Gitzo Loc: Indiana

Because I usually read the Chicago Tribune online every day, and I keep hearing about all of the gun violence that happens on a daily basis in Chicago, it occurred to me today that I was becoming painfully unaware of what has been happening in other big cities around the country; that's when I saw the link to the below story, which happened in Meriden, Conn.

While a very big percentage of the street violence in Chicago has been "black-on-black", apparently that isn't the case in a lot of other places. There's a link at the bottom that leads to the page this story appeared on; on that same page, there is a huge list of other stories about the ever increasing amount of black crime around the country, with a very large percentage of it being black-on-white. There was a guy on the forum the other day trying to convince us that most of the gun crime against whites was perpetrated by other whites; I think he should take a look at these stories and see if he's still so convinced of that. There are two separate incidents reported in this story, and they have very different outcomes. Also, I think anyone with any common sense will have a much better idea of why so many more people these days are carrying concealed weapons for self defense. Of course, as we all know, there are a number of people here who will never be convinced of anything if it doesn't "fit" their world-view.

Published: 10/15/2012 at 8:21 PM
By; COLIN FLAHERTY

DeAndre Felton and his crew had a problem: The mall was closed. The curfew in effect. But they were still high on drugs and wanted to have more fun. So they decided to beat someone up.

Turns out they chose The Wrong Guy.

They had just come from a local park where DeAndre and 15 others beat up two girls, sending one to the hospital with a broken arm.

So DeAndre came up with an increasingly popular idea: In St. Louis they call it the Knockout Game. In Illinois, Polar Bear Hunting.

Regardless of what DeAndre in Meriden, Conn., called it, the rules are the same all over: Find a person who looks defenseless. Then punch him. Or kick him until you get tired or he is knocked out. Or worse. Game over.

DeAndre was part of a pattern of hundreds of examples of black mob violence documented in more than 80 cities revealed in “White Girl Bleed a Lot: The return of racial violence and how the media ignore it.”

DeAndre knew The Knockout Game was usually pretty safe. For the attacker, that is. In Meriden, victims aren’t likely to carry concealed weapons. Nor do they fight back: As one player said in Philadelphia as his victim begged for mercy: “It’s not our fault you can’t fight.”

So when DeAndre and his gang of eight to 10 left the parking lot in a Meriden mall just a few weeks ago – soon after the park beat-down – he was confident little could go wrong when he told his friends he wanted to “beat someone up.”

They found their victim a few minutes later. Soon DeAndre and his confederate, Deshaun Jones, were peeling off from the group, heading for a guy walking home from work. Alone.

We don’t know his name or race or much else about him other than this: He was The Wrong Guy.

With their friends lurking less than 100 yards away, DeAndre and Deshaun attacked The Wrong Guy. Then came the surprise: The Wrong Guy fought back. He pulled a knife. Soon DeAndre was dead, and Deshaun was on his way to the emergency room.

It took the police a few days to piece it together. And while they did, Facebook pages, Twitter streams and a televised candlelight vigil were full of praise and happy memories for the fallen DeAndre. Full of promises to catch the person responsible. Full of rumors about what happened – including some who thought DeAndre could be the next Trayvon Martin, the Florida teenager who was killed by a neighborhood watch commander.

Two weeks after the killing, police released the results of their investigation. They said they delayed release of the findings out of respect for the family of DeAndre and on the advice of community leaders. Curiously, the police report did not mention the earlier mob attack involving DeAndre. Nor did the police mention what, if anything, they did out of respect for the two female victims of the earlier assault.

But the report left little doubt about what happened that night.

They talked to other members of Andre’s mob, plus a dozen more people, and they all said the same thing: DeAndre and Deshaun attacked The Wrong Guy, who then stabbed them in self-defense.

The families didn’t want to hear that explanation.

Deshaun’s mother said the police had it wrong: The Wrong Guy was the real attacker.

“This is a monster, this is a monster after children,” Alexis Jones said. “This man is still on the streets, and my son is sitting home trying to recover. My son has two stab wounds in his back, one on his side, and he has a slice on his neck.”

DeAndre’s mother joined in.

“I just don’t believe it. My son was not raised to be a troublemaker,” said Valda Felton. “I don’t want them or anyone else to make my child out to be a villain.”

Family friend and minister Rev. Dante Moss, who officiated at DeAndre’s funeral, held a press conference and called the police findings a “comic book.” Moss compared DeAndre to Trayvon.

The minister and the family said the police had it wrong: The Wrong Guy attacked DeAndre and DeShaun, not the other way around.

Police say not one of the people present corroborated Moss’ claim. But Moss just kept on keeping on.

He posted the following almost a dozen times on DeAndre’s Facebook page, now a memorial site: “The Funeral is over but Deandre is still screaming for Justice! Get Ready to Rock The Earth! Don’t let him Die Twice!!!! Stand Ready to Rock the Earth!”

Posters to local news sites pitched in, including his aunt.

“Deandre was trying to help his friend after he got stabbed,” said Talitha Frazier “Then deandre got stabbed in his back. I have one question? In the state of Ct. at what point are you allowed to take someones life. Some one please answer that for me. I am his aunt.”

Katie Lynn posted this after the funeral: “DeAndre lost his life..sticking up for his friend. he’s a hero. people just need to stop pointing fingers and realize the grief that family is going through.”

Lots of people joined with Moss to say they had no faith in the police investigation. And they believed the crime against DeAndre and Deshaun was racially motivated.

“Why should another one of Gods black angels die without no type of justice again from the Meriden police dept,” Edwina Lebby posted on Facebook. “If it were a white kid justice would of been served!!!!”

“He was stabbed last night on kensington ave by a coward who didn’t stop to think that this was someone’s baby ughhh,” said Annette Rosado “God i hope they catch this person:(”

Celines Matias Rodriguez said: “justice for deandre!! And for his friend who was stabbed while he was turned away!!!! An arrest needs to be made!!!! An adult using a knife on small children needs to be punished!!!! I pray to God that charges are brought about soon….”

“Where’s the video? Show it to us,” said another Facebook poster. “Hmmmm. I want to know why they had to go find this guy 22 hours later if he was attacked. I want to know. Doesn’t sound right to me at all. He’s so innocent? Really? Then why did he run and hide? Just someone answer that.”

But catching The Wrong Guy was not a problem. Hospital video and witness accounts led the police to his door less than one day after the attack. He handed over the knife and expressed surprise one of his attackers died. His name was not released.

Others in Meriden point to several other examples of black mob violence say this was not an isolated incident. Said one Meriden Mom: “Where was justice when my 40 year old brother was innocently ‘jumped’ last summer by a group of teens/young boys and when the neighborhood churchman was ‘jumped’ this past summer walking home from a nightly service by a group of boys. My kids knew and went to school with both teens and knew exactly what happened before news reported it. Kids was high looking for trouble and jumped somebody.”

Despite the best efforts of Moss to the contrary, the earth did not rock.

No charges have been filed in the stabbing or the assault. DeAndre was 15 years old. DeShaun is 13.

Four days later and 1,300 miles away in St. Cloud, Jesse Smithers was getting ready for another round of the Knockout Game.

Smithers was riding with a car-full of friends when he spotted The Right Guy: a 20-year old student named Colton Greaser.

Smithers told the driver to stop the car. He got out and punched Greaser in the face.

They did not have to worry about Greaser carrying weapons. That’s not what college students do in Minnesota. Soon Smithers was back in the car, bragging about his knockout punch.

Greaser died that night. And Smithers was charged with murder soon after. None of the friends was charged. Though a judge did have to issue a no-contact order because many of the witnesses were being threatened – another tradition of the Knockout Game.

http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/black-mob-picks-the-wrong-guy/

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

So very sad that this happens. Worse, that the culture not merely permits it, but encourages it.

Used to be I just had to make sure I had my smokes and car keys when I left the house.
Now I need my Glasses, Cell phone, Keys, Detonics Combat Master 45 ACP. 2 back up magazines, flashlight and a camera.

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

Unfortunately this is not a new game. I grew up in Baltimore in the 50's. Gangs of blacks roved the our mixed neighborhood looking for "Honkeys" or "Crackers" to jump on and beat. Everyone new it was going on but what could you do? They were teens and thus underage. There were usually 8 to 12 or so and they would catch you and start beating you and kicking you. Shouting for help was worthless - no one paid attention because of fear.

I was jumped one time by a group and was able to get my back to a wall. I tried to hit anything that moved. I began to notice someone against the wall with me fighting them as well. When it was over I looked and saw a black guy huffing for breath like I was. He saw what happened and jumped in and helped me. We became good friends. I don't feel like I am prejudiced. I could care less what flavor you are. To me you are either a man or you're not. Many of our black neighbors were wonderful, fair minded families that I considered friends. I still have friends like that.

Again, these individuals in the article sadden and anger me, but it has been going on for a long time.

Larry Wilkerson

Gitzo Loc: Indiana

Larry......thank you for sharing that with us!
I feel exactly the same way you have just described; I only wish every one did.

I had a somewhat similar situation about 1986; GM was closing down the camaro assembly plant in Norwood, Ohio (Cincinnati "burb) and my job was going with it; (at the time I was a driver for Complete Auto, which transported the production from the plant being closed) My boss called me in and suggested that it would probably a year before our terminal in Moraine, Ohio would be hiring, so if I wanted to keep working steady, he would make a call to a guy in Jacksonville, Fla. and I could work there until Moraine was ready to hire; The work force at Jax was a VERY "mixed bag"; quite a few "red-necks" from Georgia, (who all despised anyone from north of Ga), and a few dozen black guys who were all great to work with except one "AH" from the shop who fueled our trucks. Every time I came in from the road, this guy was "in my face", BIG TIME ! I wasn't in a position to be getting into any fist fights, so I ignored his BS for a time; during that time, I had become great friends with this BIG black fellow name Larry; he not only was a great guy to work with, but he had a "way" about him that was completely "unique"; Larry looked like George Forman on steroids! One day he noticed this prick on the fuel pumps trying to give me a bad time; with very few words, (and with his ever-present, friendly smile on his face), he put one hand on the fuel guy in such a way that it was painful, and patiently explained that "milk shake" (me) was HIS friend, and that ANYONE who "messed" with milk shake, he would personally "take care of"! Just like that.....never again did I have a peep out of the smart-ass fuel guy!

During the last 25 years I worked before I retired, at least 75% of my very best friends were (and still are), black guys.
It's impossible to explain in a short post, but the members of the black community in this country are, in many way, somewhat different than the run of the mill white people; blacks are much more likely to "stick together" in some ways than are whites, which I personally find to be admirable; of the many things that keep the two races at odds are the "professional race-baiters, (and we ALL know who they are);
Unfortunately, relatively few whites ever have the opportunity to associate and work with a lot of black people like I have. It would make a HUGE difference if this were to change. And there are a few people on BOTH sides who have no intention of ever letting things "change"; one such person is currently our "pretender-in-chief".

ole sarg Loc: south florida

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table-43

Suggest you look at the stats you may find your views changed, at least if facts matter more than ideology.

nudogg Loc: Henrico VA

I grew up in Richmond Va during the 1960's it was the height of the desegregation era.. I grew up in a mixed neighborhood so needles to say some of my friends were white. When we attended our first day of school of no segregation a group of black jumped on my white friend Chris.. The next thing I knew my brothers and myself were standing back to back with Chris fighting off the group of black students that had jumped Chris. All I am saying is you should not be subjected to any kind of mis-treatment because of the color of your skin. I Grew up with Chris I considered him a friend, I did not see him as white Chris ,, just Chris, after all was siad and done I was asked "why did you jump in that fight to help that white boy"? I said because he is my friend, and I dont know who those other kids were but I was not about to stand by and see my friend be mistreated.

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

Good for you for helping your friend. It's good not because the attackers were black, but because you stood by your friend Chris when he needed you. That is accepting responsibility and being a man. Thank you.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Interesting that those who malign those who are different then themselves all of a sudden are silent in the light of experience. Funny thing is that when bigotry is confronted with facts it tends to slink back into its dark hole.

nudogg Loc: Henrico VA

So true... but the other thing that bothers me is the fact that so many are willing to appoint Al Sharton and Jessie Jackson as spokespersons for the black community.. The black community is not a monolithic one that has one thought process. I am more than capable to speak and think for myself and as shocking as it may seem I dont recall anyone holding an election for either of these to two do anything other than to express their own opinion. With that being said they only say the things that serve their own agenda to contionue to chase ambulances when it comes to racial issues. So please, please I wish the media would stop referring to these two dinasours as spokespersons for the black community...

dbmaxwell Loc: Mogadore, Ohio

Not sure what point that you are trying to make? What I see is a list of crimes, a list of races, the number of crimes by race and age with the accompanying percentages.

Actually I figure you won't explain your point. This is like drive by management, you come in, drop some nonsense and leave, sort of like a Dilbert character.