SLOATSBURG, N.Y., May 8, 2007
Man Fires Shot In N.Y. Courtroom
Sawed-Off Shotgun Round Misses Woman In Court For Civil Dispute With Shooter, Police Say
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(AP / CBS)
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Leo Lewis, who Ramapo police said was in his 60s and was in a domestic dispute with the woman, was arrested as he tried to flee the Sloatsburg courtroom following the Monday night shooting, said Detective Sgt. John Lynch.
A Ramapo officer who was in the courtroom for traffic court fired off a shot, then chased him down and, with the help of a bystander, tackled him, Lynch said.
"She (the officer) believed he was going to fire again. She fired one round at him and missed," Lynch said outside the courtroom. "And about midway into the parking lot here the officer and a civilian unrelated to the case were able to tackle him in the lot."
No charges had been filed against Lewis by Tuesday morning, but were expected, police said. They said they didn't know if Lewis had an attorney.
Shortly after 6 p.m., Sloatsburg Justice Thomas Newman called the civil dispute between Lewis and the unidentified woman to trial. As the trial prepared to open, Lewis, who was sitting in the row behind the woman, pulled a .22-caliber sawed-off rifle from an envelope and fired at her, police said.
After the round missed her and struck a few feet above where the judge was sitting, Lewis took off, followed by the officer, police said.
Rodney Van Dunk, a relative of the woman's boyfriend who was in the courtroom, said the scene was chaotic.
"This could have been a disaster," Van Dunk told the Journal News.
The courtroom, on the second floor of Village Hall off Route 17, has no metal detectors. A bid for security cameras and other safety measures was awarded about a month ago but does not include a metal detector, Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright told the Journal News.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.
Good idea. Lets take away rights to guns from law abiding citizens and let criminals carry illegal guns. While we are at it, lets outlaw alcohol for everyone because a few people beat their wives or drink and drive. Lets also outlaw potato chips for everyone because some people over eat and we all know junk food IS bad for ones health. See the pattern and the point I am making?
I know someone will come back and say, "well a gun and a potato chip are nothing alike...."
and my response is, "duhhh."
My point is what I said above. Most crimes ARE commited by those who have illegal guns.
Now as far as this court house goes..... Uhm, most people since 9/11 have seriously increased security. How did a person get a sawed off shotgun into a court room. It is not like you can just shove it down your pants and hide it.... and even if you could they have this new crazy invention called a metal detector. I mean if this county or town really cared about its judges, citizens, etc, you would think they would have one. Unless they do and that gun used was made from plastic.
MORE GUNS FOR THE GUN NUTS! LOL
We want to see how long it will take Americans to get the message to MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF GUNS IN A POPULATION THAT HAS SO MANY NUT CASES! LOL
Find just about any news article and go find the truth of the matter yourself. At the end you will probably find huge differences between the news story and obvious truth. Or you will see huge lies of omission. I see it time and time again about all sorts of stories.
The "news" is no different then WWF wrestling or Rush Limbaugh. *Truth* and *accuracy* are not a concern for any news people anymore.
I bet it will now! lol
I bet it will now! lol
the article said that they just got a new security system authorized BUT it did not include a metal detector... so that means that you can have all the cameras you want but it won't reveal what is in the pocket or envelope unless EVERYONE is body searched before they walk in. Metal detectors is what they need and then the possibility of this happening again is very slim. I agree with gunnerv1 - guy needs to hung out to dry at the old oak tree
the article said that they just got a new security system authorized BUT it did not include a metal detector... so that means that you can have all the cameras you want but it won't reveal what is in the pocket or envelope unless EVERYONE is body searched before they walk in. Metal detectors is what they need and then the possibility of this happening again is very slim. I agree with gunnerv1 - guy needs to hung out to dry at the old oak tree
Posted by Phoenix1218 at 12:10 PM : May 08, 2007
...the same way 12 million illegles got into our country....someone not doing their job. Sounds like this town needs to fire their 'Barney Fifes". At least hire some real law enforcement that would have taken this guy out and avoid a costly trial.
- by gunnerv1 May 8, 2007 2:16 PM EDT
- Hang'em high, jerk-wad deserves nothing less.
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