SAN FRANCISCO: Patient shoots dentist dead, then himself

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

[theDentist]

I guess the dentist really got on his nerves.

Do we make you folks nervous? Why would that be?

No need to be nervous. No need at all.

[martin_fierro]

Q: Is it safe?

A: NO!

[Senator Bedfellow]

[aculeus]

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.''

Bad Gums, Doctor Gong, Sudike. Just the sort of non-Libby thread we need.

[hflynn]

Lead pipe defense alright - the perps dead, Jim.

Not so fast. We don't know who drilled who 1st.

[ASOC]

ROTFLAO

Good one!

Thanks

[processing please hold]

So he capped his dentist huh...talk about roll reversal.

[processing please hold]

Two stupid fingers...roll = role

[anymouse]

should have just feed him to the plant. ;)

[MeanWestTexan]

Texas Tech!

(Actually, got my MPE at A&M. I went north for college.)

[Thinkin' Gal]

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.

Is his daughter engaged?

[muggs]

Are you my dentist? Two years ago I ended up with a dry socket on Christmas Eve .

[theDentist]

Next time you'll pay your bill on time, won't you?

[Lijahsbubbe]

That's not Alan Arkin - that's Isaac the bartender from the Love Boat!

[Kenney]

Guys, I'm amazed how insensitive the posts about Dr. Gong have been. He was our dentist for the last 7 years and he was one of the most gentle, kind and generous men I've known.

Last month, he redid a crown for me for free because he did not like how it fit. He really cared about his patients his kids and the people who worked in his office. His death diminishes us all.

[absolootezer0]

what? i thought they just outlawed guns in SF?