Guard shot by man photographing plant

Associated Press ^ | Jan. 24, 2004

[Ranger]

FREEPORT -- A security guard at a BASF Corp. chemical plant was shot in the shoulder after he approached a suspicious truck and talked to a man who said he had been taking pictures, authorities said.

The guard's name was not released, but Freeport police said he was doing well at a Brazosport hospital following the Friday night shooting.

The guard told police the gunman had bushy hair and a mustache and was was driving a white pickup with tinted windows and a black stripe.

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

"We'll just have to see what the investigation will reveal," she told The Brazosport Facts for a story today.

FBI officials in Houston confirmed they were notified of the shooting but would not comment further.

The suspect left after the shooting and did not get inside the plant. The guard had been patrolling the plant's perimeter, outside the gate and near a water tower, but in view of the plant's ammonia tank, officials said.

The injured guard managed to drive to the nearest plant gate, where an off-duty sheriff's deputy working security at the plant called police.

[Lazamataz]

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

I am so sick of this mantra. Of course this was linked to terrorism. The terrorist in the white pickup truck was casing the place.

I swear, if we hadn't all seen it on TV, they would have claimed that 9/11 was a pair of navigational errors.

[cardinal4]

It was probably a Norweigian. Or perhaps an Amazon native? Someone from Saskatchewan maybe? Just my guesses based on the lack of mention of the perceived nationality of the shooter..

[ElkGroveDan]

The guard told police the gunman had bushy hair

Bushy hair! Could it be that he had only one arm?

[Humidston]

This is worthy of a Houston ping, IMHO!

[leadpencil1]

ping

[Viking2002]

Here, you've got someone photographing a chemical plant - and a legitimate reason why escapes me - who is armed and has no problem shooting a security guard to get away.

Notice that the only description of the gunman was 'bushy hair and a moustache'. No other racial features described of the suspect. Wanna bet he was one of your garden-variety swarthy types?

[Flyer]

We're discussing it over here. . .

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1064351/posts

[Spruce]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict the perps name has muhamed in it somewhere. Not terrorism related, indeed.

[Humidston]

On my way now.... (I should've known you were already all over it!:)

[Jeff Head]

Let's see... a man with bushy hair and a mustache is taking pictures of a chemical plant from his pickup and when approached by a security guard, he shoots him and drvies off.

And they tell us that there is no indication that this can be terrorism?

These people, either through their ineptitude, their blindness, or their propensity to try and keep the truth from the poor masses who they feel can't handle it (only they can handle the truth and protect us poor defenseless and untutored folk) are going to end up making matters much worse and encouraging more terrorism from these animals.

That attitude, in part, led to 911 IMHO...and its continuance will lead ultimately to worse if we are not careful.

[demnomo]

Freeport is located near Houston, Texas, right? Isn't the Super Bowl to be held in Houston in the next week or so?

Seems to me, a whole lot of people "not linked to terrorism" have been sighted taking pictures or observing such " scenic tourist attractions" like dams, resevoirs, chemical plants, nuclear facilities, etc. all around the country within the past two years. Free Republic has had a few threads on these activities and it's always the same story. Nothing suspicious--nothing related to terrorism; just some innocent tourists taking in the view. End of thread. End of story.

That poor tourist with the bushy black hair and mustache was obviously being racially profiled by that security guard. The tourist had every right to shoot the guard as well as some photos for his travel scrapbook.

Right...

[NonValueAdded]

Agreed. That was a stupid statement on the part of the BASF spokeswoman. The alert level is yellow, someone is photographing a chemical plant and shoots the guard as he approaches? We have to consider this an act of terrorism until proved otherwise, not the other way around. I'm not talking about blind panic ensuing, people running in circles, evacuating homes, etc., but rather handling this as a potential case of terrorism involving the proper agencies at all levels of government. I think there is more "public trust" to be gained by a responsible and acknowledged response to an obvious threat than by some fool misstating the obvious. If the plant blows up will Sharon Rogers say "well, shame on me, it WAS terrorism after all"?

[Lion Den Dan]

It could be like the Louisville KY Juvenile Court cop who shot himself in the bullet proof vest and issued a description of a fictitious perp. Don't try to collect the pot until all the cards are played.

[demnomo]

Freeport is located near Houston, Texas, right? Isn't the Super Bowl to be held in Houston in the next week or so?

Seems to me, a whole lot of people "not linked to terrorism" have been sighted taking pictures or observing such " scenic tourist attractions" like dams, resevoirs, chemical plants, nuclear facilities, etc. all around the country within the past two years. Free Republic has had a few threads on these activities and it's always the same story. Nothing suspicious--nothing related to terrorism; just some innocent tourists taking in the view. End of thread. End of story.

That poor Middle Eastern-looking tourist with the bushy black hair and mustache was obviously being racially profiled by that security guard. The tourist had every right to shoot the guard as well as some photos for his travel scrapbook.

Right...

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Or Jihad

[neutrino]

Guys, you've all missed it. This individual is part of the Amish Liberation Organization - she's just really well disguised. Gotta watch those radical Amish, ya know.

Notice the coarse beard on the seemingly male individual. And note how carefully the woman is studying the beard. Isn't it all obvious now?

[Species8472]

If the guy was checking out the ammonia tank, he was probably shopping for methamphetamine production supplies.

Just as bad as terrorism in my book.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Bushy Hair? Must have been Ron Jeremy.

[Mr. Mojo]

>no indication the shooting was linked to terrorism.

I am so sick of this mantra. Of course this was linked to terrorism.

It's a tired one alright. The gov't trotted it out there pretty quickly after the July 4, 2002 murders at the El-Al terminal at LAX. .....Even though the perp was an Egyptian with ties to terrorist groups, and the victims were Israeli/Jews.