Driver Shoots and Kills Man After Amish Pranksters Throw Tomatoes at His Car

AP ^ | September 2, 2003

[Mr. Mulliner]

Driver Shoots and Kills Man After Amish Pranksters Throw Tomatoes at His Car
The Associated Press
Published: Sep 2, 2003

MOUNT HOPE, Ohio (AP) - A driver fired a shotgun into a cornfield and killed a man after being tormented by a group of young Amish pranksters who pelted his car with tomatoes, authorities said.

Steven L. Keim was with about 10 other members of the Amish community, ages 15 to 23, who were hiding in the field Monday night, throwing tomatoes and firing paintball guns at passing cars, the Holmes County Sheriff's office said.

After driving past the cornfield several times and being pelted on each occasion, the driver stopped and challenged the group to throw more tomatoes, then fired three to five shots into the field, striking Keim multiple times. No suspect had been arrested Tuesday.

Holmes County, a rural area that has what is believed to be the world's largest Amish population, sees its share of pranks by young Amish people every fall, Chief Deputy Nathan Fritz said.

"They'll steal their neighbor's buggy and put it on top of a building," Fritz said.

It was the county's first firearm-related homicide in about 30 years, Fritz said.

Although Keim was raised Amish, the self-employed roofing contractor had a driver's license and had left the Amish church, Fritz said.

Many Amish teenagers, like the group in the cornfield, experiment with popular culture then later return to the Amish lifestyle, Fritz said.

The Amish do not believe in modern conveniences such as electricity and automobiles.

The incident occurred just north of Mount Hope, about 60 miles south of Cleveland.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Those wild and crazy Amish pranksters.

[shadowman99]

Amish paintball guns?

I guess they fire plain and simple colored paints.

[OpusatFR]

The Mennonite branch around here bash mailboxes.

That's what happens when you can't kick back with a beer and a cigarette..

[mdittmar]

Although Keim was raised Amish, the self-employed roofing contractor had a driver's license and had left the Amish church, Fritz said.

Amish teen gone bad,won't have the guts to do that again.

[Alouette]

Rumspringa

[Mr. Mulliner]

That's what happens when you can't kick back with a beer and a cigarette

That's an interesting observation. I used to live in China and we noticed how many basic rules of social behavior were routinely violated. Things like standing in line, offering your seat to someone in need, letting faster traffic pass, etc. We theorized that because there were so many laws and rules that were enforced, people rebelled in lots of little ways, just to try to get control of more of their lives.

[freebilly]

Amish paintball guns?

Otherwise known as a slingshot and a pellet of wool dipped in beet juice....

[mongrel]

Not an amish teen gone bad. Almost none of the amish teens are part of the church until they get married. That's also why they're considered "youths" even if they're in their late twenties and not married. The behavior Keim was involved in is probably more typical than not of the "pranks" that frequently happen.

The problem is these kids are so repressed and sheltered growing up that they have no idea how to maintain control of their own behavior when they go through their "running around" time. In addition, they are extremely naive to the consequences of alcohol, drugs, and throwing tomatoes at any idiot that drives by.

[Young Rhino]

Time for the Bradyish Bill...registration of all tomatoes, confiscation of all semiautomatic tomatoes, and a waiting period with background check before one can own a tomato. Of course, we need to close the tomato show loophole.

[headsonpikes]

It's hard to imagine a man so vindictive as to fire a shotgun at folks just funning around.

There couldn't be more than a few possible suspects locally, one would think.

[abner]

I guess they fire plain and simple colored paints.

Nah, just flat black paintballs.

[Ipse Dixit]

It's hard to imagine a man so vindictive as to fire a shotgun at folks just funning around.

People trying to hurt me and/or my family and damage my property by hurling paintballs and tomatoes at us, ain't just "funning around."

[The_Media_never_lie]

Tomatoes and paintballs are no excuse for the man getting medieval on their hiney.

[mathurine]

After all the joshing is finished, the perp is probably going to jail for life as befits a rather stupid fellow who kept coming around to be harassed and then seriously overreacted. He should have taken a safe firearms course! or some valium!

[mathurine]

After all the joshing is finished, the perp is probably going to jail for life as befits a rather stupid fellow who kept coming around to be harassed and then seriously overreacted. He should have taken a safe firearms course! or some valium!

[Mulder]

I guess the hoodlums won't try that again anytime soon.

Tossing projecticles at moving vehicles creates hazards which can result in the serious injury or death of motorists.

I don't condone the behavior of the driver (he should have called the police first), but I really don't condemn it either.

[RightWhale]

Many Amish teenagers, like the group in the cornfield, experiment with popular culture then later return to the Amish lifestyle

Right. Tossing vegetables at cars is an integral part of popular culture.

[abner]

After all the joshing is finished, the perp is probably going to jail for life as befits a rather stupid fellow who kept coming around to be harassed and then seriously overreacted. He should have taken a safe firearms course! or some valium!

Agreed on all points.

[FroedrickVonFreepenstein]

As I walk through the valley where I harvest my grain
I take a look at my wife and realize she's very plain
But that's just perfect for an Amish like me
You know, I shun fancy things like electricity
At 4:30 in the morning I'm milkin' cows
Jebediah feeds the chickens and Jacob plows... fool
And I've been milkin' and plowin' so long that
Even Ezekiel thinks that my mind is gone
I'm a man of the land, I'm into discipline
Got a Bible in my hand and a beard on my chin
But if I finish all of my chores and you finish thine
Then tonight we're gonna party like it's 1699

We been spending most our lives
Living in an Amish paradise
I've churned butter once or twice
Living in an Amish paradise
It's hard work and sacrifice
Living in an Amish paradise
We sell quilts at discount price
Living in an Amish paradise

A local boy kicked me in the butt last week
I just smiled at him and turned the other cheek
I really don't care, in fact I wish him well
'Cause I'll be laughing my head off when he's burning in hell
But I ain't never punched a tourist even if he deserved
An Amish with a 'tude? You know that's unheard of
I never wear buttons but I got a cool hat
And my homies all I agree I look good in black... fool
If you come to visit, you'll be bored to tears
We haven't even paid the phone bill in 300 years
But we ain't really quaint, so please don't point and stare
We're just technologically impaired

There's no phone, no lights, no motorcar
Not a single luxury
Like Robinson Caruso
It's as primitave as can be

We been spending most our lives
Living in an Amish paradise
We're just plain and simple guys
Living in an Amish paradise
There's no time for sin and vice
Living in an Amish paradise
We don't fight, we all play nice
Living in an Amish paradise

Hitchin' up the buggy, churnin' lots of butter
Raised a barn on Monday, soon I'll raise another
Think you're really rightous? Think you're pure in heart?
Well, I know I'm a million times as humble as thou art
I'm the pious guy the little Amlettes wanna be like
On my knees day and night scorin' points for the afterlife
So don't be vain and don't be whiny
Or else, my brother, I might just have to get medieval on your heinie

We been spending most our lives
Living in an Amish paradise
We're all crazy Mennonites
Living in an Amish paradise
There's no cops or traffic lights
Living in an Amish paradise
But you'd probably think it bites
Living in an Amish paradise

[Sloth]

Of course, we need to close the tomato show loophole.

AP -- Clutching copies of The Tomato Diaries, white, right-wing religious fanatics peruse ammunition at a so-called "farmers' market." Under current law, buyers are not required to show identification or pass a background check before purchasing tomatoes and other members of the poisonous Nightshade family.