Category Archives: crime
Red Flags
The kid who killed 17 former high school classmates in Parkland, Florida had a tough time getting the cops’ attention. Red flags popped up everywhere. Callers warned the Broward County Sheriff’s office 18 times. A tipster told the FBI in January, “I know he’s going to explode.”
Four cops stood outside outside the school building while inside he fired away.
Then the shooter left the building and bought a soda.
National Review’s David French says, The Parkland shooter did everything but call police and tell them the date and time of his attack. It would have been difficult for him to make his intentions more clear.
Red Flags
CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, “Are you really not taking any responsibility for the multiple red flags that were brought to the attention of the Broward Sheriff’s Office about this shooter before the incident?”
The sheriff’s reply? “I’ve given amazing leadership.”
Billy Graham Joins Stoneman Douglas HS Kids
As news of the death of Billy Graham broke, friends and family of the Stoneman Douglas high school shooting victims gathered at the White House. It was tough to watch but I thought the kids and parents did a great job. The president listened respectfully with no tweeting. But he did encourage teachers to pack heat.
Here’s an editorial tribute to Rev. Graham from the WSJ (you might need a subscription). And here’s a less admiring one by George Will. John Kass of the Chicago Tribune has a good one here about the politics of guns and abortion.
Professional School Shooter
A Wall Street Journal story says the FBI failed to follow up on a tip that Nikolas Cruz was a dangerous threat to others.
On Jan. 5, the FBI received a call on a tip line from a person close to Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old charged in this week’s shooting, the bureau said in a statement on Friday. The caller provided information on “Cruz’s gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior and disturbing social-media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting,” the FBI said.
The FBI said the information should have been assessed as a possible “threat to life” but “no further investigation was conducted.”
Professional School Shooter
BuzzFeed reports that last September a Mississippi bail bondsman named Ben Bennight tipped the FBI to a disturbing YouTube post by a Nikolas Cruz. The post said “I’m going to be a professional school shooter.” The FBI followed up with a visit to Bennight’s office but he had no further information. At a press conference after the shooting the Bureau said it “could not uncover any details from the account.”
Florida Governor Rick Scott called for FBI Director Christopher Ray to step down.
Rand Paul’s Yard Job
Republican Senator Rand Paul’s next door neighbor did a yard job on him. He blindsided the senator while he mowed the grass. As a result the ophthalmologist/senator spent Thanksgiving recovering from 6 broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Rand Paul’s Yard
The question everyone’s asking is, “do U.S. senators really mow their own yards?” That, and, “what’s up with Rand’s neighbor?”
Everyone, that is, except the media. Mrs. Paul doesn’t think this is about leftover fish sticks. And in light of last summer’s shooting of Congressman Scalise she thinks there ought to be more interest.
Update: Senator Paul now says he knows why he was attacked. But he isn’t talking. Instead he’s hired a personal injury lawyer.