Man on fire in IL Mall had Chemcials strapped on body-Jumping 2 stories at kids waiting for Santa

Yahoo Wire ^ | November 23, 2001 | AP Top Story

[codebreaker]

Jeremy Wolf said the man appeared to have containers of cleaning chemicals strapped to his chest. He has stretched his leg over the railing as if to jump down to the center court, where hundereds of shoppers were waiting in line.

"I could literally see his face on fire," Wolf said."

The man who was not carrying any identification was taken to Rcokford's (IL.)OSF St. Anthony's medical center (from Cherryvale Mall) and was to be transferred to Loyola University Medical Center.

[concerned about politics]

New Christmas carol lyrics:"See the blazing fool before us.Fa la la la la la la la la"

OMG, That made me lose it. That was soooo funny!!

[floriduh voter]

Recipe for disaster: Take one schizophrenic with obsessive compulsive disorder who has voices in his head telling him to set himself on fire and scream "freedom and liberty for all" and jump from a balcony in a blaze of glory. Freedom and liberty for all is a good thing but don't these people have guardians or aren't they supposed to live in group homes?

[MissAmericanPie]

I think the funding for that has hit the basement, we use to lock them up in institutions but the choice of programs to be cut at the time were welfare or help for the insane. So naturally we cut help for the insane much deeper than welfare. It's sad really, one we do need, and the other one no one but the disabled should need.

[floriduh voter]

The sad part is that this guy sounds like a lost soul. It is no different than the time of Charles Dickens when there were lost souls wandering about with quirky nicknames. Now if he is a malleable, mentally ill guy fallen under the influence of a sleeper cell, it would appear they are running out of "bright" suicide candidates.

[Illbay]

English is obviously not your first language. Maybe type the thing word-for-word next time, or better yet "cut and paste."

And use the correct headline. Sheesh.

[blackbag]

thanks to the Democrats) released tens of thousands of dangerous crazies onto the streets, and then provided virtually NO mandatory follow-up for them.
YOU CALLED THAT RIGHT... Add liberal lawyers to the pile.

[Illbay]

Two men who grabbed the man were treated for burns on their hands, and a woman was treated for smoke inhalation...

It just goes to show what your mother taught you is still true: Don't stand to close to a burning man.

[concerned about politics]

Will the Mall be sued for second hand smoke?

[Miss Marple]

I do not find this amusing, either. My granchildren could have witnessed this, as they will be going to see Santa soon. I have been concerned for some time that children would be targets, and it looks like this may be a precursor of things to come.

Here are some clues to let folks know that this wasn't your average nut case:

1.) The use of cleaning chemicals, which apparently the FBI has wind of through their monitoring of communications, since a warning scrolled across the Fox News screen.

2.) The lack of identification, delaying search warrants on his home and arrests of co-conspirators.

3.) The choice of the target, involving children, shopping (economy) and Santa Claus, a symbol of a Christian holiday. (Yes, I know Santa Claus isn't a religious symbol, but to Muslims the distinction might be too difficult.)

[FreeReign]

Move along, nothing to see here-just a crazy loon with chemicals strapped to his chest, and no ID.

I know it, I know it -- it's related to 911 and the government is covering it up!

I mean how come the mall security tapes have not been released yet? Wasn't there an explosion in the guys left arm pit?

[anniegetyourgun]

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you this time MM....this one sounds like a plain ol' case of nutburger on the verge during the holidays.

[anniegetyourgun]

ROFL!!! "Allah Snackbar".....you take the prize today!

[SERE_DOC]

"Allah Snackbar". BAWWWWWWWA lmao,

you owe me a new keyboard!

[idealog]

this wanna be kamakaze was shouting something about "freedom" and "liberty". he's giving good patriots a bad nane, he should be tried for treasonous stupdity.

[riri]

Has or is this guys name going to be released?

[Miss Marple]

We will wait until he is identified. Of course, he could be a nutcase. And those anthrax letters could be the work of a right-wing nut case as well.

We will see.

[virgil]

I wonder if I will be getting a call from the FBI for buying that bottle of scrubble bubble today.

[SCalGal]

I don't think this is funny, either. Those guys who burned their hand- you can't just graft the skin on hands- it's a different type of skin, like the soles of your feet. And when it starts to heal it ITCHES. I once talked to a man who took a flaming gasoline can and threw it away from some kids who were playing with it. He said that if he'd known ahead of time how much it would itch, he wouldn't have done it. That's quite a statement to make- we all know what it takes to do something like that.

And who's going to cover their paychecks while they can't work? Certainly not the nutcase.

[not-an-ostrich]

Possibly was a crazy loon with no I.D. No sense in jumping to conclusions. Depletes your credibility to jump to conclusions. Let's wait and see what comes of the investigation.

[constitutiongirl]

LOL. I noticed that too. Those brave fellas making sure that someone's presents didn't burn up. They'll probably be decorated by the mall security officers' union.