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Wisconsin Relatives 'In Shock' After Man Shot By Air Marshal
Associated Press ^ | 12.08.05 | Travis Reed

Posted on 12/08/2005 6:58:08 AM PST by wallcrawlr

MAITLAND, Fla. — Neighbors knew him as a simple man who worked in the paint department of a home-supply store and spent his leisure time tending to the yard of his ranch-style home in this Orlando suburb.

Many could not reconcile that image with the one authorities painted Wednesday of Rigoberto Alpizar — that of a desperate man who ran off a plane and claimed to have a bomb in his backpack. Alpizar was shot and killed by air marshals Wednesday at Miami International Airport on his way home from a trip to South America.

"He was a nice guy, always smiling, always talkative,'' said Louis Gunther, a neighbor who said he was watching Alpizar's home while he and his wife were on a missionary trip. "Everybody is talking about a guy I know nothing about.''

"This whole neighborhood is shocked. ... Totally uncharacteristic of the guy,'' added Alex McLeod, 16, who lives three houses down on the opposite side of the three-lined street from the Alpizars.

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: alpizar; flight924
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1 posted on 12/08/2005 6:58:09 AM PST by wallcrawlr
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To: wallcrawlr

Did he smoke?


2 posted on 12/08/2005 6:59:09 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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This sounds like suicide by cop to me.


3 posted on 12/08/2005 7:00:10 AM PST by Syberyenta
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To: wallcrawlr
I should have added this quote too:

Brad Jentsch of Sheboygan, Wis., another brother-in-law, .... < snip > told the station he couldn't fault the air marshals, but he questioned the use of "deadly force in a situation where his wife was running right behind yelling he's bipolar and he's not on his meds.''

4 posted on 12/08/2005 7:00:13 AM PST by wallcrawlr (http://www.bionicear.com)
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To: wallcrawlr

Lesson #1 when flying: If you are on medications, TAKE THEM!

Lesson #2: Don't claim you have a bomb!

Lesson #3: If an Air Marshall says "Get on the floor!" DO IT!


5 posted on 12/08/2005 7:00:47 AM PST by TommyDale
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To: AppyPappy

People thought Ted Bundy was a nice fellow too.


6 posted on 12/08/2005 7:00:59 AM PST by yobid (What we have here is a failure to communicate)
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To: wallcrawlr
He told the station he couldn't fault the air marshals, but he questioned the use of "deadly force in a situation where his wife was running right behind yelling he's bipolar and he's not on his meds.''

The fact he was bipolar, not on his meds and talking about a bomb would make anyone fear him. He really could have a bomb under that scenario.

7 posted on 12/08/2005 7:01:19 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: wallcrawlr
He told the station he couldn't fault the air marshals, but he questioned the use of "deadly force in a situation where his wife was running right behind yelling he's bipolar and he's not on his meds."

Keeping that detail until the last of the story, of course.

8 posted on 12/08/2005 7:02:27 AM PST by atomicpossum (Replies should be as pedantic as possible. I love that so much.)
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To: wallcrawlr

chicagotribune.com

http://www.chicagotribune.com/

Unfriendly eyes follow air marshals

Experts: Terrorists seek security flaws


By Jon Hilkevitch
Tribune transportation reporter

December 8, 2005

Federal air marshals are the consummate frequent fliers, logging thousands of miles each week while trying to blend in with the airport crowd.

One air marshal, known as "the doctor" among his security associates, is a certified emergency medical technician. Without blowing his cover, he recently helped a sick passenger who needed the aid of an onboard oxygen canister during a flight.

Air marshals frequently pose as good Samaritans volunteering to help flight attendants deal with drunken or unruly travelers.

But every air marshal knows that he or she is being watched--and often tested.

Ever since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, air marshals and airline pilots have reported instances to federal authorities in which individuals behaving suspiciously appeared to be evaluating onboard security, according to congressional testimony. It is believed that terrorists continue to fly on commercial airlines to and within the U.S. to look for weak links in layers of the still-evolving aviation security system.

The ploys have ranged from faking illnesses to disobeying orders from flight attendants to sit down to a few reported cases of individuals running toward the cockpit door in apparent efforts to flush any air marshals from their seats.

Experts say another strategy is focused on determining specific flights that are routinely flown by armed pilots participating in the flight deck officers program.

A major concern among air marshals is being identified by terrorists. On the flights selected for extra security, at least two air marshals are assigned to a plane in a specified seating arrangement--one in the first-class cabin to monitor the cockpit door, another in coach.

Until earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security enforced a formal dress code for air marshals--suits and ties--that made them stand out from the more casual appearance of many passengers.

"I have sat in the same seat since my first day on the job," said a federal air marshal based in Chicago who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly. "At least in Iraq or Afghanistan you know what you are dealing with. Here, I am in jeopardy because a lot of the passengers know instantly who we are."

He also said there is widespread opposition among air marshals to last week's decision by the Transportation Security Administration relaxing the ban on passengers bringing scissors and short blades aboard planes.

"A terrorist knows who I am and how to slit my throat by placing two credit cards together," the air marshal said. "I don't want to make it any easier for him."




jhilkevitch@tribune.com


9 posted on 12/08/2005 7:02:31 AM PST by KeyLargo
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To: wallcrawlr

The wife could have easily been an accomplice, someone to divert attention!


10 posted on 12/08/2005 7:02:36 AM PST by tkathy (Ban the headscarf. (All religious headdress). The effect will creat a huge domino effect..)
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To: wallcrawlr
a simple man who worked in the paint department of a home-supply store

Those fumes'll do a number on your head.

11 posted on 12/08/2005 7:02:43 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: AppyPappy
Also, if they hadn't shot the guy, Al Quaida would have gotten the idea that if they put someone on a flight with an actual bomb who acts strangely - they have nothing to fear.
12 posted on 12/08/2005 7:03:43 AM PST by proudofthesouth (Boycotting movies since 1988)
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To: AppyPappy

Exactly, how would his wife know whether he didn't have a bomb? I guess she should have been in the aisle seat.


13 posted on 12/08/2005 7:04:30 AM PST by rabidralph
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To: KeyLargo

thanks for posting that


14 posted on 12/08/2005 7:04:37 AM PST by wallcrawlr (http://www.bionicear.com)
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To: wallcrawlr
He told the station he couldn't fault the air marshals, but he questioned the use of "deadly force in a situation where his wife was running right behind yelling he's bipolar and he's not on his meds.''

So why is a mentally unbalanced man making long trips by air while he is 'not on his meds'?

Typically, the media is casting about trying to find a way to blame the USAMs and by extension, Bush, of course.

Of course, if the guy had made it into the concourse and set off a bomb that dropped a few hundred people, the media would be clamoring to know why the USAMs didn't take action sooner.

15 posted on 12/08/2005 7:04:50 AM PST by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: wallcrawlr

The ones dismayed by the shooting are judging it after the fact. They think no actual bomb means no real threat.

They are wrong. The air marshal had an excited guy yelling "backpack bomb" and shot as the guy reached into the backpack. That is a good call as it looked like the guy was detonating the bomb.


16 posted on 12/08/2005 7:05:34 AM PST by RicocheT
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To: wallcrawlr

There are plenty of people questioning the decision to shoot, unfortunately. If people like Couric on NBC and some of the celebrity-hungry people being interviewed on Fox had their way, the marshalls would have to ask every terrorist to fill out a 3-page questionnaire, complete an interview with a shrink, and consult with a sensitivity expert before taking any action. Common sense is not very common, it seems.


17 posted on 12/08/2005 7:06:04 AM PST by MizSterious (Anonymous sources often means "the voices in my head told me.")
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To: wallcrawlr
Wisconsin Relatives 'In Shock' After Man Shot By Air Marshal

Bet they're really cheesed off.

18 posted on 12/08/2005 7:06:41 AM PST by Wolfie
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To: wallcrawlr

Yep - failed to listen to the screaming wife, who, as far as they might have known, could have been an accomplice trying to give the guy time to detonate . . .


19 posted on 12/08/2005 7:06:59 AM PST by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
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To: wallcrawlr
Brad Jentsch of Sheboygan, Wis., another brother-in-law, .... < snip > told the station he couldn't fault the air marshals, but he questioned the use of "deadly force in a situation where his wife was running right behind yelling he's bipolar and he's not on his meds.''

I'm sure the air marshalls were thinking: "Gee, last month a husband and wife suicide team blew up a wedding in Jordan."

I cannot believe all the second guessing of these air marshalls. If you are out of control due to emotional issues, either take your medications (hint to "involved" wife: make sure he takes his meds, ya know?) or don't travel in a post 9-11 world.

20 posted on 12/08/2005 7:08:10 AM PST by N. Beaujon (http://www.nbeaujon.com)
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