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NEW INFO: Suspect in Deadly Trooper Shooting Had Criminal Past; Friends and Neighbors Stunned
WSAZ ^ | 8.30.2012 | WSAZ

Posted on 08/30/2012 5:42:02 AM PDT by Morgana

FAYETTE COUNTY W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A gunman who shot five people Tuesday night and killed a West Virginia State trooper had a troubling criminal history of violent behavior.

Court papers say it wasn't the first time that Luke Baber, 22, of Fayette County, pulled a gun on police officers. They say he threatened to shoot his parents in their Oak Hill home in 2009. When responding officers arrived, police say he pointed his gun at them "in attempt to get law enforcement to kill him."

He didn't pull the trigger then, but Tuesday night he did -- after state police pulled him over for reckless driving about 8:30 p.m. Police say he shot three officers and a tow truck driver.

Friends and neighbors of Baber say they're shocked by his actions and that they never saw any indication of violent behavior from him.

"We still can't believe what happened or why it happened," neighbor Tammy Conley said. "We're still in shock."

Conley says Baber was good friends with her son and had stayed with them in her home for the past few weeks.

"He wasn't a mean person ... to my knowledge everyone liked him," she said. "We loved him to death ... he was like a second son to me."

Others shared her grief and disbelief. Brian Hamilton says he grew up next to Baber and had been his best friend since age 12.

He says they had plans to go fishing together Tuesday night but had to cancel them. He now wishes he could take it back.

"If we went fishing, that would have never happened to him or the police or anyone, he said. "It would have been better for everyone all around."

(Excerpt) Read more at wsaz.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: shot; wvtrooper

1 posted on 08/30/2012 5:42:05 AM PDT by Morgana
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To: Morgana
Court papers say it wasn't the first time that Luke Baber, 22, of Fayette County, pulled a gun on police officers.

Wow a failed suicide by cop.....the first time.
2 posted on 08/30/2012 5:51:46 AM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: Morgana
. . . a troubling criminal history of violent behavior.

Then why wasn't the scum behind bars?

It's well past time that the rights and safety of productive, law-abiding citizens take precedence over the "rights" of criminals and losers.

(But I suppose that attitude makes me a hater.)

3 posted on 08/30/2012 5:52:51 AM PDT by Arm_Bears (Re-distribute my work ethic, not my wealth.)
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To: Arm_Bears; All

“Then why wasn’t the scum behind bars?”

I was wondering the same thing.

” It’s well past time that the rights and safety of productive, law-abiding citizens take precedence over the “rights” of criminals and losers.

(But I suppose that attitude makes me a hater.)”

No that makes you sane.


4 posted on 08/30/2012 5:56:59 AM PDT by Morgana (-----------> Eat at Chick-Fil-A <-----------)
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To: Morgana

“he seemed like such a nice boy...”

lol. Always seems to happen.


5 posted on 08/30/2012 6:08:43 AM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: Arm_Bears

You aren’t a hater, Arm_Bears. You have common sense. He pointed a weapon at law enforcement before... yet his neighbors are “shocked?”.


6 posted on 08/30/2012 6:45:50 AM PDT by momtothree
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To: Morgana
in 2009. When responding officers arrived, police say he pointed his gun at them "in attempt to get law enforcement to kill him."

It would have saved a lot of heartache today if they had.

7 posted on 08/30/2012 6:50:08 AM PDT by bgill
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To: Morgana

I’m all for suicide if it spares innocent lives.


8 posted on 08/30/2012 7:34:23 AM PDT by tflabo (Truth or Tyranny)
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To: Morgana

This Luke rascal was of inner bad devil seed. His choices have most likely landed him in eternal hell. Oh well he punched his own one way ticket there. Total waste all around.


9 posted on 08/30/2012 7:44:53 AM PDT by tflabo (Truth or Tyranny)
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