| dragoncoach |
| Some crazy guy in a Black Pilot hit at least 13 pedestrians in SF. It started in Fremont, CA where he struck and killed a man and then came to the city where he continued to drive and hit pedestrians. According to the news, 13 hit, 3 critical and one killed. Pretty sad |
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| Pilot-Matt |
How can someone go on such a rampage to run down helpless people going about their daily routines.
Could this be an act of terrorism on a small scale (if there's such a thing) or an act of racist aggression?
Just a horrific incident.
:( |
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| 5Gs |
| this happened so close to home. hopefully this guy never gets out of jail. people like that don't deserve a second chance. |
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| jcantanixon |
That really is too bad. Do you think it's possible that someone could've taken an aggressive action to stop this earlier? Perhaps use their vehicle to block him in? The article said he didn't put up any fight when the cops blocked him in, and it doesn't seem like he took on any cars...just the defenseless pedestrians and motorcyclists.
I once went after a guy who tried to hit and run...chased him for several blocks, but never got in a position to do more than just write down his license plate number.
If it had been NY or LA, they would've beaten him silly before the cops even got there. |
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| rocky |
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/29/su...e.ap/index.html
also
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...0/NARRATIVE.TMP
One killed in SUV hit-and-run rampage
SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- The driver of a sport utility vehicle plowed across sidewalks and crosswalks throughout the city Tuesday, killing one man and injuring at least 13 people in a series of attacks on pedestrians and motorists, police said.
The man struck people in 12 locations until police surrounded him with squad cars, authorities said.
The rampage began around noon in Fremont, where a man walking along the side of the road was hit by an SUV. He was thrown into a field and killed, police Sgt. Chris Mazzone said.
Witnesses said the driver did not slow down.
The driver then crossed the bay into San Francisco, where he injured at least 13 people during a 20-minute hit-and-run rampage, police said.
The victims were taken to three hospitals. One was in critical condition.
The rampage ended when police arrested the man in the Presidio Heights district. The black SUV was still in the middle of the street an hour later, its front end and windshield smashed in.
"These are the things, these are so senseless," Mayor Gavin Newsom said after meeting with victims and their families. "They're utterly inexplicable. They're impossible to rationalize."
The driver's name was not immediately released, but state motor vehicle records show the license plate on the SUV registered to Omeed A. Popal of Fremont.
An aide to the mayor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the open investigation, said Popal was the suspect in custody. Court and property records list Popal's age as 29.
A woman who identified herself as his cousin said he was having recurring nightmares about someone coming to kill him and had been taking medication.
"He thought the devil was coming to him," said Zargona Ramish, who went to the family's home Tuesday afternoon while Popal's relatives were speaking with police. "He is a very good person. He is not like that. What's wrong with him?"
The mayhem left a trail of debris on sidewalks and streets. White sheets covered a bloodstained patch of concrete. A broken pair of eyeglasses lay in the middle of the road. And a lone running shoe sat on the asphalt cordoned off by yellow tape.
No weapons were found on the suspect, though the car had not been searched, said Sgt. Neville Gittens. There was no information on whether drugs or alcohol were involved, and it was unclear how fast he was driving, he said.
"It was very chaotic," Gittens said.
Daniel Fulford, a bartender at Frankie's Bohemian Cafe, was tending to customers when he heard tires screeching and saw the black SUV careening around a corner.
"I heard his tires," he said. "Then I heard a couple of thuds. I looked out and saw a couple of people lying in the middle of the street. They were just pedestrians walking."
As bystanders began gathering around the victims, the SUV came back around, swerving and knocking over newspaper boxes on the sidewalk, Fulford said.
"Everybody started freaking out, getting out of the street," he said. "That car was like a weapon. He could have come right at us."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. |
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| colorider |
| Damn!!! What goes through people's minds to do something as crazy as this?!?! :confused: |
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| colorider |
| Merged threads (thanks N_Jay) |
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| mchan |
| I saw this on the news last night also. Couldn't believe it... |
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| 5Gs |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
That really is too bad. Do you think it's possible that someone could've taken an aggressive action to stop this earlier? Perhaps use their vehicle to block him in? The article said he didn't put up any fight when the cops blocked him in, and it doesn't seem like he took on any cars...just the defenseless pedestrians and motorcyclists.
I once went after a guy who tried to hit and run...chased him for several blocks, but never got in a position to do more than just write down his license plate number.
If it had been NY or LA, they would've beaten him silly before the cops even got there.
after watching the local news last night, it appears that things happened too fast for anyone to overcome their shock of what was going on to think about possibly nabbing the guy themselves. also, I think it's hard for people to put their own cars in harm's way.
but seeing the damage and injuries he caused, he deserved a beating (and more). |
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| dragoncoach |
| I hope he doesn't get off scott free by pleading diminished capacity or under the influece of drugs or try to use the twinkie defense. |
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| ictvuser |
quote:
Originally posted by dragoncoach
I hope he doesn't get off scott free by pleading diminished capacity or under the influece of drugs or try to use the twinkie defense.
I agree. Sometimes I think the system focuses too much on the criminal's rights and not the rights of the victims. |
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| iglesias |
quote:
Originally posted by ictvuser
I agree. Sometimes I think the system focuses too much on the criminal's rights and not the rights of the victims.
An article in the LA Times today mentioned that he's recently been showing signs of "paranoia and other mental distress". He'll probably end up in a mental hospital instead of prison.
LA Times article |
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| 5Gs |
quote:
Originally posted by iglesias
An article in the LA Times today mentioned that he's recently been showing signs of "paranoia and other mental distress". He'll probably end up in a mental hospital instead of prison.
LA Times article
that's fine, as long as he doesn't get out and have a chance to do what he did again! |
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| ecsw |
| omg. that's very sad. :( |
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| 2ndhonda |
By my calculations:
It looks to be approx. 534 pounds on the roof of the pilot. (356 bricks at 1.5lbs.)
Since we have all now seen it, I think i'm going to strap a small cow down the the roof-rack and take it to the slaughter.
Cheers. |
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