WhoaitsZ

http://www.local6.com/news/2428769/detail.html

Mob Beats Driver, Sets Car On Fire After Hydrant Crash
3 Suspects Sought In Beating Of Driver

CHICAGO -- A 33-year-old driver struck two girls playing near an open fire hydrant at 63rd and St. Lawrence, on the south side, police said. When he stopped to check on them, an angry crowd pulled him out of his car, beat him, and set his car on fire.

Police on Friday were looking for three men who allegedly attacked Jonathan Hemphill, and Hemphill was cited with a variety of traffic violations: driving on a sidewalk, failure to exercise due caution with a pedestrian, driving without a license, and driving with no insurance. He was ordered to appear in court on Oct. 18.

Hemphill was driving a maroon 1996 Chrysler Sebring west on 63rd Street, police said, when the vehicle hit the sidewalk and struck the two girls, ages 3 and 5, as they played near an open hydrant.

When the driver stopped and got out of the vehicle to check on the girls, a small crowd attacked him, police said. Hemphill reportedly told police that three males "beat him about his head and torso." One of them struck him on the left cheek with a water bucket, he said. Hemphill was given stitches for that wound.

Police said someone in the crowd poured a flammable liquid in the Chrysler and lit it on fire. The car was gutted by the flames.

The girls suffered only minor cuts and bruises and were treated and released from the Children's Hospital of the University of Chicago Hospitals.

A 22-year-old woman was riding in the car with Hemphill at the time of the accident, but she was not injured, police said.

Witnesses told police that the three males suspected in the beating ran south from the scene. Police said Hemphill was not able to give police a detailed description of the men.

Meanwhile, another child was also struck as he played near an open fire hydrant during Thursday's heat spell.

The 4-year-old was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital after being hit by a car near 38th and Kedzie. Witnesses said the little boy ran out into the street to retrieve a toy when he was struck.



now, in this case I cannot totally side with the vigilantes; but I wasn't there and if I were I would have probably joined in the frey.

the 4-year-old incident is tragic, but not the drivers fault...... but as for the kid by the hydrant..... if some asshole hit my niece due to incomptetence at driving i'd probably try to end the man.

I clap my hands for Vigilantes everywhere. they are our last hope in living a safe life.

GakFace

Sure I might punch him if he hit my kid... but to set the car on FIRE!!!?!? That person is sick! They need serious help. As far as I'm concerned there is no "winner."

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WhoaitsZ

yeah, they went too far. not to mention if it blew up even more people would be hurt.

TaLoN

i pissed that they didn't kill him. the more that die the better

BBtB

Wow, I can not say I would not do the same thing if someone hit one of my nieces (or daughter when I have one) but I do think they defintly went over the line. The really should have just called the police and let them handle it. Even if they wouldn't do that.... to beat him down AND set his car on fire?

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JumpinJesus

I don't know. This fuck wasn't supposed to be driving in the first place. He had no license and no insurance. Had he kept his ass out of the driver's seat like he should have, he wouldn't have been beaten. True vigilante justice would have been for someone to run him down.

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Memalvada

I agree that just beating him down would have sufficed, although I would have done him more damage myself... I like blood

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BBtB

Of course they didn't know that at the time. He may have had a perfectly clean record and they would have done the same thing.

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Meridae'n once played "death" at a game of chess that lasted for over two years. He finally beat death in a best 34 out of 67 match. At that time he could ask for any one thing and he could wish for the hope of all mankind... he looked death right in the eye and said ...

"I would like about three fiddy"

YourNeverThere

I think there might have been a video of this, or the same incident some where else, Becuase I saw this happen to a guy once on TV, he just ran two kids right the fuck over and stopped, the crowd beat the crap out of him. When you watch the video you really are on the side of the crowd becuase it's so horrible to see two kids run over, the crowd probably thought that the driver had killed the two kids, and were so angry that they thought lighting the car on fire would be a good idea.

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Hash_Browns

I am sorry to hear about those kids...That is one reason we chose to get a house not anywhere near a main road. We happen to live on a dead end street which still isn't the best place, but we have taught our girls as best as possible to stay out of the road, and yes I understand they weren't even in the road.

If I were to see that...I wouldn't worry myself with beating anyone over making sure the police were called and the children ok.

I also would not want my children to see something like that either. To me that is teaching our kids to be as violent as they want about something they feel is right...which is almost NEVER the best way to end things. And fire?? Yeah, lets show the kids that fire is a great thing to play with...and like someone else said...blow everyone else up in the process...that take some brains!

I am not saying he didn't deserve it, and I am not saying that is some cases...its deserved. But in this case where there are obviously children around and enough people to hold him down and keep him in place til the cops came (or drag him into an alley away from kids sight or something)...I think they were wrong in doing what they did.

Just my $.02

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bondagegirl

OK so it doesn't say anything about the crowd actually paying attention to the kids. I mean really I think my first priority would be to check and make sure the kids are ok and try to help them, before going over and kicking the guys ass. It doesn't say anything about why he went up on the sidewalk either. (well I guess there wouldn't be a very good reason.) But at least the guy stopped to make sure the kids were ok. Instead of like some assholes that just commit hit and runs.

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Kaos

I have to partially disagree with you on this one. Yes, setting the car on fire may show that the guy went a little far, but the driver had NO licence and NO insurance. Maybe burning his car to a crisp may help keep the guy from driving again.

WhoaitsZ

my only problem is the fire, as i stated earlier. it just feel this haven't been stressed enough.

setting a car on fire means you may blow the fucker up. what about shrapnel?

could you imagine if this child survived and they blew up the car, allowing pieces to kill it?

I am a firm believe in vigilante justice. there rarely is true justice anymore, but regardless of who you are or what you think. . . you have to think sometime.

this example is by far the best of a worst case scenario from not thinking. yeah, the got the guy and he deserved it. he should had died.

but putting everyone near that car at risk is unacceptable and they should be charged for arson.

vigilatism is done for the good of the people and occasional justice. it is not an act to throw away common sense.

its fucking sad.

vermin

This is another example of a guy making a series of BAD decisions that leads to an ass-whoopin'. I'm seeing this more and more lately. Some would say it's karma. I prefer "As ye sow, so shall ye reap".
The two guys that got away will never be caught, but shit has a way of catching up with you. Some day, somehow, when you least expect it, expect it.

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RoadRage

A good beating is what the driver deserved.

They did let the passenger out before setting the car ablaze.

No license and no insurance? Burning the car was the only way to make sure the moron didn't get back behind the wheel.

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Derwood

As someone who drives in Chicago daily, I don't blame these guys for kicking the dude's ass soundly. I would do it too if I wasn't a scrawny white weakling.

The worst day-to-day traffic thing is what my friend likes to call the "ghetto-go-round." This is when you pull to a stop light and a dude pulls up in the right hand lane (usually for turning right) and then the moment the light turns green, peels out to get around and ahead of you. This happens to me about 100 times a day (and I can safely say without a racist thought that it is ALWAYS black guys doing it).

Sometimes if I'm in a pissy mood I'll gun the engine and try to drag race them a spell, which usually means they have to slam on the brakes or hit a parked car. I don't tempt fate too often though...

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BrinlyNoya

oh man! I originate from Chicago's South side, that is one place you don't want to fuck with. That guy got what he deserved, sans the burning of his car.

MSD

So you all say that it's great that they beat the shit out of him for hitting two kids, who only suffered minor cuts and scrapes, because he stopped to check if they were OK. They had no idea that he had no license or insurance, for all they know, his brakes failed and he couldn't swerve out of the way in time. Maybe the open fire hydrant drenched the road, his car hydroplaned, and he couldn't stop it in time.

What makes these people so great for beating a guy after seeing only one side of the situation? Why the hell didn't they check on the kids before they went after him?

If you ask me, this isn't vigilantism, this is unjustified violence and extraordinarily irresponsible behavior.

The_Dude

this why there are police for. people should never take justice into their hands.

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WhoaitsZ

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...threadid=23861

sometimes the judicial service doesn't do much of a service.

and when you're the victem or worse, to me, the person who has to watch a person be screwed over.

some have no choice and ccannot act. some can and do not. some can and do.

IC3

Speaking off bad drivers...Did you hear about the driver in Montreal who was drunk and hit a group of teenagers...One of the guys went half way through the windshield and the driver kept driving for about an hour, With the dead body stuck in the windshield...Until the cops caught him.

Some drivers...I don't know about them.

WhoaitsZ

we have a winner...

see.. these people have no rights anymore.

they have irresponsibly drunk. they drove. then they murdered (purposedly or not) then he still drove. can you imagine telling a mother 'your son is dead...' and then explain he was stuck for an hour?

there need be no court. there need be no jury. only evidence and witness who can say without doubt he was drunk when he did this and still drove.

he should not be given an hour. he shouldn't die the next day. his life ends now and he willingly let it happen.

this is when vilgilantes are needed. we know right now this guy will eventually walk. he threw all responsibility away we he got in his vehicle under the influence.

if it were my own father (who thankfully does't drink) I would not plead for his life. he sure as fuck took someone elses.

this, thedude, is when we need them, man. because we know he will only end up costing people lots of money they can't afford to lose.

it is so wrong.

bleh

I apologize for posting such gloom. it seems like ignoring such matters is why things are so fucked up...

Fallon

Ya, people with no insurance should burn!!! All of them...Hang on while I burn myself...Just because he doesn't have insurance doesn't mean that he's bad. It might mean he doesn't have the money to pay overpriced insurance bills. As for the driver's license, that's unacceptable really. I'd wish to know more of the story because a reporter might put a spin on this that the driver intentionally hit them or some crap like it when it could be the opposite. As for vilgilantes. I think they should be punished just as bad, if not worse. It's not to be in your hands to be the judge, jury and executioner. I'd really hate to see someone here get attacked by a 'vigilante' because the 'vigilante' thought that they were right. If you want to be a vigilante, get a job as a cop and do it legally.

JBX

Said as if it came out of my own mouth.

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