gunman holding hostages at Case Western Reserve - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

gov135 · 05-09-2003, 04:57 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Midwest/0...ire/index.html

Two reported shot at Cleveland university
Police surround building at Case Western Reserve
Friday, May 9, 2003 Posted: 7:34 PM EDT (2334 GMT)

CLEVELAND, Ohio (CNN) -- A gunman opened fire Friday afternoon at Case Western Reserve University, spraying bullets inside the lobby of the university's school of management building.

Two people were shot, including one who remained inside the building, university spokeswoman Marci Hersh said.

The other victim was a man who was shot in the buttocks and was being treated at Huron Hospital, a spokeswoman there said.

Police sealed the school building and SWAT team members were inside, officials said. Dozens of police, many with guns drawn, surrounded the building, and an armored personnel carrier -- called the "Mother Truck" -- was at the scene.

Officials had no details on the gunman, but Michael Moore, a security guard on campus, said police told him the shooter was not a student.

"He had a machine gun, book bag, camouflage shirt, military green hat, white pants and a book bag," eyewitness LeKisha Spencer, 28, told The Associated Press. "He was just walking, aiming his guns and firing."

Dick Bennett, the executive director of development at the Weatherhead School of Management, described the attack.

"We heard gunfire a little after 4 p.m., and almost immediately police descended on the building," he said. "There's quite a bit of shooting going on."

Bennett was speaking from the third floor of the Peter B. Lewis building -- the school's much-heralded $62 million facility designed by architect Frank Gehry. The 152,000-square-foot building has six levels and a radical, stainless steel roof. (More on building)

There were "tens, if not hundreds" of shots fired -- what sounded like "the culminating event of the Fourth of July," Bennett said.

"The shots you can hear quite clearly up here," he said, noting that the lobby is an atrium so the sound has been echoing through the building.

Bennett described the shots as automatic fire, going off in "fairly rapid succession." They sounded for more than an hour, before calming about 5:10 p.m. Around 5:40 p.m., more shots were fired.

He said he and eight others -- including a pregnant woman -- were in a glassed-in office, and would move into a more enclosed copy room if they were threatened.

Bennett estimated about 40 to 50 people were inside the building when the shooting began. Final exams had ended this week, so the building wasn't as full as during the school year. Graduation is scheduled for May 18.

He said he felt "violated" by the shooter for ruining what had been another good academic year: "It is very sad."

Cleveland Police Chief Edward Lohn made a plea through the media for the gunman to contact police at (216) 375-8112. Authorities suspect the man has access to a television.

FBI Special Agent Robert Hawk said the bureau was not involved in the investigation but was on the scene should police need their help.

"They have a very, very good SWAT team; they have a very good and competent negotiating team," Hawk said.

Case Western Reserve is an independent research university with programs in the arts and sciences, engineering, the health sciences, law, management and social work.

The Weatherhead School of Management has more than 1,600 students, fewer than 10 percent of whom would have been around on a Friday afternoon, Bennett said.

He said Fridays are research days, which means most of the faculty would have been away, also.

The Peter B. Lewis building opened for last year's fall semester after more than three years of construction.

This is what I am watching on my local Cleveland channels. This stuff makes me so mad. Case Western is a place where very elite students who have a great shot at making a contribution attend.
Why are people motivated to do this sort of thing? Is it extreme stress or an emotional disorder? Is it a desire to be made famous? Is it based on a hatred or jealousy?

I know there is probably no one answer. But alot of people are still awaiting phone calls from their loved ones, many of which are being interviewed. Any insights?

krwlz · 05-09-2003, 05:46 PM

this worthless fuck is what gives responsible gun owners a bad name, i hate it

MSD · 05-09-2003, 06:45 PM

My first reaction after hearing that nobody was seriously injure was, "Where the hell did this guy get an automatic wepaon? Wasn't the assault weapons ban supposed to protect us from this kind of stuff? Oh right, this is why I say that law is useless."

I also agree with krwlz.

05-09-2003, 04:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
gov135 Junkie Location: Midwest	gunman holding hostages at Case Western Reserve http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Midwest/0...ire/index.html Two reported shot at Cleveland university Police surround building at Case Western Reserve Friday, May 9, 2003 Posted: 7:34 PM EDT (2334 GMT) CLEVELAND, Ohio (CNN) -- A gunman opened fire Friday afternoon at Case Western Reserve University, spraying bullets inside the lobby of the university's school of management building. Two people were shot, including one who remained inside the building, university spokeswoman Marci Hersh said. The other victim was a man who was shot in the buttocks and was being treated at Huron Hospital, a spokeswoman there said. Police sealed the school building and SWAT team members were inside, officials said. Dozens of police, many with guns drawn, surrounded the building, and an armored personnel carrier -- called the "Mother Truck" -- was at the scene. Officials had no details on the gunman, but Michael Moore, a security guard on campus, said police told him the shooter was not a student. "He had a machine gun, book bag, camouflage shirt, military green hat, white pants and a book bag," eyewitness LeKisha Spencer, 28, told The Associated Press. "He was just walking, aiming his guns and firing." Dick Bennett, the executive director of development at the Weatherhead School of Management, described the attack. "We heard gunfire a little after 4 p.m., and almost immediately police descended on the building," he said. "There's quite a bit of shooting going on." Bennett was speaking from the third floor of the Peter B. Lewis building -- the school's much-heralded $62 million facility designed by architect Frank Gehry. The 152,000-square-foot building has six levels and a radical, stainless steel roof. (More on building) There were "tens, if not hundreds" of shots fired -- what sounded like "the culminating event of the Fourth of July," Bennett said. "The shots you can hear quite clearly up here," he said, noting that the lobby is an atrium so the sound has been echoing through the building. Bennett described the shots as automatic fire, going off in "fairly rapid succession." They sounded for more than an hour, before calming about 5:10 p.m. Around 5:40 p.m., more shots were fired. He said he and eight others -- including a pregnant woman -- were in a glassed-in office, and would move into a more enclosed copy room if they were threatened. Bennett estimated about 40 to 50 people were inside the building when the shooting began. Final exams had ended this week, so the building wasn't as full as during the school year. Graduation is scheduled for May 18. He said he felt "violated" by the shooter for ruining what had been another good academic year: "It is very sad." Cleveland Police Chief Edward Lohn made a plea through the media for the gunman to contact police at (216) 375-8112. Authorities suspect the man has access to a television. FBI Special Agent Robert Hawk said the bureau was not involved in the investigation but was on the scene should police need their help. "They have a very, very good SWAT team; they have a very good and competent negotiating team," Hawk said. Case Western Reserve is an independent research university with programs in the arts and sciences, engineering, the health sciences, law, management and social work. The Weatherhead School of Management has more than 1,600 students, fewer than 10 percent of whom would have been around on a Friday afternoon, Bennett said. He said Fridays are research days, which means most of the faculty would have been away, also. The Peter B. Lewis building opened for last year's fall semester after more than three years of construction. This is what I am watching on my local Cleveland channels. This stuff makes me so mad. Case Western is a place where very elite students who have a great shot at making a contribution attend. Why are people motivated to do this sort of thing? Is it extreme stress or an emotional disorder? Is it a desire to be made famous? Is it based on a hatred or jealousy? I know there is probably no one answer. But alot of people are still awaiting phone calls from their loved ones, many of which are being interviewed. Any insights? Last edited by gov135; 05-09-2003 at 04:59 PM..

05-09-2003, 05:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
krwlz Fledgling Dead Head Location: Clarkson U.	this worthless fuck is what gives responsible gun owners a bad name, i hate it

05-09-2003, 06:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	My first reaction after hearing that nobody was seriously injure was, "Where the hell did this guy get an automatic wepaon? Wasn't the assault weapons ban supposed to protect us from this kind of stuff? Oh right, this is why I say that law is useless." I also agree with krwlz.