Posted on 10/13/2004 10:56:28 AM PDT by Michael Goldsberry
SEATTLE -- A man shot to death by police outside a football stadium has been identified by his family as one of the winners of an $87 million lottery jackpot.
Rick Camat, 32, was shot early Sunday as dozens of people fled to avoid a fight outside a bar before a St. Louis Rams-Seattle Seahawks game.
Police alleged that Camat was carrying a handgun and fired at a car that was leaving the area. Authorities said he crouched behind another vehicle and pointed a handgun at officers.
Relatives insisted Camat only fired into the air to break up the fight and said officers never issued a warning before shooting him.
"He shot once in the air to scare people away. He didn't aim it at anyone," said Camat's brother, Brian, who was with him at the time.
Officer Debra Brown said the family's account "differs vastly from the statements of dozens of witnesses who were at the scene that evening."
The officer who fired at Camat remains on paid administrative leave. An internal police review and a court inquest are planned.
Camat was one of 13 Starbucks employees in Los Angeles who shared an $87 million California lottery jackpot in 2000.
He recently bought a house in Federal Way, a suburb between Seattle and Tacoma, relatives said. He previously used his share of the lottery winnings to buy a house for his mother and cars for his siblings.
The best ever was about 10 years ago, some dude, Curtis something..( he did a few commercials for the Lottery after) in NY won the lottery..about $50 mill..he shows up at the lottery office, to claim his prize with both his wife and his girl friend...Last year, in the papers, he filed for bankruptcy..
Too many people in today's society choose to make judgements too soon with too little information.I am pretty sure that everyone who posted remarks about the story of Ricky Camat has peas as brains because they prejudge on facts they dont know. People are too quick to believe the worst in people, they cant comprehend that there are always three sides to every incident or story: in this case the family and friend's side, the police side and the truth. Well the truth will come out and it will side with the family/friends side. Let me tell you a story of man that loved life and was not a thug nor stupid.People may say that he must have spent all of his winnings; will this is wrong.He was very smart and a entrepreneur investing in real estate, stocks, bonds and plans of pursuing other business ventures. That night he was protecting his friends and family, he was not aware that there were cops to help them. There was a large group of maybe 15-20 men ready to fight his friends. He only did what was necessary to scare and disperse those men so he shot one in the air. Moments later without any warning or words cops shot him in the back. In those very seconds no one was able to help him not his friends nor family, the cops didnt even go over to him to help. They just stood around. All in all, the truth will come out and people like those of you that make stupid remarks and judgements should really look themselves in the mirror and see who is the stupid and prejudice one. People dont realize the things they write and say affect people, not just the family and friends of the person you are writing these remarks about but the people around like your wife, husband and especially your children because they are the ones that will think exactly like you. This will decrease the intelligence in society so I feel sorry for your offsprings and in society in general because of all of YOU.
Too many people in today's society choose to make judgements too soon with too little information.I am pretty sure that everyone who posted remarks about the story of Ricky Camat has peas as brains because they prejudge on facts they dont know. People are too quick to believe the worst in people, they cant comprehend that there are always three sides to every incident or story: in this case the family and friend's side, the police side and the truth. Well the truth will come out and it will side with the family/friends side. Let me tell you a story of man that loved life and was not a thug nor stupid.People may say that he must have spent all of his winnings; will this is wrong.He was very smart and a entrepreneur investing in real estate, stocks, bonds and plans of pursuing other business ventures. That night he was protecting his friends and family, he was not aware that there were cops to help them. There was a large group of maybe 15-20 men ready to fight his friends. He only did what was necessary to scare and disperse those men so he shot one in the air. Moments later without any warning or words cops shot him in the back. In those very seconds no one was able to help him not his friends nor family, the cops didnt even go over to him to help. They just stood around. All in all, the truth will come out and people like those of you that make stupid remarks and judgements should really look themselves in the mirror and see who is the stupid and prejudice one. People dont realize the things they write and say affect people, not just the family and friends of the person you are writing these remarks about but the people around like your wife, husband and especially your children because they are the ones that will think exactly like you. This will decrease the intelligence in society so I feel sorry for your offsprings and in society in general because of all of YOU.
Wow. Well done. You must understand that sometimes, on any forum, a 'pack mentality' arises.
Off by a factor of 10. 3.8 million, 2.2 million.
I have been a onlooker to public assumptions and the media blood lust. It is not a pretty sight. Thanks for reminding me that there are the "news" stories, then there is the real story.
...Well the truth will come out and it will side with the family/friends side. Let me tell you a story of man that loved life and was not a thug nor stupid.People may say that he must have spent all of his winnings; will this is wrong.
Owl_Eagle, didn't Ricky leave you quite a tidy sum? I hope you didn't spend it all in one place!
There has been a lot of "Idiot lottery winner" threads as of late. When I win I'll show you how to do it right. ;o)
Then again.. peas as brains? Seattle? I could think of better cities to live in with that kind of money. Good bye hippies!
Welcome to Free Republic.
#102 is for you.
Off by a factor of almost two months.
Looks like lottery jackpots run in the family....they just won the "Legal" jackput.
You're off by an order of magnitude.
A man shot to death by police outside a football stadium has been identified by his family as one of the winners of an $87 million lottery jackpot.
"hold my beer, and watch this"
LOL! I guess I'll check the date on the posts next time! I just responded as I read down from the top.
wow. talk about extremes of fate!
CCWs are easily obtained in WA.
I support CCW.
I also believe folks considering a CCW ask themselves,
"where will the gun be when I need it?".
'Am I sufficiently trained to use it effectively, without needlessly endangering the innocent?'
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