'Anxious to Get Home'

NewsWeek ^ | Dec. 19, 2005 issue | By Arian Campo-Flores and Mark Hosenball

[MRMEAN]

When Rigoberto Alpizar visited his family in Rio Claro, Costa Rica, in July, he grew alarmed at his father's deteriorating heart condition. He took his father to see a doctor in San Jose; before returning home to the United States, says his brother Carlos, he taped little notes all over the house with a gentle reminder: "Please take your medication. I love you very much." But when it came to Alpizar's own condition—bipolar disorder—he apparently failed to heed that same advice, according to his wife's statements to authorities. Aboard a plane preparing to push away from the gate in Miami last Wednesday, Alpizar, 44, seemed to suffer a manic episode. He bolted from his seat and rushed off the plane. The air marshals followed and confronted him in the jetway, where, according to their account, he threatened to detonate a bomb in his backpack. The air marshals responded by shooting him dead.

Alpizar's killing has thrust the Federal Air Marshal Service, which until now has operated mostly in the shadows, into the spotlight. It was the first time in history that air marshals had killed someone, and the first time they had actually fired a weapon on the job, according to service spokesman Dave Adams. The service now faces an investigation by the Miami-Dade Police Department, a potential lawsuit by Alpizar's family (though some legal experts say they'd have a tough case) and the inevitable scrutiny of watchdog groups and the media. For airline passengers who are approaching the frenetic holiday-travel season, there's also a confusing mix of reactions to sort through. Some may be reassured by the presence of fast-acting agents in these terror-ridden times. Others may be dismayed that the marshals were too quick to pull the trigger.

[MRMEAN]

Update on story. Other articles of interest:

DHS report admits air marshals 'overreacted' in airport shooting

Questions Raised: Are Air Marshals Prepared to Handle Mentally Ill Passengers?

Witnesses heard no talk of bomb

The following is the Friday CNN story already posted, but it has the most complete official version of events, which includes the following:
Dave Adams, a spokesman for the Federal Air Marshal Service, said Alpizar had run up and down the plane's aisle yelling, "I have a bomb in my bag."
White House backs air marshals' actions Marshals'

No passenger identified in the media has confirmed the air marshals' account that Alpizar made a bomb threat in the plane; they all in fact contradict such a claim.

[takenoprisoner]

Can you tell how much people care by their responses MRMEAN? You see, most folks believe Alpizar got what he deserved..."he should have taken his meds...he should have responded to their commands...he should have not gotten on the plane...." yada yada yada

Bottomline, no bomb (never was) and an innocent man shot dead without probable cause much less any reasonable justification.

These air marshals should be required to take a lie detector. I hope they are because I am convinced they are lying to cover up their err in judgement.