Ok this just happened and it makes me sick...what is wrong with people!

[luv2tvl69]

I am sorry this is a depressing post, but I read this about a tragic senseless death and I just have to vent a little because I am so disturbed by what people do. I feel just sick inside that someone does this for fun. Why? What could possibly make someone so evil? I just cant comprehend this type of behavior. It makes me very sad.

-- A pack of young men played a simple game throughout the City Saturday night and early Sunday: punching innocent pedestrians, police said. But the consequences were devastating: One man is dead, and another is charged with causing his death.

Robert T. Turner, 18, is charged with second-degree manslaughter, a felony, in connection with the death of 59-year-old Thomas Ruiz. Turner was arrested early Monday morning at his home. He was later arraigned and sent to the County Jail without bail, police said. The penalty on the charge is 3 1/2 to 15 years in prison.

Ruiz died of severe head injuries about 1 p.m. Sunday at Regional Medical Center, more than 12 hours after he was found unconscious on a sidewalk on the South side.

Ruiz had spent the evening at the Skyline Tavern repairing bathroom plumbing for relatives who owned the bar . He left on foot around 10:30 p.m., crossing the bridge on his way to his South Side home.

About this time, five to eight men ranging in age from 15 to 22 were roaming the city and playing a game called Knock Out, said Police Lt. Alex Minor.

"The object is to walk up to unsuspecting pedestrians and punch them," Minor said.

Turner is accused of punching Ruiz. Police said they did not know if the punch caused the death or if Ruiz struck his head when he fell. No other weapon was involved, and there were no signs of robbery, police said. No one else will be charged.

Minor credited Patrolman Daniel Correll with aiding the investigation after a similar incident at 4:20 a.m. Sunday -- nearly five hours after the first attack -- on the city's West Side. Correll, who was driving near the intersection, saw a group of men between 15 and 22 years old punching a 21-year-old man and trying to steal his watch, police said.

Correll called for backup. Police charged two men with second-degree attempted robbery, a felony:17-year-old Rory A. Chin, and 17-year-old Richard J. Duncan.

From talking to the suspects and others, police determined the group had assaulted several people all over the city Saturday night and Sunday morning. Their investigation led them to Turner, police said.

Minor said he did not believe the punching was gang-related. "We have no indication that this is anything but a group of teen-agers who were out raising hell," he said.

Alarmed by an increase in the number of young people roaming the city at night, City Councilman John Cordisco, D-9th District, recently proposed updating the curfew for teen-agers under 16 years old. Minor found two problems with the curfew:The group roaming over the weekend ranged in age from 15 to 22, and there is room only for two teens in police custody at any one time.

"We just don't have the facility, the time or the manpower to deal with a curfew," Minor said.

While police wrapped up the loose ends of the investigation, Ruiz's friends and co-workers grieved. Someone had placed yellow flowers on the sidewalk at the spot where he fell. Yellow police tape still surrounded the scene Monday.

Ruiz was a retired city garbage truck driver known for helping others. "Even when he was driving, he would get out and help every time he could," said co-worker Timothy Burns. "He would go out of his way to help you."

Ruiz, who lived alone, was the kind of neighbor who mowed lawns, went grocery shopping and picked up prescriptions for neighbors. Sunflowers bloomed in his garden while tomatoes, shared with family and neighbors, ripened on the vines. He enjoyed taking his neighbors 12-year-old daughter, Jessica, fishing, swimming and boating and even kissed the girl on the cheek every morning before school. She recalled that Ruiz recently resurfaced his driveway, telling Jessica:"You could rollerblade in my driveway now."

"It's so senseless," she said through tears. "He never hurt anybody."

Police were awaiting the results of an autopsy performed Monday.

 

[Chuckus]

damn Thugs anyways............WTF? They think they are so cool. Stupid Fuc**ers. They think they are just bad boys don't they? That is just wrong.

 

[Duo]

I'd love to handv them over to his relatives and let the relative meat out the punshment. An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth.

What is wrong with people now days? Kids now days need a good kick up the backside. Society is crumbing and is only getting worse

Peter