Lost Illinois man murdered when he asks for directions in Coconut Grove

Sun Sentinel ^ | July 31 2006 | Marlene Naanes

[Fawn]

Authorities were searching Monday for a man who witnesses said shot and killed an Illinois tourist who was asking for directions.

After dropping his son off at a shopping mall, Ronald Gentile, 54, pulled over in the Coconut Grove area Saturday afternoon, police said. Witnesses reported seeing Gentile roll down the window on his rented white Chevrolet Cobalt. A man dressed in black then apparently approached the vehicle, robbed and shot Gentile.

[Fawn]

"We are speculating that because he was not familiar with the area, he stopped to ask for directions," Moreno said.

Silly man...don't you know to never to stop and talk to people in Miami? It's not America there...
I was told that if I had to go there...to roll through the stop signs and lights, keep doors locked and get out as fast as you can.

[The Iceman Cometh]

Another crime from the 'Vacation of Peace' crowd.

[misterrob]

Coconut Grove is a very nice area that abuts an absolute slum.

Sad news for his family.

[dfwgator]

"We are speculating that because he was not familiar with the area, he stopped to ask for directions," Moreno said.

[Gay State Conservative]

I think that there are a lot of places in this land where it's unwise to ask directions.

[ameribbean expat]

the absolute slum is part of coconut grove. first part of miami settled by blacks, originally bahamian migrants, now just dungbird americans.

[kjo]

"There was only a vague discription of the murderer." Like maybe his race? But they can't put that in the story, can they?

[litehaus]

Recall a judge, in Illinois, Henry Gentile, being shot in his court, by an irate defendant,,,,Wonder if any kin to this poor fella.....

[weeder]

Suspect appeared................white? black? hispanic?
Guess that's asking for unfair clues in our P.C. world.

[observer5]

Coconut Grave is close by a black getto...

[calljack]

I got lost in Philadelphia one time about 20 years ago.
Was driving around at about 11 at night.
Went into the only open place i could find, it was a liquor store. I asked the old black man how to get to the New Jersey Turnpike. He looked at me like I was a crazy man and said "A stupid white boy like you has about 30 seconds to live down here. Get back in your car,find a bridge, get across the river and ask somebody over there, now git outta here"
Never been so scared, unless it was that time in Denver...

[OldFriend]

Senator Turbin's constituents.

[TNCMAXQ]

Not a racial incident, of course. (Sarcasm) Just like when that German woman was carjacked and murdered after leaving Miami airport in 1993.

[BadAndy]

Let me quess, this happened in the Coconut Grover branch of the VFW (very few whites). I suppose where he came from, asking for directions wasn't a life theatening activity. Another good reason to buy a gps.

[AppyPappy]

We should pull out of Miami

[jaydubya2]

Clark Griswald : "Excuse me, holmes? What it is, bro? ... "

[LexBaird]

See! When we don't ask for directions, it isn't male stubborness; it's finely honed survival instincts at work.

[Publius6961]

I think that there are a lot of places in this land where it's unwise to ask directions.

Most people have a primordial instinct about that.

On a cross country trip (just for fun) starting in NY and headed towards DC, I decided to stop in Philadelphia and see the historical places; I took the next exit, went about a quarter mile and made one of the fastest U turns I ever made in my life.

Any impulse to stop and ask directions was essentially zero.

[MediaMole]

There's nothing quite like getting lost in a strange city, recognizing an area, then realizing that it was familiar because it was featured on the TV show "Cops."