Some things take a while...

A point I've made countless times, once you hear about a crime, wait and let the facts come out. Classic example, in the immediate aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, the murderer was almost immediately called a closet homosexual. Slight problem. He was not gay. 

Besides being married to a woman (and having a child with her), none of his associates found any signs of him being in the closet, and none of his social media indicated that orientation. By all we can find his motive was in response to American air strikes in Iraq and Syria. He wanted to murder a lot of people and he did visit the clue before the shooting. I think we in the army call that reconnaissance of the target. 

Well, almost six years after the event, the FBI had identified a possible motive for the shooter of the Las Vegas hotel in 2017. He felt he was getting cheated by the casinos.

FBI documents give new view into mindset of Las Vegas mass shooter

Steven Paddock lost over $1.5M, became obsessed with firearms and distanced himself from family in the months leading up to the massacre

By Rio Yamat and Ken Ritter Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — The high-stakes gambler who carried out the deadliest mass shooting in modern America, killing 60 and injuring hundreds more in Las Vegas, was apparently angry over how the casinos were treating him despite his high-roller status, according to a fellow gambler.

An FBI interview with the gunman's fellow gambler is detailed in hundreds of pages of documents made public this week. The gambler, whose name is redacted in the documents, said he believed the stress could have easily caused gunman Stephen Paddock “to snap.” Paddock, 64, was a video poker player who relied on gambling as his main source of income.

The revelation comes years after the FBI in Las Vegas and the local police department concluded their investigations without a definitive motive, although both agencies said Paddock burned through more than $1.5 million, became obsessed with guns, and distanced himself from his girlfriend and family in the months leading up to the massacre.

In a statement Thursday, Las Vegas police defended their inconclusive findings and dismissed the importance of the documents released this week in response to an open-records request from the Wall Street Journal.

“We were unable to determine a motive for the shooter,” the statement said. “Speculating on a motive causes more harm to the hundreds of people who were victims that night...”

So after almost six years of work by local, state, and federal law enforcement, we have a, I'll say it, likely motive. Confirmed, no, this is not Elliot Rodger who stated his motive was revenge on women who had rejected his romantic advances. No, we have some long investigative work. And again, we still are not sure. But it's also not the lie of "Hands Up! Don't Shoot!" from the Michael Brown killing. 

The motive of the story. Don't believe everyone you hear before the crime scene is cleaned up. 

Another great book signed...

In the spring or summer of 1999, I was driving from (i.e. running as fast as I could) from Fort Bliss TX. In the middle of nowhere Texas, I was pushing the scan button on my radio. This was before I had a CD player in my truck, there was nothing called MP3, and I was tired of the tapes I had (Yes, I'm that old). 

As I was running from Operation Roving Sands at Fort Bliss, I hit on an interview with an author, Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman. He was at the time an active duty army psychologist, since retired. This was soon after the Columbine school shooting, and Dr. Grossman had written On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society. This is a classic reference on the the psychological component of killing her human beings. 

Fascinating interview, and as soon as I got home, I picked up a copy of the book and read it. And it gives great insight on how someone has to be desensitized to killing to kill. The military and law enforcement use it, but with restraint and regulations. Video games do the same, but without the oversight. 

Anyway, I finally got off my ass, and sent the book in for signature. Yesterday it came in and with a quick note. And yes, those two books are in my Amazon basket. 

Have a great weekend! 

College. Worth Less Than I Thought.

A few months back I was reading an article in Medium, an online column site. I only subscribe because a close friend started writing for them last year and I love her writing. Well last fall I was reading a column and the author was criticizing the recent space flight by William Shatner on Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin, and the company itself. He saw it as a massive waste of money, and he should use it for something more useful, like “funding a college.” 

My immediate response is normally, “It’s Bezos’s money, he can do with it what he wants.” However, the more I thought of it, the more I realized the last thing he needed to do was spend money on a college. God knows we have enough, and their only purpose as of right now is to radicalize young people and indebt them to the federal government for hundreds of thousands of dollars with no useful skills.

A classic example, an “institution of higher learning” in New York, will have its students lectured by…ready…a convicted cop killer:

 

Paroled cop killer asked to give speech at university; officer’s widow objects "I would not like to see the school besmirched by hosting a brutal killer of police officers,” said Diane Piagentini, whose husband and a second officer were ambushed in 1971

 

Jalil Muntaqim, formerly known as Anthony Bottom, was convicted in 1971 for the ambush killings of two NYPD officers: Piagentini and Officer Waverly Jones. Bottom, 70, served nearly 50 years in prison before he was paroled in 2020. Bottom was sentenced to 25 years to life alongside his co-defendant, Herman Bell. 

 

Recently, Bottom was invited to be a guest speaker at SUNY Brockport, a university in western New York state, according to CBS News. SUNY Brockport later said it would change the event to a virtual format after weeks of controversy, the report said… 

…At a Long Island rally on Sunday, Piagentini and several NYPD police unions called for the virtual event to be canceled. 

 

"I would not like to see the school besmirched by hosting a brutal killer of police officers who will mislead the students by portraying himself as a political prisoner and freedom fighter," Piagentini told News 12.  

Respectfully Mrs. Piagentini, the university can’t be besmirched worse then they have already despoiled themselves. More on that in a minute.

SUNY Brockport so far has not canceled the event, citing First Amendment rights. The school says a private donor will be paying Bottom for his expected appearance on April 6, according to Rochester First. The parolee was invited to speak by a school faculty member. 

One, the First Amendment has nothing to do with this. This felon is free to say anything he wants to. A public university (Or any institution for that matter) is under no obligation to provide him a venue. He wants to speak, fine, let him go to a park or “free speech zone” on the campus and let him speak. Two, why is he being paid for anything? He wants to complain on how he was framed (What a shock, a convicted cop murderer swears he never did it), he can do it at the next BLM rally or other riot. And the fact a “faculty member” invites this POS to the university tell you all you need to know about the college. That any member of the faculty also shows this university needs to be closed and turned into vo-tech school. Or a waste dump.

 

Now I wondered why this murderous thug was being invited to speak to the students. A few minutes searching was enough to find out. From the university president:

Statement Regarding Jalil Muntaqim Event

On April 6, Jalil Muntaqim, previously known as Anthony Bottom, will be at the SUNY Brockport campus to deliver a talk entitled, “History of Black Resistance, U.S. Political Prisoners & Genocide: A Conversation with Jalil Muntaqim.” He was invited by one of our faculty members who was approved for a Promoting Excellence in Diversity grant.

Mr. Muntaqim joined the Black Panther Party at age 16 and the Black Liberation Army at 18. In 1971, he was convicted in the killing of two New York City Police Officers. He spent nearly 50 years in prison for this crime before being released on parole in 2020. 

The College has received strong feedback about this visit. Some are outraged that a man who has been convicted of such crimes was invited onto campus. Others look forward to the opportunity to learn about Mr. Muntaqim’s experiences.

We do not support the violence exhibited in Mr. Muntaqim’s previous crimes, and his presence on campus does not imply endorsement of his views or past actions. However, we believe in freedom of speech. SUNY Brockport has routinely held speaking events involving controversial speakers from various background and viewpoints, and will continue to do so. These conversations are uncomfortable. They are meant to be. 

They’re about gaining a new perspective…

“New perspective?” Like why he murdered two officers, one a black man (I wonder if BLM will have issues with that?), and was involved with the murder of a third. From the Officer Down Memorial Page:

Patrolmen Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones were shot and killed while on foot patrol in the Colonial Park Houses.. They were ambushed by members of the Black Liberation Army. 

 

As the two patrolmen were returning to their cruiser…three suspects snuck up behind them and opened fire. Patrolman Jones was struck in the back of the head and killed instantly. Patrolman Piagentini was shot 13 times and succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.

 

One of the suspects stole Patrolman Jones' weapon which was later recovered in San Francisco, California after several BLA members opened fire on a San Francisco, police officer. 

 

Two of the suspects, along with five others, were also involved in the murder of Sergeant John Victor Young of the San Francisco Police Department on August 29th, 1971… 

You want to expose your students and others to the “perspective” of others, in this case a convicted capital murderer. OK, if  Shawn Allen Berry is paroled in the future, will you invite him to give his view on the murder of James Byrd? How about the viewpoint of Patrick Crusius? He murdered 22 and injured 26 in a racially motived attack, sounds like his opinions need airing. Zoom is a wonderful thing for airing views like this. Zephen Allen Xaver murdered 5 people in Florida, he should fit right in for sharing his views.

 

Higher education has been decaying for decades, and this is a classic example. Bringing Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton to speak is one thing. I’ll give them this, they have not shot anyone. But if a university will invite and pay a convicted murderer to speak to its students, allow others students to skip school for that day due to them being made uncomfortable, shows how low our once great higher education system has sunk. I said this about an abandoned strip club used by junkies, and it applies to SUNY Brockport. There is nothing wrong there that can’t be fixed with some gasoline and a match. 

If this doesn't put a chill in you

Three years ago the world was introduced to James Holmes when he walked into a theater in Aurora CO and murdered a dozen people. He was recently sentenced to over 3000 years (won't serve half of it). Now I heard that he set a trap in his apartment but damn, this is incredible. And terrifying. Look at this video.

ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

Inside the booby-trapped apartment of Aurora shooter James Holmes

Newly-released photos and video offer a chilling look into the booby-trapped apartment of Aurora movie theater shooter James Holmes.

The photos were taken after Holmes opened fire and killed 12 people during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises at a suburban Denver, Colorado movie theater in July 2012.

After arresting Holmes, the 27-year-old revealed to police that his nearby apartment was rigged with explosive and incendiaries intended to kill anyone who opened the front door.

Bullets in napalm set to go off by the fire.  Hundreds of them.

Holmes intended for the bombs to go off in his home after he was long gone. He devised a plan to coax police to break into his apartment, catching a trip wire that would spill a thermos of glycerin into a frying pan of chemical potassium permanganate - starting a fire
Holmes intended for the bombs to go off in his home after he was long gone. He devised a plan to coax police to break into his apartment, catching a trip wire that would spill a thermos of glycerin into a frying pan of chemical potassium permanganate - starting a fire

Liter bottles filled with gasoline and gunpowder are spread out along the floor and would further accelerate the flames when they caught fire.  The flames would cause the fuses to catch fire and detonate the more than 15 spherical bombs gathered in the center of the floor in the living room

Also triggered would be the pickle jars filled with napalm and bullets. Once ignited, the bullets would should out in all directions, tearing through the apartment

A BMX bike belonging to Holmes is propped against a wall and draped with orange fuse wire at his home after the mass shooting...

...The pictures, some of which were taken by a bomb disposal robot, show the carpeted floor of Holmes' apartment littered with about 20 black spherical bombs, which are rigged together with a tangle of fuse wires.

Also seen are pickle jars packed with napalm and bullets that would have torn through the home if ignited. Nearly a dozen liter soda bottles filled with gasoline rest on the floor, along with a dusting of white gunpowder, intended to catch fire and speed up the process.

Luckily, no one was hurt by Holmes' mouse-trap of bombs. The apartment and surrounding buildings were evacuated while bomb experts carefully disengaged the explosives with the help of a robot.

Police and FBI teams broke into the house through the window in Holmes' bedroom. Above, shattered glass seen in the room next to a poster for the cult classic Pulp Fiction

...It appears that Holmes intended to blow up the apartment after he left for the movie theater by planning two ways to start the fire remotely.

The first was a trip cord connected to the front door. After he left the apartment, Holmes started a recording in his apartment that was 40 minutes of silence followed by blaring music.

He thought the noise would prompt one of his neighbors to call police and that responding officers would break into the home through the front door, starting off a series of explosions.

The other plan was a remote control that he left outside his apartment, next to a remote-controlled toy car. If police didn't respond to the noise complaint. He thought someone would see the car and try to play with it using the remote, which was in fact hiding a remote detonator.

...Neither plan worked, though one neighbor did say she tried knocking on Holmes' door around midnight when she grew tired of his music. She got no answer on the door but did not report the music to police.

Gary Smith, a bomb expert with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told KUSA about the process of securing the apartment.

'No, I really wasn't too scared,' he said. 'It doesn't surprise me to run across anything anywhere really. It's just a matter of time before something like that ends up here, kind of the way we look at it, kind of worst case scenario, you always try to think ahead.'

In addition to the booby-trap of bombs, the pictures from inside Holmes' home include a few items that shed light on his life before the mass murder.

A name tag from the University of Iowa graduate program bears Holmes' name, pointing out his past life in academia. Elsewhere, a binder is seen propped up against a backpack, decorated with stickers in the shape of bullet holes. By the time he carried out the attack, Holmes had already stopped going to neuroscience classes at the University of Colorado.

Several posters are also hung up in Holmes' apartment including one for the comedy Anchorman and another for the cult classic Pulp Fiction - which shows John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson holding up handguns. But one seemingly-benign drinking poster holds a darker meaning in the aftermath of the attack. It is a play on a motivational poster and shows a tequila shot with the caption: 'Challenge: When life presents a challenge...take a shot.'

Even more spooky is a Batman mask which was found sitting on the top of Holmes' flatscreen TV. It was a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, that Holmes chose to target...

I am at a loss for words. There are more pictures in the full article. Thank you ATF and EOD for handling this so well. Even if the building had been evacuated the loss would be staggering if this went off.