'Al-Qaeda' gunman in college siege (Dyersburg State Community College, Tennessee)

Associated Press ^ | 09-17-03

[Brian S]

HOME > BREAKING NEWS > STORY

'Al-Qaeda' gunman in college siege From correspondents in Dyersburg, Tennessee September 18, 2003

A MAN with a gun and a knife claiming to be a member of al-Qaeda took a classroom of US college students hostage this afternoon.

Four people were released several hours into the standoff, authorities said.

Because the gunman claimed to be a member of an international terrorist organisation, the FBI has been called in, but Police Chief Bobby Williamson said authorities have no reason to believe the claim.

A SWAT team and about five hostage negotiators were among the officers called to the scene.

No injuries or gunshots were reported in the standoff at Dyersburg State Community College, about 120 km north-east of Memphis, Tennessee.

The gunman, believed to have a 9mm pistol - the calibre now used by US armed forces - had made no demands but said he would kill himself, Williamson said.

Williamson said About 12 to 16 people were in the classroom when the standoff began.

Officers were communicating to the gunman through student hostages on their mobile phones, "but he won't talk directly to us," Williamson said.

Police refused to identify the gunman but said he was not a student or college employee. They are talking to his sister on the scene, but the gunman won't talk to her, Williamson said.

"I think eventually he'll surrender," Williamson said.

Athletic director Alan Barnett said that authorities cleared the campus of other students.

The Associated Press

[Paul Atreides]

A MAN with a gun and a knife claiming to be a member of al-Qaeda took a classroom of US college students hostage this afternoon.

I hope he's not tenured.

[cmsgop]

Just another Anti-War PUNK!

[Paul Atreides]

The gunman, believed to have a 9mm pistol - the calibre now used by US armed forces - had made no demands but said he would kill himself, Williamson said.

Help me here: why the need to mention this?

[cavtrooper21]

A poor attempt to blame Pres. Bush for this...
Poor job, but you've got to give them a swift kick in the pants for trying.

[piasa]

Seems kind of weird to mention ...

[Spok]

"The gunman, believed to have a 9mm pistol - the calibre now used by US armed forces - had made no demands but said he would kill himself, Williamson said."

Shades of Blazing Saddles-the man's taken himself hostage!

[Shermy]

"Gunman" is "Harold Kilpatrick, Jr. of Memphis."

http://www.wreg.com/global/story.asp?s=1446608

[witnesstothefall]

authorities have no reason to believe the claim.

Why don't they just give the perp the benefit of the doubt and send this fellow to meet his virgins?

[Walkingfeather]

Won't somebody help that poor man?

Quiet harriet you wanna get him killed!

[steplock]

No Pictures? Why?

[dhuffman@awod.com]

Again dis-armed victims. Just as at Columbine H. S., if just one responsible adult had been armed then this might be over already and heaven's population one higher.

[GovernmentShrinker]

To make sure all readers get the message that it's too easy for dangerous nuts to get Military Assault Weapons.

[TomGuy]

Shades of Blazing Saddles-the man's taken himself hostage!

Next, he'll be demanding a ransom for his sorry a$$.

[Brian S]

Thanks for the background. I'm posting it here to save a click...

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September 17, 2003 Updated 6:28 pm

Dyersburg, TN - New developments in the hostage situation on the campus at Dyersburg State Community College. A Dyersburg police officer tells News Channel 3 the hostage taker claims to be a member of Al Qaeda and says he is on a suicide mission. Officials have turned that information over to the FBI, but any ties to Al Qaeda have not been confirmed.

The hostage taker is identified as 26-year-old Harold Kilpatrick, Jr. of Memphis. He left a suicide note with his sister who lives in Dyersburg before taking the classroom hostage. In the note he says he hates America.

Dyersburg police say Kilpatrick is holding 12 to 16 people in a college classroom and is refusing to negotiate with officers. City police spokeswoman Lisa McDowell says Kilpatrick released four people a couple of hours after the incident began around one p-m, Central time.

Officials at the scene say Kilpatrick is armed with a gun and a knife. He allegedly took 16 people hostage in a classroom and has released 4 of the hostages. The classroom is located on the second floor of the Eller building. Bob Jones with the DSCC Learning and Resource Center says the hostage situation took place in a basic math class. Jones says the teacher, who is female, is among the hostages. Jones says no one has heard shots fired.

A student at the college tells News Channel 3 that she overheard teachers telling police that Kilpatrick was upset and was throwing chairs before he pulled out a gun and barricaded himself and the students and teacher in the classroom.

The SWAT team and a hostage negotiating team is on the scene, but there have been no injuries or violence reported. Students and teachers have been evacuated from all the buildings on campus and classes have been cancelled for Wednesday evening.

Dyersburg State Community College is a small college of about 2000 students located in Dyersburg about 75 miles north of Memphis. Stay with News Channel 3 online and on the air for the very latest.

[Paul Atreides]

Or, that the guy is one of those nutty members of the military.

[dozer7]

"The gunman, believed to have a 9mm pistol - the calibre now used by US armed forces"

No bias here. Yees. Moving on.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Seriously. Where is the SWAT team? Doesn't this classroom have windows that a police sniper could take a shot through?

[Paul Atreides]

They can't take the chance that he might actually be a member of al-Qaeda. The sniper might get tried on hate crime charges.

[Timesink]

Seems kind of weird to mention ...

Only thing I can think of: Is there a military base nearby?