Guard: I didn't shoot myself (BASF mysterious shooting Freeport)

The Facts ^ | January 27, 2004 | Michael Wright

[buffyt]

A BASF security guard shot in the shoulder Friday night called a televised news conference Monday to deny the wound was self-inflicted.

Robbie House, 43, of Angleton, appeared on television Monday saying FBI agents accused him of shooting himself.

House, who was released from Brazosport Memorial Hospital on Monday, could not be reached for comment.

Charles Johnson, the Houston attorney representing House, did not return calls seeking comment Monday night.

FBI spokesman Bob Dogium said the agency has to explore every avenue.

“God bless him, he can say whatever he wants to say,” Dogium said. “Is that what’s going on here? Don’t know yet.”

Freeport Police Chief Henrietta Gonzalez said she still considers House a victim and isn’t giving credence to theories he staged the shooting.

“That’s not proven up right now,” Gonzalez said. “We continue to believe this gentleman with his story.”

Gonzalez said investigators haven’t come across any reason to doubt House’s statement that he was shot by a man of Middle-Eastern descent driving a white pickup near BASF’s ammonia terminal.

Gonzalez said police haven’t come across any evidence linking the shooting to terrorism. She said the description of a Middle-Eastern shooter isn’t enough to reach a conclusion.

“He never said anything to this gentleman that led us to believe it’s a terrorist,” Gonzalez said. “We wouldn’t assume that.”

Police are continuing the search for the shooter.

House told police he approached a white Chevrolet pickup and asked the driver what he was doing there. The driver said he was taking pictures of the lights, then shot House as the security guard turned to speak into the radio on his shoulder. Gonzalez said police have not found a gun at the site, but they plan an extensive search.

“It’s really been very, very muddy, kind of nasty out there,” she said. “I’m sure we’re going to go ahead and search.”

Freeport police sent the bullet to the FBI crime lab in Houston. House was shot in the shoulder about 9:20 Friday night while on patrol at the intersection of FM 1495 and Highway 36.

Gonzalez also said Freeport police don’t have plans to arrest House on two Lake Jackson warrants stemming from a domestic disturbance Jan. 17 in 100 block of Oyster Creek Drive.

Lake Jackson Police Capt. Jim Dunlap said House got into an altercation with a woman whose daughter was having a problem with House’s daughter.

Dunlap said police reports indicate House and the woman, who are neither related nor romantically involved, began arguing, then she tried to call police and House ripped the phone out of her hand.

House is charged with terroristic threat, a class B misdemeanor, and interference with an emergency phone call, a class A misdemeanor.

“He’s a victim right now. I’m not going to bother this man with warrants,” Gonzalez said. “He’s very cooperative, which is a lot of help as a victim.”

[buffyt]

His story just doesn't pass the SMELL TEST. Of course, we all want to believe there was no terrorism here, in our little community. Those ammonia tanks at BASF would kill a lot of people if they exploded. But we do have more guards working here post 9/11. Maybe this House guy was not a smart hire.....

[Gerasimov]

Things that make you go: "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?"

[CygnusXI]

WHITE PICKUP ALERT!!
lol

[martin_fierro]

A BASF security guard shot in the shoulder Friday night called a televised news conference Monday to deny the wound was self-inflicted.

We don't make the bullets.

We make them more mysterious.

[buffyt]

My husband is a chemical engineer at an adjoining plant. He said if terrorists blew up a full ammonia tank with a rocket launched grenade it would kill everyone in Freeport. Don't know if that is exaggeration or not, but I know ammonia tanks are nasty things when they spill or explode. We all HOPED this was a KOOKIE guard and NOT terrorism. Sounds like this guy has a lot of problems!

[buffyt]

Ha ha ha BASF does have crazy commercials!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Freeport police sent the bullet to the FBI crime lab in Houston.

Simple ballistic tests on the bullet and House's gun will determine what is the truth here.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

What evidence do you have to impugn the integrity of the guard?

[GOP_1900AD]

The town's name ... ANGLETON! What a namephreak! Now, let us suppose, that Angleton was correct, and that Golitsyn was not a crank. Let us further suppose that we now are entering what the book "Spetsnaz" refers to as the "Grey Terror" phase. Hmmmmmm......

[buffyt]

two Lake Jackson warrants stemming from a domestic disturbance Jan. 17 in 100 block of Oyster Creek Drive.

Lake Jackson Police Capt. Jim Dunlap said House got into an altercation with a woman whose daughter was having a problem with House’s daughter.

Dunlap said police reports indicate House and the woman, who are neither related nor romantically involved, began arguing, then she tried to call police and House ripped the phone out of her hand.

House is charged with terroristic threat, a class B misdemeanor, and interference with an emergency phone call, a class A misdemeanor.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[BluH2o]

"De je vu" all over again!

BASF guard shot Freeport, Texas Chemical Plant Complex

Posted by BluH2o to buffyt
01/24/2004 10:21:38 AM EST #18 of 215

Going back several years I recall a news article about a security service employee shooting himself then concocting some story about the incident. Several days went by before the investigation turned to him and he 'fessed up. Seems he was trying to impress some lady friend ...

[buffyt]

I think "Angleton" because of the fishing around here, as in anglers.... Probably was first called "Angler Town". Lots of creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds, and the gulf here, lots of fishing opportunities.

[GOP_1900AD]

Here in San Mateo County CA, about 1 year ago, there was an Ammonia "leak" which blanketed US101. It was during a low level inversion and the plume was pretty concentrated. The reason I know about it is I drove through it! At the moment, I was wishing I had MOP4 geared up. The "leak" was never explained.

[GOP_1900AD]

Sounds like my kind of place? Got bass? ;)

[buffyt]

Yes, you are RIGHT about that story. We all HOPED there was NO TERRORISM in this tiny community. We have huge petrochemical plants all along the road leading from Lake Jackson to Freeport. Thank goodness they have a lot of good guards all along the way, and they called in the FBI just in case! But the FBI didn't believe it was terrorism from the beginning. I guess they didn't believe the guard from their first interview. And now it turns out he was already in trouble and about to be charged with a crime. Now they are backing off of arresting him..... Since he is a "victim"

[blackdog]

With all the observation/surveillence cameras around a chemical plant, I can't imagine a white pickup not being caught on video.

I was an emergency response team member in a gigantic food processing plant which used ammonia as it's refrigerant. Dozens of vessels, each containing thousands of gallons. My biggest fear was tornado's or strong winds ripping the roof off and tearing open ammonia pipes with it. It will kill you in seconds. We had space suits in the event of an emergency if we had to go into a spill room. We trained with saccarine in the air in order to detect any suit leaks. You'll taste a sweetness in your mouth if you did not suit up correctly.

[buffyt]

There was an ammonia tank truck that overturned and spilled in Houston in the 1970s. Lots of deaths that day, and slow, lingering deaths afterwards. It was horrible.

[buffyt]

That may be another reason the FBI said they didn't think it was terrorism from the beginning. Maybe there is video. I don't know yet. Story is still developing. Right now I would prefer it was a guard making it up, rather than terrorists planning to blow up the area.