Posted on 06/11/2012 6:04:37 PM PDT by marktwain
Everyone around W. Arrow and S. 20th streets knew John H. Spooner, the older white man who had lived there for decades, much longer than his younger Hispanic and African-American neighbors, and who was always walking his dogs around the block.
And they knew he was upset about a break-in at his house earlier this week, when burglars took some expensive shotguns and other items.
He suspected his new next door neighbor.
According to a criminal complaint filed Friday:
As 13-year-old Darius Simmons was moving a garbage cart from the curb Thursday morning, Spooner, 75, confronted him and demanded the boy give back his stuff and the shotguns.
Darius told him he didn't have his stuff.
The boy's mother chimed in, telling Spooner he should just go back inside. Then suddenly, as the mother watched, Spooner raised a black handgun and shot Darius in the chest from five feet away.
Darius ran around the cor ner and collapsed on Comstock Ave., about 10 feet from a small play area marked "Children's Park." As he ran, Spooner fired a second shot that did not hit the boy.
When police arrived, Spooner was still on the sidewalk, holding the gun. When told to drop the weapon, he placed it on the ground and told police, "Yeah, I shot him."
A second witness, who had been across the street, also told police he saw the shooting.
Spooner is now charged with first degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, and faces life in prison if convicted.
The shooting occurred about 10 a.m.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
When I lived in on the north side of Milwaukee in college, it was sad to see the old left-behinds of white flight. Stubborn, incredibility tough or maybe just foolhardy, who knows....
Dear noobie,
Don’t tell a long time FReeper to “move on” and maybe they won’t tell you to KMA. Just a bit of advice.
You admit you were wrong but were too angry to admit it? Sure sign of a need to grow up.
Better luck next time wee one.
A couple of cold 40's and a few rocks, and it's all good.
You say he had no proof. You do not know.
I postulate/speculate he did have proof. This would explain his targeting the 13 yr old.
More speculation, maybe the 13 yr old had threatened the doddering old fools life? It happens. Gangsta rap aint about going to church picnics bro.
He might have been in fear of his life.
I have little doubt of that...it sounds like he was surrounded by people (and I use the term loosely) who were victimizing him just because he was an old cracker...
I said for arguments sake only because some high horsed moralist practically had the kid in diapers and sucking on his mom’s breasts. He is going to jail and he will die there no question about it, but I want to hear his side simply because from what I gather in our culture I’ll bet the blacks in that neighborhood were either awful or they turned a blind eye to it while some of their more hateful kind lynched him slowly. We’ll see
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Which part?
And when neither the courts, the prosecutors, nor the police have any interest in the plight of an old white guy, then what?
Perhaps. Or perhaps there are more people on the edge than most people realize.
I see nothing that indicates he took video to court and got rejected. If you have such information, please share it. I’m sure folks living in the area would like to know it for their help too.
Don’t tell a long time FReeper to “move on”
*****************
I didn’t realize you owned the site much less ran it.
I believe saying “move on” is much less offensive than telling someone to KMA. The fact that you have been here longer gives you no right to personally attack or abuse another poster. The fact that I said he should have called the police “IF HE KNEW” who stole his weapons does not mean I didn’t read the article, it means he should have called them and had them come out and speak to the kid, not go out and murder the kid on his own.
YOU took one simple line I posted, blew it up to a childish argument, and kept it going til I said move-on...meaning “just stop”, but you didn’t, sow who needs to grow-up here? I attempted to explain my reply and that wasn’t good enough for you either.
This site needs donors and posters, but I’m sure there are many good people who want to post here but see instances like this that prevent them from becoming FReepers. The sarcasm, name calling, and downright UNWELCOME attitude is costing much and gaining few. If FReepathons go on and on look no farther than that unwelcome attitude and downright cliqueish behavior. If you have been here so long I’m sure you know the rules about personal attacks. KMA falls into that category. I wasn’t childish and I didn’t hit ABUSE did I. KMA (childish), move-on (respectable reply).....big difference.
BTW, thanks for the condescending “wee one” remark, I guess you know how old I am, where I live and how many children and grandchildren I have. Good for you Karnak!
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Good advice. Exactly what my husband and sons would say. :-)
First for this man who took the life of a 13 yo...
And then also, for the burglars who provoked this man into a likely false accusation and misdirected wrath.
This is what happened to the elderly couple in Tulsa who had lived in their house for 50 years and were attacked during a home invasion. The neighborhood changed, and the thugs moved in. I imagine that they still had many of their old neighbors left in the area and never thought about their safety.
I think everyone on FR knows about this incident. Both of these people are dead. The wife died the day after the attack and the elderly gentleman (WWII vet) died a few weeks later. His age, the abuse, and a broken heart killed him. As far as I know, they have only caught one of the perps.
Multiple burglaries?
This guy knew what kind of neighborhood he lived in. Why didn’t he have security bars and barbed wire around his house?
Lol.
Didn’t read a word.
I bet you read the article next time before posting and you are welcome.
Then the dozers came and leveled it out for a bunch of new "235" houses to be thrown up.
A bunch of drug dealers and users were moved in there from Tampa. The first murder happened immediately. The street was filled all night every night with customers to the dealers and partiers. I fended off a break-in in my house with an old sword. Most of the neighbors suffered worse and one family, at least, sent their kids immediately to stay with an aunt. The neighbors all had "For Sale" signs up shortly. I sold our house and broke even and went to Michigan.
You are correct, but many thought the same thing in the Trayvon Martin case. We have heard nothing from Mr. Spooner yet. I suspect that there is more here, but it may be just as described.
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