{"id":96309,"date":"2018-08-29T09:12:16","date_gmt":"2018-08-29T13:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=96309"},"modified":"2018-08-29T09:12:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T17:00:56","slug":"army-veteran-shot-by-police","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/army-veteran-shot-by-police\/","title":{"rendered":"Vietnam Veteran Who Was Shot by Police While Defending his Grandson Given a Hero\u2019s Burial"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Vietnam<\/a>

Gary Black faithfully served his country in Vietnam, and he died protecting his family earlier this summer. (Photo: CBS Denver<\/em>)<\/p><\/div>\n

A Vietnam War veteran and Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient was laid to rest this weekend after being shot by police defending his grandson from a home intruder.<\/p>\n

Richard \u201cGary\u201d Black, 73, was in his Aurora, Colorado, home around 1:30 a.m. last month when a naked man broke down their front door and began assaulting his grandson. Black shot the intruder, but police shot Black when they arrived at the scene and saw him carrying a handgun and a flashlight.<\/p>\n

The incident has been described as one of the most tragic police shootings in the city\u2019s history, according to the Denver Post<\/a>, and those who were there hailed him as a hero both in the service and at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a hero coming out of that war, and he died a hero defending his family,\u201d said Mark Potter, chaplain for American Legion Post 22 in Northglenn, Colorado.<\/p>\n

Aurora Police Department Chief Nick Metz, whose officer shot and killed Black, was also in attendance, accompanied by several uniformed officers. Metz hailed Black as a hero for defending his family.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt in my mind in any shape or form that Mr. Black saved his family\u2019s life that night,\u201d Metz said.<\/p>\n