BASF guard shot Freeport, Texas Chemical Plant Complex

The Facts online newspaper ^ | 1-24-2004 | Staff Reports

[buffyt]

FREEPORT — Police were looking for a man Friday night who they said shot a BASF security guard at the perimeter of the plant near FM 1495 and Highway 36.

Freeport Police Chief Henrietta Gonzalez said the guard approached a suspicious truck about 9:20 p.m. and the man inside said he had been taking pictures. He then shot the guard in the shoulder area, Gonzalez said.

“He was shot at point-blank range,” said Detective Sgt. Sue Dietrich. “You could see the powder burns.”

Police did not release the guard’s name, but said he was doing well at Brazosport Memorial Hospital late Friday night.

The guard told police the shooter was a man of Middle-Eastern descent with bushy hair and a mustache, and had been driving a white pickup with tinted windows and a black stripe. The truck did not have a front license plate, according to police radio reports.

BASF spokeswoman Sharon Rogers said there is no indication the shooting is linked to terrorism.

“There is nothing for us to indicate anything other than there is a shooting that happened on our property,” Rogers said. “We’ll just have to see what the investigation will reveal.”

Rogers said the security guard was employeed by Munday Corp., which provides the plant’s security force.

The culprit left the scene just after the shooting and did not get inside the plant gates, police said.

As of 10:30 p.m., Dietrich said the incident was not being investigated as an attempted terrorist attack.

FBI officials in Houston confirmed they had been notified of the incident but would not comment further.

The guard had been patrolling the perimeter of the plant, outside the gate and near a water tower, but in view of the plant’s ammonia tank. There was no access road or gate into the plant from the site of the shooting.

The wounded guard managed to drive down FM 1495 to the nearest plant gate, where an off-duty sheriff’s deputy working security at the plant called police.

The truck was last seen heading west on Highway 36, according to police radio reports.

[Humidston]

Boy, I sure am grateful I'm not driving a white truck with tinted windows today! I'd suspect our entire area is being subjected to a thorough scouring right now.

....Not to mention, checking registrations.

[savedbygrace]

Whew! I'm just thankful that it wasn't one of those elderly white women with nail clippers.

Ya' see, this is why I don't like coming to these threads late. All the good lines are taken.

[Jeff Head]

Could be...but on the other hand...if the guard shot himself somehow and concocted the whole thing...that's very easily found out. Immediately they could tell if his gun was shot and then the ballistics on the slug would seal it.

My guess is that the perp shot him at point blank range, the guard went down and then the perp high tailed it. For whatever reason.

My whole point is that terrorist activiies cannot be ruled out...that to do so puts us in more danger as soon as the terrorists get wind of any unwillingness to look at that...that's all.

[FreedomCalls]

What evidence of terrorism exists?

So then what's the alternative explanation for his activity? Apply Occam's Razor.

[TexKat]

Fox News now reporting package found in the Capitol is not dangerous.

[Dog Gone]

I haven't found a story in any news source that says the security guard even had a gun.

[Jeff Head]

You are right...which measn that any inference by others that he may have shot himself or concocted the whole thing becomes an even harder sale.

I believe the guard's story is accurate...I was just responding to another post. I also believe it is foolish in the extreme to either rule out or right off any potential terror ties given the reported story and today's environment.

[deport]

The guard ducked. The bullet hit him in the shoulder.

---

Fast Ducker ..... that dude

[buffyt]

Just try to come onto BASF or any chemical company property without permission and see what happens. I have to wear a Dow badge when I am visiting the plant. I asked if I HAVE to wear it. They said "Only if you don't want to be shot by guards" I guess some of them are armed.

[buffyt]

They are testing the bullet now.

[Ranger]

Any particular chemical reaction to be concerned about with this facility that makes it unique? Location?

[ninenot]

Agreed. It cannot be overlooked as a very high-pot reason for the activity.

But obviously, the perp is a moron.

[buffyt]

Your tag line: so many dogs so few recipes.

[Humidston]

>>I guess some of them are armed. <<

I'd be willing to bet many more of them will be armed by tonight, as well as every guard in every plant in the industrial complex down there!

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

I came across this post from a year ago. It's not related to anything anywhere in the world I'm sure (*rolls eyes*); it's just one of those things that make you go hmmmm....

DOESANYONE HAVE ANY LINKS TO ARTICLES OF ARABS TAKING PICTURES OF DAMS, BLDS, CHEMICAL PLANTS, ETC?

[ninenot]

BTW, my wife's sister-in-law is named Buffy, and lives in Tx. They're out near Dell Computer HQ--Austin area, I think.

[CommandoFrank]

White is the most common vehicle color and here in Texas,

But wait, my Texas tagged pickup is silver...Ohh nnooo...

[freebilly]

From uniquema.com--

The Markets Polymers Serves:

Graphics and ink resins, engineering plastics and fibers, rubber and ABS, foam, explosives, water soluble polymers, industrial coatings, decorative coatings, auto coatings, adhesives, glass fibre.

[Nita Nupress]

check your mail

[VOA]

No no no. Right-wing Christian extremists

Gotta' be extremist Christian Serbs.
Just like in the movies...
...which let us know that Muslims aren't really terrorists...