Neighbors silent in beating deaths - Chicago police seek witnesses who saw mob drag 2 from van

Associated Press ^ | August 2, 2002 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Neighbors silent in beating deaths

Chicago police seek witnesses who saw mob drag 2 from van

08/02/2002

Associated Press

CHICAGO - Pleading with residents to "break the code of silence," community leaders went door to door Thursday to find witnesses to the slaying of two men who were dragged from a van after an accident and beaten by an angry mob.

"So far the community has not responded," said Najee Ali, a civil rights activist who helped organize the canvass. "They're still in a state of shock. It's up to the community leaders to provide guidance, to say it's OK to help law enforcement. It's time to break the code of silence."

Anthony Stuckey, 49, and Jack Moore, 62, were in a rental van Tuesday evening that hurtled over a curb and plowed into a group of young people on a stoop in the Oakland neighborhood on Chicago's South Side.

As the injured lay on the ground, a mob pulled the two men from the van and beat them to death with their hands, feet, bricks and stones, police said.

Police had a suspect in custody Thursday morning, but no immediate charges were filed. Police said they were talking to several people. Superintendent Terry Hillard asked for help from the public in finding anyone involved.

"I think everybody's pretty repulsed. It was just a horrible display of abuse," said Julia Mitchell, a 29-year-old neighborhood resident. "Nobody's trying to condone what happened."

Police said they do not know what caused the van to veer off the street but called it an accident and described Mr. Stuckey and Mr. Moore as innocent victims.

"This is a simple, senseless, double homicide committed by a bunch of cowardly thugs, and these murderers will be brought to justice," Mr. Hillard said.

Zakiyyah Muhammad, who lives in the neighborhood, said people there are wary of police and may hesitate to turn in friends or relatives.

"It's going to be a hard thing for these parents to come forward and turn in their sons and grandsons, if they were involved," Mr. Muhammad said.

Three people struck by the van remained hospitalized, one in critical condition, the others in fair condition.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/nation/stories/080202dnnatmob.3cca3.html

[MeekOneGOP]

Zakiyyah Muhammad, who lives in the neighborhood, said people there are wary of police and may hesitate to turn in friends or relatives.

"It's going to be a hard thing for these parents to come forward and turn in their sons and grandsons, if they were involved," Mr. Muhammad said.

Muhammad? I wonder why these neighbors wouldn't condemn this violence?

[elfman2]

They'll eventually sing. They're cowards for killing the passenger.

[MedicalMess]

And which one of these 20 individuals could be pinned as the murderer? Who threw the fatal blow? Could you be tried for beating a dead person? They will never get to the bottom of this one. No conviction is possible with this many attackers.

[Tripleplay]

And why no mention of race? I can only infer that the two victims were white males.

[Guenevere]

#4...No they weren't.

[4Freedom]

The residents of Chicago are so much safer since they banned handguns, started registering firearms and all but eliminated concealed carry.

Now, you can only be beaten to death by savage mobs of animals. How reassuring.

These animals were probably a smash and grab gang. Their favorite targets of opportunity are lone, women drivers, but two older men are most likely considered defenseless enough.

[Destructor]

"#4...No they weren't."

What was their race? I haven't seen that mentioned in any news stories.

[Guenevere]

I believe both were the same race as those who killed them.

[Alouette]

And why no mention of race? I can only infer that the two victims were white males.

The two victims were black.

[Tripleplay]

Thanks....Has anyone seen this story on the national news?

[woofer]

They're cowards for killing the passenger.

I'm sure you will agree that they were also cowards for beating the drunken 63 year-old driver to death. How far below 35th street did this happen?

[elfman2]

"And which one of these 20 individuals could be pinned as the murderer? Who threw the fatal blow? Could you be tried for beating a dead person? They will never get to the bottom of this one. No conviction is possible with this many attackers."

One word: "accomplices"

[elfman2]

"I'm sure you will agree that they were also cowards for beating the drunken 63 year-old driver to death. "

Probably, although I bet his .086 drunken state wasn't so apparent after the crash. I can at least understand the rage of seeing friends, young girls, crushed. But you have to take common cowardliness and mob mindlessness to another level to participate in the killing of the passenger.

[waterstraat]

"And which one of these 20 individuals could be pinned as the murderer? Who threw the fatal blow? Could you be tried for beating a dead person? They will never get to the bottom of this one. No conviction is possible with this many attackers." One word: "accomplices"

In my state, anyone who participated in the beating, would be guilty of murder, not just the last one to hit them. Those who cheered, could be accomplices, those who do not tell police the truth, would be guilty of harboring a fugitive.

Since it was a rental truck, I really wonder if it was the drivers fault, or a problem with the truck. Many rental trucks are not in perfect working order. The truck should be checked to find out if there was a mechanical problem.

[MosesKnows]

So far the community has not responded

The communities silence speaks volumes about their community as did their actions.

[ValerieUSA]

Group stomps man, 39, to death

Fri Aug 2, 7:36 AM ET
By DEANNA BOYD, Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH - A group of men in a "mob mentality" stomped a 39-year-old homeless man to death Wednesday night as onlookers stood by refusing to help the defenseless victim, police said.

"This is not your typical homicide," Sgt. Dave Stamp said. "It's sad that apparently there were people there who could have intervened and chose not to. Hopefully our investigation will determine why."

No arrests had been made by Thursday night.

The incident occurred about 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Ripley Arnold apartment complex after the victim got into an argument with one man and was attacked by several others, Stamp said.

[brazos.357]

to quote Buford T. Justice in Smokey in the Bandit..."What the hell is the world comin' to..."

[brazos.357]

to quote Buford T. Justice in Smokey in the Bandit..."What the hell is the world comin' to..."

[Barnacle]

They'll eventually sing.

Offer a reward and you'll see another mob tripping over each other trying to get through the police station door.

[elfman2]

"Offer a reward and you'll see another mob tripping over each other trying to get through the police station door. "

Good point!

[NativeNewYorker]

Over on Metafilter, someone claimed they heard a Chicago radio report saying the van/perps made a U-turn and deliberately smashed into the building.

IF true, that may explain, in part, what happened.

[Barnacle]

From:
http://www.apbnews.com/resourcecenter/datacenter/crimecheck/

ZIP CODE: 60653 RATING= 9

Does this shed any light on things?

[Diddle E. Squat]

FYI, for those not familiar with Fort Worth, the Ripley-Arnold apartments(where the homeless man was stomped death as residents watched) is a public housing project.

Apparently Kitty Genovese's neighbors are alive and on welfare.

[robertpaulsen]

This wasn't just a beating. The crowd used bricks and murdered these men.

This is why they don't put me in charge: I would say to the residents of the neighborhood, "The police will return to this neighborhood when you give us the names. Don't even bother calling 911 until this happens. You animals are on your own."

Then let the community put pressure on those who know something about it.

[Psycho_Bunny]

The guy on the left looks like he was probably a nice man.

This story is gross.

[RightWhale]

As the country begins its unlimited descent into mob rule . . .

Or total reality democracy.

[MeekOneGOP]

Awful.

[TopQuark]

It's up to the community leaders to provide guidance, to say it's OK to help law enforcement.

Why is this not self-evident?

It is not self-evident for the same reason that violence is the norm of life on the South Side: the community's acceptance of violence, dishonesty, and corruption. THis is the subject that verious Jesse Jackson do not ever toucj; it is easy to blame the white man for all the faults commited by the community.

It is simply outrageous that the community would not stand ip for what is right even in such a clear-cut case of brutality.

[TopQuark]

So what race where they? Black?