What the hell is going on? Another senseless killing

[one...two...tree 2,762]

PITTSBURGH – A gunman wearing a bulletproof vest and "lying in wait" opened fire on officers responding to a domestic disturbance call Saturday, killing three of them and turning a quiet Pittsburgh street into a battlefield, police said.

Police Chief Nate Harper said the motive for the shooting isn't clear, but friends said the gunman recently had been upset about losing his job and feared the Obama administration was poised to ban guns.

Richard Poplawski, 23, met officers at the doorway and shot two of them in the head immediately, Harper said. An officer who tried to help the two also was killed.

Poplawski, armed with an assault rifle and two other guns, then held police at bay for four hours as the fallen officers were left bleeding nearby, their colleagues unable to reach them, according to police and witnesses. More than 100 rounds were fired by the SWAT teams and Poplawski, Harper said.

The three slain officers were Eric Kelly, 41, Stephen Mayhle, 29, and Paul Sciullo III, 37. Kelly had been on the force for 14 years, Mayhle and Sciullo for two years each. Another officer, Timothy McManaway, was shot in the hand and a fifth broke his leg on a fence.

Poplawski had gunshot wounds in his legs but was otherwise unharmed because he was wearing a bulletproof vest, Harper said. He was charged with three counts of homicide, aggravated assault and a weapons violation.

...

At 7 a.m., Sciullo and Mayhle responded to a 911 call from Poplawski's mother, who remained holed up in the basement during the entire dispute and escaped unharmed, Harper said.

When they arrived at the home, Sciullo was immediately shot in the head. Mayhle, who was right behind him, was also shot in the head.

"It appears he was lying in wait for the officers," Harper said.

Kelly, who was on his way home after completing his overnight shift when he heard the call for help, rushed to the scene and was killed trying to help Sciullo and Mayhle, Harper said. SWAT teams and other officers arrived and were immediately fired on as well.

Don Sand, who lives across the street from Poplawski, said he was woken up by the sound of gunfire. Hunkering down behind a wall in his home, he saw the first two officers go down and then saw Kelly get shot.

"They couldn't get the scene secure enough to get to them. They were just lying there bleeding," Sand said. "By the time they secured the scene enough to get to them it was way too late."

Deputy Chief Paul Donaldson, who lives nearby, was one of the first officers to arrive. He saw Mayhle by a bush to the right of the door; Kelly was in the street and McManaway, his hand injured, was kneeling beside him, yelling that Kelly needed help.

Donaldson suggested using a police van to get them. They draped a bulletproof vest on the window to protect the driver and several officers got into the van to get Kelly and McManaway.

During this time, Poplawski was somehow distracted, Donaldson said.

"We were fortunate that he didn't fire on us. I don't know why he was distracted, but he apparently didn't see us coming down to get them," he said. "It could have been worse."

Poplawski had feared "the Obama gun ban that's on the way" and "didn't like our rights being infringed upon," said Edward Perkovic, his best friend.

Perkovic, 22, said he got a call at work from him in which he said, "Eddie, I am going to die today. ... Tell your family I love them and I love you."

Perkovic said: "I heard gunshots and he hung up. ... He sounded like he was in pain, like he got shot."

Poplawski had once tried to join the Marines, but was kicked out of boot camp after throwing a food tray at a drill sergeant, Perkovic said.

Another longtime friend, Aaron Vire, said Poplawski feared that President Barack Obama was going to take away his rights, though he said he "wasn't violently against Obama."

Vire, 23, said Poplawski once had an Internet talk show but that it wasn't successful. He said Poplawski owned an AK-47 rifle and several powerful handguns, including a .357 Magnum.

Obama has said he respects Americans' constitutional right to bear arms, but that he favors "common sense" gun laws. Gun rights advocates interpret that as meaning he would approve some curbs on assault and concealed weapons.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090404/ap_on_...sburgh_shooting

Edited April 4, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Utter craziness. The beginning of the end of society as we know it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Utter craziness. The beginning of the end of society as we know it.

It looks like this shooter fits the typical profile. He thought society was trying to do him in (take away his guns) and he wanted to go out with a bang. You can't tell me that the vitriolic rhetoric spewed by some gun rights extremists aren't helping to nurture this kind of mentality.

[Ban Hammer 13,746]

Utter craziness. The beginning of the end of society as we know it.

It looks like this shooter fits the typical profile. He thought society was trying to do him in (take away his guns) and he wanted to go out with a bang. You can't tell me that the vitriolic rhetoric spewed by some gun rights extremists aren't helping to nurture this kind of mentality.

maybe he's been an avid reader of your threads

[Niels Bohr 72]

He cherished the rights to guns versus to right to live.

[S and S 12]

The worst part is that the police have nothing to do with the policies Obama may put in place, yet that is who he chose to kill. I guess I'll never understand some people's line of thinking.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The worst part is that the police have nothing to do with the policies Obama may put in place, yet that is who he chose to kill. I guess I'll never understand some people's line of thinking.

There's a certain psychological profile of a typical shooter like this. It's too bad that there's isn't vocal outrage towards extremists views coming from some gun rights fanatics who feed this kind of mentality.

[sj5 4]

See, we do need to give guns to our polices. I think, we should mandatory neuro psychological evaluation to get a gun which more make sense. I know that some unstable mind can buy a gun legally.

Edited April 5, 2009 by sj5

[Niels Bohr 72]

We can say we have one less lunatic running this earth.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

See, we do need to give guns to our policies.

...another intelligent post from sj5.

We can say we have one less lunatic running this earth.

Sounds like the guy had no mental problems prior to his violent exit. If so, he wouldn't have been able to purchase those guns.

[Niels Bohr 72]

We can say we have one less lunatic running this earth.

Sounds like the guy had no mental problems prior to his violent exit. If so, he wouldn't have been able to purchase those guns.

Strange how stuff like this happens. It boggles minds. All of a sudden, bam, the brain snap and run wild.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We can say we have one less lunatic running this earth.

Sounds like the guy had no mental problems prior to his violent exit. If so, he wouldn't have been able to purchase those guns.

Strange how stuff like this happens. It boggles minds. All of a sudden, bam, the brain snap and run wild.

I think most people, under the right circumstances are capable of snapping...now whether they become violent or just crawl into the corner of their room and babble like a baby - I think a lot has to with their general attitudes prior to snapping.

[sj5 4]

See, we do need to give guns to our policies.

...another intelligent post from sj5.

We can say we have one less lunatic running this earth.

Sounds like the guy had no mental problems prior to his violent exit. If so, he wouldn't have been able to purchase those guns.

He is lunatic. A lot of people losing their jobs and homes but they didn't kill anyone. I just found out that buying guns here in US doesn't require mental test(or its just California doesn't require neuro test for gun license? But I need license for fishing. ). I really think there's some testing before you own this lethal weapon.

Edited April 5, 2009 by sj5

[natty bumppo 297]

Utter craziness. The beginning of the end of society as we know it.

It looks like this shooter fits the typical profile. He thought society was trying to do him in (take away his guns) and he wanted to go out with a bang. You can't tell me that the vitriolic rhetoric spewed by some gun rights extremists aren't helping to nurture this kind of mentality.

Since you know all about the profile .... please tell the VJ community about this profile and how to spot someone who fits this profile .....

Does a person bear a scarlet letter on their clothing?

Tattoo on the forehead?

Wear trench coats?

Drive 10+ year old Hondas?

Believe in God?

Does not believe in God?

Has a relative in law enforcement?

Owes more than they are worth?

Talks to themselves?

Buys only generic foods at the grocery store?

Lives in a mortgaged to the hilt home?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Utter craziness. The beginning of the end of society as we know it.

It looks like this shooter fits the typical profile. He thought society was trying to do him in (take away his guns) and he wanted to go out with a bang. You can't tell me that the vitriolic rhetoric spewed by some gun rights extremists aren't helping to nurture this kind of mentality.

maybe he's been an avid reader of your threads

For sure! That could make some want to kill and be killed.