Posted on 01/19/2011 8:54:23 AM PST by bronxville
Last week he was called fair and just. Today, Judge John Roll, the federal judge killed in the Tucson shooting, is being called a hero.
Police say security footage from the Safeway store where the shooting occurred shows accused gunman Jared Loughner walking up to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and shooting here at close range the video shows only a wisp of her hair, however. Loughner then turns and begins firing indiscriminately into the crowd.
He wheels this direction and that direction firing, Chris Nanos, a captain with the Pima County Sheriffs Department who has viewed the video, told the Wall Street Journal.
The Journal explains what happens next in the video with 63-year-old Judge Rolls:
As the shooting starts, the video shows Judge Roll pushing another man, Rob Barber, onto the ground, Mr. Nanos said. It looks to us as though he is pushing against Ron Barber to move him out of the way. Both men fall to the ground; both are shot. The judge was shot in the back and died.
The New York Times quotes Richard Kastigar, another investigator in the case, in explaining the incident this way:
The judge guides Mr. Barber to the ground, shields him with his body, and then tries to push himself and Mr. Barber away from the gunman, who was no more than three to four feet away as he fired, Mr. Kastigar said.
He pushes Mr. Barber with his right hand and guides him with his left hand. The judge was on top of him and is covering up Mr. Barber, literally lying on top of him, and his back was exposed, Mr. Kastigar said.
Its pretty evident to me that Judge Roll was a hero if Judge Roll had not pushed Mr. Barber his wounds might have been fatal, Nanos told the Journal . Judge Rolls actions are of a man trying to save another mans life.
While the video shows Barber, Loughner, and Roll, the cameras angle blocks other victims from view. However, the video does lead investigators to think that Giffords was the target because it shows a man running past a concrete pillar, and shooting Giffords at close range.
Theres no hesitation. Once he gets around the pillar, its obvious what his intent is. Thats why we believe his target was exactly who we thought it was, Nanos told the Journal.
The FBI is currently reviewing the video.
DId the Judge have any military history? I have heard waaaay more than once that a guy’s long un-remembered boot camp training to ‘HIT THE DECK’ came back to him with shocking clarity and presence when suddenly, years later, the SHTF.
They probably don't want the dramatic footage played over and over, advertising the killer's performance for fame, allowing losers to imagine themselves in his shoes doing what he did. It may inspire crazy copy cats that crave similar attention.
Why don't you ping "Scooter" and ask him?
I was wondering the same thing - but, how long before the video disappears before that can be determined.
BTW, how about the purported gunshot wounds? Reported? ER records? How is it he was able to be walking around and not favoring the wounded limb (not to mention the back); I’m from Boston, and Charles Stuart comes to mind...
He had just come from church, right?
Welcome to FR. You’re from Boston! How did you find out about us? From the Boston Globe? LOL
Well then, he is sitting in the Hall of Heros with the other people who selflessly gave their lives defending others. A good man is a good man to the end. Thank you God for giving us heroes so we remember what You expect of us.
There was an interesting article on NRO about the fact that Obama made a slip in his speech at the memorial service, when he said that the judge was just there to say, “Hi!” to Congresswoman Giffords. It seems that if the judge was indeed there to just to say hello, he was not on official duty and therefore the feds would not have jurisdiction over his killing, which is the only excuse for the feds to have taken over this tragedy.
The article went on to say that the prosecutors could get around this by saying that wasn’t really the case, that the judge went there to enlist Gifford’s help in getting a judicial emergency declared in Arizona immigration cases.
Well, one problem with that. The day of the shooting, I read that the judge’s office had released a statement saying that the judge had written a letter concerning the need for a judicial emergency and Giffords had already signed it and the judge just went down there to say hello and thank her for her help.
He is truly a blessing to this country.
He would be crowned a hero and given a medal if he was from the right party. Because he isn’t, he will be blessed all the more in Heaven.
If the “thank you” was part of the chain of communication in dealing with other Federal branches then that was part of him acting in his capacity, not a social call unrelated to his responsibilities. Her already having signed the letter would not have brought a total end to the cycle of coordination and interplay, IMHOBDIR. (In my humble opinion, but damnit, I’m right.)LOL
LOL!
Because it does not fit their agenda.
If the footage showed Sarah whispering in his right ear and Rush whispering in his left ear both egging him on, the video would be shown 24/7.
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