Tully Mars

Is it me or is the world getting more and more insane by the day?

CLEVELAND - Even by tough, urban-crime standards it was a grisly attack: Up to 15 people chased a man, then kicked and beat him to death on the street. Before police arrived, one attacker urinated on the victim's head.
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When the crime-hardened neighborhood awoke later that morning, two people reported a man lying on the pavement, his clothes being dragged off by his assailants.

"You got a male being assaulted by 15 other guys. He's laying on the street," one 911 caller said.

The April 27 attack on Charles Gooden Jr. happened in the most murder-ridden neighborhood in one of the nation's poorest cities. But it was also within a 10-minute drive of the city's skyscrapers, sports venues and tourist attractions.

Three suspects have been charged with aggravated murder. Police have not mentioned a motive, but they expect more arrests.

It wasn't always dangerous along East 117th Street, where the tulips bloom late because of the cool winds blowing off Lake Erie just a mile to the north.

"It used to be so quiet, and we were so blessed to live on 117th Street," said Irene Bennett, 78, who has lived there for 40 years. She is so used to gunfire and loud outbursts at night that she slept through the commotion of Gooden's slaying.

In retirement, she and her husband had hoped to enjoy simple pleasures: watching people pass by and planting flowers around their neatly kept home. But the violence in the neighborhood makes that impossible.

"You pay for your home. You work hard. You retire, and you want to enjoy, just come out on your porch and ... wait for the summertime to come," she said, shaking her head.

The attackers sent word that anyone helping police could face retribution, according to City Councilman Kevin Conwell. He described the assailants as gang members.

Conwell said the motive was based on an argument involving a woman and a threat by her cousin against Gooden, 41.

"He went to defend his malehood honor. He hit the cousin in the mouth. When that happened, the other gang members jumped on him," said Conwell, relying on information from police and neighbors.

Charged in the slaying were Latangia Anderson, 23, Johnny Brown, 20, and Paris Moore, 19, all of Cleveland. They were each jailed on $1 million bond.

None of the three defendants was able to afford an attorney. The lawyers appointed to represent them all said they could not comment on the case.

After the attack, a memorial of stuffed animals took shape outside the Bennett house because the slaying scene doesn't have a tree to anchor the display.

The display has dwindled but still has a stuffed dog with the label "Puppy love" and another with Gooden's nickname, Bud, written on it, according to Bennett, who knew Gooden when he was a youngster visiting an uncle down the street.

The uncle's house is now boarded up, along with many other neighborhood homes left dilapidated by poverty and drugs. There are a few newly renovated homes and two newer ones, one with barred windows. But in the once-lively commercial district around the corner, most stores are closed, except for a few barbershops or storefront churches.

The neighborhood is Cleveland's murder capital, according to police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho, and outsiders driving the streets risk getting pegged as people looking to buy crack cocaine.

Still, Gooden's death unnerved people here, including the 911 callers.

"They're stomping somebody and ripping their clothes off. You need to come," another caller said. "Like 15 of them beating the hell out of him."

The emergency dispatcher asked if an ambulance should be sent. "You better bring a stretcher, too," the caller replied. "Please hurry."

__________________
I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo

Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

Shauk

Not saying the guy deserved it but, how do you piss off 15 people to that unless you were involved in something questionable?

Still, no excuse for that.

blahblah454

Makes me happy how North America spends so much money on the war effort and other things, and yet their own countries are full of shit (Canada included)

It makes me sad that certain areas have gotten so bad, and that humans can even do this to one another.

lotsofmagnets

ég elska ísland

ie that sort of theing pretty much doesn´t happen here.

__________________
mother nature made the aeroplane, and the submarine sandwich, with the steady hands and dead eye of a remarkable sculptor.
she shed her mountain turning training wheels, for the convenience of the moving sidewalk, that delivers the magnetic monkey children through the mouth of impossible calendar clock, into the devil's manhole cauldron.
physics of a bicycle, isn't it remarkable?

Ustwo

If you would loosen your immigration policy, we can send you some of our minority gangs and you can enjoy it too.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

Tully Mars

Where I'm at in Mexico this type of thing doesn't happen either. But I've read recently of some major gang war/police killings etc... up north. In some countries it all depends on what part of the country you're living.

__________________
I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo

Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

lotsofmagnets

better yet, i can instigate

__________________
mother nature made the aeroplane, and the submarine sandwich, with the steady hands and dead eye of a remarkable sculptor.
she shed her mountain turning training wheels, for the convenience of the moving sidewalk, that delivers the magnetic monkey children through the mouth of impossible calendar clock, into the devil's manhole cauldron.
physics of a bicycle, isn't it remarkable?

dksuddeth

in the urban gang environment, you piss one off, you piss em all off.

this alone should be enough reason for people to get off their lazy dead idol watching asses and start fighting back VIOLENTLY against the criminal thugs taking over their neighborhoods.

__________________
"no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything. You cannot conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him."

Shauk

one grenade would do the job.

Sion

I've been to Cleveland. I've lived in Cleveland.

and I can tell you one thing for certain...

Cleveland sucks.

__________________
He's the best, of course, of all the worst.
Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz

I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...

Cynthetiq

eh, I was attacked by a drunk trio on Laugervegur right in front of the McDonald's near the burned down building.

I didn't think that kind of stuff happened either, but it did.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

host

Your post seems offensive and, hypocritical, considering that you're part of a faction that brought these developments about, especially if you're attempting to make a point about the influences eroding our society:

Ustwo

host I know you have a crush on me, but I'm married. Please give it a rest or I'll have to see the judge again about that restraining order.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

Cynthetiq

I don't see what troops dying in Iraq or the Fed Reserve/Bush/McCain have to do with hooligans in Cleveland in a lynch mob mentality...

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

Bill O'Rights

Oh God. I know I'm going to regret this....but, Host, just what does the war in Iraq, and the government shoring up markets, in an effort to prevent collapse, have to with some macho moron in Cleveland getting his ass beaten to death by 15 other bangers? How does one make that connection?

And...if a connection can be made...there was a wind storm in Omaha a few nights ago that brought down a tree branch from my neighbors tree onto my birdbath. Can you help me find a way to blame GW?

__________________
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

dksuddeth

if he had only signed the kyoto treaty, that wind storm would never have happened. or made good on his 'healthy tree' initiative, the branch would never have been there to fall.

__________________
"no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything. You cannot conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him."

Tully Mars

I agree with Host on many issues. But read this post and pretty much had the same gut feeling.

I have a serve dislike for Bush and Co. A dislike that's grown to massive portions over his two terms. But to blame every freaking problem facing mankind on him or his lunatic fringe followers seems rather asinine.

__________________
I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo

Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

lotsofmagnets

velkomin til íslands

i´ve been attacked by a couple of drunks here too. they´re an agressive bunch but it´s drunken stupidity (something that the people her excel at) and not organised violence.

ps what maccas on laugavegur? the only 2 are near smáralind and on suðurlandsbraut. did you mean the 10/11?

__________________
mother nature made the aeroplane, and the submarine sandwich, with the steady hands and dead eye of a remarkable sculptor.
she shed her mountain turning training wheels, for the convenience of the moving sidewalk, that delivers the magnetic monkey children through the mouth of impossible calendar clock, into the devil's manhole cauldron.
physics of a bicycle, isn't it remarkable?

Cynthetiq

i believe the building that was torn down where the fish and chips/gyros were on the corner...

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

thingstodo

As much as Detroit?

__________________
If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

Stangers have the best candy.

Grancey

.... and I was planning a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Oh, well.

__________________
Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

Sion

well, I've only visited Detroit once, so I can't say...tho I must admit that my buddy had his wallet stolen while we were there....

I think Detroit is bigger, so it probably sucks more for that reason alone...however, at least Detroit gave us many years of cars to drive, whereas Cleveland's biggest gifts to the country are Drew Carey and Joe Walsh.


in the end, I'd have to say Cleveland is the suckier of the two.

__________________
He's the best, of course, of all the worst.
Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz

I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...

georgezepeda

Sheesh this horribly sad. The fact that human beings would act in this matter is horrifying and the fact that it happened in a US city is even more sad. Why don't we focus on destroying these gangs that terrorize our American cities on a daily basis instead of continuing to spend all this money on a war for oil.

uncle phil

in july of 1967, i was driving home from colorado before i went to viet nam. i stopped for gas on euclid avenue and continued on my way. that evening, on the network news,

i saw the gas station where i bought my gas on fire.

in october or november, 1979, i went to a notre dame/navy football game at municipal stadium. we spent a lot of time at "pat joyce's." never had more fun in my life on that trip. totally loved the downtown cleveland experience.

one of the conditions of my second marriage was that my wife take me to the rock and roll hall of fame. i am still eagerly awaiting that trip and we might just do it this summer...

__________________
"We were wrong, terribly wrong. (We) should not have tried to fight a guerrilla war with conventional military tactics against a foe willing to absorb enormous casualties...in a country lacking the fundamental political stability necessary to conduct effective military and pacification operations. It could not be done and it was not done."
- Robert S. McNamara
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"We will take our napalm and flame throwers out of the land that scarcely knows the use of matches...
We will leave you your small joys and smaller troubles."
- Eugene McCarthy in "Vietnam Message"
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never wrestle with a pig.
you both get dirty;
the pig likes it.

grumpyolddude

Just about anywhere you go, you can find someone willing to kick you ass or slit your throat, for the proper provocation. All big cities, and most smaller ones, have a gang presence. They take a slumping neighborhood and kill it off completely, and pose a threat to everyone who isn't "in."

This trend was forming in my mother's neighborhood (yes, in Detroit), and we got her out of the home where she'd raised the 11 of us. She struggled with the change, but eventually realized that safety is a good thing, and lives on quite contentedly as she approaches her 94th birthday, 17 years later.

The victim made a mistake, letting his pride drag him into that confrontation. Sadly, those situations deal out the maximum punishment, even for small "mistakes" in judgement.

__________________
"Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard