Councilman Shot Dead at City Hall; Police Searching for Gunman

[muchacho]

man fired shots in City Hall this afternoon, killing Councilman James E. Davis and wounding at least one other person.

Police officers swarmed into the building in search of the assailant who sent council members diving beneath their desks.

Witnesses said the man appeared to be holding a silver handgun, which he was aiming at another individual in the balcony of the City Council chamber, which is on the second floor. Screams reverberated through the halls amid the gunfire.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in his office area on the other side of City Hall and was not hurt.

Mayor Bloomberg said the attack appeared to be ``random act'' and not terrorism.

``This is a terrible attack, not just on two people - and they are in our prayers - but this is an attack on democracy,'' Mr. Bloomberg said.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/23/nyregion/23WIRE-HALL.html?ex=1059624000&en=48cd9b56e37aa0ff&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

[bluestateguy]

1. Frighteningly like San Francisco in 1978

When Councilman Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated at City Hall.

[lightbulb]

4. Lets hope the reaction isn't as "mixed" as back then

"When news that the hated mayor and the gay supervisor were dead reached the fourth floor of the Hall of Justice, sporadic cheering broke out."

http://www.notfrisco.com/colmatales/moscone/mosc3.html

[blueseas]

2. Omigod - he was so young

Rest in Peace




Here is his bio:
http://www.cfb.nyc.ny.us/debates_vg/voter_guides/general_2001/cd_statements/cd35_jdavis.htm

[Mel]

7. look at him

he's a baby, so young lookin' and very handsome this is so sad.

I'm not even going to click on the link and become more depressed by reading his bio. Thanks though for the link..... I just can't take it right now. :-(

BTW Senator Clinton is talking about this on the Senate floor right now.

[Drifter]

3. Jesus Christ ...

Democratic District Leader, Reverend, NYC Police Officer

A tremendous loss. this appears to be someone who is genuously interested in helping/serving people.

Cheers
Drifter

[Ripley]

5. Why do they always say it is NOT terrorism?

Crimes, in fact incredible crimes like slavery, have been with this country since it's birth. To always say "it's not terrorism" is absurd.

I think people are smart enough to know that every crime committed and every disaster that has occurred since 9/11 (including miners deaths as we had here in Alabama) is NOT a "terrorist act!"

So enough with that shit! Scaring people should not be his job.

[soleft]

6. 5 Helicopters hovering over Brooklyn Bridge

[mark0rama]

8. AP now says assailant was the other man shot

This stuff's coming through so fast, who knows, but here's what's on ap.wire.org:

"A plainclothes police officer shot and killed the assailant, police sources said."

"The shooter was a political opponent of the councilman, and had accompanied him into the building before the shooting, a police source said, speaking on condition of anonymity."

[newyawker99]

9. dupe

http://democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=30231&mesg_id=30231&page=1


I am locking this one.


NYer99
DU Moderator