Posted on 10/13/2004 10:56:28 AM PDT by Michael Goldsberry
SEATTLE -- A man shot to death by police outside a football stadium has been identified by his family as one of the winners of an $87 million lottery jackpot.
Rick Camat, 32, was shot early Sunday as dozens of people fled to avoid a fight outside a bar before a St. Louis Rams-Seattle Seahawks game.
Police alleged that Camat was carrying a handgun and fired at a car that was leaving the area. Authorities said he crouched behind another vehicle and pointed a handgun at officers.
Relatives insisted Camat only fired into the air to break up the fight and said officers never issued a warning before shooting him.
"He shot once in the air to scare people away. He didn't aim it at anyone," said Camat's brother, Brian, who was with him at the time.
Officer Debra Brown said the family's account "differs vastly from the statements of dozens of witnesses who were at the scene that evening."
The officer who fired at Camat remains on paid administrative leave. An internal police review and a court inquest are planned.
Camat was one of 13 Starbucks employees in Los Angeles who shared an $87 million California lottery jackpot in 2000.
He recently bought a house in Federal Way, a suburb between Seattle and Tacoma, relatives said. He previously used his share of the lottery winnings to buy a house for his mother and cars for his siblings.
I bet you'd have a
better gun than whatever
this loser carried!
"Camat was one of 13 Starbucks employees in Los Angeles who shared an $87 million California lottery jackpot in 2000.
He recently bought a house in Federal Way, a suburb between Seattle and Tacoma, relatives said. He previously used his share of the lottery winnings to buy a house for his mother and cars for his siblings."
Let's see. $87 million is not really $87 million when put in present day dollars. Maybe $50 million.
Then divided by 13 = $380k. Taxes would reduce it to maybe $220k.
A nice sum but he bought two houses and how many cars? It looks like he spent it all. Not bad, but he may actully be deep in debt.
It will be interesting to see if he has a CCW...they are relatively easy to get in WA.
I would bet that if he did, the media would have made a point of it.
The debt of course gets passed on to the surviving family members.
"Let's see. $87 million is not really $87 million when put in present day dollars. Maybe $50 million.
Then divided by 13 = $380k. Taxes would reduce it to maybe $220k.
A nice sum but he bought two houses and how many cars? It looks like he spent it all. Not bad, but he may actully be deep in debt."
That is 3.8 mil with taxes 2.2 mil. Sort of changes the dynamic. However the result was the same. Wife will have to borrow money to pay for his funeral.
I take it the job he has before wasn't as a rocket scientist.
Mistake number 1).
Having a loaded firearm near a bar when people are partying.
Mistake number 2).
Not dropping his weapon and raising his hands when the law showed up.
Mary Champaine bought 13 tickets - one for herself and every employee at the Starbucks coffee shop she runs. She fronted the money for several absent workers, but didn't hesitate to split the jackpot 13 ways. The 53-year old manager recounted how her husband died of cancer last year, how she lost her job when retailer Fedco went under last year and how her son, 24, was shot and killed several years ago. The other winners include Rick Camat, 28; Leah Coley, 30; Dina Escobar; Arely Gaytan, 27; Keith Matthews; Moisha Oliver; and Keana Essex, 16, whose winnings will go to her mother Kellye Richard. Each will get U$6.7 million before taxes, over 26 annual payments. Magic Johnson is an investor in their Mid-City Starbucks.
Nice Lady!
We're talking about Liberal Seattle here. Liberals are against gun ownership by default. He had a concealed weapon, and the moment he fired that gun in public, he became a criminal. Criminals don't need permits for "concealed weapons".
Money guns and lawyers........here's yer sign !
"I take it the job he has before wasn't as a rocket scientist."
He was a canvasser for the Gore campaign.
Scratch the above post. I should have eaten lunch instead of posting.
Next time something like this happens I propose we call it a "Camat".
I know! I caught my error. And I even used a calculator!
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