SAN FRANCISCO: Patient shoots dentist dead, then himself

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 10/28/5 | Jaxon Van Derbeken, Steve Rubenstein

[SmithL]

Only theory police have so far is that man may have blamed doctor for bad teeth.

A 56-year-old dentist was shot and killed Thursday on the sidewalk near his San Francisco office by one of his patients, who said only, "You remember me?" before opening fire, police and witnesses said.

The gunman then crossed the street, got into his car, and shot and killed himself.

Police investigators, relatives and co-workers of the dentist, David Gong of San Francisco, were at a loss to understand why the 44-year-old patient killed him. They said the gunman, identified as Hailu Abje of San Francisco, had gum problems and had gone to Gong for treatment, but no one knew of any trouble between the two men.

Abje, an Ethiopian immigrant who was also known as Hailu Sudike, had no criminal record. Police said the only explanation they could come up with for why he opened fire at Jackson and Polk streets shortly before 8 a.m. was that he held Gong responsible for his dental problems.

"This guy's got really bad teeth and really bad gums," said Inspector Karen Lynch of the homicide detail. "I think he decided (Gong) was the source of the problem.''

She added, however, that "there really was no sign he held a grudge in particular against this doctor. ... There was nothing out of the ordinary."

[ASOC]

Lead pipe defense alright - the perps dead, Jim.

[martin_fierro]

I dunno about you, but I've always dreamed of living in a gleaming metropolis walled in by teeth.

[martin_fierro]

Police investigators, relatives and co-workers of the dentist, David Gong of San Francisco, were at a loss to understand why the 44-year-old patient killed him.

Bang a Gong.

[RabidBartender]

Ha ha ha....good one.

[Gay State Conservative]

Abje,an Ethiopian immigrant who was also known as Hailu Sudike

This guy obviously believed that he had received better dental care in Ethiopia.

[Calpernia]

>>>>Abje, an Ethiopian immigrant who was also known as Hailu Sudike, had no criminal record.

>>>Abje drove a cab and parked cars, and sent money to relatives in Ethiopia, Abdi said.

If he had no record, I would love to know why he had two businesses under two different names and had his license revoked.

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/tmis/det_PSG0010510.htm

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/tmis/det_PSG0010638.htm

[Constitution Day]

I dunno about you, but I've always dreamed of living in a gleaming metropolis walled in by teeth.

Haven't we all, my friend.
Haven't we all.

[henderson field]

Hailu Sudike.
Just another noble immigrant killing the dentists that real Americans don't want to kill.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

You can call me Hailu, or you can call me Abje, or you can call me Hailu Abje, but ya dosen't have to call me Hailu Sudike!

[Millee]

Can't say that I blame him.

[edcoil]

Ethiopian.... rings a bell wasn't there an ethiopian student a few days ago that used a baseball bat on his sleeping roommate and the lawyer noted that from his country this is normal and he did not know he was doing anything wrong?

San Fran, gay love affair?

[kublia khan]

And as the gas and Novocaine wore off he began to ask, "why does my behind hurt?" The dentist replied "umm....you slipped out of the chair."

[Joe 6-pack]

"When floss is outlawed, . . ."

You sound like you're in favor of gum control....;-)

[swain_forkbeard]

Do I need to say it?

I guess the dentist really got on his nerves.

[dersepp]

A good argument for referring to specialists before proceeding with operative tx.

[Calpernia]

I did a few searches and couldn't find that story.

[rahbert]

longhorns!

[theDentist]

And I thought I hated dentists.

Is that so?..... And I see you have an appointment, just before Christmas. It would be a shame to discover you needed painful surgery just before festivities. A real shame.

[theDentist]

Dentistry: now that's drama.

Damn right Martin.

[Constitution Day]

I don't know anything about Murphy's Law.
I was referring to the actual Crest commercials from the '70s.

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