Shooting spree baffles those close to 22-year-old Ford

The Denver Post ^ | June 27, 2006 | Felisa Cardona and JP Eichmiller

[beaversmom]

Michael Julius Ford did not drink. He did not smoke. He did not have conflicts with people.

He did not run with gangs. He wasn't moody. He never was known to carry weapons.

What isn't known is why the 22-year-old walked into work on Sunday at the Safeway distribution center and started shooting at his co-workers with a long- barreled handgun and setting fires inside the building.

"I never would have expected Michael," said his uncle, Roy Ford. "I'm trying to understand what happened and what went wrong. It's a puzzle that needs to be put together."

The day of the shooting, Ford went by his family's Montbello house to visit. Accounts differ about his state of mind.

Sister Beyonca Ellis says she saw her brother Michael briefly before he left for work between 2 and 2:15 p.m.

"He was normal when he left," she said. "He was not acting out of the ordinary. He gave me his usual hug and kiss."

However, Ford's younger sister Khali told 9News her brother was upset because people were making fun of his religion at work.

"I don't know what happened to him yesterday. It was like everything changed," Khali said. "He told me that Allah was going to make a choice and it was going to be good and told me people at his job was making fun of his religion and he didn't respect that."

Ford was born and raised in Denver. He attended Montbello High School, and family members say he converted to Islam when he was 18.

The family's Islamic minister, Gerald Muhammed, declined to comment about the religious aspects of Ford's life.

Ford's father said he did not want to talk about the shooting while the police investigation is underway.

"At first I was told my son was a victim, and now I am told he is a suspect," his father said.

Family members described the 6-foot-5-inch Michael Ford as a person who gave to charity, who never swore and who only spoke when spoken to.

The only blip on his record in Colorado is an Oct. 19, 2002, arrest for wrongs to minors. The outcome of that case was not available. The municipal code defines the violation as allowing the well-being of a minor to be endangered.

Bobby Ford, 30, last saw his brother four days ago.

"He was in a great mood, playing video games," Bobby Ford said. "He liked to hang out with his girlfriend. He loved working. He was never late. He took no sick days, and he would take overtime."

Another brother, Sean Ford, said his brother worked constantly and did not have problems with the law, school or other people.

"There were no signs of anger or nothing," Sean Ford said.

Neighbors at a west Denver apartment complex where Ford used to stay with his mother said he was a smiling, helpful young man.

He often carried Ida Medina's groceries into her apartment for her.

"We're all surprised that something like this could happen," Medina said.

Paul, a maintenance worker at the apartment complex at 1280 Wolff St., said he got close to the family while they lived there. He declined to reveal his last name.

"His mother said his work was going good," Paul said, wiping tears from his eyes. "There was no red flag there. No one understands why."

Ford often went to work early so that he could use the gym at the distribution center.

"He was going to school and he was going to buy a house," Paul said. "As far as I know, he liked his job."

[chris_ab]

Aaahhh... there are these class in communication called verbal judo... I never took one of those (apparently they help with confrontational topics) but it seems that if you communicate the message of body odor then you become offensive.

Also, at the least, the person is embarrassed beyond repair... I've seen it happen.

[RexBeach]

"It's a puzzle that needs to be put together." Huh?

[dalereed]

"I never knew how to broach the subject.

Any Ideas?"

Join islam and buy a gun!

[Windsong]

You too eh?

In summer 93, I decided to take some chemistry courses and had a Muzzie next door to my room, and the smell was almost unbearble. The RAs (resident assistants) also complained.

[oyez]

Those people are sooooo insecure.

As Stevie Wonder put it, "You believe in things you don't understand, you suffer." This poor fool took his suffering to the next level.

[chris_ab]

Another comparable story came from my friend, in undergrad, that was roommates with an African from Africa. The roommate would make some food, a meal, that supposedly included animal blood --- regardless of the rumor I smelled that apartment and it reeked to high heaven.

It smelled so bad it stained my friends clothes.

[MainFrame65]

Here is the thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1655889/posts

Here is the comment in question:

" == "Ford's mother and sister told reporters that Ford had just returned to work after a three-month leave of absence for personal reasons." == "

Here was my comment about it, in a later post:

So which Jihadi terrorist training camp did he attend during that time, and did he meet the big cheese while he was there?

[mkjessup]

"Shooting spree baffles those close to 22-year-old Ford"

So why all the fuss? Was it a Tempo, Thunderbird, Escort?

[Walkin Man]

Of course belonging to a killer cult that demands the gruesome death of unbelievers/Christians/Jews/you name it, never raised a red flag with his family, friends and co-workers.

CAIR should be proud their propaganda is working.

The family's Islamic minister, Gerald Muhammed, declined to comment about the religious aspects of Ford's life.

I'm sure he briefed the mad dog killer about the 70 odd virgins he will get in paradise for slaughtering innocent infidels in the name of their 'god'.

[Darksheare]

Yeah.
And likely due to some 'religious advicee' of his friendly neighborhood muslim cleric.
Likely a place of interest now.

[takenoprisoner]

"Of course belonging to a killer cult that demands the gruesome death of unbelievers/Christians/Jews/you name it, never raised a red flag with his family, friends and co-workers."
____________________________________________________________ Islam will not stop til our Constitution is replaced with their Koran. Muslims are increasing their populations 100 fold thru out the world. Everywhere there are multitudes of muslims there is chaos murder and mayhem in the name of allah.

All the while our President and his state dept bemoans that Islam is a "religion of peace..." and that terror extremists are the exception. BS Mr. President!!!!Time to WTFU!!!!! It is the duty of every believing muslim to convert us or destroy us. While we are fighting a war against terror, mainstream Islam goes about it's business as usual thru out the world enslaving, converting, or slaughtering.

Islam Religion of Peace? Really?

[geezerwheezer]

I had an Indian kid that moved in with us many years ago who had never heard of soap and water, much less tooth paste and deodorant and smelled like a sweat shop flunky. I bought the stuff he needed to clean up, and took him aside and told him how to do what needed to be done, not in a way to embarrass him, but enough that he knew we were all upset that he smelled so bad to us. In his homeland, everybody stinks, and it is the way of life there, but as I told him, he was here now and this was how we did it. He is still one of my best friends, and we write and call each other all of the time. He tells his sons of that day when he really "learned about Americans", as it registered with him that I cared enough about him to want him to succeed, but I knew he wouldn't if he smelled to high heavens. When we finished college, he went back to India and runs a business that now employes over 6,000 workers. All of them get training on how to always be clean and look sharp. He tells me that was one of his best lessons he ever learned. In other words, this worked for us and I suggest you try it with your fellow worker.

[chris_ab]

Hey that was a great experience, I'm sure.

I guess after reading something like that I feel motivated to have the talk with a foreigner.

One lesson that latins or hispanics from Latin America learn is to show up on time for meetings and appointments. Well, if they don't learn it then they are unfortunate.

Anyhow, this guy told me that when he arrived from Columbia a guy told him to show up on time for meetings and then he would be successful. It seems that there is this thing called "latin time", meaning -- you show up when you show up.

It can also mean to make plans and then not show up entirely.

Anyhow, I can see how these cross cultural lessons are deadly important. I guess you get better at communication as you get older. Thx.

[beaversmom]

Neat story.

[nyconse]

So how many innocent people did this homegrown terrorist kill? I hope he's dead-piece of garbage.

[FreedomPoster]

Looks that way from here. Someone needs to keep a running list of likely cases. There was that one in the Baltimore burbs in the last couple of weeks, for starters.

[Dick Vomer]

hmmmmmm....

f'ing Muslim....

question answered...next!

[Walkin Man]

It is the duty of every believing muslim to convert us or destroy us.

No doubt about it. Convert or kill...its in their "holy book".

Every mosque in America is a terror cell waiting to explode. Will the USA wake up before its to late?

[takenoprisoner]

"Will the USA wake up before its to late?"

All I know is that muslims are attacking all around the globe in their bid to convert the world to islam. Will America wake up? Some of us are already eyes wide open...but our politicians, including our President, and even with the empirical evidence in their laps, are refusing to acknowledge the actual threat mainstream islam to the world.

[oyez]

He could have made a fortune in the soap business.