Motorist accused of pulling gun on student not facing charge

[Lucky45]

By Jessica Bock and Joel Currier
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/05/2008

TROY, MO. — A man accused of pulling a gun on a student in a high school parking lot will not be charged, a decision that prompted disbelief from school officials and the police chief Monday. "We're disappointed. We've done the things we need to do to send a clear message that guns aren't welcome on school property," said Terry Morrow, superintendent of Troy schools. He said the decision "sends the wrong message."
Lincoln County Prosecutor John Richards announced Monday that it is unclear whether the man pointed the gun at the student or simply showed it to the student outside Troy Buchanan High School after the two were involved in a road rage incident on Highway 61. He also said the man, who is a paramedic, had a valid concealed carry permit. "Whether he pointed it or not, the other evidence that he was acting in self-defense is what prohibits the prosecution," said Richards, who would not provide further details.
The incident happened Jan. 18. A 16-year-old student told police the man pulled a gun on him before school after following him into the parking lot. The 36-year-old Washington, Mo., man told police the student had been following his vehicle too closely on Highway 61. The student parked near the front of the school and when both got out of their vehicles, they began arguing and school officials said the man pointed a gun at the student. No one was injured.
Morrow said the school district does not think this was a case of self-defense. Troy Police Chief Jeff Taylor also disagrees with the prosecutor's decision not to file charges. "I'm not happy at all," he said. Taylor said the man was wrong to pull a gun on a student regardless of what happened on the highway. "Road rage never has a good outcome," Taylor said. If drivers encounter road rage, Taylor said, they should write down the license plate number and immediately call police. Both the student and the adult had called police.
Taylor said police are still looking for witnesses and he hopes to seek municipal charges against the suspect. "I'm not going to give up on this," he said. Greg Maddock, a spokesman for the Lincoln County Ambulance District where the man involved works, said the district will conduct an internal investigation into the incident. He declined to comment further. Neither the adult driver nor the student could be reached for comment.

jbock@post-dispatch.com | 636-255-7208
jcurrier@post-dispatch.com | 636-255-7210

This is a perfect example of what happens when your NEED to say something to a complete strange MAY get out of control. You have some people that cannot let things go when they was no actually harm done, other than their BRUISED EGO. I would have kept driving as long as he didn't touch my car. But an interesting case, nonetheless with all the twists and turns.

[tbranch]

I would have kept driving as long as he didn't touch my car. But an interesting case, nonetheless with all the twists and turns.

It does not sound lke there was real reason to draw other than anger. It's incidents like this that do not help our cause.

Tom

[KBCraig]

By Jessica Bock and Joel Currier
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/05/2008


Morrow said the school district does not think this was a case of self-defense.

Schools don't think there's any such thing as self-defense. For 12-15 years they hammer relentlessly at students that the only acceptable course when attacked is to curl into a ball and take a beatin'.

From this scant report, we have no idea if the man's actions were justified. He could have simply pulled into the parking lot to get the license number, or he could have pulled in intended to "educate" the student.

[Hyunchback]

Sadly we don't have all the facts.

We are all aware that we don't "flash" without just cause.

While it's possible that this guy behaved as a jerk it's also HIGHLY likely that the weasel who was being real brave with mommy's car was trying to scare someone.

I can just as easily see it as a case of a driver trying to get the license plate and having big, brave bully boy who just got driving in a reckless manner in mommy's car get out and flex muscles at him. The Carry permit holder may have actually felt threatened and was making ready in case he had to do what was needed.

When bully boy saw the gun he realized his alligator mouth had overloaded his tadpole butt. Being a whinny bully, as they are raised, he had to get back at the mean ol' man. "That guy threatened me! I wasn't doin' nuttin'!"

That's how I see a possible scenario based upon the bullies I've known in my life.

Maybe the Carry person was in the wrong. We won't know the facts from that newspaper, though.

[tbranch]

The newspaper reports the kid was on the CHLs rear bumper. Did the kid pass him and then turn? Did the CHL do a u-turn to go back? Why would the CHL follow him onto school property (anywhere for that matter)? I agree there's not enough information but clearly it could have been avoided if the CHL simply drove on and left the kid alone.

The Brady Bunch is just looking for this kind of media to make their case for tighter laws.

Tom

[KC5AV]

The only way I think they'd get the kind of traction they want is if the kid had actually gotten shot.

John

[tbranch]

The only way I think they'd get the kind of traction they want is if the kid had actually gotten shot.

John,

I actually spent some time at the Brady site last night. They have a full-scale assault set up to attack the idea of guns in schools and on campus. I just don't think we need any kind of bad media reports and I really think this could have been avoided if the CHL had just drove on.

Tom

[KC5AV]

The only way I think they'd get the kind of traction they want is if the kid had actually gotten shot.

John,

I actually spent some time at the Brady site last night. They have a full-scale assault set up to attack the idea of guns in schools and on campus. I just don't think we need any kind of bad media reports and I really think this could have been avoided if the CHL had just drove on.

Tom

I'll certainly agree to that. The guy was stupid no matter how you look at it. I've actually had their site open in another tab for the last day or so. It's some pretty scary reading. Maybe that's why I didn't sleep well last night.

John

[Kalrog]

The guy was stupid no matter how you look at it.

We don't know that. The fact that the CA stated it was self defense should be the overriding factor here. The guy was legal from everything we can see here. They might have information that the others don't. That is their job.

[tbranch]

The guy was legal from everything we can see here.

Legal and smart can be two different things. I'm sure there is more to the story as well.

Tom

[KC5AV]

they began arguing and school officials said the man pointed a gun at the student.

I wonder if these school officials actually saw what happened, or if it's just a bunch of conjecture on their part.

[flb_78]

The guy was stupid no matter how you look at it.

The guy was legal from everything we can see here.

I don't think this would of flew in Texas. Once you let yourself become part of the road rage, all your CHL rights just went out the window.

[NcongruNt]

I think there are too many conclusions being jumped to here. The article seems to have already made up its mind. All of their information seems to be based on what the "school officials" said, and seem to have pulled nothing from authorities (who are not commenting to much extent) or the parties involved (who are also not commenting). So instead of realizing there's nothing substantial to report, they insist on making the story. The anti-gun school officials were the only ones willing to make statements that were controversial, so that is what you get in this article.

If the DA isn't pressing charges, I'm betting that there's much more to this story, and the version of events depicted in the article isn't even close to what actually happened.

[Boma]

Who is more likely to act like a punk... a high school teenager in mommy's car. Or a paramedic who has no felonies and a chl?

I know we don't have the whole story, but I'll bet on the high school teenager who wanted to be a big man, who talked crap to the paramedic, and then shrunk into a little helpless boy when a gun straightened his attitude.

[frankie_the_yankee]

If the DA isn't pressing charges, I'm betting that there's much more to this story, and the version of events depicted in the article isn't even close to what actually happened.