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A Postman Dies: Random violence claims carrier
Tulsa Times ^ | 12/15/01 | World Editorial Writers

Posted on 12/21/2001 8:14:00 PM PST by JohnD9207

Random violence claims carrier

Robert Jenkins, husband and father, did not walk his Tulsa mail route Wednesday thinking that it would be his day to die.

He left for his job, as most of us do, expecting to work his shift and then return home to those he held dear.

Things did not work out that way for Jenkins, 30, the victim of an apparent random act of violence. He will never go home and his 18 month old daughter will not grow up with her father.

The nine-year postal veteran took a bullet in the back. Witnesses claim the bullet came from the gun of Jason Weed, 27. Weed was arrested a few minutes later near the Brookside district, carrying a loaded gun and acting erratically.

Weed was booked into the Tulsa Jail on a first-degree murder complaint.

By all accounts Jenkins was a dedicated worker in a job that can be thankless and physically demanding.

"Everyone liked him," said John Harrison, president of the Tulsa chapter of the National Letter Carriers Association. "He was a good employee."

Around Oklahoma, flags at post offices were at half staff and a fund for the family was set up at the Tulsa Postal Federal Credit Union.

Letter carriers fight bad weather, snarling dogs, heavy traffic and other hazzards on a day-in, day-out basis. And while a postal handler died this fall from inhalation anthrax, no route carrier had been a homicide victim in a couple of years.

The last homicides included a letter carrier who was shot at a Los Angeles Jewish community center. Another was murdered in a carjacking in rural Mississippi. In fiscal 2000, postal inspectors responded to 1,037 postal related assults and credible threats. Their investigations led to 441 arrests.

"The thought of delivering mail and encountering what happened (to Jenkins) Couldn't possibly be anticipated by any letter carrier," one postal supervisor said.

Indeed it could not. In this year, when so much violence has rained down on America, the death of Robert Jenkins marks yet another instance of man's inhumanity to man.


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To: Texasforever
Thanks....Yes son. All he wanted was for his family to be safe. In fact his family was all he ever wanted to have. The finest Man I have ever know.

Thanks...........................John

21 posted on 12/21/2001 9:40:36 PM PST by JohnD9207
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To: JohnD9207
My condolances to you and your family. :(
22 posted on 12/21/2001 9:41:44 PM PST by NC_Libertarian
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To: caitlynsmom
Hi:

Welcome to FR and I'm so very sorry about your husband. I feel so sad over this. I hate it when tragedy takes the young away from us. There's little more to say except that I will pray for you, little Caitlyn and the rest of your family. Please stay on FR- we care about you and you'll find a nice little family here. God bless you.

23 posted on 12/21/2001 9:43:27 PM PST by mafree
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To: JohnD9207
known (SP) Hard to type with trars in my eye's.

...........................John

24 posted on 12/21/2001 9:43:46 PM PST by JohnD9207
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To: mafree
Thank's for your words to my daughter. You are Loved.

Consider a small donation to the before mentioned fund. Nevertheless, Thanks for your knid words.

The funeral procession had over 50 postal trucks behind the herse. Robert would have been surprised,

Thanks..............................John

25 posted on 12/21/2001 9:50:06 PM PST by JohnD9207
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To: caitlynsmom
I have no words to express how sorry I am for your loss.

You and your daughter are in my prayers.

26 posted on 12/21/2001 9:50:51 PM PST by ICU812
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To: JohnD9207
Tears (sp)
27 posted on 12/21/2001 10:00:14 PM PST by JohnD9207
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To: ICU812
Thanks...believe it or not posting has helped.

Any funds will help us help her to keep her house. Imagine losing your husband and then losing your house. He worked so hard to provide a good home (most of the work is undone) Morgage insurance...well as much as he wanted to provide for his family, while letting Amber and Caitlyn stay home, Morgage life insurance was out of the question Kudo's to the Tulsa postmaster (Susan Beck) was fantastic duriing this ordeal.

Thank's for you concern....................John Thanks.......................John

28 posted on 12/21/2001 10:16:33 PM PST by JohnD9207
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To: Tawiskaro
Thanks for your kind world to my daughter. Hitting the road for Tulsa...please keep this thread alive.

John

29 posted on 12/22/2001 12:50:28 AM PST by JohnD9207
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To: NC_Libertarian
Your word's are kind...thanks. On the way to Tulsa to have a x-mass (snif). Help keep this thread alive.

......................John

30 posted on 12/22/2001 1:17:49 AM PST by JohnD9207
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To: JohnD9207 ;caitlynsmom;HiJinx;68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub;SAMWolf;The Thin Man;Whoever;Gracey;
JohnD9207 , you and I know each other we have posted together. You have been a friend to me.
I am going to ping people so they can read about this. Being at FR we are a family and also you are a Veteran and that makes us even more of a family.I am so very , very sorry about your son.

caitlynsmom, there are no words to really take the hurt away. I am so very very sorry about your husband.
With all my heart I wish I could take away what happened.


31 posted on 12/22/2001 1:31:02 AM PST by Snow Bunny
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To: Mama_Bear;JustAmy;Alamo-Girl;abner;anniegetyourgun;AFVetGal;Angelique;AuntB;Aquamarine;amom...
Prayers for John and his family.
32 posted on 12/22/2001 1:35:44 AM PST by Snow Bunny
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To: Steamship Time;TexanaRed;Texas Mom;Teacup;Timeout;Texaggie79;Utah Girl;Vets_husband_and_Wife...
Prayers for John and caitlynsmom.
33 posted on 12/22/2001 1:37:20 AM PST by Snow Bunny
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To: 2nd Most Conservative Board MemberMr_Magoo;KitKat;exnavy;Angelwood;Mr.Lucky;archy;A Navy Vet...
Please pray for John and his family.
34 posted on 12/22/2001 1:38:06 AM PST by Snow Bunny
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To: beowolf;blam;Bigg Red;Braveman;Cagey;Cool Guy;connectthedots;COB1;carlo3b;Cyber Liberty;Slip18...
Prayers for John and his family.
35 posted on 12/22/2001 1:42:02 AM PST by Snow Bunny
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To: Snow Bunny
I am so glad that I took one final look at the posting before I left for Tulsa. Snow Bunny, you are special indeed. You work so hard for this forum, that to take a few minutes to answer touches my heart.

Please help me keep this thread alive. While donations to the Robert Jenkins family fund are ok, more important than that, my daughter needs to see that she is not alone and that there are others who care. Seeing the flag's at half staff throughout Oklahoma at the post offices touches my heart alot, but my freeper family has me in tears. This is harder than anything I ever experienced in the military, and my son (in-law) gave his life for his country.

It's going to be hard to give my granddaughter a christmas, but a Christmas she will have. Please accept my sincere thanks for your note during this time of sorrow.

John, SSG USA (ret)

36 posted on 12/22/2001 1:44:05 AM PST by JohnD9207
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To: JohnD9207
John, what a terrible piece of news, particularly at this time of year.

The suspect, Weed, seems aptly named. Best wishes to your family.
37 posted on 12/22/2001 1:45:34 AM PST by jjbrouwer
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To: JohnD9207
I will keep pinging again in the morning and throughout the day.

And please know many prayers too for you and your daughter and grandchild. My heart aches for all of you.

38 posted on 12/22/2001 1:50:06 AM PST by Snow Bunny
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To: HiJinx
HiJinx, my friend, thank you for pinging me to this. I will help ping people and try to help as much as I can.
39 posted on 12/22/2001 1:51:44 AM PST by Snow Bunny
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To: JohnD9207, Snow Bunny
My heart and my prayers go out to you, your daughter, and the little one.

SB thanks for your help in spreading the word of this horror visited on an innocent family. The Freeper family grieves and rallies to support them.

40 posted on 12/22/2001 2:12:06 AM PST by Carolinamom
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