Soldier attacked by group of men in Oakland Park

The Ledger-Enquirer ^ | Oct. 12, 2003 | Muriel Tan

[tomball]

A 22-year-old Fort Benning soldier suffered cuts, bruises and a broken shoulder Thursday night after being beaten by over a dozen males, in what Columbus police describe as a gang-related incident in Oakland Park.

Freddy Hougley, of Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 3rd Brigade, was transported by emergency personnel to Martin Army Community Hospital following the 7 p.m. incident outside a home on Mesa Street.

Authorities said Hougley and a friend were walking in the area when they were met by an estimated 20 men. Once near the home, Hougley and the witness said the men began calling out to him, apparently mistaking him for someone else.

The men asked him "what he was doing in Oakland Park," police said. After they discovered that Hougley was not whom they thought he was, the group began hitting and kicking him. Once Hougley fell to the ground, the group continued to "stomp" on him.

The men involved in the beating were believed to be members of the "Leprechaun Gang," witnesses told police.

Friday night, 39-year-old Charles Thomas -- an uncle of one of the suspects identified in the beating -- escaped injury during an apparent drive-by shooting outside his Oakland Park home. Police said a blue, older-model Crown Victoria was seen driving by Thomas' home around 10:30 p.m. when shots were fired. Four bullet holes pierced Thomas' car.

Both incidents remain under investigation.

[tomball]

Maybe this soldier has some friends at Fort Benning who can help the local authorities track down these gangsta leprechauns.

[Paul Atreides]

Well, all I can say is thank heaven the guy wasn't able to defend himself with a firearm. We all know what a crime against nature that would have been. /sarcasm

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[Mears]

It's times like this that vigilante justice seems like a great idea.

[Centurion2000]

Call out a platoon of MP's with Mp-5's on overwatch (with fast ropes off a UH-60) ... see if they are stupid enough to do it again.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

Heroism of Ft. Benning/Columbus GA's Soldiers of 1965 =

http://www.lzxray.com

...for..

"WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE..and YOUNG"


Signed:.."ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer / Vet-Battle of IA DRANG-1965

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm

[Squantos]

Leprechaun Gang........Just when ya think ya seen it all !........Hey Crunch can you vouch for all yer employees last evening ?:o)

Stay Safe !

[Squantos]

Maybe we should put Knee High Private Eye on these SOB's trail........:o)

[patton]

I live about ten blocks from the General. Unwilling to disturb him, though I would like to say hello.

[Mulder]

Authorities said Hougley and a friend were walking in the area when they were met by an estimated 20 men.

It's a damn shame he wasn't carrying his service Beretta 9mm to defend himself against these punks.

He could have dropped every one of the bastards, and he would have walked if I was on the jury.

[Denver Ditdat]

Just damn.

This soldier's fellow GIs may want to borrow an old Navy tradition and have a little dungaree liberty.

[Travis McGee]

"dungaree liberty."

Have not heard that in a while! Those were better days.

[Denver Ditdat]

Have not heard that in a while! Those were better days.

Back when I was listening to sea stories that started with "In the Old Navy...", I never thought I'd be using the expression myself. Those were good days, indeed!

[Unknowing]

Unholy roving scores of goblins, Batman!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Sounds like the post commander needs to allow a "Fatigue leave".

For those out of the loop, it means the soldiers get leave to go to town to kick some a$$.

[Bringbackthedraft]

Back in WWII we had a similar incident in LA involving the Zoot Suiters, the Navy took care of it.

[Cap'n Crunch]

Leprechaun gang??? They must have low self-esteem.

Suspect vehicle an older crown vic.... hmmmmmm....

Too bad the serviceman wasn't a Marine, the headlines would have read "20 punks in hosptial after tangle with wild animal."

Semper Fi