It was a scene as creepy as a Hannibal Lecter movie.
One man was shot to death by Miami police, and another man is fighting for his life after he was attacked, and his face allegedly half eaten, by a naked man on the MacArthur Causeway off ramp Saturday, police said.
The horror began about 2 p.m. when a series of gunshots were heard on the ramp, which is along NE 13th Street, just south of The Miami Herald building.
According to police sources, a road ranger saw a naked man chewing on another man’s face and shouted on his loud speaker for him to back away. Meanwhile, a woman also saw the incident and flagged down a police officer who was in the area.
The officer, who has not been identified, approached and, seeing what was happening, also ordered the naked man to back away. When he continued the assault, the officer shot him, police sources said. The attacker failed to stop after being shot, forcing the officer to continue firing. Witnesses said they heard at least a half dozen shots. (more…)
ABC News released a report to reputedly documenting George Zimmerman’s injuries. The problem with this as that the report was generated by a family physician the day AFTER the shooting. This means that the evidence was not checked or safeguarded by the Police, who could assure that the “injuries” suffered by Zimmerman were really as a result of the altercation – and not something generated to provide an alibi for his actions. There is no chain of evidence.
Truth here was the second victim, thrown under the bus by the local police not doing their jobs.
A medical report compiled by the family physician of Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman and obtained exclusively by ABC News found that Zimmerman was diagnosed with a “closed fracture” of his nose, a pair of black eyes, two lacerations to the back of his head and a minor back injury the day after he fatally shot Martin during an alleged altercation.
Zimmerman faces a second degree murder charge for the Feb. 26 shooting that left the unarmed 17-year-old high school junior dead. Zimmerman has claimed self defense in what he described as a life and death struggle that Martin initiated by accosting him, punching him in the face, then repeatedly bashing his head into the pavement.
Also today, a trove of documents are being examined by lawyers for both the defense and prosecution as part of discovery in Zimmerman’s trial — including 67 CDs worth of documents, video of Martin on the night of the shooting, his autopsy report and videos of Zimmerman’s questioning by police.
Zimmerman’s three-page medical report is included in those documents that the defense could use as evidence.
On the surface at least – something appears to be very wrong here. How exactly dies a police officer getting stopped for a simple traffic violation devolve into a full out gunbattle?
And how exactly do you charge the only guy in said gunbattle who never discharged his weapon, and was shot 21 times in the back, with “attempted murder”?
As much of the country follows the Trayvon Martin case, activists in Chicago are hoping to bring some of that attention to Howard Morgan, a former Chicago police officer who was shot 28 times by white officers – and lived to tell his side of the story.
According to police, Morgan opened fire with his service weapon when officers tried to arrest him, which caused them to shoot him 28 times. His family, however, very much doubts those claims.
“Four white officers and one black Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad police man with his weapon on him — around the corner from our home — and he just decided to go crazy? No. That’s ludicrous,” Morgan’s wife, Rosalind Morgan, told the Sun-Times.
She was not the only person to doubt CPD’s side of the story. A Change.org petitionsigned by more than 2,600 people called for all charges against Morgan to be dropped, and now Occupy Chicago is getting involved.
“After being left for dead, he survived and was then charged with attempted murder of the four white officers who brutalized him,” Occupy wrote on their website, adding that Morgan was found not guilty on three counts, including discharging his weapon. The same jury that cleared him of opening fire on the officers, however, deadlocked on a charge of attempted murder — and another jury found him guilty in January.
That jury was not allowed to hear that Morgan had been acquitted of the other charges.
Howard Morgan’s van was crushed and destroyed without notice or cause before any forensic investigation could be done.
Howard Morgan was never tested for gun residue to confirm if he even fired a weapon on the morning in question.
The State never produced the actual bullet proof vest worn by one of the officers who claimed to have allegedly taken a shot directly into the vest on the morning in question. The State only produced a replica.
“If they can do this and eliminate double jeopardy and your constitutional rights, then my God, I fear for every Afro-American — whether they be male or female — in this corrupt unjust system,” Morgan’s wife told the Sun-Times.
I have seen MSNBC trot out Toure as their expert on things “Black”. From what I have seen so far the guy doesn’t have the gravitas to carry that water. Here he attacks Piers Morgan for interviewing George Zimmerman’s brother. This puts Toure in the ridiculous position of denying the Zimmerman family and their supporters the right to free speech. Toure is so far off-base it’s absurd. Piers takes him to school…
French Nazis aren’t any different than their American counterparts… Now unlike the US where drive-bys and school shootings enabled by our out of control gun culture are an everyday occurance – this level of violence is something drastic for France, as it is in most of the world.
Sarkozy: Gunman in French shootings driven by racism
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that the same gunman who shot dead a teacher and three children at a Jewish school in Toulouse on Monday was also responsible for the killing of three soldiers last week, apparently motivated by racism.
“We know that it is the same person and the same weapon that killed the soldiers, the children and the teacher,” Sarkozy said in a televised address, saying the terrorism alert level in France had been raised.
“This act is odious and cannot remain unpunished.”
Sarkozy also said he would suspend his campaign for France’s April-May presidential election until Wednesday.
French paper Le Point reported that French police are searching for three former paratroopers in connection with the Toulouse Jewish school shooting that left four dead.
According to the report, the paratroopers were dismissed over suspicion of being neo-Nazis in 2008. The Jerusalem Post could not confirm the report.
French police said earlier Monday that forensic evidence revealed the gun used to kill four people — a teacher, his two children and another child — at the Ozar Hatorah school was the same used to slay three French soldiers on two separate occasions nearby.
The victims in the shootings were all members of minority groups but the exact motivation of the killer is yet unknown.
The first murder linked to the gun took place on March 11. Police found the body of Imad Ibn-Ziaten, a 30-year-old staff sergeant of North African descent, dead behind a school in Toulouse. Investigators suspect the off duty serviceman was lured there by his murderer.
Last Thursday a gunman riding a scooter and wearing a black helmet opened fire on three French soldiers in uniform at a shopping mall in Montauban, a city 50 kilometers north of Toulouse. Abel Chennouf, 24, and Mohamed Legouad, 26, both of North African descent, were killed. Loic Liber, 28, of Afro-Caribbean descent, was left in a coma.
On Monday morning a motorcyclist similar in description to the gunman involved in the second attack drove up to the entrance of Ozar Hatorah in Toulouse and opened fire on a group of parents and children that gathered outside on the start of the school day.
Yonathan Sandler, a 30-year-old teacher from Jerusalem; his two children Aryeh, 6, and Gavriel, 3; and 8-year-old Miriam Monstango, the daughter of the school’s principal, died in the attack and several others were wounded.
“We are struck by the similarities between the modus operandi of today’s drama and those last week even if we have to wait to have more elements from the police to confirm this hypothesis,” said French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a press conference.
French police have launched a massive manhunt for the suspect while French Interior Minister Claude Gueant has ordered increased security at Jewish schools throughout the country.
Sarkozy, who is facing an election later this year, is personally overseeing the investigation in Toulouse. In a press conference, he vowed to find the perpetrator of the attacks…
A man named Dexter Isaac has claimed responsibility for shooting Tupac Shakur in Manhattan’s Quad Studios in November 1994, setting off a chain reaction of violent reprisals that resulted in the eventual murder of both Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., who was originally blamed for the assault.
Isaac, who is currently serving a life prison sentence plus 30 years for murder and robbery, released a statement to AllHipHop.com, explaining that he was paid $2,500 for the shooting by James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond, a music industry figure who is now the CEO of Czar Entertainment and the manager of the Game.
In the statement, Isaac apologized to Tupac and Biggie’s families and said that he kept quiet until now because the statute of limitations for an assault charge has expired and he cannot be charged for the attack. Isaac also expressed regret for getting involved with Rosemond, whom he refers to as a “sucker.” Rosemond is currently a fugitive wanted by the DEA and federal marshals for his involvement with a cocaine trafficking operation.
A Florida corrections officer and a man wanted for killing his parents were killed in a gunbattle on Wednesday, authorities said.
Jackson County Sheriff’s officials said a homeowner confronted Wade Andrew Williams in the woods Wednesday morning. Williams, 35, tried to shoot the homeowner, but missed. Williams fled, setting off a massive manhunt that ended in the shootout.
Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger says the corrections officer killed was from Holmes County. Local media reported that he worked on the Holmes Correctional Institution canine team. His name was not immediately released.
It was unclear how Williams was killed. Police earlier had reported that he was arrested, the Jackson County Floridan reported.
Williams’ parents, Bruce and Sharon Williams, were found dead in their two-story home in Cottondale last Wednesday.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Williams was killed “escaping”…
I think almost everyone recognizes that the job of the Police is dangerous. But in the last few days nearly a dozen officers have been shot, with several killed in the past 48 hours…
Gabrielle Giffords’ Husband Walks Up and Hugs President Obama After His Memorial Speech Last Night.
Did anyone else notice that besides Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, there were no prominent Republicans at the event last night? I expected Sandra Day O’Connor and Justice Kennedy because of ties to the region, and felt that made an important point that the Court stands with Americans for justice and the rule of law.
I don’t know if they were dis-invited, felt uncomfortable, or what – but I expected the Speaker of the House, John Boehner to be there as the head of Congress.
That would have been an even stronger message to the haters. I think an opportunity was missed on someone’s part to show some solidarity.
To anyone still believing President Obama is a Muslim…Your belief isn’t based in any reality – it’s based on your bigotry. You ARE the problem.
A Map Published by Palin's "Reload" Campaign, felt by Many to Encourage Assassination
The Pima County Sheriff, among others – blames the assassination attempt on Giffords, resulting in 6 dead and 18 wounded on the heated political rhetoric employed by conservatives. This was not the first time gunfire has been directed against Rep. Giffords. Police report that her office was shot at, and vandalized during the Health Care Debate. Police now are looking for at least one other “person of interest” in connection with the murders. Police have not commented on what role, if any, the person may have played.
After the same type of “guns” and “kill the liberals” rhetoric led to the bombing of the Murrah Building by Timothy McVeigh, the Anthrax attacks on liberal news people and elected officials, dozens of mailings of “powdered substances” to government officials, and the plot by whack-jobs to assassinate President Obama…
It is very difficult to give any credence to the claim that the right wingers don’t know what they are doing.
This is nothing more than Domestic Terrorism, and should be treated by Law Enforcement and the Courts as such.
The tenor of American political rhetoric became a centerpiece in the national debate over Saturday’s attack by a gunman in Tucson, Arizona, that killed six people and left local Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords with a bullet wound to the brain.
Public leaders and others expressed sorrow about “a tragedy for the entire country,” as President Obama put it — a total of 18 people allegedly shot by 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner.
But officials also voiced dismay Saturday over the possibility that highly polarized rhetoric in the conservative hotbed of Arizona may have played a role in the assassination attempt of the Democratic congresswoman, who was targeted during a meet-and-greet with constituents in a shopping center. A federal judge, a girl age 9, and four other people died in the mass killing.
While not stating a motive for the shootings, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik in Tucson used a nationally televised press conference to condemn the tone of political discourse in his state. He charged that public debate is now “vitriolic rhetoric,” which has rendered Arizona “the mecca for prejudice and bigotry.”
Dupnik suggested that such rhetoric can have deadly consequences.
“We need to do some soul searching,” Dupnik told reporters. “It’s the vitriolic rhetoric that we hear day in and day out from people in the radio business and some people in the TV business. (more…)
Police say Kenneth Bonds committed a crime against fashion.
Law enforcement officials in Memphis, Tenn., believe the 45-year-old shot a 17-year-old in the buttocks after getting into an argument with the teen over his baggy trousers.
According to MyFoxMemphis.com, the incident occurred after Bonds confronted the victim and his 16-year-old friend and ordered the pair to pull up their sagging pants on Sept. 25.
The teens — who were on their way to buy candy — refused, and Bonds allegedly shouted a profanity at the duo and demanded they “do what he told them to do” because he is an adult, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by TheWeeklyVice.com.
The victim and his friend reportedly called Bonds a “fat ass” and continued heading toward the candy store.
After the teens made their purchases, they passed Bonds again. But by that time, the suspect had allegedly retrieved a handgun from his home.
Police say Bonds fired several shots, striking the 17-year-old once in the rear end.
The victim was treated and released from a local hospital, and Bonds was arrested after getting picked out of a police line up.
There is always a back story of why whackjobs justify mass murder. At least this one didn’t get his marching orders from Glenn Beck – which is scant consolation…
Omar Thornton, the alleged shooter of multiple co-workers at Hartford Distributor
Nine people are dead in a workplace shooting in a Manchester, Ct., beer-distribution warehouse, and an unknown number are wounded.
On Tuesday morning, Omar Thornton, a driver for Hartford Distributors, went on a shooting rampage during a morning shift change, and then killed himself, police say.
Mr. Thornton, who had worked for the company for a couple of years, had been called in for a disciplinary hearing, according to reports, and was on his way there this morning. It was unclear whether the meeting had taken place before he started shooting.
According to Brett Hollander, the director of marketing at the company, between 50 and 70 people were in the warehouse when Thornton opened fire around 7 a.m. A fire in the warehouse – which has been put out – added to the chaos. Thornton eventually turned his semiautomatic rifle on himself as police approached.
Mr. Hollander, whose family owns the company, says his cousin, who was shot in the face and arm, was among the wounded. Hollander thinks his cousin will be OK.
“There was a guy that was supposed to, was asked to resign, to come in to resign and chose not to and shot my cousin and my co-workers,” Hollander told the Associated Press.
It’s still unclear why Thornton was being disciplined, though a source told the Hartford Courant that he had been suspected of stealing from the company. Joanne Hannah, a former neighbor of Thornton whose daughter had dated him, also told the Courant that Thornton, who is black, had complained about racial harassment at work and that his superiors had refused to address his complaint.
The shooting is the deadliest in the US since 13 people were shot and killed at Fort Hood, Texas, last November.
The shooting “was a senseless act of violence that has left us all shaken and reminds us just how precious and fragile life truly is,” said Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell in a statement of condolence to the victims’ families.
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Joanne Hannah, who said she was the mother of Thornton’s girlfriend, told ABC Thornton had called his mother this morning, apologizing for what he had done and saying goodbye.
Hannah said Thornton had complained for a long time about racial harassment, and claimed he had pictures in his cell phone of the N-word and a hangman’s noose scrawled on a bathroom wall at Hartford Distributors.
Authorities are saying that multiple American soldiers attacked unarmed American Soldiers at Ft. Hood in Texas. So far, 12 are confirmed dead, with 31 wounded.