Policeman Suspected as Shooting Spree Kills Five

yahoo news ^ | April 10, 2002 | staff

[RogueIsland]

Policeman Suspected as Shooting Spree Kills Five

Wed Apr 10, 6:55 AM ET

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (Reuters) - An off-duty police officer went on a shooting rampage late on Tuesday, killing five of his neighbors and wounding his police chief, before escaping in a car, police said.

Police said 15-year veteran police officer Edward Lutes, a member of the Seaside Heights SWAT team, was still armed and believed dangerous after killing three men and two women in two houses near Toms River, New Jersey, about 40 miles south of New York City.

A sixth person was injured jumping from a window to escape the melee.

Lutes then allegedly drove to the nearby community of Barnegat Township, where he allegedly shot and wounded Seaside Heights Police Chief James Costello, who was hospitalized in stable condition on Wednesday morning.

Police said gunfire erupted at about 9:20 p.m. after Lutes had an apparent dispute with a neighbor. In the same community last February, retired Newark police officer John Mabie allegedly went on a shooting spree that left four people dead, including his granddaughter.

[RogueIsland]

This is why only policemen should have guns... err... wait... never mind.

[RogueIsland]

Don't know if this was posted under another title. Sorry if it was.

[maquiladora]

What a nutcase.

[from occupied ga]

This in the Peoples' Democracy of New Jersey, where even the Republican Politicians believe in gun control for the citizens, but not, of course, for the police. What I don't understand is why this is news. I thought the role of swat teams was to go around and kill people.

[Dante3]

Any descritipion of this guy?

[rightwingextremist1776]

We need more gun control! We need to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill! Why are guns still being used in crime? What, it's not the gun after all? </ sarcasm>

Prayers for the families. To bad they were not allowed to defend themselves.

[from occupied ga]

Any descritipion of this guy?

He is a member of the swat team, he was probably wearing his black ski mask.

[B Knotts]

Ah, but according to some people here, they wouldn't have been able to defend themselves anyhow, once the guy identified as a police officer.

Perhaps this sad event will teach them that, yes, sometimes even the police commit crimes.

[firewalk]

He still hasn't been caught. He was last seen driving a blue Buick Regal. I still haven't heard any description of him.

[CWRWinger]

IMO, at this point in time, I can't see something like this happening in say, NC or SC.

[banjo joe]

We all know that rigorous psychological screening is conducted for police candidates, and even more so for elite swat team members. To protect and serve. I personally know a couple swat guys - and they're ticking time bombs.

[sleavelessinseattle]

I'm not big on the Blue wall of silence that Police agencies are prone to. I've had the experience of a disgraced (IE. convicted felon) ex-cop getting preferential (positive) attention from law enforcement officials after relocating to my area from a scandalous drug sting in Kalifornia. Take it from me, there is NOTHING more dangerous than a bad cop!!! I hope this killer gets dead or has the courage to Bleach himself out of the gene pool... I also feel that some of the most admiral humans I've ever met were LEO's or Firefighters...it just depends.

[DCPatriot]

"...He still hasn't been caught. He was last seen driving a blue Buick Regal..."

"..a blue Buick Regal..."?

That's a good enough reason to shoot him, IMHO. ;^)

[B Knotts]

I agree. I'm just trying to point out that, yes, sometimes even cops go bad. The badge does not magically transform fallable humans into demi-angels.

So, yes, there are times when people have to defend themselves against bad cops. Thankfully, such cases are relatively rare.

[Moonmad27]

Toms River, not that big - two recent shootings like this! Is it something in the water?

[firewalk]

Just heard more: He's blond, over 6' tall . Car has NJ Plate #LNH53E

[Wm Bach]

Policing is a crapy, stressful job in which you must deal with the worst elements of society on a daily basis. You would have to be nuts to become a cop - as apparently this poor guy was, but thankfully, the psych evaluations weed most of the head cases before they get the badge.

[ppaul]

Toms River, not that big - two recent shootings like this! Is it something in the water?

Probably.
But we should be asking, "Why does every tin-pot, small town in America need a SWAT team?"

[blackdog]

Because the feds give grant money to swat teams. If the feds gave grant money to municipalities for hiring one legged midgets to swing from trees while singing show tunes, the municipalities would be lining up for the cash.

[Lumberjack]

Hey! Guns don't kill people. Cops do.