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5 Run Over at Ga. McDonald's; 3 Are Tots
Associated Press ^ | May 23, 2006 | CHARLES ODUM

Posted on 05/23/2006 5:18:58 PM PDT by decimon

COVINGTON, Ga. - A man ran over three young children and two women with a car in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant Tuesday, police said, and one witness described him as having a smile on his face.

Lanny Barnes, 46, was in custody and charges against him were pending.

"All indications are that he intentionally hit them," Assistant Police Chief Almond Turner said.

A 2-year-old girl was in critical condition and two boys, ages 3 and 4, were in stable condition, Police Chief Stacey Cotton said.

The women, ages 33 and 36, are sisters and the mothers of the children, authorities said. Both were also in stable condition.

The children were airlifted to an Atlanta hospital, about 30 miles away, and the women were in a hospital in Covington, authorities said. They were hit by a Honda Accord.

Barnes' mother, Mary, told The Associated Press her son has battled mental illness.

"He's been suffering with depression for years," she said, her voice shaking after being told by a reporter what happened. "Lord have mercy."

Witnesses described the car running over a curb as the victims left the restaurant, then hitting them and the building before backing up and hitting them again, police said.

Ryan Boldman-Snyder, 20, an employee at the McDonald's, was on a break outside when he heard screaming, and said Barnes was "smiling the whole time."

Witnesses tried to pull Barnes out of his car in the restaurant parking lot. Police officers finally pulled him out of the car from the passenger-side front door, Boldman-Snyder said.

McDonald's area franchise manager Bill Hall said the company was deeply saddened.

"Our prayers are with the victims, the children, and their families," Hall said. "We are cooperating fully with the authorities as they investigate."

Hall said that the restaurant, about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta, would remain closed for the rest of the day and that counseling was being provided for employees.

---

Associated Press Writer Harry R. Weber contributed to this report from Atlanta.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: black
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To: maine-iac7
Another notch in jimmmah carrrters legacy -he closed the mental institutions and put these people on the streets and/or unable to get the help/incarceration needed until there are innocent victims...

And 25 years later we still can't undo it?

21 posted on 05/23/2006 5:47:29 PM PDT by Doe Eyes
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To: MAexile

Twenty? I'd have it done in about five...

Depends on how thick his skull was.


22 posted on 05/23/2006 6:04:44 PM PDT by TSgt (Extreme vitriol and rancorous replies served daily. - Mike W USAF)
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To: MikeWUSAF

The extra fifteen is just to make sure.


23 posted on 05/23/2006 6:07:13 PM PDT by MAexile (Bats left, votes right)
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To: sinkspur

Unbelievable. Prayers for the victims and their families.


24 posted on 05/23/2006 6:17:15 PM PDT by LdSentinal
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To: decimon

Only police should have cars


25 posted on 05/23/2006 6:32:22 PM PDT by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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To: I still care

Most bipolars are not violent even in their manic phases.

Frankly psychotic and delusional sounds more like it.

Very sad. I don't understand why the young innocent ones have to die so often.


26 posted on 05/23/2006 7:14:03 PM PDT by EEDUDE (A penny saved is......a penny Congress overlooked.)
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To: sinkspur

Sad.


27 posted on 05/23/2006 7:22:50 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights
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To: decimon
"Witnesses described the car running over a curb as the victims left the restaurant, then hitting them and the building before backing up and hitting them again, police said."

New changes to Alaska Deadly Force Law would allow passerby to eliminate the "backing up and hitting them again" When the driver put it back in gear would have been a good time to stabilize the sight picture....

http://www.akrepublicans.org/therriault/24/news/ther2006050101p.php for more.
28 posted on 05/23/2006 7:53:20 PM PDT by ASOC (Choose between the lesser of two evils and in the end, you still have, well, evil.)
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To: EEDUDE

I know several violent bipolars who were diagnosed initially as depressed. They all did jail time partially because they were not being handled properly.

At least a couple went wild after being giving antidepressents. They jumped over into mania and became agitated and delusional.

I don't know this case at all, but just made a guess based on some of the things I've seen. Not saying all bipolars are like this, but i've seen enough tough ones to know it can happen.


29 posted on 05/23/2006 9:20:33 PM PDT by I still care ("Remember... for it is the doom of men that they forget" - Merlin, from Excalibur)
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To: ASOC

I like the Alaskan law. I'm for proper legal proceedings after the fact but during the fact a guy like this should be stopped, if possible.


30 posted on 05/24/2006 3:08:57 AM PDT by decimon
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To: decimon
That's the idea. One of the 'incidents' which was used as an example - a drunk (multiple convictions, no license) drove his pickup truck on a bike path - no big deal....until he hit an old woman - just out from hip surgery and using a walker to get around. Oh, and he hit her husband as well. Granny wound up face down in the pond next to the trail and grandpa was thrown the other way.

Did the little SOB stop to help?

Nope - but fortunately passerby stopped and helped hold the woman's head out of the water till medics arrived and other passerby 'detained' the drunk and his buddy.

One wonder what the outcome would have been had granddad been packing.....
31 posted on 05/24/2006 8:31:59 AM PDT by ASOC (Choose between the lesser of two evils and in the end, you still have, well, evil.)
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