Man pleads guilty to killing friend who served him urine in beer can

The Oregonian ^ | 11.7.03 | MARK LARABEE

[mhking]

A 46-year-old member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to unintentionally killing a friend who had served him a beer can filled with urine, presumably as a joke. From Our Advertiser

According to court papers, David C. Shippentower punched Leonard D. Strong at least twice in the head, causing a brain injury that eventually killed Strong. Shippentower pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in a deal reached with federal prosecutors.

The two were among a group of people riding in a van and drinking on the Umatilla Indian Reservation on July 29. Shippentower was very drunk after drinking about a dozen 24-ounce beers, said Bill Williams, an assistant U.S. attorney.

Shippentower asked Strong to hand him another beer, according to witnesses interviewed by the FBI and the Umatilla Tribal Police Department. The can Strong handed Shippentower contained urine. After tasting it, Shippentower punched Strong in the eye and nose, the first blow breaking Strong's glasses. The others in the van told police they then restrained Shippentower.

Williams told U.S. District Judge Ancer Haggerty that Strong was bleeding from the nose and mouth and that "some attention was paid" to him. But Strong eventually was pulled out of the van and left in Shippentower's driveway "to fend for himself," Williams said, where he sat for as long as three hours.

According to an FBI affidavit, temperatures that afternoon reached 100 degrees. A police officer discovered Strong, who was unconscious but alive. He was airlifted to OHSU Hospital, where he died. He was 45.

An autopsy found that he died of his head injuries. Contributing to the bleeding in his brain was his very thin blood, which had a limited ability to clot because of a cirrhotic liver. He had a blood-alcohol level of .34.

Under questioning from the judge, Shippentower said he didn't intend to kill Strong.

"As far as I know I didn't mean to, but when somebody does that to another person it's not right" he said. "I didn't mean to hit him that hard. I only remember hitting him once. When I last talked to him, he was talking just fine."

The maximum penalty for involuntary manslaughter under federal law is six years in prison, though under federal sentencing guidelines, Shippentower likely will serve far less time. Haggerty set sentencing for Jan. 20. Mark Larabee: 503-294-7664; marklarabee@news.oregonian.com

[mhking]

Sounds like a Jerry Springer script...

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[ChemistCat]

I can't help but sympathize. I think I would have punched someone for doing this, and the person would have my lower upper-body strength, not my intentions, to thank for his survival.

[Dan from Michigan]

He had a blood-alcohol level of .34.

Holy S@##.

[Guillermo]

I had NO IDEA that Indians liked Fire-Water

[GeronL]

When we were kids my little brother peed in a Mountain Dew bottle and put it in the fridge.... my sister did NOT kill him, she wanted to though.

[RLK]

I'd have done the same thing.

[Born Conservative]

Contributing to the bleeding in his brain was his very thin blood, which had a limited ability to clot because of a cirrhotic liver.

I'm sure his lifespan would have been no more than a few years (although this fact certainly does not justify his being beaten to death).

[onyx]

What a pisser.

[Navy Patriot]

This sounds like a suicide to me. Or could it be capital punishment for the crime of stupidity?

[ValerieUSA]

Leave him out - he'll drink himself to death within months. There has been no loss. Both of these guys lost their lives years ago to alcohol.

[Beck_isright]

If he'd served him a Falstaff, I'd have shot him.

[Shaka]

That has got be the funniest line I have read all night!! I am LMFAO!!!!!!!!!

[ClearCase_guy]

The whole thing is a bum rap. His friend served him Coors -- he just thought it was urine.

[76834]

LOL
Beleive it or not, I have an old Falstaff can in my collection. Steel can with aluminum top.

Anyways we always called the stuff "Fall Flat"

[YankeeinOkieville]

...pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to unintentionally killing a friend who had served him a beer can filled with urine...

This is what passes for a friend !?!?!?

[76834]

Coulda been worse:
Feces in the chili!

[Beck_isright]

That is the nastiest beer in creation. I think that I would rather drink urine.

[Legerdemain]

oh man......wonder what would happen if you peed on his parade