armed robbery and attempted murder.
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November 1, 2012
A 63-year-old woman suffering from congestive heart failure and arthritis was asleep at home in Bessemer, Ala. when an armed intruder came into her bedroom. The home invader demanded that the woman hand over money and jewelry, and when she didn’t comply, he drew a keyhole saw and cut her on her stomach and arm. Eventually, one of the woman’s seven dogs alerted a guest staying at the home to the commotion. The guest distracted the criminal long enough for the woman to retrieve a .44-caliber revolver and shoot the criminal, who fled the scene. Police captured the home invader a short time later after he sought treatment at a local hospital.
Following the shooting, the woman told local media, “I have a family to protect and that’s what I did. I protected me and mine.” The armed citizen also noted that she has been a gun owner for more than 30 years and that “women are better with guns.”
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October 23, 2012
12-year-old Kendra St. Clair was at home alone in Durant, Okla. when a man began banging on the front door. Frightened, Kendra called her mother at work, who told her to retrieve a .40-caliber pistol and to hide in the bathroom closet. Kendra complied, and after calling 911, heard the criminal break through a back door. After about six minutes inside the home, the intruder made it to the bathroom closet where Kendra was hiding. As the home invader attempted to open the closet, Kendra fired at the criminal, striking him and causing him to flee. Police captured the intruder a short time later and transported him to a hospital.
Following the incident, Kendra’s mother told local media about how her daughter was coping, stating, “She’s a trooper… She’s staying strong and confident. She’s handling this much better than I would have.” When asked about her experience, Kendra told reporters, “I kept my head on straight.”
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October 19, 2012
A 22-year-old woman was at home alone in Dallas, Texas when a pair of home invaders, at least one of whom was armed, kicked in the front door. After retrieving a gun, the woman spotted the criminals as they were headed to the second floor of the house. The woman opened fire on the home invaders, striking one and causing both to flee. The wounded burglar collapsed just outside the front door and was later taken to a local hospital, where he died.
The father of the armed citizen noted that he was proud of his daughter’s actions, stating, "I'm real proud of her because I taught her that... I taught my girls that -- to defend themselves when someone comes to hurt them, and apparently she listened."
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October 18, 2012
After going to bed early, a homeowner in Kenosha County, Wis. was awakened around 8:30 p.m. by a suspicious noise. The homeowner retrieved a .22-caliber pistol, went to investigate and found a burglar in his basement. The homeowner shouted to the home invader, “I got a weapon. It’s loaded. I’m prepared to shoot, come out,” at which point the criminal gave himself up and was then held at gunpoint until police could arrive. In an interview with local media, the homeowner credited his service in Vietnam as preparing him for such an incident.
The home invader’s father offered an apology to the homeowner, telling local media, “If you’re coming into my home like that, I can’t really honestly say you’re gonna walk out like you came in. I offer any kind of sympathy and sorrow toward that family."
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October 16, 2012
A 70-year-old woman was asleep in her Fayette County, W.V. home, when she was awakened by her burglar alarm. After arming herself with a .38-caliber revolver, the woman went to investigate. When she found the burglar, the criminal punched her in the face. The woman responded by firing at the home invader, causing him to flee.
Local law enforcement officials have been supportive of the homeowner’s actions, with Fayette County Sheriff Steve Kessler noting, “If the victim of the burglary had been unarmed she could have been seriously injured or killed when confronted by this burglar.” (The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.V. 10/12/12)
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October 10, 2012
Iraq War veteran Zach Rogers was on his third shift clerking at the 21st Amendment Liquor Store in Indianapolis, Ind. when he was forced to use his Second Amendment right to self-defense. An unruly customer instigated an argument and physical altercation with Rogers, during which the clerk retrieved a gun and shot the criminal.
Following an investigation, a spokeswoman for the local prosecutor’s office made clear, “the shooting was self-defense,” and that Rogers would not face charges.
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October 9, 2012
72-year-old Jerry Duncan was asleep upstairs in his Lakeland Village, Calif. home when he was awakened by a loud noise. After getting up to investigate the sound, Duncan discovered that his power had been cut, so he retrieved a flashlight and made his way downstairs. Duncan noticed that an air conditioner had been pushed out of one of the windows, leaving it open, so he retrieved a pistol he had kept nearby and waited at the window. After about five minutes, a criminal attempted to come through the window, at which point Duncan fired, striking the man and causing him to flee. The home invader only made it about 15 feet before collapsing dead.
In recalling the incident, Duncan explained, “All I was thinking about was defending myself… I’m in no shape to fight anybody. I’m 72 years old.”
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October 8, 2012
A 27-year-old woman was staying the night at her aunt’s house, when she heard a suspicious noise. The woman retrieved a gun, went to investigate, and spotted an intruder in her aunt’s kitchen. After he was discovered, the home invader approached the woman, at which point she fired, causing him to flee.
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October 3, 2012
A visibly intoxicated man entered Venture Corners convenience store in Deerfield Township, Mich. and tried to purchase beer. Taking into account the man’s state, 73-year-old clerk Fred Price refused to sell him the beer. The lout then threatened Price, showing the clerk what appeared to be a gun in his waistband. Price responded by retrieving a gun and holding the criminal at gunpoint until police could arrive. Upon inspection, the drunken man’s weapon turned out to be a BB gun.
This is the second time in three years Price has been forced to defend his store. In 2010, Price used a firearm to scare off an armed robber toting a starter pistol.
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September 26, 2012
63-year-old cancer patient Dixon Smith was at home in Laketon Township, Mich. when a pair of burglars broke into his house. Smith spotted one of the criminals walking by his front window, and then heard the burglars talking downstairs. After retrieving a shotgun, Smith confronted the intruders, ordering them to the ground. The burglars complied, and Smith held the pair until police could arrive.
According to Smith, the police response took “Kind of a long five to 10 minutes.”
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September 20, 2012
A pair of armed robbers entered the Meta Mart convenience store in Pike County, Ky. and headed towards the counter. Upon spotting the men, the clerk on duty called out to store owner Garry Thornsberry, who was in a back office. After glancing up at a security monitor, Thornsberry recognized the threat, retrieved a gun and fired at the two criminals, causing them to flee.
Thornsberry told local media that he had mentally prepared himself for a violent confrontation following robberies at other stores in the area, stating, “You have to prepare. It’s too late when it happens to start thinking ‘what am I going to do.’” Thornsberry went on to comment, “Until we get some of these people off the streets we’re going to have to live in fear of going to work.”
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September 19, 2012
An armed criminal approached a delivery driver outside a Domino’s Pizza in Springfield, Ohio and attempted to rob him. An off-duty Domino’s employee noticed the robbery, drew a gun and shot the criminal. Despite having been shot twice in the stomach, the criminal attempted to retrieve his firearm, forcing a bystander to kick it away from him.
Police Chief Steve Moody made clear that the armed citizen has not been charged. Local law enforcement suspects the criminal was involved in a similar robbery outside the same Domino’s a few nights before. Records show that the robber spent three years in prison following a 2007 conviction for aggravated robbery and is currently under indictment for burglary.
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September 14, 2012
Pharmacist Dr. John Agyemang was working his shift at Jolin’s Pharmacy in Winslow, N.J. when an armed robber entered the store and demanded Oxycontin pills. Agyemang responded by retrieving a gun and firing at the criminal, who fled to a bike and into a nearby wooded area.
An investigation revealed that Agyemang had a firearm owner’s identification card as required by New Jersey law. When asked about his actions Agyemang was humble, stating, “I'm no hero, but I thought, either him or I.”
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September 13, 2012
After being awakened by a suspicious noise early in the morning, a homeowner in Denton, Texas went to investigate. The homeowner spotted a pair of criminals attempting to load a welding unit from his property onto a pickup truck. The homeowner retrieved a shotgun and a cell phone, called 911 and then confronted the burglars. At first the pair attempted to hit the homeowner with the truck, but eventually the homeowner got the upper hand and held thieves at gunpoint until police could arrive.
The homeowner’s actions also helped police solve another crime; a trailer attached to the criminal’s pickup truck had previously been reported stolen.
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September 7, 2012
A 76-year-old employee at a real estate company in Everett, Wash. discovered an intruder at the office at around 9:15 a.m. The employee called 911, retrieved a gun and confronted the criminal, ordering him to stay put until police could arrive. The intruder refused, yelling at the employee and throwing office items at him. Eventually a scuffle broke out in which the employee fired at the criminal, striking him in the leg and causing him to flee. Police captured the intruder only a block away.
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September 5, 2012
92-year-old World War II veteran Earl Jones was at home on the Boone County, Ky. farm he has worked for over five decades when he heard a loud noise in the basement. Jones retrieved a .22-caliber rifle and went to a chair opposite the door to the basement. After several minutes, a home invader came through the basement door, at which point Jones fired at the criminal, killing him. The dead intruder’s accomplices fled the scene, but were captured after calling police with a lie about how their cohort had been shot.
During an interview with local media, Jones made clear his adamant support for the right to self-defense. Jones told a reporter, “I didn’t go to war for nothing. I have the right to carry a gun. That’s what I told the police this morning,” adding, “Was I scared? Was I mad? Hell, no… It was simple. That man was going to take my life. He was hunting me. I was protecting myself.”
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September 4, 2012
An armed criminal entered Stinson and Howard Fine Jewelry in Oxford, Ala. at around 12:30 p.m. and attempted to rob the store. Upon spotting the criminal, the store owner retrieved a gun and fired at the robber, missing him, but causing him to flee.
Helpful local residents quickly alerted police to the attempted robbery, allowing them to capture the criminal only blocks away from the store.
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August 30, 2012
A group of friends were enjoying a bonfire outside one of their homes in Flint, Mich. when two armed robbers approached them. While the criminals herded the group inside the home and demanded their valuables, the homeowner got away from the main group and was able to retrieve a gun. When one of the robbers put a gun to the head of a victim who was having difficulty finding his wallet, the homeowner fired, striking the criminal and causing his accomplice to flee.
The homeowner’s father, who lives next door to his son, said that police were supportive of his son’s actions, explaining, “the cops complemented him quite heavily on protecting his friends and his household and his family and everything else in the matter.” An investigation has led police to suspect that this was only the latest in a string of robberies these criminals were involved in
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August 23, 2012
A masked man armed with a samurai sword entered a Dairy Queen in Las Vegas, Nev. and attempted to rob the store. 20-year-old Michael Wehbe was working the cash register when the armed robber began hacking at it with the sword and demanding money. The clerk’s brother, 23-year-old Christian Wehbe, was in the back of the store, but when he saw the criminal on a surveillance camera he retrieved a 9mm pistol and rushed to help his brother. Once in the front of the store, Christian shot the robber, who later died at a local hospital.
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August 20, 2012
After a dog owner lost control of her pit bull in Lewiston, Idaho, the dog ran off her property and attempted to attack a husband and wife out walking their dog. Recognizing the threat, the husband drew a pistol and shot the animal, ending the attack. The pit bull was taken to a local veterinary clinic, but later died.
Following the incident, Lewiston Police Department Captain Tom Greene made clear to local media, “If you’re in fear of your life, fear of your safety, and there is a well founded fear, you are able to defend yourself.” The pit bull was known to authorities, having been labeled a level one dangerous dog after it tried to attack a woman in 2011.
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August 14, 2012
A group comprised of one 71-year-old man and three elderly women were leaving the Grand Masonic Hall in St. Louis, Mo. when an armed robber approached them and demanded their valuables. The group complied with the robber, who walked up the street with the items, but then turned again towards the group. The elderly man, a Right-to-Carry permit holder, drew a gun and fired at the criminal, causing the criminal to return fire then flee.
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August 9, 2012
A group of four armed men posing as police officers entered Marcelo’s Jewelry in Tampa, Fla. and attempted to rob the store. The store owner, Marcelo Suarez, noticed that the men were not police and retrieved a gun. Suarez and the robbers exchanged fire, before the criminals fled empty-handed. Police were unable to determine whether Suarez’s shots struck any of the robbers. Suarez was not harmed during the incident.
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August 6, 2012
A group of five masked and armed robbers entered Continental Jewelry in Garden Grove, Calif. and threatened a customer and store employees. After spotting the criminals, the 65-year-old woman who owns the store retrieved a handgun and fired at the robbers through a slot in a security wall. The criminals fled to a getaway car as soon as the owner opened fire.
Criminals should think twice before planning a heist in Orange County, Calif. The attempted robbery in Garden Grove was the second incident in a week in which an Orange County jewelry store owner has defended a store with a gun.
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August 1, 2012
A pair of robbers, one of whom was armed with a gun and pretending to be disabled in a wheelchair, entered Tick Tock Jewelry in Westminster, Calif. and ordered the employees and customers to the ground. While in a back room, the store owner heard the commotion, retrieved a gun and went to confront the criminals. The store owner ordered the gun-toting criminal to drop his weapon several times, but when the robber refused, the store owner shot the criminal in the face, ending the robbery.
Police have praised the actions of the store owner, with Sgt. Cameron Knauerhaze noting, “I would call what he did a very brave and heroic deed… He put himself in a position of danger to save his employees and customers. I think he did an outstanding job.”
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July 30, 2012
A 67-year-old man was at his home in New Haven, Conn. when he heard a suspicious noise. The homeowner went to investigate, first spotting a screen that had been forced open, then a naked intruder. A struggle ensued, during which the homeowner was able to retreat to another floor and retrieve a handgun. The homeowner then went back to confront the criminal and ordered the man to leave. When the home invader refused, another altercation ensued, during which the homeowner shot the criminal in the chest.
The home invader was taken to a local hospital where he is listed as in critical condition.
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July 27, 2012
A man was asleep in his Everett, Wash. home when he was awakened by the sound of breaking glass. The homeowner retrieved a .38-caliber revolver, went to investigate and discovered a man armed with a hammer climbing through a kitchen window. The homeowner shot and killed the home invader.
Investigators made clear that they do not plan to charge the homeowner, with Prosecuting Attorney Mark Roe explaining, “We are quite certain that a jury would conclude that the shooting was justifiable self-defense.” Police also noted that the deceased criminal was a suspect in a January burglary investigation.
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July 20, 2012
A driver for Padova’s Pizza in Columbus, Ohio was on a delivery when two men armed with shotguns attempted to rob him. At first, the driver, and Right-to-Carry permit holder, warned the criminals to leave. When the robbers persisted, the driver drew a gun and shot both criminals. The robbers fled the scene, but were captured a short time later when one of the criminals was found nearby with wounds to his head and chest.
Rather than the hostility some pizza delivery drivers have faced from their employers after exercising their right to self-defense, the owner of Padova’s Pizza has had words of support for his driver, stating, “He is just too good of a person, and I have known him too long, and I hope he doesn’t have mental anguish over this.”
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July 16, 2012
An armed criminal entered Abe & Son’s Corner Store in Cleveland, Ohio and attempted to rob the owner, Jamal Sulaiman. After Sulaiman retrieved a gun, he and the robber got into a scuffle. During the fracas, Sulaiman was shot once in the arm, but was able to shoot and kill his attacker.
The store has been the target of armed criminals in the past; the last owner was killed in a 2008 robbery. The criminal who attempted to rob Sulaiman had recently been released from prison, after serving part of his sentence for a 2009 robbery that took place outside Abe & Son’s. In May the robber was released and sent to a halfway house to serve the remainder of his sentence; he escaped June 22.
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July 11, 2012
A grandmother was getting dressed at her home in Sarasota, Fla. when she heard a knock at the door. Unable to answer the door at that moment, the homeowner ignored the knock. A few minutes later an intruder wearing a bandana broke-in through a glass door in the back of the house. Seeing the home invader, the homeowner retrieved a .38-caliber handgun and fired twice at the criminal, causing him to flee.
The police were able to locate the burglar after an anonymous tip led them to a nearby hospital where he sought treatment for a gunshot wound to his arm. A recording of the homeowner’s phone call to 911 reveals that she took no pleasure in her actions, as she told a dispatcher, “I’m so sorry. I would never hurt someone, but I was fearful of my life.”
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July 10, 2012
A criminal in Tulsa, Okla. crashed a stolen tow truck into an occupied suv and fled the scene as police were on their way. The thief then broke into a nearby home, only to be confronted by an armed homeowner. The homeowner opened fire on the home invader, striking the burglar in both legs and incapacitating him until police could arrive. Police pieced together the two incidents and brought the criminal to a nearby hospital, where after release he will face charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, leaving the scene of an injury accident and first-degree burglary.
This wasn’t the home invader’s first brush with law enforcement. An investigation revealed that the criminal has several prior convictions, which include grand larceny, possessing a stolen vehicle and pointing a gun.
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July 6, 2012
Vance T. Taylor was at home with his family in Idaho Falls, Idaho when the family dog alerted him to an intruder in the home’s bathroom. As his daughter called police, Taylor retrieved a gun and ordered the criminal to stay put. Disobeying the order, the home invader charged at Taylor, at which point Taylor opened fire, striking the criminal twice in the leg. The intruder fled the scene, but was captured a short time later at a nearby home.
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July 3, 2012
A homeowner was upstairs in his Tacoma, Wash. house when he heard a suspicious noise and shouted to see if someone was downstairs. A man replied, identifying himself as a police officer, which lured the homeowner downstairs. Once downstairs, the homeowner was confronted by two home invaders, one of whom immediately threw a hatchet at him. The home invader missed, allowing the homeowner time to retrieve a shotgun and shoot one of the criminals. The burglars fled the scene, but the wounded intruder was captured when he sought medical attention at a local hospital.
Criminals of the Pacific Northwest beware; the incident marked the second armed citizen shooting in Tacoma in just over a week.
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June 28, 2012
A husband and wife were at home asleep with their three young children in their Santa Rosa, Calif. home when the family dogs alerted them to an intruder. The wife went to investigate and found a burglar outside dismantling a window screen in an attempt to get into the home. The wife alerted her husband, who retrieved a gun, confronted the criminal and detained him until police could arrive. When police took the burglar into custody they discovered he was carrying a 2-foot length of pipe, for which he was charged with being in possession of a dangerous weapon.
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June 27, 2012
A man entered a Subway restaurant in Vallejo, Calif., ordered a sandwich and then pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. A 25-year-old concealed carry permit holder witnessed the robbery and confronted the criminal with his gun drawn. Not prepared for armed resistance, the robber fled the scene.
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June 25, 2012
Shortly after chaining her pet Chihuahua outside her home in Victoria, Texas, a woman noticed a stray pit bull attacking her pet. When the woman tried to intervene, the pit bull charged her, forcing her into the house. Once inside, the woman notified her son, who retrieved a shotgun and attempted to save the small dog. When the pit bull charged the son, he fired, killing the stray. The woman and her son were not harmed during the incident; however, the Chihuahua did not survive.
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June 20, 2012
A homeowner was at his house in Tacoma, Wash. when he spotted a burglar climbing through a window. After calling 911, the homeowner retrieved a shotgun and fired at the criminal, striking him in the face. The intruder fled the home, but collapsed in a nearby street. When authorities arrived, the criminal was taken to a nearby hospital, where he is expected to survive.
In an interview with local media, Mark Fulghum of Tacoma Police was supportive of the homeowner’s actions, stating, “If you’re in fear for your safety or the safety of your family, friends or others, you have the right to protect yourself or protect them.”
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June 15, 2012
The owner of the Classic Cash check-cashing business in Athens, Ga. was opening a side door to let an employee inside, when he saw a hooded man rush towards the door. The owner locked the door before the hooded man could get inside, retrieved a pistol and went to investigate. Upon opening the side door, the owner noticed the criminal go into one of the business' storage rooms. After warning the robber that he was armed, the owner saw the criminal come out of the storage area wielding a gun, at which point the owner opened fire. The gunman was struck twice, ending the attempted robbery.
In an interview with local media Athens-Clarke Capt. Clarence Holeman described the shooting as a case of self-defense. An investigation revealed the robber to be a convicted felon and police suspect he may have been involved in another nearby robbery.
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June 12, 2012
A man armed with a knife entered Justice Coins in New Port Richey, Fla. and stabbed owner Wayne Justice while attempting to rob the store. Despite his wounds, Justice was able to retrieve a firearm and shoot the attacker. The criminal fled, but collapsed just outside the store and later died after being taken to a local hospital.
Pasco County Sheriff’s Office officials made clear that they do not expect Justice to face charges and indicated that the store owner is a Right-to-Carry permit holder. Law enforcement officials also noted that the deceased robber had been arrested for robbery in 2007, was on felony probation and had a warrant out for his arrest at the time of his death.
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