[Steve in PA]

Man with a gun (http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?S=2064319)

A police shooting leaves one man behind bars. It happened at the El Rancho Mobile Home Park in Chesterfield off Midlothian Turnpike. Sources say a man got into an argument with an imaginary person, pulled out a gun and started shooting.

It was about 10pm when police were called to El Rancho Mobile Home Park. They say the man who lives inside one of the trailers was having an argument with someone who does not exist. They say he fired several shots inside the mobile home and when he came outside, the man allegedly pointed his gun at a Chesterfield officer, who then fired at him, but missed. The man was quickly taken into custody.

Many who live nearby heard the commotion and while some question the actions of police, others say the officer did what was necessary.

"Some older people who know him better think they kind of went a little overboard, but I mean, they have to do a little bit because they don't know him. Just because the people who live here know him, the cops don't know him, they don't know what he was capable of. SO they have to do what they had to do," said neighbor Melissa Collins.

That man faces charges of shooting into an occupied dwelling and brandishing a firearm. Police are continuing their investigation.

[WonderNine]

Meth rules.

[Dorrin79]

W9 - not just any Meth, but Bubba's Trailer Park Special Bathtub Meth - full of White Trash love...

:neener:

[GunnySkox]

'WOAH! WOAH! You are now firing a GUN at your IMAGINARY FRIEND in front of FOUR HUNDRED GALLONS OF NITRO GLYCERIN!" ~Tyler Durden, Fight Club

~Slam_Fire

[FedDC]

But I thought drugs didn't hurt or even endanger anyone but the user...
Could it be that drugs can influence behavior and that those that use them might just be less than trustworthy... No way.

[deej]

But I thought alcohol didn't hurt or even endanger anyone but the user...
Could it be that alcohol can influence behavior and that those that use (it) might just be less than trustworthy... No way.

[DigitalWarrior]

First, Everyone who is shocked... SHOCKED that the cop missed, raise your hand.

Second, drugs cause people to make bad decisions, but it does not lessen a person's culpability for their decisions. Which is why I am mad at the cop for MISSING! Freedom can be messy, but I like it better than the alternative.

[DigitalWarrior]

Sorry, I forgot about the ceasefire. Please ignore point one of the previous post.

[oldfart]

I must have missed something, but where does the story mention drugs? Or is the fact that this occurred in a trailer park clouding the issue?

[TallPine]

Many who live nearby heard the commotion and while some question the actions of police, others say the officer did what was necessary.
Are they questioning the fact that the police-person shot or that he missed ...?

This whole story borders on the hilarious. :D

[goalie]

First, Everyone who is shocked... SHOCKED that the cop missed, raise your hand.

Everyone who made a center mass hit with the first shot they ever fired while being shot at raise their hand.


**Mines down, I forgot to go from "safe" to "fire" **

[nero45acp]

It may be that the man is schizophrenic or suffering from some other form of psychosis not related to drug abuse.

Glad no one got hurt.


nero

[WonderNine]

Maybe he's perfectly sane and sober. Maybe he just likes to shoot at imaginary people??????? :D

[Wildalaska]

Meth rules.

Troll

WildclearlyfitsthedefinitionandifnotshowscriminalityAlaska

[WonderNine]

Troll

WildclearlyfitsthedefinitionandifnotshowscriminalityAlaska


Grow up or get a sense of humor. Preferably both! :)

WonderclearlyfitsthedefinitionofacurmudgeonNine

[GSB]

It may be that the man is schizophrenic or suffering from some other form of psychosis not related to drug abuse.

That was my first thought. Not sure where the drug angle came from. My late uncle, unknown to us at the time, suffered near the end of his life with some delusional episodes due to some medication he was taking (seeing people who weren't there, etc). He died of a massive heart attack, and the cops found him with his shotgun and shells littered all over his trailer. We presume that he had a psychotic episode that frightened him enough that he had a heart attack (we don't know why else he'd have had the gun out and loose shells all over the floor). Thank God he didn't blow away a neighbor in the process.

If we had known about his condition, we would have made an effort to remove his firearms, but we didn't until after the fact.

In any event, while that was certainly drug-related, it would be unfair to have assumed criminal drug abuse on the part of my uncle when it was, in fact, an adverse reaction to prescribed medication. Likewise, I've known a couple of genuinely mentally ill individuals who could easily have acted this way because they had episodes of a acute paranoia (and on a fairly regular basis). It's very sad really. The mind is such a fragile thing and we often take it for granted.

[444]

"They say the man who lives inside one of the trailers was having an argument with someone who does not exist."

Who are they to say this person doesn't exist ? Just because they can't see them ?

















From an area near Dreamland......................