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Gunman opens fire near Wash. high school, killed by police

Citizen

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Nov 15, 2006
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18,269
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Fairfax Co., VA
Regardless of weapons, I think the poisonous part of the story is the headline.

Why include the part about being near a school except to sensationalize?

According to the story, the guy started shooting, and walked nearly half a mile. That doesn't sound like the school was the intended target to me. The sheriff spokesman even says they don't know where he was going.

Lemme see. Car breaks down enroute to school target, or the maniac stops deliberately, at least half a mile away from the school. So, to ensure the cops get him before he makes it to the school, he starts shooting moments after getting out of the car? Nope. I don't buy the school had anything to do with his plans.

Hype and sensationalism.
 

SovereignAxe

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Jul 29, 2011
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791
Location
Elizabethton, TN
Regardless of weapons, I think the poisonous part of the story is the headline.

Why include the part about being near a school except to sensationalize?

According to the story, the guy started shooting, and walked nearly half a mile. That doesn't sound like the school was the intended target to me. The sheriff spokesman even says they don't know where he was going.

Lemme see. Car breaks down enroute to school target, or the maniac stops deliberately, at least half a mile away from the school. So, to ensure the cops get him before he makes it to the school, he starts shooting moments after getting out of the car? Nope. I don't buy the school had anything to do with his plans.

Hype and sensationalism.

As someone that works at a college newspaper (photo editor), I can tell you that section editors always choose headlines that will grab the viewers' attention. Take one of the most recent examples. Ron Jeremy and some pastor came to our campus to have a debate on porn. The headline read: "THE GREAT PORN DEBATE." The debate was neither great, nor was it much of a debate. They got up on stage (and they're making rounds at several universities, so it's obviously going to be scripted), and apparently (I didn't go) they just exchanged the pros and cons of porn, and offered tips on how to seek help for addiction.

But the headline made it sound like this infamous porn star showed down with a christian fundamentalist on stage, when apparently it was pretty tame. I have no doubt that readership was pretty high for that issue. In a time when newspapers struggle to survive the economy and technology, it doesn't surprise me at all that a newspaper would sensationalize a headline. But that doesn't mean that I don't take issue with the relevence of the stated facts.
 

SigGuy23

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Joined
Aug 21, 2011
Messages
323
Location
Freeland, WA
They said that no one else was hurt. After shooting two firearms within a half a mile and no one was hit? Either this guy has terrible aim, or he didn't shoot anyone on purpose. I'm going with the latter. I'm thinking it was suicide by cop. He didn't want to hurt anyone but himself. He started shooting to get the police to come so he could use them to die because he couldn't do it himself. That's just my theory on this. I don't think there was a target.
 

thebigsd

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Mar 23, 2010
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3,535
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Quarryville, PA
Speaking the media sensationalizing stories here is another recent headline. Note that the article says they know nothing about the attacker yet the article makes it a race issue. Whhhhhyyyyy?

Fan throws banana peel at black NHL player

Back on topic, Citizen seems to be correct the school had nothing to do with the incident. On the other hand, it does appear that some shooting occurred quite close to the school, so the headline is marginally valid. The good news is that no innocent parties were harmed.
 
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FMCDH

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Nov 9, 2008
Messages
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St. Louis, MO
They said that no one else was hurt. After shooting two firearms within a half a mile and no one was hit? Either this guy has terrible aim, or he didn't shoot anyone on purpose. I'm going with the latter. I'm thinking it was suicide by cop. He didn't want to hurt anyone but himself. He started shooting to get the police to come so he could use them to die because he couldn't do it himself. That's just my theory on this. I don't think there was a target.

I'm inclined to agree.
 

amzbrady

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
3,521
Location
Marysville, Washington, USA
As someone that works at a college newspaper (photo editor), I can tell you that section editors always choose headlines that will grab the viewers' attention. Take one of the most recent examples. Ron Jeremy and some pastor came to our campus to have a debate on porn. The headline read: "THE GREAT PORN DEBATE." The debate was neither great, nor was it much of a debate. They got up on stage (and they're making rounds at several universities, so it's obviously going to be scripted), and apparently (I didn't go) they just exchanged the pros and cons of porn, and offered tips on how to seek help for addiction.

But the headline made it sound like this infamous porn star showed down with a christian fundamentalist on stage, when apparently it was pretty tame. I have no doubt that readership was pretty high for that issue. In a time when newspapers struggle to survive the economy and technology, it doesn't surprise me at all that a newspaper would sensationalize a headline. But that doesn't mean that I don't take issue with the relevence of the stated facts.

They are constantly sensationalizing shootings to instill fear. If there is not one locally, they will report one from another state.
 

FMCDH

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2008
Messages
2,037
Location
St. Louis, MO
Speaking the media sensationalizing stories here is another recent headline. Note that the article says they know nothing about the attacker yet the article makes it a race issue. Whhhhhyyyyy?

Fan throws banana peel at black NHL player

Back on topic, Citizen seems to be correct the school had nothing to do with the incident. On the other hand, it does appear that some shooting occurred quite close to the school, so the headline is marginally valid. The good news is that no innocent parties were harmed.

If there hadn't have been a school nearby, they would have mentioned a retirement home "just" 1/2 mile away, or a hospital 1 mile away, or a public park just 2 blocks down, etc. ad-nauseam. Media will always find some kind of "gasp zone" to draw headline attention.
 

golddigger14s

Activist Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
2,068
Location
Lawton, OK USA
King 5 News: One witness said 2000 rounds fired. Really?
Oh, I think they said it was a bolt action rifle (not an evil black assault rifle?). 2K rounds with a bolt action, that's skill, and a strong back to carry that much ammo. Yes, I know I'm sarcastic.
 
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decklin

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2011
Messages
758
Location
Pacific, WA
Just saw this on KOMO. They said he pulled two rifles from his trunk. One of my favorite things was the woman saying, "We were running from guns. That's not supposed to happen in Issaquah."
When will people realize that it doesn't matter where you are? There is always a scumbag near you.
How long do you think 'till the Brady Bunch gets in on this?
 

1911er

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Sep 9, 2009
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833
Location
Port Orchard Wa. /Granite Oklahoma

amlevin

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Feb 16, 2007
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5,937
Location
North of Seattle, Washington, USA
Here's another report:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016310097_gunman25m.html

The Times didn't sensationalize the story as much as MSNBC.

FWIW, last night I was watching the reports on the news. The car the "Maple Valley Man" abandoned had California Plates. His overall behavior was rather bizarre, from attempting to break into the parked car to his trying to access the cab of a Backhoe.

When this story has more facts it will probably be another "Suicide by Cop(s)".
 

gogodawgs

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Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
5,669
Location
Federal Way, Washington, USA
this is the link on king 5 news Titled "sound of issaquah shooting caught on video

http://www.king5.com/video/featured-videos/Video-captures-sound-of-Issaquah-shoot-out-130504343.html

That sounds an awful lot like multiple weapons of different calibers to me like the local gun range that noise was not coming from some guy with A "hunting rifle and A handgun.

Agreed, wow, I don't even think it's possible for one man to fire rounds to create that sound. Many of those shots were over the top of each other. I would tend to lean towards suicide by cop as well.
 
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gogodawgs

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Oct 25, 2009
Messages
5,669
Location
Federal Way, Washington, USA
To get from his abandoned car to Clark, the gunman most likely would have traversed the grounds of Issaquah Middle School and crossed Issaquah's popular Rainier Trail and Second Avenue Southeast, an arterial.
STORY

W
ell that is simply not possible because it is illegal to take a gun on school property.
 

Difdi

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Mar 2, 2010
Messages
987
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
If there hadn't have been a school nearby, they would have mentioned a retirement home "just" 1/2 mile away, or a hospital 1 mile away, or a public park just 2 blocks down, etc. ad-nauseam. Media will always find some kind of "gasp zone" to draw headline attention.

Or an orphanage 35 miles away...
 

BigDave

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Nov 22, 2006
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Yakima, Washington, USA
I would have thought more people on here would be outraged by the idea this shooter placed so many in peril, Be it suicide by cop or other, he placed someone else in the position to take his life, that is where the outrage should be.

Let us not forget who came running to this incident to put a stop to it? The same ones that many accuse them it not being their job to protect, Law Enforcement.
We see and hear from time to time on how some officers have done bad things.
How many officers responded to this and other incidents that do good things? There is a very lop sided ratio of the good out numbering the bad.
 
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amzbrady

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Marysville, Washington, USA
Or an orphanage 35 miles away...

Or California, 2 states away. OH NO...

I would have thought more people on here would be outraged by the idea this shooter placed so many in peril, Be it suicide by cop or other, he placed someone else in the position to take his life, that is where the outrage should be.

Let us not forget who came running to this incident to put a stop to it? The same ones that many accuse them it not being their job to protect, Law Enforcement.
We see and hear from time to time on how some officers have done bad things.
How many officers responded to this and other incidents that do good things? There is a very lop sided ratio of the good out numbering the bad.

This is why more people need to carry, so they could have put a stop to it right away, instead of waiting for cops. I just have to wonder, If they pulled up just as you are shooting the shooter, they would probably asume you are the shooter and shoot you,
Oh shoot...
 

sudden valley gunner

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Dec 13, 2008
Messages
16,674
Location
Whatcom County
I would have thought more people on here would be outraged by the idea this shooter placed so many in peril, Be it suicide by cop or other, he placed someone else in the position to take his life, that is where the outrage should be.

Let us not forget who came running to this incident to put a stop to it? The same ones that many accuse them it not being their job to protect, Law Enforcement.
We see and hear from time to time on how some officers have done bad things.
How many officers responded to this and other incidents that do good things? There is a very lop sided ratio of the good out numbering the bad.

Who said they weren't outraged?

Let's not forget that that is their job that is what we pay them to do. Do you applaud the garbage man when he comes and picks up your rubbish on the curbside? I also suspect many officer's live for an instance like this "some action". Suicide by cop works well for a reason. No where does it look like this guy was actually out to hurt someone but himself. So the police weren't out protecting anyone but "enforcing" order that simple.

Now I am not saying they did it wrong here just saying they don't need to be painted as heroes for it either.
 

BigDave

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Yakima, Washington, USA
Let's not forget that that is their job that is what we pay them to do. Do you applaud the garbage man when he comes and picks up your rubbish on the curbside? I also suspect many officer's live for an instance like this "some action". Suicide by cop works well for a reason. No where does it look like this guy was actually out to hurt someone but himself. So the police weren't out protecting anyone but "enforcing" order that simple.

Now I am not saying they did it wrong here just saying they don't need to be painted as heroes for it either.

Once I think you reach an all time low, you dig farther. Unappreciative and self absorbed, for one a person to spew on how they do not protect the public to then oh it is their job, we pay them to do it,
Then to think someone walking around a residential area shooting a barrage of shots and not think it a threat! Really

Your hatred for law enforcement really comes through,
 
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