Registered: Dec 2002
Location:
Posts: 15990

As most of the regulars here will know, the city of Tyler, Texas is either home base for, or the nearest sizeable city to, several regular posters and or chat denizens.

Yesterday, there was a shootout during the lunch hour at the Smith County Courthouse in downtown Tyler. One regular member here was in #wota at the time, and was also watching the local news when the story broke. As it happens, he also works in that area, and he was able to give us in #wota sketchy details as events occurred. I am very familiar with Tyler, having spent time in the area on several occasions over the last 3 years.

Just a minor local news item, really, but one to which we can have ring-side seats and an inside informant. Let’s see what the news media says.

http://ktbb.com/news1.html#local

quote:

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KTBB News; Tyler, TX – Summary:

TYLER -- An otherwise uneventful Thursday lunch hour at the Smith County Courthouse erupted with gunfire shortly before 1:30. When it was all over, three persons were dead and four injured. Over fifty rounds from an AK-47 assault rifle were eventually fired by the suspected gunman, 43-year-old David Hernandez Arroyo of Tyler, who was on probation for assault. He shot and killed his ex-wife Maribel Estrada on the east steps of the courthouse and wounded his son Arroyo Jr. Police say the firefight began after Arroyo confronted his ex-wife and son about unpaid child support. The couple divorced in 2004. Officers inside the courthouse responded and multiple gunshots were exchanged. Police Chief Gary Swindle explained that at this time, a brave citizen stepped in. Mark Wilson, 52, who was licensed to carry a handgun, confronted Arroyo and was killed. It is believed that Wilson saved the younger Arroyo's life. The shooter then got into his truck and sped away, pursued by law officers from Tyler and Smith County. The pursuit ended on U.S. Highway 271 and Duncan Street where Arroyo exited his pick-up and exchanged gunfire with officers who shot and killed him. Injured at the courthouse was Sheriff's Deputy Sherman Dollison, who is in critical condition at East Texas Medical Center after being shot four times. A sheriff's lieutenant and a Tyler police detective were treated and released. The investigation is being handled by the FBI, the ATF, Texas Rangers, Smith County Sheriff's Office and the Tyler Police Department. Because of the shooting, the Smith County Courthouse will be closed today.

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Behind this monitor.
Posts: 6444

My local news says nothing, this is from the NYTimes.

Gunman Kills Ex - Wife, Bystander in Texas
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: February 25, 2005
TYLER, Texas (AP) -- A man angry about being sued for unpaid child support opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle outside a courthouse, killing his ex-wife and a man trying to help the couple's adult son.

The gunman, 43-year-old David Hernandez Arroyo Sr., was killed Thursday afternoon in a gun battle with officers a few miles away after wounding his son and three law enforcement officers, one critically.

The son had been acting as a mediator between his parents, police said.

Police estimated that Arroyo, who had a history of spousal abuse and weapons violations, shot 50 rounds in the historic town square. He was wearing a military flak jacket and a bulletproof vest.

``He definitely came well-armed and prepared,'' police Chief Gary Swindle said. ``We do understand there had been some threats made by him the previous week.''

But the attorney representing Maribel Estrada, 41, said he doesn't believe she thought her ex-husband was dangerous. Estrada worked at a meat packing plant in Tyler and raised a 17-year-old and a 6-year-old with the help of her eldest son, Joshua Wintters said.

The other victim, Mark Alan Wilson, 52, was credited by authorities with saving the life of David Hernandez Arroyo Jr., who was listed in fair condition at a hospital with leg wounds. A sheriff's deputy, Sherman Dollison, 28, was in critical condition after being shot in the liver, lungs and legs; a sheriff's lieutenant and a Tyler police detective were treated and released.

``One of the deputies at the scene said if it hadn't been for Mr. Wilson,'' said Sheriff J.B. Smith, ``the son would be dead.''

Friends who visited the son in the hospital Thursday night said he told them that his father was always open about having a collection of weapons.

Aurea Seanez said the son told them, ``And look now, he used them on us.''

Wilson, a gun enthusiast who once owned a shooting range, intervened after Arroyo killed his ex-wife, witnesses said. Swindle, the police chief, said Wilson shot at Arroyo several times but his rounds weren't penetrating the armor.

``They traded shots, missing each other, and then the gunman hit Wilson and Wilson went down,'' Tyler Morning Telegraph publisher Nelson Clyde III said in Friday's editions of the newspaper. Clyde watched the shooting from a nearby restaurant.

``The gunman walked up to Wilson and shot him while he was on the ground,'' Clyde said. ``I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was sickening.''

Estrada and Arroyo divorced in January 2004 after 22 years of marriage. Wintters wouldn't say why the two divorced.

Tyler, the seat of Smith County, is a city of about 86,000 located about 95 miles east of Dallas. Tyler calls itself the ``Rose Capital of the Nation'' and attracts about 100,000 visitors each October to the Texas Rose Festival.

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Still Orygun
Posts: 10255

He missed (mudflap).

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: China
Posts: 11770

Tyler, TX New York, NY Nat'l Avg.
Total Crime Index 6.4 5.4 3.47
Personal Crime Index 6.0 5.0 3.40

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Registered: Dec 2002
Location:
Posts: 15990

Yep, it is a violent little place, Aydin.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: atlanta
Posts: 6347

Aydin your new avatar sucks

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35570

Damn the liberal Texas media. At least we can rely on the New York Times and Associated Press to point out that the shooting was two-way.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: China
Posts: 11770

quote:

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Originally posted by Avondale
Aydin your new avatar sucks

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Sedona, Arizona
Posts: 18831

quote:

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Originally posted by Aydin
I'll change it to any character of your choosing, you anti-American fuck.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: b0ulder
Posts: 5126

When I first read this I thought it was Vider. What a crazy happening. It reminds me of the amored LA guys. Someone should put together all the body armored psycho deaths as a compilation.

1. The guy with the tank
2. The Los Angeles, Ca guys
3. The Tyler, Tx guy

Who else?

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 24362

quote:

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Originally posted by SimpleSimon
One regular member here was in #wota at the time, and was also watching the local news when the story broke. As it happens, he also works in that area, and he was able to give us in #wota sketchy details as events occurred.

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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Ducktown, GA
Posts: 1426

I hold great respect for the Mr. Mark Wilson in the story. It must have taken something, when every other person was diving away from the guy with the rifle, and a woman and child were under fire, to step up and risk his neck to save them. It is said in the news reports by police officers that the child would have been killed if not for the brave actions of Mr. Wilson.

Rest In Peace.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35570

Wouldn't have happened if he had been allowed to own armour-piercing bullets.

Brave man, though, yes. I guess that he didn't have much time to realise that he wasn't hurting the guy much, before he got shot. What do you do if the guy is wearing body armour? Shoot at his legs, or head, or take cover and pray, what?

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: ........
Posts: 14958

head shot

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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Ducktown, GA
Posts: 1426

Pelvis or head. Much tougher shots.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: East Texas
Posts: 328

*A haiku about the tyler shooting*

I went to tyler
I had my AK in my truck
I did not do it.

Anyway I live north of tyler and listened to the news conference last night on AM radio. The Tyler PD Police Chief, when asked about being out-gunned and about his officers not wearing bodyarmor in the courthouse, pointed out that all his officers on the street DO have body armor and officers inside the courthouse's metal detectors do not, but they don't have any body armor that will stop rifle rounds anyway. Plus, all the officers are allowed to carry assault rifles in their cars but officers in and around the court house only had handguns (where would they keep rifles?).

This morning I had customers from Houston calling me tomake sure no one here was involved. Apparently it made the front page of the Houston Chronicle.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistor...politan/3056696

but I suppose that certain papers like stories like that.

must be those high capacity clips and flash suppressors!

I know it's no consolation to most of you but everyone I know around here owns an AK-47 or an SKS.

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Still Orygun
Posts: 10255

Texas: We riddle pacifists with high-powered rounds on sight.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35570

quote:

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Originally posted by theMAC
I know it's no consolation to most of you but everyone I know around here owns an AK-47 or an SKS.

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Registered: Dec 2004
Location: Beringia
Posts: 5209

living in texas without a gun is like going to a whorehouse and leaving your dick at home.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: zanzibar
Posts: 10433

quote:

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Originally posted by Smug Git
Wouldn't have happened if he had been allowed to own armour-piercing bullets.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35570

Weird.

The headshot guy did have a metal plate in his head, though, which is probably non-standard. He must feel like the luckiest guy in prison.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: is futile
Posts: 4988

heh... concealed neurochranial armour is so last week.

Cheers
-m

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Registered: Dec 2004
Location: Beringia
Posts: 5209

quote:

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Originally posted by Smug Git
Weird.

The headshot guy did have a metal plate in his head, though, which is probably non-standard. He must feel like the luckiest guy in prison.

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Smith County
Posts: 1366

quote:

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Originally posted by ignatz mouse
He missed (mudflap).

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