Posted on 10/30/2006 7:56:29 AM PST by NerdDad
A UA freshman and Iraq war veteran was shot dead Friday night after a car accident after leaving the Ying Yang Twins' Homecoming concert, police said.
The death is Tuscaloosa's seventh homicide this month following a rash of shootings in recent weeks.
Conrad Hollis, 21, was a passenger in a maroon Nissan Pathfinder that rear-ended an unidentified vehicle carrying a man and a woman. The drivers agreed that there was no damage and drove on instead of reporting the accident, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Ken Swindle said.
When the vehicles reached the next red light, the man stepped out of the second car wielding a gun and ordered the Pathfinder's driver to follow him, Swindle said. The driver did not, but unbeknownst to those in the Pathfinder the second vehicle followed them back to the Pathfinder driver's home on Orange Street, near Hargrove Road and McFarland Boulevard.
Swindle said the second vehicle's driver honked twice when the Pathfinder pulled into its driveway, and Hollis exited the car and walked into the street. Approximately three shots followed, and the driver of the Pathfinder turned to find Hollis lying wounded in the middle of the street, Swindle said.
Hollis, a National Guardsman, had recently returned from service in Iraq.
The Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit is looking for witnesses of the wreck that eventually led to Hollis' death, Swindle said. He described the driver of the second car as a black male.
Neighbors heard the shots, saw the body
Some residents in the neighborhood where Hollins died said they saw the aftermath of the shooting in the early morning hours Saturday.
One, a junior majoring in interior design who asked to remain anonymous, said the night was awful.
"Me and my roommate heard something," she said. "Three gunshots. Our first thought was that it was fireworks. But it was obvious it was a gun."
She went to her window, she said, to see what was happening.
"There were three guys huddled around something in the street," she said. "It was obvious that it was a body."
Horrified by the events of the evening, she said she and her roommate did not want to get involved. They stayed in their house, she said, but she could hear everything going on outside.
"You could sit in here and hear people crying," she said. "It was awful."
Another neighbor, an elderly woman, said she was awakened by the last of the three gunshots. She asked to remain anonymous because she feared for her safety, she said.
She said she counted 17 police cars that arrived soon after the shooting. When the victim's family arrived, she sheltered them in her house.
"I didn't know them [Hollis and his roommates] well," she said. "His mother came into my house - she was awful hurt. Mother, father and sister."
She said the body was not removed from the scene until about 3 or 4 a.m.
"They did not move that body," she said. "I wished it would go away."
All of Hollis' neighbors said they knew very little of Hollis. The elderly neighbor, however, said her interactions with him were always positive.
"I talked to him a little while before concert," she said. "Simply because his company parks their cars on the street.
"I called Conrad to move the car ... he moved it in three minutes. They came over to apologize to me. So far as I know, they were OK. Those boys were nice boys."
Friend remembers Hollis as generous, loyal
Casey Richardson, a junior majoring in real estate and business, met Hollis during high school in their hometown of Columbus, Miss. When Hollis returned from Iraq and came to the University, the two friends reunited.
"We had a couple of classes together, and we hung out a lot," Richardson said.
Richardson said he was shocked by Hollis' sudden death, especially because of the violent circumstances.
"It's one thing to have a friend die in a car accident," Richardson said. "But having a good friend shot and murdered is an entirely different thing."
He said Hollis was generous and one of the most loyal people he knew.
"That's the one guy you wanted next to you in an awkward situation," Richardson said. "He always knew how to handle himself."
He also said Hollis was an ambitious and motivated person.
"He would've done a lot of good in the world if he got the chance," he said.
Jacob Summers and Charity Scott contributed to this report.
Columbus MS resident murdered ping.
I suspect he was killed because someone felt disrespected.
Possible PGR mission?
PGR?
I'd like an opportunity to show my disrespect for the scum who killed this man.
Entry Team-in Iraq.In other words this young man risked his life in Iraq on a daily basis.He comes home and is murdered in cold blood by some punk because of a minor traffic incident.Only question i have is does Alabama have the death penalty?
Patriot Guard Riders. From their website http://patriotguard.org/
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.
Possumtown Ping
Tragic ending to a life honorable lived.
Rest in peace, hero.
The FBI should look into this as a hate crime.
The group was created in response to the wackjobs in Kansas who protest at the funerals of soldiers.
Mostly motorcyclists (tho I am not) and veterans (I am USAF) who stand between the protestors and endeavor to shield the families from them and show our respect for our fallen heroes.
We all agree that the FBI should indeed be looking into this and likewise doubt that they will. But please, let's be careful not sink to the killer's level by making this about race.
It was a senseless killing and the killer and victim were different races. However, there is no indication that the killing was racially motivated.
That being said, I agree that the FBI and all the race whores would be all over this if the roles were reversed.
According to a left-wing website that I won't link to, (What can I say, it was the first one that had the information I wanted) Alabama does have the death penalty. They have executed 34 people since 1976.
Only those who have been here would know that term. I came here with the USAF in 79. Moved away after I got out in 84 but returned in 90. Almost all my wife's family is here and I'm better off being geographically separated from most of mine.
I'm not seeing it on the PGR site as yet. I'll contact the Alabama RC with a link to the story.
"I suspect he was killed because someone felt disrespected."
I suspect you're right.
Oh yes, Alabama has the death penalty. An acquaintance of mine in a criminal defense attorney who specializes in capital murder cases. He's currently seven for seven - all his clients have received the death penalty. All his clients were guilty as sin.
Aw jeeze, in = is. My apologies.
I don't disagree with you. I'm just not convinced that this thread is where those larger questions should be debated.
RE:Alabama has death penalty.Thanx for the info.Note:I don't know all the facts of the shooting,but it sounds like the perp deserves death.We have the death penalty here in Fla,but the appeals process open to individuals on death row is almost endless.DRolling(serial murderer)was finally executed here in Fl after 10+(?)years on death row.
what's a Ying Yang Twin? Is that like a Siamese twin or another stupid rap group?
Sad BTTT
I would think twice about driving around Tuscaloosa at night after something like this. And when I was there, I did more than my share of late night goofing off.
My darling wife CDBear was able to get this info from her newspaper contacts:
Visitation is Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lowndes Funeral Home; services at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 10 a.m. Thursday.
Both of these locations are in Columbus MS.
The reason is isn't happening is because of the true facts. One is more likely (almost 80 times) to be a white attacked by a black than a white attacking a black. Hate crimes where white on black crime is committed are far fewer than the black on white crime; this data is supported by the Federal statistics compiled by the FBI. Now consider that the population of blacks right now is fewer than whites and consider the numbers incarcerated of one particular race versus another for violent crime. This makes the data even more amazing and contrary to the MSM rantings. The current situation is because of all the race baiting and PC rantings. This man died because the perp knows that his chances for having to pay the piper is slim even if he gets caught.
This is so sad.
Thank you for the ping.
Here's the story in the Tuscaloosa News:
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061029/NEWS/610290503/1007
May the young man rest in peace. Prayers for the family.
Official mission is now posted. Short notice.
RIP.
Senseless.
Hmmmmm.... TPD... methinks will do just that!!
Ed down in Biloxi has done most of the work on this one. I almost said legwork but since he's still laid up, that's not quite the right word. I'm taking a couple days off so I can concentrate on doing my part appropriately.
Please convey to the Alabama RC that many of his folks are plenty close enough that they should be present as well.
And thanks as always for the work that you do keeping us all informed.
Thank YOU for bringing it to my attention! I'm glad if anything I did helped-- I know I didn't do much! You rock NerdDad!!
To all who may read this: I have known Conrad Hollis since he was a boy. I have lived next door to him in New Hope for 9 years and had the awesome priviledge of watching him grow into a bonafide American Hero. My seven year old son idolizes him. I have spent many hours in the Hollis home since getting the call early Saturday morning that a thug SOB had taken his life. Telling my son and then my husband was just about the most heart wrenching things I've ever had to do. You see he was almost family. We anxiously awaited his return from Iraq. The day he came home, I forgot to turn off the engine in my vehicle when I pulled into the driveway I was so excited to run next door and see for myself that he was actually safe. I cannot believe I am on a forum trying to convince people to keep up the anger until his murderer is caught. It is a never ending nightmare seeing the hell his mom, dad, and sister are in. Tonight we'll all gather around them to console them and yet it won't be enough. Tomorrow we'll fill our pockets with kleenex and attend Conrad's military funeral. WHY?!? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYy
Furious -- you have every right to be angry. We all do. This was a senseless murder of a true American hero. Please know that we're with you.
So senseless FIC.
By the way, welcome to FreeRebublic. If you are looking for prayers, your in the right place...
I am so very sorry for this senseless murder. My heart goes out to you and the Hollis family. May God hold Conrad in His hands. I know there are no words I can ever say to ease the pain for his family or your family. I can just pray for all of you. I hope the murderer is caught and that these senseless shootings stop. I don't understand why people kill like this. I just wish there was more I could say to you. God Bless Conrad and all of the people who loved him.
Furious, thank you for speaking out and for what you are doing for the family, every decent American should feel just as angry as you.
May Conrad Hollis Rest In Peace and God Bless his family.
I don't have words to say how sorry I am.
Please be assured of my prayers.
pax
fic...sincere, heartfelt prayers for the Hollis family, for you, for his neighbors, for his friends and for those young children who look to Conrad as their hero.
Jan
Some questions don't have answers. I'm so sorry that this happened. Prayers going out to all who knew and loved him.
Please accept my heartfelt condolences to you and the family of Conrad Hollis. Several of us on this forum understand too well the pain and suffering all of you are going through at the moment. We would not wish this on our worst enemy . . .
Take whatever comfort you can in the knowledge that most on this forum consider Conrad Hollis an American Hero.
Rm 8:28
Welcome to FR. You are amongst friends. TRussell is the Prayer Warrior person to ping it you ever need it. Most any of us will lend a sympathetic ear any time you need.
FReepmail me if you ever need anything, even if it's just help trying to find your way around FR.
Welcome home.
Damn, damn!
Please know that we are with you, and pray for you and Conrad's family and friends.
Furious,
I am so sorry to hear of Conrad's loss. It has been my privilege to stand in honor of our fallen heroes more times than I would care to remember, but would do so in a heartbeat if I was even somewhat close.
Please take comfort in our prayers. You cannot have better people to stand with at this sad time than the PGR
My thoughts and prayers will be with Conrad and all of his friends and family
NerdDad & StarCMC: thanks for stepping up. you guys make PGR proud.
PGR RC
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