Here's one for the books! WTF?

Let me see if i got this right, He shot the guy to prove to him how dangerous it was to ride with a child in the CSCC bike seat?
Wouldn't killing the father put the kid in more danger?
Why not just run him over to prove how dangerous bike riding period is!

That is one heck of a helmet!! I want one.

In the Line of Fire(man)!

That is crazy!

Good thing he was there to teach this fool a lesson in safety. 

He's out on $200,000 bail. ...and on PAID leave!  Where can I get some of free time off action.

How strange is that..so glad he was wearing a helmet.

WTF?

That makes no sense...trying to kill someone since he was riding on a busy road with a child???

WOW, that guy must be crazy.

Talk about road rage...unbelievable

if this doesn't teach you to wear a helmet on your rides i dont' know what else ever will....

son of a gun, lucky guy

I just want to clarify the paid leave status.....

Generally,  in situations like this, the "accused's" pay goes into escrow. If convicted, the pay is returned to the city/county/state. If aquited, they receive their pay.

Just my opinion but I hope the "accused" will get an appropriate sentence and some serious mental health counseling.....

Just went out for a ride, I took extra precautions...

Did you read the blog below the article?

Guy said "The fire fighter was right, Tunnel Road is dangerous. People get shot there!" LOL!!

I'm sitting here shaking my head trying to make sense of this........ just can't do it.

What caused him to overreact in such a way?

What a sicko! Perhaps he is an arsonist too.

I spend a good deal of time in Asheville, including riding my bike there.  (It is within striking distance of Mount Mitchell, a very very good climb.)  It is actually a fairly bike-friendly town.

This actually happened a while back (July 26 I think).

Apart from the obvious fact that the incident is distressing, what I find disturbing about this case is:

1.  The comments that people make on the news sites ("the cyclists deserve what they get", etc.).  We are familiar with these sorts of comments, but they remain disturbing, not only for personal reasons (i.e., people who actually think that way, or profess to, are on the same roads that we are riding), but because such comments make it difficult to maintain any kind of faith in the decency of our fellow human beings.

2.  The assumption made by many (in those online comments) that because this happened in 'the SOUTH', what we have here is just another case of Southern redneck-ish-ness.  Asheville is more progressive than 99% of the towns I've visited in California, for example. 

3. A grand jury recently dropped the charges to "felony assault".  Maximum sentence is 25 months. (See the article here.)  Of course, they may have facts that have not been reported and that change the situation dramatically, but as things stand, that doesn't seem likely.  (As the article states, things could still change.  It is early days.)

Two other comments:

First, some people in Asheville are responding in a somewhat positive way.  See, for example, this local politician.  (I'm not endorsing him per se, but I think his response is a decent attempt to make some valuable points based on the incident.)

Second, the helmet did NOT save his life.  The report, at least, is that the bullet went in one side of the helmet, and out the other.  Basically, the shot just missed its mark.



Edited by Experior 2009-08-06 9:05 PM

That sounds to me like he might have some mental issues. I can't imagine rational person deciding to put a gun to someone's head because they disagree with someone's parenting, assuming that what the father was doing was legal.

That is disturbing...

A lot more than illegality would be required before shooting at his head would be warranted.

He's on paid leave.  If I was paying taxes in Asheville...I'd be pizzled that my money was going to that man.

My gut and my heart want to agree with that, but until he is proven guilty, he has to be presumed innocent, legally.  What happens if it turns out the biker pulled a gun, and he fired in self- defense?  (I do NOT think this likely at all.  Just making a point.)  Then he sues the City for kajillions of dollars.   It might be cheaper in the long run to pay the guy for a few weeks until the truth is clearer.

I think the Fire Dept is probably following standard policy here.

I am NOT defending this guy.  See my earlier posts.