MORE CRAZY PEOPLE WITH GUNS

 

                                  …The scene of the crime at the Capitol barricade,

 

It seems to be another example of some the people that follow Donald Trump

 

What’s with all these people that either do mass shootings, or that shoot their guns randomly, and then take their own lives?

This week, a man drove his vehicle into a barricade near the U.S. Capitol early in the AM.  He then fired shots into the air, and then took his own life with a shot to the head.  

As usual, no one else was injured, and it appears no officers discharged their weapons during the incident, which happened to occur at the strange time of 4 AM.

Police said the man, identified as 29-year-old Richard A. York III, of Delaware, did not appear to be targeting members of Congress, who, by the way, were obviously not available, because they were at home, on recess.

At a news conference, Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said officers “did not hear the individual say anything” during the incident. He said investigators were exploring York’s social media and running his name through databases, but had so far found nothing tying him to the Capitol.

“We don’t have any information that would indicate his motivation at this point,” Manger said.

Police said the vehicle caught fire after the barricade crash, and as York was getting out of the car.  Manger said investigators were exploring whether he might have actually started the car’s blaze, as it did not appear to have been sparked by the collision.   It is just one of some strange happenings lately with a person with a gun going crazy.

The incident, near one of the most important symbols of national government, the Capitol building, that comes at a time for everyone to have the jitters. Since the January 6^th attack on the Capitol, law enforcement has been put on alert, especially following the FBI search of former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club last week.  That, as well as other events, that have inflamed the political tensions.

The FBI’s search on Mar-a-Lago, part of the investigation into whether Trump improperly retained highly classified government documents, has led to angry denunciations by Republicans falsely accusing the Biden administration of politically motivated overreach. 

 Days after the Mar-a-Lago search, another armed man attempted to breach an FBI field office in Cincinnati, sparking a standoff that ended when he was shot and killed by the local law enforcement.

Security fencing still remains in place around the Supreme Court, which had been the scene of intense demonstrations when the court overturned women’s abortion rights.  That was when the high court overturned Roe v. Wade, which was not far from Sunday’s barricade incident.

As it turns out, Mr. York of the barricade incident, was a prolific contributor to Trump’s Truth Social network…The organization he started after he was removed from Twitter and Facebook.

(Why am I not surprised that Mr. York has a strange connection to Donald Trump?)

Chief Manger said York’s vehicle collided with a barricade at East Capitol and Second streets, and he got out and began walking toward the Capitol. York, firing a handgun indiscriminately as he crossed First Street, entered onto the Capitol property, where a Capitol Police officer saw him shoot himself in the head..

Capitol Police said investigators have begun looking into York’s background.  The D.C. police have taken over the investigation into his death. Chief Manger said investigators had found addresses for him in Delaware and Pennsylvania and his having a criminal history.  Also, not surprising.

Online Pennsylvania court records show York’s criminal record includes arrests and convictions dating back more than a decade for several offenses, including simple assault, burglary, making terroristic threats and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia. (and all this for a 29 year old man.)  

Efforts to reach York’s family Sunday were not successful.

Chief Manger said that law enforcement at all levels have been working with each other to monitor social media and other outlets for possible future threats.

“Law enforcement nationwide is on a higher alert due to the climate,” he said.

As In April 2021, a man drove his car into two Capitol Police Officers standing in front of a barricade. One of the officers died; a third officer shot the man after he got out of his car with a knife.

And I think all of this craziness can somewhat be attributed to the effects that an authoritarian leader like Donald Trump can have on the people that follow them.

Copyright G. Ater 2022