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2008-02-08 -Lurid Crime Tales-

6 die in shooting at Mo. council meeting

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Posted by ed 2008-02-08 07:32|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 There is some interesting background story, here. Apparently he was a kook, but one who had been poked and prodded not unlike that San Diego Zoo tiger.

He had been issued over 150 tickets, for unspecified reasons. The city council had just the meeting before considered prohibiting him from speaking at public meetings.

It will be interesting to see what details emerge.

Or if there are copycats among the innumerable other local kooks out there.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-02-08 08:57|| 2008-02-08 08:57|| Front Page Top

#2 I'm actually surprised that something like this doesn't happen more often, particularly where eminent domain seizures are involved. I'd have figured the New London city authorities who pressed the Kelo case were prime targets. If they didn't have police at every related public meeting when that was going on, they would have been taking a very high risk.

It's not right to resort to violence, of course, but given that power is a dangerous drug and often leads to abuse, it's easy to see conflicts arising from abusive situations that make citizens extremely angry. Some of them will be angry--and crazy--enough to commit suicide-by-cop just for the chance to get some revenge on those they see as their tormentors. It's the Tim McVeigh syndrome writ small.

Posted by Jomosing Bluetooth8431 2008-02-08 09:44|| 2008-02-08 09:44|| Front Page Top

#3 Cheeze, in Kirkwood!? I went to High School a couple miles from there... it's a nice suburb.

Posted by Scooter McGruder 2008-02-08 10:02|| 2008-02-08 10:02|| Front Page Top

#4 We had something like that in Cincinnati, not long ago. But instead of shooting up the council chamber, the kook went outside and shot someone sitting in a car nearby.

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2008-02-08 10:23|| 2008-02-08 10:23|| Front Page Top

#5 Scooter!!! You ever take in any of that good Italian quisine up on "The Hill?" How I miss it.

Posted by Besoeker 2008-02-08 10:25|| 2008-02-08 10:25|| Front Page Top

#6 I've read a number of stories about this case, and the details are extremely sketchy. Not even a picture yet of Mr. Thornton, though a teevee interview of his brother would indicate he was African-American. The brother also seemed a bit unhinged.

It seems the shooter had been a bit of a gadfly at the council meetings, taking over the mike and ranting in the 'citizens address' periods.

But there is no actual detail about WHY he was ranting.

Posted by Seafarious 2008-02-08 10:34|| 2008-02-08 10:34|| Front Page Top

#7 San Francisco Zoo tiger...ours stay in their enclosures ....so far :-)

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-02-08 11:20|| 2008-02-08 11:20|| Front Page Top

#8 Pic and more details here:

Thornton was often a contentious presence at the council's meetings; he had twice been convicted of disorderly conduct for disrupting meetings in May 2006.

The city had ticketed Thornton's demolition and asphalt business, Cookco Construction, for parking his commercial vehicles in the neighborhood, said Ron Hodges, a friend who lives in the community. The tickets were "eating at him," Hodges said.

"He felt that as a black contractor he was being singled out," said Hodges, who is black. "I guess he thought mentally he had no more recourse. That's not an excuse."

Posted by Seafarious 2008-02-08 12:24|| 2008-02-08 12:24|| Front Page Top

#9 Boes - ah, the Hill. Yep, great food!!

Posted by Scooter McGruder 2008-02-08 15:31|| 2008-02-08 15:31|| Front Page Top

#10

The city had ticketed Thornton's demolition and asphalt business, Cookco Construction, for parking his commercial vehicles in the neighborhood.... The tickets were "eating at him," Hodges said. ... "I guess he thought mentally he had no more recourse."

He ever think about maybe NOT 'parking his commercial vehicles in the neighborhood' (which is usually illegal anyway)?

Or did he think that somehow the law ~~shouldn't~~ didn't apply to him? Loon.

And how come nobody noticed him before he got inside?

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2008-02-08 15:41|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2008-02-08 15:41|| Front Page Top

#11 They didn't notice him on the way in 'cos he shot the cop that was outside.

Shot him in the back.

Posted by Seafarious 2008-02-08 20:49|| 2008-02-08 20:49|| Front Page Top

#12 We live in the next town over, Thornton had a case thrown out of the Federal Court of Appeals stating something to the affect that his civil rights were not being violated by the city of Kirkwood, he snapped and shot each victim in the head (including two Kirkwood officers, one of which was walking across the street to get something to eat.) He used the officers weapon in addition to the one he had (according to reports today.) The city's attorney probably saved several lives by throwing chairs at Thornton, slowing him down enough for other officers to end his attempt at taking more lives. I have a good friend who was an officer from one of the nearby jurisdictions that responded. He grew up in Kirkwood, we have connections to the Director of Public Works. The worst part of the coverage last night was the response of Thornton's brother and mother. They showed zero remorse of what Thornton had done and they said he was going to war. A local correspondent talked the mother and when she responded with the comment, his body language changed, he is normally unflappible. He looked at her and asked her "did you watch the news tonight?" She said yes and he asked, visibly angry. "don't you know what your son did?" She showed zero remorse for the loss of her son or for what he did. It was one of the most disturbing aspects of a very sad, tragic night for us in STL. Each victim was shot in the head, the mayor was shot twice. I am sorry if I am saying too much, thanks to Fred and all of you.

Posted by djh_usmc 2008-02-08 21:04|| 2008-02-08 21:04|| Front Page Top

#13 Thank you for the background, djh_usmc. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those murdered. As for the family, we can only hope they are in shock at what Mr. Thornton has actually done.

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2008-02-08 21:25|| 2008-02-08 21:25|| Front Page Top

23:52 trailing wife
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