Shootings

[Blackhawk]

I'm guessing that he'll make a claim of cognitive decline and get off with a good finger-wagging.

[Punisher]

I'm guessing that he'll make a claim of cognitive decline and get off with a good finger-wagging.

Then he sjpuld still get a life sentence and be admitted somewhere as a mental pt. Either he dies there or gets better then straight to jail.

[Victoria Raverna]

Blaming video games again? I guess it is understandable that the families of victims need to blame someone but why not blame lawmakers who are against gun restriction? Vote them out of office?

https://www.reuters.com/legal/families- ... 024-05-24/

Families of the victims of the 2022 elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, filed two lawsuits on Friday against Instagram's parent company Meta (META.O), Activision Blizzard and its parent Microsoft (MSFT.O), and the gunmaker Daniel Defense, claiming they cooperated to market dangerous weapons to impressionable teens such as the Uvalde shooter.

Together, the wrongful death complaints argue that Daniel Defense – a Georgia-based gun manufacturer – used Instagram and Activision's video game Call of Duty to market its assault-style rifles to teenage boys, while Meta and Microsoft facilitated the strategy with lax oversight and no regard for the consequences.
Meta, Microsoft and Daniel Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson for the Entertainment Software Association, a lobbying group representing the video game industry, said many other countries have similar levels of video game playing but less gun violence than the United States.

"We are saddened and outraged by senseless acts of violence," the group said in a statement. "At the same time, we discourage baseless accusations linking these tragedies to video gameplay, which detract from efforts to focus on the root issues in question and safeguard against future tragedies."

In one of the deadliest school shootings in history, 19 children and two teachers were killed on May 24, 2022, when an 18-year-old gunman armed with a Daniel Defense rifle entered Robb Elementary School and barricaded himself inside adjoining classrooms with dozens of students.

The complaints were filed on the two-year anniversary of the massacre by Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, the same law firm that reached a $73 million settlement with rifle manufacturer Remington in 2022 on behalf of families of children killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

The first lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Meta's Instagram of giving gun manufacturers "an unsupervised channel to speak directly to minors, in their homes, at school, even in the middle of the night," with only token oversight.

The complaint also alleges that Activision's popular warfare game Call of Duty "creates a vividly realistic and addicting theater of violence in which teenage boys learn to kill with frightening skill and ease," using real-life weapons as models for the game's firearms.

The Uvalde shooter played Call of Duty – which features, among other weapons, an assault-style rifle manufactured by Daniel Defense, according to the lawsuit – and visited Instagram obsessively, where Daniel Defense often advertised.

As a result, the complaint alleges, he became fixated on acquiring the same weapon and using it to commit the killings, even though he had never fired a gun in real life before.

The second lawsuit, filed in Uvalde County District Court, accuses Daniel Defense of deliberately aiming its ads at adolescent boys in an effort to secure lifelong customers.

"There is a direct line between the conduct of these companies and the Uvalde shooting," Josh Koskoff, one of the families' lawyers, said in a statement. "This three-headed monster knowingly exposed him to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems and trained him to use it."

Daniel Defense is already facing other lawsuits filed by families of some victims. In a 2022 statement, CEO Marty Daniel called such litigation "frivolous" and "politically motivated."

Earlier this week, families of the victims announced a separate lawsuit against nearly 100 state police officers who participated in what the U.S. Justice Department has concluded was a botched emergency response. The families also reached a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde.

Several other suits against various public agencies remain pending.

[Blackhawk]

Ask Jack Thompson how that all worked out for him...

[Isgrimnur]

Alex Jones asks to convert his bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 liquidation

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has asked a U.S. judge to convert his bankruptcy into a Chapter 7 liquidation, giving up on an effort to settle massive legal judgments related to his lies about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

Jones believes that "there is no reasonable prospect of a successful reorganization" of his debts, most of which stem from $1.5 billion awarded in defamation lawsuits, his attorneys said in a court filing late on Thursday. A Chapter 7 liquidation would not allow Jones to escape paying the legal judgments, but it offers a streamlined procedure for selling his assets under the supervision of a court-appointed trustee.
...
Jones had asked the Sandy Hook families to vote for a bankruptcy settlement that would have paid them $55 million, but they unanimously rejected the deal.

The Sandy Hook families instead offered their own proposal for liquidating Jones' assets, and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez will consider approving the Sandy Hook families' plan at a June 14 court hearing.

Because the bankruptcy will likely result in the liquidation of Jones' assets, Jones would prefer to liquidate his assets in a lower-cost and more streamlined court procedure, according to the court filing.

[Isgrimnur]

Judge rejects bankruptcy plan for Alex Jones’ Infowars but allows him to liquidate his personal assets

A Texas bankruptcy judge has rejected a proposed liquidation of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ company Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Infowars, saying that a denial of the bankruptcy plan was, in his opinion, in the best interest of the creditors.

The judge in the case, Chris Lopez, said the process had dragged on and that it needed to stop “incurring costs” and let the families try to claim what they are owed through state courts.

Earlier on Friday, Lopez approved the liquidation of Jones’ personal assets after the conspiracy theorist agreed to convert his personal bankruptcy into a Chapter 7 liquidation last week.
...
In a statement, an attorney for the families said they would press on.

“Today is a good day. Alex Jones has lost ownership of Infowars, the corrupt business he has used for years to attack the Connecticut families and so many others,” said Chris Mattei, an attorney for the families. “The Court authorized us to move immediately to collect against all Infowars assets, and we intend to do exactly that.”
...
The families argued to the court that there is “no prospect” the Jones’ company could produce a proper reorganization plan under a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which would allow the company to remain operational through its restructuring.
...
But the Sandy Hook families are hoping to seize Jones’ social media accounts, arguing they are a key part of his Infowars business that allow Jones to promote his brand. And Jones may not be welcome at some venues: He had been listed as a guest on the Milwaukee stop on Tucker Carlson’s live tour but was recently dropped from the lineup without explanation.

[Pyperkub]

Horror in Michigan

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/15/us/roche ... index.html

At least 8 people shot, including 2 children, at Michigan recreation center before suspect is found dead, police say

[LordMortis]

Having a hard time not taking political jabs when I see friends on FB and know so many living so close... again... Anecdotally, gun play violence just keeps going up around here. It's depressing and nauseating when I see local posters on telephone poles asking for details on shootings. So it's literally thoughts and prayers but also outrage and fear. I'm a good 15 miles from the inner city and less than two miles from what was the fastest growing suburban municipality during the reign of Bush the Elder and yet here we are.

[Isgrimnur]

Detroit News

Nine people were shot at a splash pad in Rochester Hills around 5:11 p.m. Saturday after a gunman got out of a vehicle and unloaded 28 gunshots from a handgun in a “random” act at the streetside park, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.

Sheriff's deputies later found the 42-year-old White male suspect dead Saturday night at a home in Shelby Township after police breached the home with a drone, Bouchard said.

The alleged shooter might have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police were surrounding the home, the sheriff said. Officers on site did not hear the gunshot.

The gunman drove up to the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad along Auburn Road in Rochester Hills, got out of a vehicle, opened fire with a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun, reloaded, fired and then reloaded a second time, leaving three bullet magazines at the scene, the sheriff said.

Police later recovered the magazine and handgun, which was registered to the shooter, helping lead investigators to the suspect's home, Bouchard said.
...
The suspect had no prior contact with the Oakland County Sheriff's Department, had no criminal history and is believed to have lived with his mother, who was not home during the incident, Bouchard said.

[hepcat]

I had no idea what a splash pad was until today.

[abr]

I had no idea what a splash pad was until today.

Me neither. (Too bad learning it in such a context.)

[Pyperkub]

Alex Jones trying to shield income...

In recent weeks, Jones has been promoting a new supplements site, Dr. Jones Naturals, on air. He says it’s owned by his father, David Jones, a dentist. Alex Jones has been urging people to spend their money there in addition to, or instead of, at Infowars' in-house store. “My dad is a sponsor, and he has a warehouse that’s not under their control, full of products ready to ship to you,” Jones said on-air last week. A representative for Free Speech Systems also testified in court that Infowars had stopped ordering supplements for its in-house store several weeks ago, expecting an imminent shutdown.

The things on offer from Dr. Jones Naturals don’t differ greatly from the things Infowars sells itself; there’s the usual bouquet of colloidal silver products, a longtime faux cure-all in the natural health world, along with something oxymoronically called Rocket Rest, a product called Top Brain, and, for the completist, a set of products called the Patriot Pack. There’s also a pack of “super silver lozenges,” where the product photo shows an expiration date of 2022.

“It’s an obvious fraud on the bankruptcy court,” Chris Mattei, an attorney for the Connecticut families, tells WIRED, referring to Jones' directing people on-air to his father’s supplements website. “He’s not supposed to divert assets.”

[GreenGoo]

Imagine lending your name to the grift your criminal son has going on so he can shield income from families he's slandered and defamed. I like that he's a dentist. Makes the whole thing extra vile.

Geezus.

[Zarathud]

Jones is an idiot, and this is why he’s not getting discharged by the bankruptcy court. He’ll keep playing the game (poorly), and lose.

[waitingtoconnect]

When they say do your research… they don’t mean it!

[LawBeefaroni]

Imagine lending your name to the grift your criminal son has going on so he can shield income from families he's slandered and defamed. I like that he's a dentist. Makes the whole thing extra vile.

Geezus.

Oh, he's been selling his shit on Jones' show/site for years.

I think he started here:

[Isgrimnur]

killed, 10 wounded in mass shooting outside Arkansas grocery store

Three people were killed and 10 wounded in a mass shooting Friday outside of a grocery store in Fordyce, Arkansas, state police said. Two law enforcement officers were among those injured, but their conditions are not life-threatening, police said in an afternoon press conference.

Arkansas State Police responded to the Mad Butcher grocery store at 11:38 a.m. local time on Friday. Upon arrival, officers engaged in a shooting with the lone suspect, authorities said.

A video clip from the scene appears to show a man in the parking lot armed with a shotgun firing at officers, who were returning fire.

The eight civilians who were wounded have injuries ranging from non-life-threatening to extremely critical, Arkansas Department of Public Safety Director Mike Hagar said at the briefing.
...
The shooter, identified by police as 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey of New Edinburg, Arkansas, was arrested. Police said he was first treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries he sustained in the shootout with officers, and was then taken into state police custody on three counts of capital murder.

[Alefroth]

So someone that shot two cops gets arrested? Huh.

[LawBeefaroni]

So someone that shot two cops get arrested? Huh.

The coward probably dropped his gun(s) and turtled up as soon as he was met with opposition. I certainly wish the responding officers had been better shots but having him alive helps the investigation and profiling. Now he lives for free on the state's dime.

[gbasden]

So someone that shot two cops get arrested? Huh.

Not even slightly surprising that he's a white dude.

[Isgrimnur]

Army investigation reveals series of failures ahead of Maine mass shooting carried out by reservist

The investigation found communication failures “impacted [Sgt. 1st Class] Card’s continuity of care.” In one critical failure, military and civilian health facilities failed to upload Card’s discharge documents to the military medical system for more than two weeks after he left their care.

“The discharge summary included relevant and critical information which if it had been provided to the chain of command would have detailed the extent of SFC Card’s mental health issues,” the investigation report says. Among those details include that he “had homicidal ideations … appeared resistant to psychoeducation, and he blamed others for his behavior.”

The report also outlines several months of extremely troubling behavior by Card preceding the shooting, during which colleagues, friends, and family alike voiced concerns over his mental health and said they believed he was going to hurt others.

“I believe he’s going to snap and do a mass shooting,” Card’s best friend, whose name is redacted in the report, said in a text message to unit leadership in September 2023, a little over a month before Card would go on a shooting rampage, that also injured 13 people, at a local bowling alley and restaurant.

Card was found dead two days later with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
...
The investigation noted Card’s chain of command had “limited jurisdiction” over him given that Army Reservists are typically on duty in the military roughly 40 days a year.

Still, three people within Card’s chain of command have been punished, officials told reporters. It was unclear what exactly the punishment was; Daniels said she took “appropriate administrative action.” The investigation report said his leadership should not have ordered him to his annual training in July 2023 — during which he was hospitalized in a psychiatric facility — and that they failed to conduct a Line of Duty Investigation. The Line of Duty investigation would have “properly” documented his hospital stay and condition, the report said.

[Pyperkub]

Georgia 14 year old kills 4 (at least) in school shooting:

The shooter who opened fire inside Apalachee High school is believed to be a 14-year-old boy, a law enforcement source tells CNN.

The source said it is not yet known whether the teen attended that school.


4 people killed and 9 injured in high school shooting, Georgia Bureau of Investigation says
From CNN's Elise Hammond

Nine people were hospitalized with injuries after a shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The agency also confirmed in a post on X that four people were killed and that one person is in custody. It added that “reports that the suspect has been ‘neutralized’ are inaccurate.”

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith previously said there were ”multiple injuries.”

Other law enforcement sources told CNN there could be up to 30 people who were injured, although it’s unclear how many of the injuries are from gunshot wounds.

Developing story thread.

[LawBeefaroni]

My daughter just started high school. The first day she had to go in early to get acquainted with the metal detectors and security line.

Every day is like TSA!

[Zarathud]

Lane H.S. has under a dozen metal detectors for 8,000 students. Maximum theater!

[ImLawBoy]

Lane H.S. has under a dozen metal detectors for 8,000 students. Maximum theater!

My son is a threat. They can't really send his wheelchair through the scanners after all!

[Isgrimnur]

Where can I find the Car Wars supplement for that?

[LawBeefaroni]

The shooter in Georgia had threatened school shootings before and was known to local, state, and federal law enforcement.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/09/05 ... l-shooting

Federal investigators said on Wednesday that the suspect in the shooting at a Georgia high school had been interviewed more than a year ago by local law enforcement officials in connection to threats made online of a school shooting.

The authorities were led to the suspect, Colt Gray, who was 13 at the time, after the F.B.I.’s National Threat Operations Center received several anonymous tips in May 2023 reporting threats that had been posted on an online gaming site warning of a school shooting at “an unidentified location and time,” according to statements from the F.B.I. field office in Atlanta and local law enforcement officials. The threats included photographs of guns.

[Smoove_B]

Well there's a pattern we've never seen before. Next you're going to tell me that a 14 year old didn't actually legally acquire a gun and instead removed them from a family member's unsecured collection of them, to which he had easy access.

[Blackhawk]

And that it was an AR-platform weapon.

[$iljanus]

Well there's a pattern we've never seen before. Next you're going to tell me that a 14 year old didn't actually legally acquire a gun and instead removed them from a family member's unsecured collection of them, to which he had easy access.

Well there isn’t a law (in Georgia) requiring the securing of weapons so the gun owners certainly don’t bear any responsibility for this. If only the Ten Commandments were hanging in the classroom.

[Smoove_B]

Well there isn’t a law (in Georgia) requiring the securing of weapons so the gun owners certainly don’t bear any responsibility for this.

I bet there are communities in Georgia where certain books are straight-up banned or required to be in a locked display, but guns? Nah. That's fine.

[LawBeefaroni]

Well there's a pattern we've never seen before. Next you're going to tell me that a 14 year old didn't actually legally acquire a gun and instead removed them from a family member's unsecured collection of them, to which he had easy access.

Well there isn’t a law (in Georgia) requiring the securing of weapons so the gun owners certainly don’t bear any responsibility for this. If only the Ten Commandments were hanging in the classroom.

When the Sheriff interveiwed the family related to the past threats, the father assured them that he didn't have "unfettered" access to firearms. Which I guess meant he wasn't chained up?

Colin Gray also told investigators that he had hunting rifles in the house, but that his son did not have “unfettered” access to them.

[$iljanus]

Well there's a pattern we've never seen before. Next you're going to tell me that a 14 year old didn't actually legally acquire a gun and instead removed them from a family member's unsecured collection of them, to which he had easy access.

Well there isn’t a law (in Georgia) requiring the securing of weapons so the gun owners certainly don’t bear any responsibility for this. If only the Ten Commandments were hanging in the classroom.

When the Sheriff interveiwed the family related to the past threats, the father assured them that he didn't have "unfettered" access to firearms. Which I guess meant he wasn't chained up?

Colin Gray also told investigators that he had hunting rifles in the house, but that his son did not have “unfettered” access to them.

Yeah I read that. I like his choice of words as if it will shield him from the lawsuit coming for him in the future.

[$iljanus]

Well there isn’t a law (in Georgia) requiring the securing of weapons so the gun owners certainly don’t bear any responsibility for this.

I bet there are communities in Georgia where certain books are straight-up banned or required to be in a locked display, but guns? Nah. That's fine.

And Tango Makes Three is certainly more dangerous than any firearm.

[Unagi]

Which I guess meant he wasn't chained up?

Actually, I think it implies that he was only allowed to use the guns while chained up.

[Punisher]

Where can I find the Car Wars supplement for that?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_ ... (Car_Wars)

[Isgrimnur]

Where can I find the Car Wars supplement for that?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_ ... (Car_Wars)

Danke

[Zarathud]

The new rules for motorcycles come out early next year. Currently in development.

[Isgrimnur]

The father of the Georgia school shooting suspect has been arrested and is facing several charges, authorities say

Colin Gray, 54, is facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children, the GBI said Thursday.
...
Gray told investigators this week he had purchased the gun used in the killings as a holiday present for his son in December 2023, according to two law enforcement sources with direct knowledge of the investigation.
...
The timeline the teen’s father provided to authorities would put the gun purchase months after authorities first contacted Gray and his family to investigate school shooting threats made online.

[Unagi]

my fucking god - how god damn stupid can one be - seriously. Is there a bottom?