Posted on 09/23/2011 7:49:19 AM PDT by madison10
Police officials say this afternoon that while no arrests have been made in Tuesday's car bombing, at least two men are being targeted, including one whose estranged spouse is represented by Erik Chappell. Monroe police and federal agents may be close to making a move soon, authorities said. On the day his car exploded with his two sons inside, Mr. Chappell was in Monroe County Circuit Court on a hearing involving child support payments. Later that afternoon, as he was driving on E. Elm Ave., taking his sons to football practice, the Volvo exploded.
Authorities have said that they are investigating any potential links and leads involving cases of Mr. Chappell, including that he may not have been the primary target of the blast. Those familiar with the case said it is believed the vehicle's sunroof was open, which could have saved the trio's lives because the shrapnel, believed to be ball bearings, had an opening to escape.
The device was a pipe bomb, but investigators are not certain if it was detonated by cell phone remote or if it was on a timer. Some close to the situation believe the bomb was placed inside the car under the passenger seat, but others at this stage believe it was attached underneath the Volvo on the passenger side. The bomb was powerful and required some skills to build and detonate, investigators say. Mr. Chappell had reported being threatened in recent weeks, but it was unclear if a police report was filed. He had not filed a personal protection order, according to court records.
Seems a gun would be so much easier. Why a pipe bomb?
Does anyone find that to be a credible statement on the laws of physics?
“Why a pipe bomb?”
I think pipe bombs send more of a message. By being terrorist “inspired” they are meant to warn off others by spreading fear.
Union or other mob sending a message?
What connection did the attorney have to the union or mob? If it was to “send a message”, then it wasn’t meant to kill him? Lots of questions.
More likely, the open sunroof reduced the overpressure of the bomb to survivable levels.
That's f***ing cold. Not even Tony Montana would do that, in "Scarface".
Here’s a guess: IF the child custody case is what “set-off” the criminal, maybe the message was “If you take away my kids, I’ll take away yours” so the target was NOT the lawyer, but his children.
It is well-known that ball-bearings are attracted to light. If a ball-bearing sees the sun shining through a sunroof, it will alter its trajectory to guide itself towards the light. In the summer, you will note that an outdoor porch light will have many ball-bearings flying around it.
Who knows? There are lots of possibilities, but the mob (as well as other terrorists) have been known to use car bombs. They would certainly be near the top of my list of suspects.
Just always look for the Union label, when you are sending a death threat, or bomb.
There’s a song about this me thinks/S
OMG, Laz! Speechless.
That’s the first thing that popped into my head when I read this article.
That’s what I thought. Many ball-bearings report near-death experiences where they are told to “go to the light.” But then it’s just a sunroof.
I’ve read that bodyguards are taught to start cars with the drivers door open, and with their legs outside the car, to raise the likelihood of survival by 1) being less likely to be trapped inside the car, and 2) being less likely to having your legs blown up by being under the dashboard.
Actually yes, although not the shrapnel part in. There was a case in North St Louis County in summer of 1973 where a gent had several sticks of dynamite, IIRC it was 7 !!!, detonated under the passenger side of his Lincoln MkV or whater Mk it was in 73. His sunroof was open and the roof was peeled back over the trunk. There was a hole in the asphalt several feet across and about 18” deep from the blast.
The victim lived, but he lost both legs, an armm, an eye and numerous other injuries. I lived not far from where it happened. Law Enforcment at the time credited the sunroof being open saving his life as it allowed the blast to vent upwards.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
And to attract the ball bearings out the door with the introduction of a new light source.
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