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.

[constitutiongirl]

I'd like to laugh at what you wrote, but unfortunately that's probably exactly what WILL happen.

[meridia]

Santa?

Well, frankly, I don't know WHAT the terrorists have against the West, sans their obvious virilant brainwashing.

It occured to me, though, that perhaps SANTA CLAUS is considered to be the quintesential Western Materialistic SYMBOL of the Infidels - so perhaps the bin Laden cronies HATE and DESPISE Santa Claus, too.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

I don't find it funny either. And, how come we don't know this guy's name yet? I'm suspicious that he's a Muslim and they're not telling us.

[ninenot]

I have to say you are right, the man is obviously one confused individual

Many of you have missed the obvious: he is a right-wing extremist, obviously. Shouting "Freedom" is the key--perhaps a Libertarian. The cleaning chemicals are another clue: only right-wingers do cleaning. Left-wingers usually smell and don't to hygiene. Case closed.

[MissAmericanPie]

Superior reasoning power wins the day again. Have a cigar, lol.

[ninenot]

then I got a 30 acre parcel of heavily forested property - and a backhoe

Word has it that the Chicago mob used to dispose of inconvenient corpses Up North in Wisconsin. Here's the technology: One logging chain, one small Cat bulldozer, one large pine tree. Attach chain to Cat, wrap around pine tree. Pull pine tree to about a 30 degree tilt. Insert inconvenient item under tree roots. Put Cat in reverse, allow pine tree to right itself. Detach chain.

This causes much less root damage than a backhoe, and also leaves no 'fresh dirt' telltale signs.

[dread78645]

A man shouting "freedom and liberty for all" set himself on fire in a suburban shopping ...

Anyone check if a LewRockwell.com loon columnist is missing ?

[2sheep]

Someone should check his pockets for a receipt from a Harry Potter movie or Burning Man Festival.

[tenmm]

Hello to you and everyone on Free Republic. I've been a lurker for a few years, and decided that this was as good a time as any to climb on board and be a part of this. I don't know if you live in the area, but I do. I wasn't there today (went to see Harry Potter a few miles away), but I do know the mall. If this guy had jumped, on fire, to the court below there is no telling what the outcome would have been. Santa's recieving line is there, as well as decorations and presents and many, many children and parents. It could have been much worse. If anyone else here has ever been to the Woodfield Mall outside of Chicago, Cherryvale is very similar, but smaller. Again, HI! to everyone.

[floriduh voter]

It is later in the evening. The guy's name is Richard Thomas. Now that sounds phony to me. I say he's muslim or arab and his name has been changed so we won't be frightened. I saw a picture of his car. Bright colors, freedom written on driver's side. Messy paint job. He's critical now. forty percent burns

[tenmm]

Hi there! I will watch my local news in a few minutes and if there IS anything more I can add, I will. The first I heard about it was on Fox news. Thanks for the info. Kinda scary when it's in your stomping grounds

[Miss Marple]

Hello, and welcome!! Richard Thomas? This wouldn't be the guy with that big mole on his cheek, would it? The Waltons?

Seriously, I wonder what the scoop is. I do not like these things happening, whether Islamic nut cases or domestic weirdos. Please update us with any new information!

[tenmm]

The man's name is Richard A. Lewis. 27 yrs. old. Local news said 4 others were slightly hurt. I guess that includes the two who saved him and anyone else in the immediate area. Not an Arab terrorist, but a "terrorist", to be sure.

[tenmm]

Thanks for the welcome! That was my first thought about "Richard Thomas", too. LOL! Gotta go for now, my wife wants her turn on this thing. Later!

[StarfireIV]

"Come on baby light my fire"

[Miss Marple]

Well, you were right, and I was wrong! I am quite relieved.

I am also ADMITTING I was wrong, unlike some people who frequent this forum! LOL!

[Old Professer]

During the Reagan presidency, many loons lost their beds in hospitals and institutions in budget tightening moves. I believe that the definition of "crazy" or "certifiable" was changed, and such people were knocked off the public dole.

I believe you have Reagan's Governorship confused with his Presidency; he did sign a bill releasing "non-violent" inmates while Governor of California, but did so on the advice of his Attorney General because the issue seemed to be prevailing in the courts.

The ACLU was behind this, IIRC.

[piasa]

Chicago? heavens, no... why do all that when all you need to do is rub the items through a local butcher shop and process it with a few hogs into kielbasa? ; )

[PoisedWoman]

I believe you have Reagan's Governorship confused with his Presidency

Could be, as I was in California at the time. Mid-70s.