Cops fatally shoot panhandler, Officer shot in back.

February 23, 2011|By Becky Schlikerman and Jeremy Gorner, Tribune reporters
Abel Uribe, Chicago Tribune
Photo by Larry Lubell



A panhandler was fatally shot near a busy River North intersection Wednesday afternoon when he opened fire on two Chicago police officers, wounding one of them in the back, police said.

Witnesses said the chaotic scene at Chicago Avenue and Wells Street unfolded in broad daylight in an area amid nightclubs, upscale restaurants, art galleries and the Moody Bible Institute.

Police said the two Near North District officers had taken the panhandler into custody about 4 p.m. after he had become combative, yet despite being handcuffed, the man was able to pull out a gun in the unmarked police car and shoot one officer in the back.

The officers scurried from the vehicle as it continued to roll down the street and fired their weapons, killing the panhandler, police said.

The unmarked police car, a Crown Victoria, came to rest partly on a sidewalk on Wells, butting against a light pole with the rear window shot out. Spent bullet shells were strewn on the street behind it.

A weapon used by the panhandler was found at the scene, police said. The man, whose identity has not been released by officials, had numerous arrests for petty offenses, according to a law-enforcement source.



The wounded officer, 44, a 16-year veteran, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He is expected to recover, police said. The other officer, 60, a 37-year-old veteran, was treated for minor cuts to one hand at Northwestern.


"This is a clear understanding of the uncertainty and the danger that the officers face every day," police Superintendent Jody Weis told reporters outside the hospital's emergency room. "There's probably nothing more routine than this type of investigation, and look what we have today — an officer has been shot. But he's going to be fine."


The Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates shootings involving Chicago police officers, was looking into Wednesday's incident, said its spokesman, Mark Smith.


Larry Lubell said he was sitting at the desk at Urban insurance when he heard loud popping sounds. He figured that a car must be backfiring but realized it was far more serious when numerous police cars suddenly converged on the area.

Lubell said he's never felt unsafe in the area, especially during the daytime.

"I see homeless people around here asking for a quarter, but no one seems to bother you if you give it to them," he said.

April Rohn, 35, a clerk at a shop near the shooting was shocked.

"Things like this don't happen around here," she said. But "it's a big city."

Death by Texting

You turn NASCAR on TV, it's exciting to watch, but you can't help be realize that danger is chasing those drivers at 200 miles per hour. A single moments distraction can end the life of even the most skilled racer. It's danger is recognised by all watching. Yet so often when any of us step behind the wheel, we commonly underestimate how a single lapse of attention, can also result in death and life-changing injuries.

Most of us feel naked leaving the house without our cell phones. We are talking, reading our email, and sending text messages from home, the trail, restaurants, and yes even from our cars.  The danger of Texting while driving, claimed it’s latest victim; this time a your girl. This case is particularly troublesome because it was her own father who’s texting led to her death. Jonathan Harp of Lima, pleaded guilty to attempted vehicular homicide in the accident that took the life of one of his children and left his
7 year old daughter in critical care.

AP Photo/Jim Cole

By his own admission, Mr. Harp was going 55 miles an hour while writing a text, the distraction resulted in him crashing into the back of a truck. If found guilty he may go to prison for a year; though, as a father myself, I can’t imagine any punishment greater than knowing your carelessness led to the death of your own child. I wonder if you are already “Living in Hell”, you care about being moved to a prison.


MAD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) has done a great job drawing attention to Drunk Driving. It is clear that driving while intoxicated is irresponsible, dangerous and illegal; it is time to recognize Texting while driving as an even greater distraction. There is a "Moral" component at work her. If you see a person siting in the park with a cellphone writing a text; we do not have contempt for them as we would if they were in that smae park drunk. We have to recornize that there is nothing wrong with useing our electronic devices, as long as it's not while opporating a 5,000 lbs machine down the raod. While Seven states and the District of Columbia have banned “Driving while texting,” it has failed to seriously limit people from continuing what statistics show is reckless behavior. A new survey found that 26% of drivers admit to Texting while driving. With a son a year away from driving, I find it additionally frightening that nearly 60% of drivers between ages 16 to 19 admitted on the survey to doing so. For those under 25, texting is the principle way they communicate; actually using a cell phone to TALK, is only done after several texts back and forth.

We need to raise awareness, before more parents need to bury their child.


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Cutting off funds for Planned Parenthood

The Middle-East is in turmoil as tens of thousands of people take to the streets. In Bahrain protests have been met with "Strong-Arm-tactics" leaving several dead which has only escalated the anti-government demonstrations. Violence was spreading at today's funeral processions in Bahrain, Libya and Yemen. Upheaval and uncertainty follows in the wake of revolts in Tunisia and Egypt. America is dependent on Oil, and we have troups fighting two wars from the reagion.

While America has stopped the horrific job losses of two years ago, With unemployment holding at 9 percent and millions out of work we are far from the "Healthy job market." Small business are struggling to stay open, while many big businesses are hording cash.

There is not a state that is not in a financial mess, many cutting back on critical services, at a time when they are desperately needed. Our cities are in debt, teacher layoffs are causing class sizes to spike. Health care costs are skyrocketing at more than twice the rate of inflation leaving more and more people without access to quality care.

Oh yea, the nation is going to run out of money and have to default on loans unless congress passes a new debt-ceiling.

So with all that on the table what did congress do today?

Rather than address any of the pressing issues listed above, they instead turned to the ideological topic of abortion. Yes, the House of Representatives voted 240-185 in favor of Rep. Mike Pence’s amendment cutting off funds for Planned Parenthood.

I understand the desire to "Throw Red-Meat" to the Tea Party; but with the government days away from shutting down, while our solders are in harms-way, why not focus on solving the very real problems that we face, rather than Abortion and National Public Radio?

Groupon declines $6 Billion dollar offer from Google.

Crain's Chicago has confirmed that the negotiations between Groupon and Google have collapsed. It appears the members of Groupon's board was reportedly divided over selling the idea of selling out to to Google. Their oppositions were not based on some “Moral principle,” or a CEO who’s great grand father started the business 100 years ago and can't imagine this company ever leaving their family’s control. No this was based on the simple belief that $6,000,000.00 is not enough money for a company that was started “A WHOLE TWO YEARS AGO.”
It turns out that many of the board members representing some the more-recent investors, are convinced that Groupon will be worth more next year. Word on the street is that Groupon might instead decide to pursue an (IPO) initial public offering next year.

Andrew Mason, Groupon CEO and founder, declined to comment on the news.
Mr. Mason echoed the same words that spokespeople for Google have been repeating all week, "I won't comment on speculation or rumors about the business."


OK. I’m not privy to the financial records of Groupon, I can't say weather $6 Billion dollars is the right price, or is it $7 Billion that is required to “Do the deal”; all I can think of is “How in the hell is a 2 year old company that sells coupons worth $6 Billion dollars?”


What strange economic times we live in today. I can’t find anybody that can explain the business- model behind Twitter, a company that I can’t find any evidence every collected any money for it’s services; yet I'm told by financial experts is worth $10 to $12 Billion dollars. Today you can get a steel mill, that once employed 3,000 people, free with a purchase of a “Happy Meal,” but Linked-in is worth billions.


Andrew Mason, I’m sure you will get the Billions you seek, and I'm jealous of staggering return on investments that will be reaped by those that had the wisdom to recognize that this two year old, Chicago company would find it’s self in a position to turn down multi-billion dollar offers. The Web continues to amaze.

2011 Porsche Speedster

Maybe I should be filled with an over whelming sense of envy, but I would rather take some comfort in knowing that at least some people in this economy are in a position tobe out shopping for high-priced sports cars.

Maybe it's because I expect that there will always be a long list of people able to purchase toys beyond my reach. .

The new 911 Speedster not only offers a unique design, but also the latest technology. With its Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB), Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) and flat-6 engine with Powerkit developing 408 hp, it makes every street a street of dreams.

2010 marks the 75th anniversary of the Jaguar name and 75 years of looking forward, creating and building cars that represent technical innovation, design leadership and sporting success. The exclusive, limited edition of XKR175 is an unmistakable celebration of Jaguar’s 75th anniversary. Utterly unique and desirable, the XKR175 is powered by a supercharged V8 with 510hp and 461 lb.-ft. of torque — a powerful engine that increases top speeds to an awe-inspiring 174 mph.

Available in one spectacular color combination, Ultimate Black exterior with Warm Charcoal interior, the XKR175 features an aerodynamic pack with a front splitter and a large rear spoiler, as well as a body-colored rear diffuser and side sill extensions. Dramatic red brake calipers and 20” Kasuga 10-spoke alloy wheels add the finishing touches to the exterior of this ultimate XK.


In the end it is far more upsetting to think that our economy still is at a point when even the RICH cant afford to buy toys, because if they can't; what chance do the rest of us have?



Professor Wichman addresses the Muslim Student Association

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/wichman.asp


Professor Wichman E-mail

Claim: A Michigan professor sent an e-mail telling Muslim students to leave the country.

Status: True.

You can read the letter Professor Wichman sent to the Muslim Student's Association.


The e-mail was in response to the announced student protest of the Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist.

The group had complained the cartoons were 'hate speech.'  As you can imagine, people are lining up on both sides, below is my take.


The Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist, were offensive, and I have no problem with the Muslim Student's Association decision to protest. They have every right to complain, and Muslims have the right to demand the cartoonist apologize, and the cartoonist should feel free to tell them “Screw You,” this is my belief and in a free society I can express it, if you don’t like it you can draw your own cartoon.”




Professor Wichman is entitled to his opinion. The examples of intolerance and barbaric behavior, he listed are well documented.

Professor Wichman could and should organize a march of his own.

I do have a problem with him attacking a student union. The students might be misguided, and I fully agree that there are far more pressing moral issues in the Islamic world then a pen and ink drawing, but there is no evidence that “THEY” were guilty of any of the horrors he outlined. Teachers should not go after Students. A school should not defend teachers starting fights with students. A school should, and must, defend a teacher right to hold and express his views.



Had Professor Wichman wrote his views in a blog, published an article or posted a video on YouTube, Great! The school should stand by it’s teacher’s right to express himself, as they also defend the students ability to hold their beliefs. Students pay tuition, the sort of pay his salary. I understand and agree with many of his points, but not the way he handled the situation. I respect a teachers opinion against Gay marriage, but I do not approve of a teacher writing a nasty note to the Gay student’s association.



We need a more uniform code of ethics, one that guarantees Muslim Americans the same rights, and at the same time holds them equally accountable. Muslims should be able to build a Masque where ever they want (Basic zoning laws apply). Muslims must be free to practice their faith. If the choose not to eat pork, fine, just as it is fine for a person to open a “Rib-Shack” and serve “Pulled-Pork.” There is talk about “Drawing a Line,” OK, here is where I draw the line. America should give all people the freedom to follow their faith, but we should have zero tolerance for anyone trying to force their faith on to others.

BP Lobbied for release of Lockerbie Bomber

I understand BP is in the business of finding, Drilling for, then selling oil. I do recognize that there are some inherent dangers surrounding the Oil and Gas industries. I wish I could say that we were at a point where we no longer depended on the use of fossil fuels- the sad truth is the World is still addicted to oil.Stick a solar panel on your SUV and see if your able to drive your children to school. More and more it is becoming clear that the "Easy-to-get-to-oil" has been accounted for, resulting in the need to pull fossil fuels out of ever more challenging locations. So with that in mind I will cut British Petroleum a bit of slack at having the occasional accident.

The question is, with the well know dangers and hazards associated with Deep-Water- drilling did BP take "Reasonable Precautions" and have a workable plan to deal with the after-math of the inevitable spill? The simple answer is NO.

Not only did BP not have a plausible plan of action, they demonstrated that their upper-management was filled with Tone-Def, Yacht owners. With Millions of gallons of oil washing into some of our country's most delicate wet-lands; you would think it would be gars to do anything to further damage your company's reputation- WELL THINK AGAIN........

BP confirmed today that it had lobbied the British government in late 2007 for release of the Lockerbie Bomber. For those handful of people that have forgotten; The terrorist attack on Pan Am's Flight 103 took place on Wednesday 21 December 1988. The plane was on flying from London to New York when it was destroyed by an on-board bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members plus 11 more people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, in total 270 innocent lives were lost.
I understand that at times it can be difficult for large corporations to take political stands on various issues; but being on the "OPPOSIT-SIDE of a mass-murdering-Terrorist should be a rather easy public relations move.

The British Petroleum said it had "Voiced concerns that the slow pace of negotiations risked impeding an offshore drilling deal with Moammar Gadhafi's Libya. Just when I thought BP corporate image could not get any worse; I find that they have dug a Public Relations hole deeper than any off-shore well. And by the way- no "Relief - Well" is going to help cap this disaster.