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Thu 4 Aug, 2005 04:54 am
Man holding daughter shot in apparent road rage
Thursday, August 4, 2005; Posted: 6:37 a.m. EDT (10:37 GMT)
BROCKTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- A man lifting his infant daughter out of his car was killed in an apparent case of road rage by a motorist "who obviously exploded" and shot him four times at close range in front of dozens of witnesses, authorities said.
The victim's 10-month-old girl was covered with blood but uninjured when police found her in a car seat on the floor of the vehicle.
Walter R. Bishop, 60, who was taking medication for depression, was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Sandro Andrade. He pleaded innocent and was ordered held without bail; a hearing was scheduled for August 26.
Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said Bishop had made a calculated decision to "shoot a man in cold blood in broad daylight on the streets of Brockton."
Police Chief Paul Studenski described it as a case of road rage.
Bishop's attorney, Kevin Reddington, said Andrade had provoked his client during a traffic altercation.
"We have a homicide that resulted from a circumstance where somebody picked a fight with an individual who obviously exploded," Reddington said. Bishop, a former soldier and security guard, had recently begun taking two medications for depression, he said.
Bishop told investigators he was driving his wife to the train station when Andrade's vehicle backed toward him on Main Street, Cruz said. The two exchanged heated words.
"He said his wife was scared, and he said he was angry at that encounter," Cruz said of Bishop. "He said he made up his mind right there that he had to do something."
After dropping his wife off, he allegedly returned to the scene of the confrontation, pointed a handgun through an open window and fired, police said.
"Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Four shots. It sounded like a cap gun," Louis McPhee, the manager of a car wash across the street, told The Boston Globe. "The guy was lying there in his own blood with a hole in his head and his arm still on the baby."
Bishop left before police arrived, but witnesses gave investigators his license plate number and police found him at his home.
Police said Bishop has a valid handgun license.
road rage, i think not, the highlighted section seems pretty clear, he thought about what had happened and realised he had to do something about it, sounds premeditated to me
What!
This kind of stuff scares the living daylights out of me.
Leaving the scene entirely, and then returning and killing the man, Then going back home and not running.
This is someone who thought about it.
People are animals. When in our history have we heard of so many things like this happening? A man being shot to death with his infant child in his arms? And all because of a driving mishap?
I had two boys i nannied in my pick up with me on interstate 90. We were coming into construction and losing lanes, it was clearly posted with blinking signs and yellow barrels. I got over well in advance, as did many car before and behind me. But this guy from Mass decided to stay in the closing lane, flying along at 70mph to get ahead of a few cars in the line. It didnt work because we were all too close together. No one let him in, and by the time i came along i couldnt either.
Aparently he thought this was my fault, and after we got through the contruction and were back up to cruising speed and flew up from behind me, wipped infront of my truck with an inch or two to spare, and SLAMMED on the brakes.
What gets me is that no only could you see the small children sitting by me in the truck, but his wife and kids were sleeping in his car with him.
I left skid marks just east of Albany from trying to miss him.
Why does this happen?
Because people are selfish, inconsiderate idiots whose world is restricted to their own desires.
It is so completely wierd that things can escalate to such a point.
I was driving along the other day and had to merge into an exit lane -- its a huge, long, two lane exit thing so it was not some big critical thing.
I turned on my signal and glanced over my shoulder and this guy just layed on his horn. Every time I'd glance over he'd lay on his horn again. I mean, he could plainly see that I saw him there and that I wasn't trying to squeeze my way in.
I merged a few cars behind him so he gets in the other lane, slows down and is all gesturing at me.
WTF?
What purpose does it serve to get so bent out of shape over absolutely nothing?
To be completely honest though, I thought it would be hilarious to pull a Fried Green Tomoatos on him with the "I'm older and I have better insurance" bit!
Quote:But this guy from Mass decided to stay in the closing lane, flying along at 70mph to get ahead of a few cars in the line.
Here in CT, we call these guys "Massholes"--it seems that a disproportionate number of the really aggressive drivers around Hartford have MA plates.
Concerning the case in hand, the shooter claimed that his victim had made some threats about coming after him later, etc., so I guess he decided to "shoot him back first". Pretty messed up.
massholes... Ive never heard that... lol i love it. Jersey people can be pretty damn agressive drivers.. its like a new x game sort. agressive driving
We've had a spate of these in recent days.
From today's paper:
Quote:
Mother and son shot after traffic dispute
Malden man tied to chase, gunfire
By Franci Richardson and Stephanie Ebbert, Globe Correspondent and Globe Staff | August 4, 2005
LYNN -- After the second reported violent attack following a traffic argument in two days, a Malden driver was charged with assault with intent to murder after he allegedly chased down and shot a mother and her 17-year-old son in their car yesterday, Lynn police said.
A Lynn law-enforcement official who had knowledge of the inquiry said the motorists in the two cars had been feuding for several blocks. They had stopped at lights and and verbally sparred for about a half-mile, the official said.
At a stop sign on Nahant Street, the teenager allegedly spat at the other car, after which the driver allegedly got out of his car, threatened, and ultimately shot the two victims, the official said.
Gregory Umphrey, 17, and his mother, 52-year-old Linda A. Umphrey of Lynn, were both in fair condition in Massachusetts General Hospital last night. Police would not detail their injuries.
Lynn police charged William F. Green, 55, of Malden with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a firearm; two counts of armed assault with intent to murder; and with firing a gun within 100 feet of a residence. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in Lynn District Court.
The episode sparked fears about uncontrollable anger on local roadways. After a heated traffic dispute Tuesday in Brockton, a 60-year-old man allegedly hunted down and fatally shot a 27-year-old driver, who had been holding his infant daughter in his arms.
''It's bad enough that you hear about one, but two in a matter of two days is extremely discouraging," said Amie O'Hearn, spokeswoman for the Registry of Motor Vehicles, which is among the agencies trying to curb aggressive driving and road rage. ''It leaves you speechless. This is certainly a wake-up call that people aren't getting the message."
The dispute yesterday reportedly started around 11 a.m., when both cars were traveling on the Lynnway. Linda Umphrey had just picked up her son from summer school, according to a woman at the Umphreys' house who declined to give her name.
The Umphreys then drove off the Lynnway and onto Nahant Street, a small secondary road. Green followed in his 2005 Subaru Forester, said Lieutenant David Brown of the Lynn Police Department.
The police official confirmed that investigators are looking into whether the shooting had been provoked by Gregory Umphrey spitting on the Forester, based on accounts from witnesses.
''The kid said he accidentally spit on the guy's car," said Mauricio Hermosilla, 31, who helped the Umphreys outside his house on Nahant Street yesterday. ''That's why the guy shot him, according to the kid."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/08/04/mother_and_son_shot_after_traffic_dispute/
Neither Brockton or Lynn are "bright spots" in the state by any means but these folks are just nuts.
lab rat wrote:Quote:But this guy from Mass decided to stay in the closing lane, flying along at 70mph to get ahead of a few cars in the line.
Here in CT, we call these guys "Massholes"--it seems that a disproportionate number of the really aggressive drivers around Hartford have MA plates.
Most of us in the state refer to ourselves as Massholes as well.
Extremely aggressive drivers are a trademark of the state. It could be worse - we could be from New Hampster.
This is true the drivers in Nashua are insane. Ive almost died there at least a million times.... and ive only been thrice! Iam native to ohio, while theyre not agressive drivers there theyre stupid. without direction of intentions, theyre like 2000 pound turds floating around a four lane sea.
moral degeneration. A fatherless generation. Religions disected. sex drugs and hate imprinted in the youths mind via mass media..... honestly do we expect to wake up one day and see a BETTER world out the window?
Fishin', from you article: "The police official confirmed that investigators are looking into whether the shooting had been provoked by Gregory Umphrey spitting on the Forester, based on accounts from witnesses." What, somebody spits on your car, and you can prove it, you get to shoot them?
BTP: I laughed aloud at your remarks about Ohio drivers, they are completely clueless. One of our members here, Whooda, who lives in Ohio will not appreciate the observation, but i agree that Ohio drivers are completely clueless. I find that when they are paying attention in local, heavy traffic, they can be some of the most courteous people i've met on the road. But on the expressways, and when they're not paying attention--which is most of the time--they're the most clueless, inconsiderate drivers i've ever encountered.
How could the guy be pleading innocent. I've been sort of avoiding reading up on this - too close to home.
New research says MA drivers are the second most clueless drivers on the roads. Only Rhodes Islanders are worse.
ive never ran into a RIer on the road.... so i cannot comment.
I dont know how someone could be offended by the truth... i learned to drive in ohio, and honestly i would take NYC to columbus anyday.
I'm in Columbus now, just moved here. Actually really impressed (my expectations, at the outset, were VERY low). I've had one run-in with a freak (I had merged onto a freeway and needed to change several lanes to exit on the other side, guy in a big ol' pickup was NOT letting me in, I slowed down to let him pass and he slowed down, I sped up and he sped up, made me miss my exit. I was FURIOUS and had to talk myself down from chasing him and giving hm some L.A. whatfor.)
Suffice it to say, despite that freak, Columbus has been WAY better than Chicago or L.A. But that's Chicago and L.A., which have to be near the very top of any freak-driver list.
sozobe, you need to hop on high street and take it up to 23 clear up into deleware, take sandusky through town, hang around there, drive the back roads. Its a pretty small town, i grew up there.. but i swear to god, you enter that town and blinkers suddenly cease to function.
Delaware? Yeah, don't go up there much.
Mostly, I'm thrilled that when you turn on your blinkers, as a rule people hang back and let you enter the lane. In L.A., if you turned on your blinkers they'd zoom up and fill the gap. Rookie mistake. I had this elaborate method that I can barely remember (5 years ago now) involving something like turning on blinkers, and as they zoomed, slowing down and easing in the space they left by accelerating.
Man, I hated L.A.
I don't know if you've driven much in Columbus in rush hour, Soz, but the tactics you describe are exactly what you need to do here. Putting on your turn signal to change lanes is an invitation for everyone in that lane to speed up. I once was in that situation, so i put in the clutch and down-shifted to fourth, and when the woman who wouldn't let me in slowed down to match me, i popped the clutch, floored it and pulled in front of her. She followed me nearly all the way to Hilliard--what she intended, i have no idea, but it doesn't matter, if i hadn't gotten in front of her, i'd have been on 71 South headed for Cincinnati. The only bright spot about driving in Ohio is that they are such bad drivers that its easier to deal with them than in say Chicago, where they're aggressive and they do know how to drive.
Not a lot of rush-hour driving, no. Guess that's a good thing.
71 is a bitch since they started the three lane construction like five years ago....
and you should know incase you are ever asked.. the ohio state flower is the construction barrel.
We SHREDDED a tire on 71 just south of mohican st park coming in from NY. didnt pop it, didnt blow it, SHREDDED it right where theyre doing construction and its supposed to be 50.. no, they were doing 80 i know because thats how fast i was going too. and there was NO shoulder. oh it was fun. fun fun fun.
As a rull ohio people are rude ass mofo's that care more about wearing the lastest fashion than whether or not you make it home from work alive.
But i am still fond of the state that spawned me.