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shelleybean13
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Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 44
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 Posted: 10/02/2008 23:27 Post subject: Kirkwood Shooting |
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I know most of you probably haven't heard about this, but in case my husband and I aren't around much in the next week or so, this is why...
On Thursday night (Feb. 7, 2008) in the local community of Kirkwood Missouri, a man walked up on Sgt. Bill Biggs (20 yr vet of Kirkwood Police) in a parking lot fatally shooting him, and taking his service revolver. Charles Lee Thornton then walked into Kirkwood City Hall, and entered a City Council meeting opening fire on a room of approximately 30 people, killing Officer Tom Ballman, Councilwoman Connie Carr, Councilman Mike Lynch and Public Works Director Kenneth Yost. Also injuring Reporter Todd Smith and Mayor Mike Swoboda. Police returned fire on Thornton and killed him.
This is a small, tight-knit community that unfortunately has not become a stranger to tragedy over the last three years. In 2005, Sgt. Bill McEntee was shot in his squad car, then killed execution-style by a juvenile. That juvenile was finally sentenced to death last month after long dramatic court preceedings, and mis-trials. In 2006, 2 missing boys were found in the Kirkwood apartment of Michael Devlin. One of those boys being Shawn Hornbeck, who had been missing for nearly 4 years.
This community needs everyones prayers as we try to grieve and cope everything. Mayor Swoboda is still in the hospital in critical condition as he suffered two gunshot wounds to the head.
For more information feel free to check local news sources:
[url=http://www.myfoxstl.com]myfoxstl.com[/url]
or to help:
[url=http://www.backstoppers.org]backstoppers.org[/url]
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Last edited by shelleybean13 on 11/02/2008 17:59; edited 1 time in total |
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Burt.
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Joined: 05 Dec 2007
Posts: 80
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| Posted: 11/02/2008 14:49 Post subject: |
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...and you were saying it's nice and quiet out in the Boonies! 
My thoughts are with you.  |
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shelleybean13
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Joined: 06 Dec 2007
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| Posted: 11/02/2008 18:08 Post subject: |
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This area isn't exactly the boonies.. LOL its about 20miles from where I live. But its a community that we spend a LOT of time in. My husband was actually born there. In the warmer months we spend a lot of time there with friends at the train station. Hell, we helped restore the train station!
The first of the funerals begin today.. amidst another winter storm. yay! :rolls eyes: Its going to be a bad day all around. Thankfully its not one of the police funerals yet.. Those are the worst, and we haven't fully recovered from the last one.
Yesterday a group held a fundraiser for Backstoppers, they raised over $17k selling hot chocolate!
Finally, someone from the gunman's family has apologized for his actions and actually shown some form of remorse.. His mother and brother actually sounded as if they felt his actions were justified. But didn't seem to be the least bit upset that he was dead either... strange people.
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Franklin
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Joined: 05 Dec 2007
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Location: Southampton, PA
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| Posted: 13/02/2008 02:34 Post subject: |
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Damn Shelly,
Sorry to hear all that! Good Luck |
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shelleybean13
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Joined: 06 Dec 2007
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| Posted: 16/02/2008 20:23 Post subject: |
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Thanks guys.. We got through the funerals finally. With the help of the Patriot Guard Riders. For those that aren't aware of the Westboro Baptist Church, they picketed the funerals saying this was Gods vengeance for our corrupt country. (just google Westboro Baptist Church their website explains the insanity)
Mayor Swoboda has been upgraded from critical condition to serious. He has movement on both sides of his body, but still cannot talk. He was able to get out of his bed the other day and sit in a chair. He is unaware of what happened to him or the massacre that took place in his city. But all in due time. Right now we are more concerned with his recovery, than him knowing what happened.
The community still has a lot of grieving and healing to do, but we can only take it one day at a time. At least some members of the gunman's family having started showing some signs of humanity. His wife and one of his brothers have made public apologies for his actions. His wife even took some of the blame, which I don't feel was necessary seeing as she only lives here 2 months out of the year. But she felt she should have seen it coming and should have been able to put a stop to all the bullshit years ago. (the guy has had ongoing issues with the city for years)
Regardless, no one can change it now. All we can do is move on and learn from the mistakes. New security measures are being taken all around the metro area to try to prevent something like this in the future.
Thanks for everyone thoughts and prayers.
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