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.

[mylife]

Ruh Roh! This isnt good

[mylife]

“There is nothing for us to indicate anything other than there is a shooting that happened on our property,”

Really? An Arab taking pictures at a chemical facility shoots a gaurd when accosted and you dont think anything but a shooting occured?

[Frank_Discussion]

I was JUST looking for this story to post, fifteen seconds ago! Literally... that's dang peculiar.

As is this story itself. The weekend before the Super Bowl, to boot. Perhaps the Homeland Security folks aren't pulling our chains about the threats related to the high-profile game?

It sure LOOKS like the terrorists are still hard at work, and it bothers me that one might have been desperate enough to actually wound a guard during a getaway.

[joesnuffy]

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.

Good thing Homieland Security has sealed the border....

Never Fear...Freeport Police Chief Henrietta Gonzalez...is on the job

[baltodog]

Nothing really....

This kind of stuff happens all the time.

Nothing to see, here. Everyone go home....

[freebilly]

The guard told police the shooter was a man of Middle-Eastern descent....

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

Hmmm....Middle Eastern man who claims to be taking photos of a chemical plant at night who then shoots the guard.

To me it sounds like a tourist....

[freebilly]

It was probably just a disgruntled postal employee who was lost and took it out on the security guard....

[mylife]

BASF Facility Freeport TX

[cynicom]

Prolly some crazy Swede with a wig etc.

[Frank_Discussion]

Yeah, ain't that a hoot? What does it take, I wonder, for a link to terrorism to stick? A successful attack? (Probably)

I suspect that the blindness on this is intentional - don't alarm the "sheeple". After 9/11, the sheeple population has decreased, at least in terms of panic.

If it's terrorism, tell us folks. We won't implode in a panic.

[AppyPappy]

No no no. Right-wing Christian extremists

[freebilly]

Hey, that picture just made me homesick. I used to work in a New Jersey chemical factory.

[freebilly]

Swede with a wig... right wing Christian extremists....

The airports have been amazingly prescient. They've been scouring the terminals for these folks for the past 2 years.

[cynicom]

Rightwing etc???? Glad to know that, I better not go out at nite. Is Waco in texas???

[freebilly]

There's been a shooting at the Freeport refinery by a Middle Eastern male!

Quick, go search all 68 year old women at the nearest airport....

[mylife]

It apppears that the Freeport facility is manufacturing polymers primarily. Any chemical engineers out there that can tell us what can be done with the stuff?

[BluH2o]

Going back several years I recall a news article about a security service employee shooting himself then concocting some story about the incident. Several days went by before the investigation turned to him and he 'fessed up. Seems he was trying to impress some lady friend ...

[freebilly]

Polymers are molecules that are connected in repeating chains. They form lots and lots of substances (e.g. polyethylene, nylon, paints, adhesives).

Other than this, my knowledge of polymers was limited to working with emulsifiers in the adhesives industry (I was a donkey in a factory at a tender age).