Posted on 04/12/2008 7:29:57 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
A piece of artillery apparently misfired yesterday from the Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County and landed about 2 1/2 miles away, crashing into the roof of a house in the Oak Ridge section of Jefferson Township and onto a child's bed, authorities said.
No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred between 2 and 3 p.m., but the family cat was killed, Jefferson police said.
Picatinny officials said last evening they are investigating the incident. Officials from the base sent an explosive ordnance team to the home to investigate.
Picatinny officials said tonight they are investigating the incident. Officials from the base sent an explosive ordnance team to the home to investigate.
The base commander, Brig. Gen. William Phillips, and Lt. Col. John Stack also visited the home tonight, post spokesman Peter Rowland said.
"We sent an explosive ordnance team to look into the matter," Rowland said. "I can't confirm it, but I can't rule it out either."
The base commander, Brig. Gen. William Phillips, and Lt. Col. John Stack also visited the home last evening, post spokesman Peter Rowland said.
The homeowner heard a loud noise of something crashing through the roof and found the fragment had struck her 10-year-old daughter's bed. Her daughter, Casandra, was not home at the time, Detective Joe Kratzel of the Jefferson Township police said.
"Thank God my daughter was not here," said the homeowner, Cheryl Angle of Longwood Lake Road. "My daughter would have been in that bed."
Family members said Casandra had been picked up 20 minutes earlier to go to a sleepover at a friend's house. A 14-year-old son, Brandon, was home at the time.
Because the shell set a blanket smoldering, family members feared it might have started a house fire.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
They still haven't figured what's in the water in Jersey, have they?
Not, it isn't funny that, per se, a cat was killed.
But, considering that ordnance dropped from the sky and could demolished a house or people and all that happened was a kitty got nailed and blanket set smouldering, that qualifies as ridiculous.
You sound like a lay member of PETA.
***
New Jersey. Weird things for weird people.
Is that barack hussein obama?
Nope, my longest shot on a feline was maybe 50 feet with a .22 rifle. Used to get them closer with a 12 ga especially when pheasant hunting. They are death on rabbits and birds. We have house cats now, but they run when the door is opened. I think they would have a heart attack if they were ever thrown outside.
“A piece of artillery” is a perfectly acceptable phrase. However, in this context, it is used incorrectly. An artillery piece is the cannon itself, not the munition. The munition is called a shell or a round, never a piece, but then this is the Star Ledger.
If not in school at the time, maybe grounded? Maybe playing in her room? Reading (God forbid...). Lots of reasons.
Poor demon cat.
yes;and if it missfired it didn’t do anything.
Killing a cat - Not funny.
Artillery piece malfunctions - Not funny.
Killing a cat, inside a house (i.e. not aimed at the cat) with an artillery piece from more than 2 miles away - Come on.... That's sort of funny.
It brings up all sorts of funny, but bad taste comments, like...
That'll teach them not to get their cat licensed!
Or the military successfully tested a new "purr-seeking" artillery round today.
Mark
The cat was undoubtedly an insurgent.
You would need one big Jarhead to carry that rifle.
It needs sound effects to bring out the humor, one of those Monty-Pythonesque, ‘stepped on the cat’ screeches.
“MREEEOW!”
See? Works so much better now.
Years back Ft RIchardson landed a few “machine gun bullets” off post - some troopers were firing in the fog, got pointed the wrong way.
Killed a couple of TV sets in two houses next to the post.
Homeowners tried to sue for millions.
They got the wall patched and a new TV.
Hint - If, while looing at a new home, you hear machine gun fire (not SoCal, of course), you might just want to ask where the range is in relation to the house.....
Better yet, get out and get some fresh air. It's a BEAUTIFUL day.
And the Pope is visiting next week. It's the start of something beautiful.
JPII foretold a "springtime of the culture of life."
It IS spring.
“The killing of a cat is not funny.”
Not to the cat.
Sorry.
If you do a web image search for "fat cat..."
Targeting officer prepares for a day's training.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.