Here's an article that both terrifies me and angers me. It's taken from the Cuyahoga Falls Press, reported by Phil Keren.
FALLS MAN CHARGED IN KILLING - Popular Chef shot to death in local restaurant; Frederick Nelson arraigned on murder charge
A 42-year-old Cuyahoga Falls man is in Summit County jail on a $1 million bond after being charged with aggravated murder in the Aug. 5 shooting death of a Tallmadge man.
Frederick Nelson is accused of using a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun to kill 42-year-old Mark Burton at Crocker's Restaurant on Front Street Aug. 5.
According to Falls Police officials, Nelson thought Burton was having an affair with Nelson's estranged wife, Christine.
***
A spokeswoman for Summit County Prosecutor Michael Callahan said she could not comment on whether the death penalty would be sought until the office received the information on the case.
According to witness accounts, Cuyahoga Falls Police Chief Louis Dirker said Nelson pulled his van into the Crocker's Restaurant parking lot shortly after 9:30 p.m. Aug. 5. When he saw Nelson park his van, Burton told a waitress to call 9-1-1. Dirker said his department received a 9-1-1 call from Crocker's at 9:41 p.m.
Dirker said that Nelson, carrying a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, reportedly entered the establishment through the back door. Dirker and Wal-Mart spokesperson Jessica Moser confirmed that Nelson, who did not have a prior criminal record, purchased the shotgun earlier the same day at the Wal-Mart on Hudson Drive in Stow. Dirker said shotgun purchases are not restricted by the Brady Bill's three-day waiting period for handgun purchases.
Dirker said that upon entering through the rear door, Nelson asked a cook if he knew where he could find "Marko," a nickname that friends called Burton. After seeing Nelson's gun, the cook ran out the back door. Dirker said that Nelson had the weapon resting against his leg, and did not make any attempt to conceal it.
According to reports, Nelson reportedly confronted Burton behind the bar, and when Burton turned his back to Nelson and began to walk away, Nelson allegedly shot Burton in the back. Burton spun around and fell to the ground. Nelson then allegedly fired a shot into Burton's groin and another into his chest. According to Dirker, words were not exchanged between Nelson and Burton before the shots were fired. Dirker said Nelson then "lacerated" his (Burton's) scalp", effectively scalping the victim.
Dirker stated that a Crocker's employee was "on the 9-1-1 line when the shots went off."
As Nelson exited the restaurant, Dirker said a male customer took the gun away from Nelson. According to the witness accounts, Dirker said Nelson allowed the patron to apprehend the gun.
John Rowan, an off-duty Akron police officer was in the restaurant and, according to Rowen, fired three shots at Nelson's van, striking the vehicle three times, as Nelson headed eastward on Front Street.
***
Long story short...Eventually, the guy was found in Mercer, PA.
Now it not only frightens me that this event took place at a restaurant that I frequent, and is within walking distance to my house, but the fact that an off-duty policeman who had access to his gun was unable to do anything to prevent this. Ok, I know I wasn't actually THERE, but it seems to me that SOMETHING should've been done to aprehend this guy prior to him taking off in his van, and hauling ass 85 miles away before he was found.
The other issue that really frosts my ass is the fact that there is no waiting period on purchases of shotguns, where handgun purchases have a mandatory three-day waiting period. WTF? Aren't BOTH quite effective in killing?
Now before I get flamed here, I want you all to know that I do realize that when someone has their mind set on killing another person, that three-day wait won't make a damn bit of difference. But to me, it seems that it COULD HAVE made a difference. There is another article in the paper reporting that the night before, Nelson and estranged wife Christine had the police out at her residence due to a domestic issue, however, no charges were filed because it was merely a verbal disagreement. Is it not possible that a mandatory three-day waiting period on the purchase of this gun might have allowed Nelson to cool down, and perhaps have prevented this entire event from ever taking place?
I apologize for the long-ass post here, folks, but this is an event that's been eating away at me since I first heard about it. I just don't understand people anymore...I mean, why is it that people are considered to be possessions anymore? If a relationship goes sour, it goes sour...no sense in ruining your life over it by killing another person and either spending the rest of your life in jail, or facing the death penalty! And for what? Revenge?
I failed to respond to another thread that was up awhile back on the death penalty. Can't recall who started it (Flagg, maybe) but my opinion is that this guy certainly has earned a spot on death row, followed by lethal injection. I believe in an eye for an eye...if you're willing to take another persons life, then you should have no problems giving up your own.
Sorry for the rant folks...it just irritated the hell outa me.
FALLS MAN CHARGED IN KILLING - Popular Chef shot to death in local restaurant; Frederick Nelson arraigned on murder charge
A 42-year-old Cuyahoga Falls man is in Summit County jail on a $1 million bond after being charged with aggravated murder in the Aug. 5 shooting death of a Tallmadge man.
Frederick Nelson is accused of using a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun to kill 42-year-old Mark Burton at Crocker's Restaurant on Front Street Aug. 5.
According to Falls Police officials, Nelson thought Burton was having an affair with Nelson's estranged wife, Christine.
***
A spokeswoman for Summit County Prosecutor Michael Callahan said she could not comment on whether the death penalty would be sought until the office received the information on the case.
According to witness accounts, Cuyahoga Falls Police Chief Louis Dirker said Nelson pulled his van into the Crocker's Restaurant parking lot shortly after 9:30 p.m. Aug. 5. When he saw Nelson park his van, Burton told a waitress to call 9-1-1. Dirker said his department received a 9-1-1 call from Crocker's at 9:41 p.m.
Dirker said that Nelson, carrying a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, reportedly entered the establishment through the back door. Dirker and Wal-Mart spokesperson Jessica Moser confirmed that Nelson, who did not have a prior criminal record, purchased the shotgun earlier the same day at the Wal-Mart on Hudson Drive in Stow. Dirker said shotgun purchases are not restricted by the Brady Bill's three-day waiting period for handgun purchases.
Dirker said that upon entering through the rear door, Nelson asked a cook if he knew where he could find "Marko," a nickname that friends called Burton. After seeing Nelson's gun, the cook ran out the back door. Dirker said that Nelson had the weapon resting against his leg, and did not make any attempt to conceal it.
According to reports, Nelson reportedly confronted Burton behind the bar, and when Burton turned his back to Nelson and began to walk away, Nelson allegedly shot Burton in the back. Burton spun around and fell to the ground. Nelson then allegedly fired a shot into Burton's groin and another into his chest. According to Dirker, words were not exchanged between Nelson and Burton before the shots were fired. Dirker said Nelson then "lacerated" his (Burton's) scalp", effectively scalping the victim.
Dirker stated that a Crocker's employee was "on the 9-1-1 line when the shots went off."
As Nelson exited the restaurant, Dirker said a male customer took the gun away from Nelson. According to the witness accounts, Dirker said Nelson allowed the patron to apprehend the gun.
John Rowan, an off-duty Akron police officer was in the restaurant and, according to Rowen, fired three shots at Nelson's van, striking the vehicle three times, as Nelson headed eastward on Front Street.
***
Long story short...Eventually, the guy was found in Mercer, PA.
Now it not only frightens me that this event took place at a restaurant that I frequent, and is within walking distance to my house, but the fact that an off-duty policeman who had access to his gun was unable to do anything to prevent this. Ok, I know I wasn't actually THERE, but it seems to me that SOMETHING should've been done to aprehend this guy prior to him taking off in his van, and hauling ass 85 miles away before he was found.
The other issue that really frosts my ass is the fact that there is no waiting period on purchases of shotguns, where handgun purchases have a mandatory three-day waiting period. WTF? Aren't BOTH quite effective in killing?
Now before I get flamed here, I want you all to know that I do realize that when someone has their mind set on killing another person, that three-day wait won't make a damn bit of difference. But to me, it seems that it COULD HAVE made a difference. There is another article in the paper reporting that the night before, Nelson and estranged wife Christine had the police out at her residence due to a domestic issue, however, no charges were filed because it was merely a verbal disagreement. Is it not possible that a mandatory three-day waiting period on the purchase of this gun might have allowed Nelson to cool down, and perhaps have prevented this entire event from ever taking place?
I apologize for the long-ass post here, folks, but this is an event that's been eating away at me since I first heard about it. I just don't understand people anymore...I mean, why is it that people are considered to be possessions anymore? If a relationship goes sour, it goes sour...no sense in ruining your life over it by killing another person and either spending the rest of your life in jail, or facing the death penalty! And for what? Revenge?
I failed to respond to another thread that was up awhile back on the death penalty. Can't recall who started it (Flagg, maybe) but my opinion is that this guy certainly has earned a spot on death row, followed by lethal injection. I believe in an eye for an eye...if you're willing to take another persons life, then you should have no problems giving up your own.
Sorry for the rant folks...it just irritated the hell outa me.
