Air Marshal Kills Passenger, Citing Threat

[DevilDog#1]

By JOHN PAIN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 15 minutes ago

MIAMI - An agitated passenger who claimed to have a bomb in his backpack was shot and killed by a federal air marshal Wednesday after he bolted frantically from a jetliner that was about to take off, officials said. No bomb was found.

The man, identified as Rigobert Alpizar, a 44-year-old U.S. citizen, was gunned down on a jetway just before the American Airlines plane was about to leave for Orlando.

It was the first time since the Sept. 11 attacks that an air marshal had shot at anyone,
Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Doyle said.

According to a witness, the man frantically ran down the aisle of the Boeing 757, flailing his arms, while his wife tried to explain that he was mentally ill and had not taken his medication.

The passenger indicated there was a bomb in his bag and was confronted by air marshals but ran off the aircraft, Doyle said. The marshals went after him and ordered him to get down on the ground, but he did not comply and was shot when he apparently reached into the bag, Doyle said.

The plane, Flight 924, had arrived in Miami from Medellin, Colombia, just after noon, and the shooting occurred shortly after 2 p.m. as the plane was about to take off for Orlando with the man and 119 other passengers and crew, American spokesman Tim Wagner said.

After the shooting, investigators spread passengers' bags on the tarmac and let dogs sniff them for explosives, and bomb squad members blew up at least two bags.

No bomb was found, said James E. Bauer, agent in charge of the Federal Air Marshals field office in Miami. He said there was no reason to believe there was connection to terrorists.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051207/...NlYwMlJVRPUCUl

What was this moron thinking?

[Lucky]

i dont know, who would claim to have a bomb in his backpack?

[DevilDog#1]

The could've used a tazer instead of brute source.

[Mauser 98K]

the dumbass, i would have done the same thing if he said he had a bomb.

[-Tigger-]

Originally posted by DevilDog#1
The could've used a tazer instead of brute source.

whats the range of a tazer?, but apparently the code the air marshals follow is a "no sh*t" one

but at this time, especially when a video take was released the same week about Bin laden calling his supporters to attack certain places.. crowded area, some1 claiming to have a bomb.. they done what they were trained for

[Trojan]

Crazy fooker! If I was the Air Marshall I would have shot him to. Mental illness or no mental illness, you can't go around saying you've got a bomb in post 9/11 era and while we are at war. He makes millions of Americans look bad that take medicine religiously for some kind of mental illness. And these millions of Americans function normally in everyday society and if they didn't tell you they had been sick you would never know it.

[Rampage.]

the distance of a tazer is 10-15 feet

[IcIshoot]

According to the news, the air marshels were already on edge... seems a 50 year old egyption (sp?) was let go after his shoes tested positive 5 times for explosives.

I think they did the right thing with what they knew at the time + the issue with the egyption.

IcI

[Erik]

I think they did the right thing and this is the first time the media has mentioned a postive side to air marshels and the world is in a up roar. They did a fine job in what could of been a bad day at work for many.

If he was serious...lots could of died. And the air marshles took a chance because of the jetway being crowed and bullet could of continued through him.

Job well done.

[-Tigger-]

Originally posted by twig ™
And the air marshles took a chance because of the jetway being crowed and bullet could of continued through him.

Job well done.

if it was an air marshal who was onboard the plane, then his weapon would have been loaded with a special kind of bullet (cant remember the exact type) but its one that when it enters the body, it doesnt come out the other side

[BADDOG]

Terribly tragic but how can you protect people if your not prepared to use deadly force?


Regards

[Hellfighter]

to bad he did not get down on the ground like they ask him to, sad there are people who like to get attention even them who are mentally unstable. think he did the right thing i would have done the same thing.

go on a airplane hell i going to blow this plane all to hell and see what happens you be in deep trouble real fast too.

they understand bomber will do anything to blow them selves up in a heartbeat. he reach for that bag he was dead at that point.

[Matt]

i dont agree with killing him, there had to be some alternate source of force. even if the shooting was the only option, why shoot to kill? if u shoot someone in their leg im sure they will stop reaching into a bag

[DevilDog#1]

After reseaching a bit more, I found out that the guy never actually used B word. Apparently, he was clostrophobic (sp) and had a panic attack. All the passangers are saying the guy the never used the B word. Looks like another London train station style execution to me.

[BADDOG]

Originally posted by DevilDog#1
After reseaching a bit more, I found out that the guy never actually used B word. Apparently, he was clostrophobic (sp) and had a panic attack. All the passangers are saying the guy the never used the B word. Looks like another London train station style execution to me.

"London train station execution"???? When did this happen? Or do you mean a man running from armed police officers after a series of cowardly bomb attacks on our capital who should have lay down as he was ordered to? Why run if you have nothing to hide?

We don't execute people here in the U.K., (unfortunately in some cases), we leave that to others

Just be greatful you don't have to make that decission in a milli second between firing and not firing.....

Regards

[Lakie]

or catching him and firing...