Participant shot during Klan ceremony

Johnson City Press ^ | November 24, 2003 | James Watson

[don-o]

A local Ku Klux Klan initiation ceremony turned bloody Saturday when one member accidentally shot another in the head.

Washington County deputies said they arrested Gregory Allen Freeman, 45, Elizabethton, close to his home after he fled from the ceremony in Limestone, and charged him in the shooting of Jeffery S. Murr, 24, Erwin.

According to Washington County Chief Deputy Patrick Littleton, the KKK group began the initiation Saturday of a new member, whose identity was not released, by driving him blindfolded around the county and ending up in a wooded area near 363 Bill West Road around 8 p.m.

With about 10 members present, including two children, the man had a noose tied around his neck and was hanged from a tree with only his toes touching the ground, Littleton said, adding none of the participants were believed to be wearing the white robes associated with the KKK.

Members then began shooting the man with paintball guns while Freeman fired a 9mm handgun into the air, deputies said.

“As they were firing the paintball guns, (Freeman) was firing the 9mm to make the man feel he was being hit by bullets,” the chief deputy said.

One of the 9mm bullets then apparently came back down and struck Murr, who was a participant, on the top of his head. The bullet exited near the bottom of Murr’s skull, Littleton said.

Freeman ran from the scene.

Murr was transported to the Johnson City Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition.

Freeman was charged with aggravated assault and felony reckless endangerment. He was released from the Washington County Detention Center, Jonesborough, Sunday afternoon on a $7,500 bond with a court date scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m. in Sessions Court.

Littleton said Freeman could face additional charges because of the situation surrounding the shooting.

All of the members involved in Saturday’s ceremony were from Northeast Tennessee.

“They were local people,” Littleton said.

[don-o]

Not a candidate for the Darwin Award, since the einstein survived. Bullet through the skull obviously miss any vital organs.

[Viking2002]

ROTFLMAO :-p

[dighton]

Just BLAM!

[commandante_zero]

Recruiting tool.

[newcats]

Maybe he forgot to cut eye-holes in the sheet?

[Lee Heggy]

"A local Ku Klux Klan initiation ceremony turned bloody Saturday when one member accidentally shot another in the head."

Hitting anything vital in the head of a Klansman would have been a very lucky shot.

[don-o]

Nope. Article says the were hoodless.

[OXENinFLA]

You know, I haven't heard KKK BYRD speak today on the senate floor...Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm

[newcats]

And brainless to boot.

[DonQ]

culling the herd.

[Jonah Hex]

Normally, somebody hit in the head with a falling bullet is in danger of brain death. In this case, however, how could the doctors tell the difference?

[don-o]

Anyone got time to get this to Hannity?

[big bad easter bunny]

Couldn't have happened to a nicer biggot!

[Sloth]

LOL, what a bunch of cretins.

[MineralMan]

Bwahaha! Lookie here! Ahmo shoot this heyunh gun up in thu aire. Whuttheheck happened? Shoot farh, ahmo get the heck outa heyunh!

Dumbots.

[weegee]

No mention of political party affiliation of the participants. (D)enial by the media?

[KarlInOhio]

Article says the were hoodless.

The ironic part is that they had just bought a new supply of kevlar hoods.

My only complaint is that no one in the group had a full auto weapon to fire into the sky. Maybe a few more rounds could have fallen back into them.

[OXENinFLA]

According to Washington County Chief Deputy Patrick Littleton, the KKK group began the initiation Saturday of a new member, whose identity was not released, by driving him blindfolded around the county and ending up in a wooded area near 363 Bill West Road around 8 p.m.

With about 10 members present, including two children, the man had a noose tied around his neck and was hanged from a tree with only his toes touching the ground, Littleton said, adding none of the participants were believed to be wearing the white robes associated with the KKK.

Members then began shooting the man with paintball guns while Freeman fired a 9mm handgun into the air, deputies said.

Why do I think there's some old KKK members hearing about this going, "They did what!?! Hung him in a tree and shot him w/ paint balls!!?"

[Slings and Arrows]

Related thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1028081/posts

[ladtx]

Don't suppose beer could have been a factor here?