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2 men dead after shots fired in SoCal Toys 'R' Us
Yahoo! News / The Associated Press ^ | November 29, 2008 | Gillian Flaccus

Posted on 11/28/2008 10:24:12 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

PALM DESERT, Calif. – Two men pulled guns and shot each other to death in a crowded toy store Friday after the women with them erupted into a bloody brawl, witnesses said. Scared shoppers fled but no one else was hurt.

The violence erupted on Black Friday, the traditional post-Thanksgiving start of the holiday shopping surge, but authorities indicated the shooting wasn't related to a shopping frenzy.

Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez said the fight was not over a toy. He said handguns were found by the men's bodies, but he released little other information. He would not answer a question about whether the shooting was gang-related.

Witnesses Scott and Joan Barrick said they were checking out of the store when the fight began between two women, each with a man. The women were near the checkout area, but the Barricks did not think the women had purchases.

One woman suddenly started punching the other woman, who fought back as blood flowed from her nose, Scott Barrick, 41, said.

The man who was with the woman being punched pulled a gun halfway out of his pocket, then shoved it back in, he said.

"He pulled his gun right next to me. I turned to look for my wife, and she was already hiding," Barrick said.

"I was scared," said Joan Barrick, 40. "I didn't want to die today. I really didn't want to die today, and I think that's what we were all thinking."

The other man pulled a gun and pointed it at the first man but forgot to cock it, Scott Barrick said. The first man tried to run but was blocked by the line of people, then ran back toward the store's electronics section as the other man fired his gun, he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; US: California
KEYWORDS: banglist; blackfriday; crime; diversity; economy; feliznavidad; immigration; lawenforcement; palmdesert; retail; shooting; toysrus; violence
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There's probably more to this story.
1 posted on 11/28/2008 10:24:12 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Strange.


2 posted on 11/28/2008 10:29:27 PM PST by Fichori (I believe in a Woman's right to choose, even if she hasn't been born yet.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Absolutely.

Sounds like the Sharks and the Jets went shopping at Toys R Us instead of meeting under the highway for their rumble.


3 posted on 11/28/2008 10:29:40 PM PST by berdie
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Check later for a Darwin award.


4 posted on 11/28/2008 10:32:02 PM PST by smokingfrog (If it's to be a bloodbath, let it be now. Appeasement is not the answer. - Ronald Reagan)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Good shooting on the part of both participants. At least they didn’t take anyone else with them.


5 posted on 11/28/2008 10:37:05 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I'm sure there is more to this story. I have to ask the obvious question. Who would carry an unloaded gun anywhere and keep it concealed? An unloaded gun is as useless as an empty firetruck.
the question should have been, “why did criminals take guns to a toy store?”
6 posted on 11/28/2008 10:42:47 PM PST by oldenuff2no (Retired AB ranger and damn proud of it!!! I served to support our constitution and our way of life.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Palm Desert? Palm Desert is a fairly ritzy retirement and winter resort town. The average age must be pushing 70. That’s about the last place I’d ever worry about getting shot.


7 posted on 11/28/2008 11:36:05 PM PST by TheMole
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“I went to buy a toy and all I got was this lousy ...... death.”


8 posted on 11/28/2008 11:41:28 PM PST by Dumpster Baby ((Sigh) Some days, it's just not worth trying to chew through the restraints.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“Obviously not gang related or nothing phoomp” ping.


9 posted on 11/28/2008 11:43:54 PM PST by lefty-lie-spy (Stay metal. For the Horde \m/("_")\m/)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Two less gang members for the police to worry about.

That’s the only good thing I can find to say about this.


10 posted on 11/28/2008 11:44:24 PM PST by Deo volente (On January 20, 2009 America moves to DEFCON 2.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Weird story, but a happy ending. This is exactly why Ca. needs CCW.


11 posted on 11/28/2008 11:46:32 PM PST by Centurion2000 (To protect and defend ... against all enemies, foreign and domestic .... by any means necessary.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Guess they shouldn’t have watched “Jingle All the Way” before they went shopping.


12 posted on 11/29/2008 12:10:48 AM PST by Peter Horry (Mount Up Everybody and Ride to the Sound of the Guns .. Pat Buchanan)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

There was probably conflict between these people before they got to the store. My concern is that we are now going to be bombarded with sensational coverage of shootings.

Now that Obama is in charge the media will help create the climate to implement additional restrictions on firearms ownership.

Lord help us if either of the deceased held a carry permit.


13 posted on 11/29/2008 1:05:31 AM PST by SkipW
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Just another ho-hum story in modern America. It’s tragic that no one is outraged by this increasing phenomenon of
radom murder.

Murderer is excused but capitol punishment is evil.


14 posted on 11/29/2008 1:56:19 AM PST by ChiMark
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To: berdie
From the SacBee:

City spokeswoman Sheila Gilligan said police told her the shooting broke out between "two groups of individuals that have a dispute with each other."

and

The victims were identified as Alejandro Moreno, 39, of Desert Hot Springs, and Juan Meza, 28, of Cathedral City.

15 posted on 11/29/2008 2:02:14 AM PST by hometoroost (Thanks to all who have honorably served our country!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The girlfriends who started the fight being arrested...

VIDEO

Shrieking fat midget.

16 posted on 11/29/2008 3:50:01 AM PST by Bon mots
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Here's a related link....

Authorities: Two handguns found near bodies of victims in Toys R Us shooting

Still not much info on the perps/vics.

17 posted on 11/29/2008 4:16:25 AM PST by mewzilla (In politics the middle way is none at all. John Adams)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Shooting at a Toys R Us in Palm Desert [CA]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2139721/posts


18 posted on 11/29/2008 5:02:46 AM PST by PAR35
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Memo to myself: never ever fight over a toy even if I had my hands on it first.


19 posted on 11/29/2008 5:16:32 AM PST by apocalypto
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To: hometoroost

MS13 vs Latin Kings? Coming soon to a neighborhood Toys-R-Us near you.


20 posted on 11/29/2008 7:55:58 AM PST by Surtur
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