Posted on 06/12/2009 5:11:12 AM PDT by Red in Blue PA
A woman and three children were killed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when a suspected robber fleeing in a car jumped a curb and struck them, police said Thursday.
"He literally cut a tree in half," Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said, "then hit the 1-year-old, [who] was in a stroller. The other individuals were on the front porch of their own home. He struck with such force that it knocked the concrete steps loose."
Latoya Smith, 22, died Thursday from injuries in the crash, which occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Fentonville area of north Philadelphia, police Capt. James Clark said.
Smith's daughter, Remedy Smith -- who would have turned 1 on Friday -- died at the scene, as did Alicia Griffin, 6, and Gina Rosario, 7, Clark said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Both men have “very extensive criminal histories,”
What a horrible tragedy. It is too bad PA will not execute the little bastard.
Based on the information in the article, it sounds like the officer was NOT engaging in a high-speed pursuit on city streets. This a a good thing. High speed pursuits in crowded cities quite often end in avoidable tragedies similar to this one (often with police cars involved).
At least this way the a$$hole’s attorney won’t be able to claim his “client” was “forced” into the accident by the police.
They need to string these guys up on lampposts.
Until we start doing that, why should criminals care?
Its things like this that literally scream for a nationwide mandate that ALL Americans are urged to conceal carry a weapon. All it would take was for someone armed to standup to these “terrorists” to stop them.
Its a shame a family has been destroyed, I don’t care at this stage what color they are, its the fact that when you really need help the Police are minutes away.
But in seconds any individual could have intervened.
Hey DUmmies, stuff a sock in it, we know what you believe in.
Concealed carry on a motorcycle is a bit of an issue. Not the “carrying” itself, apart from the fact that if you are right handed, and you want to be competent at riding AND shooting simultaneously, you need a lot off-hand practice so that you can shoot left-handed and work the throttle with the right (yes, I DO that sort of practice). Certain VERY old motorcyles had left side throttles but the overwhelming majority have it on the right. All you south-paws out there have the advantage in that regard.
The “issue” is how to secure the weapon if you need to go into a building which doesn’t allow firearms (Courthouses, federal buildings, certaing businesses, etc). The law in most states says you must secure the gun in a locked container or glove box in your vehicle while doing business in such places. Tern out of my twelve motorcycles do not have “lockable” containers in/on them.
So what’s a concealed carry motorcyclist to do? One way or the other, unless I leave the gun at home (which renders it useless to me) I will seemingly violate SOME law if I try to go about my normal business using a motorcycle as my mode of transport.
Am I being discriminated against? ;^)
That’s unfair and absolutely not true. Philly is a lovely city. Like all cities, though, it has its share of problems.
Correct. The police were not chasing. The perp has been charged with four accounts of murder.
If you think so. I speant many years there. It was bad then, and has only gone downhill since.
Apparently ostriches aren’t the only creatures who stick their heads in the ground.
It is on a bicycle too.
I know so. I spent a number of years in tourism in one of the surrounding counties and used to host travel writers to the city and surrounding area. They would come in thinking this was not going to be a great destination. I would watch their astonishment as their attitude changed. Some would book later trips on their own so they could come back and see more. It’s a lovely city with a lot of things to see and do. Yes, there are areas that need to be cleaned up. I’m not from here; I’ve from beautiful Virginia and I still think it’s a great city. No ostriches here!
Even the smallest handgun would "profile" in those spandex shorts.
;^)
There is no truly safe part of that city.
Crime happens everywhere, from north, to south, to the Center City area with South Street.
You can have it.
(Not to mention it is the least safe city in PA with the harshest gun laws- no thanks)
I personally don’t want to live in ANY city! I was robbed at gunpoint when I lived in Washington, DC and that did it for me living in cities. My godson, though, lives in Philly and loves it. It really is a beautiful city to visit.
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