A vicious series of shootings that happened here in Dallas last night has been troubling me all day. Apparently an ex Utah State Trooper named Brian Smith (pictured on the left) went on a random shooting spree. His first victim was a 20 year old Latino by the name of Jorge Lopez. He shot and killed Jorge. Then he went onto 635 and shot three truck drivers. He shot and killed his second target, a father on his way home for Christmas by the name of William Scott Miller. Then Smith shot and injured his third victim who was hurt but did survive. Then he shot the windows of the truck of a fourth victim, not injuring him. I´ve been reading and studying the case all day. The murderer, Smith, had been a State Highway Patrol Trooper in Utah starting in 1996. Smith resigned from the UHP this past May after allegations of theft, DUI and use of illegal or prescription substances. His supervisor, Sgt. Jeff Nigbur said, "There was an incident. He did sign a consent decree to give up his police certification and that led to his resignation." Nigbur added, "Smith had some personal issues and law enforcement was not an option for him at the time." Nigbur declined to elaborate.
After his resignation, he told his peers he had a job waiting for him in Dallas, perhaps to save face. In Dallas, police are saying he is implicated in a series of robberies. Yesterday afternoon, Garland police spokesman Officer Joe Harn said they also suspect Mr. Smith in an afternoon robbery at a Kroger pharmacy at Walnut Street and Garland Avenue.
The articles did not say why Smith, a popular Trooper, went on drugs, abused alcohol and was involved in actions that lead to his resignation or to his life of crime.
What we do know is the people he shot were innocent victims. His first, a young Latino who just happened to be unfortunate enough to be on the same street corner when this crazed trooper started his vicious rampage. The next, an innocent father.
Smith did have a fifth victim, himself. After he shot all of his victims, he tried to rob a Kroger store. He failed and was cornered by the Garland, TX cops. After a three hour standoff, he shot himself. So far, he also failed in his suicide attempt. He is now in Parkland Hospital in critical condition.
Now, I am stuck on why. Why would this well liked trooper go on drugs? Why would he risk everything and end up losing the job he loved? Why would he go to Texas and start committing burglaries after his life on the force? Why would he shoot an innocent young Latino? Innocent Truckers? These are obvious HATE Crimes! Perhaps it was self loathing and self hate. Perhaps it was insanity. Or, perhaps he was looking for someone to blame for his lost future.
Why did he pick his victims? There has to be a reason for his hate. If we understand the reason, then perhaps we can find a way to stop these type of crimes so they will not happen again!
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13 comments:
Anon,
What an odd thing to say.
The shootings took place on a freeway just miles from my house. Everyone in Dallas was watching the news and following the story. There were hundreds and hundreds of comments on this story by concerned citizens from here and in other cities. Of course I was concerned and followed the story.
Az,
Yes. He hated everyone including himself. This was such an odd story yet it was fascinating to follow.
It made me wonder about people in general. Here you have a very successful man, a state trooper, well liked by his peers.
He gets hooked on drugs and painkillers including oxycontin. Starts stealing to feed his habit.
The latest reports say after he lost his job, he moved to the Dallas area with his family. Still hooked on drugs, he continued his burglaries. Warrants are out for his arrest. On Monday, he hopped the counter at a Kroger pharmacy and steals more oxycontin pills. Then drives down the street and shoots Mr. Lopez. Then goes on the freeway and starts shooting trucks.
What turns a successful man to such desperation and insane acts? Even through all this, why start killing innocent people? Why these people, Latino and Truckers?
In the back of my mind I have one suspicion about these crimes that relates to my blog. I want to know what internet sites the murderer was reading and participated on.
Were they ANTI Immigration sites?
Why is this important?
The link ... Latino and Truckers. So many ANTI sites are up in arms about the so called Nafta Superhighway which is Interstate 35. 635, the highway where he did the shooting, is an I-35 business loop around Dallas.
Was this murderer hooked on these sites or on other hate sites, like Stormfront or VDare or Fire Society where there is frequent hate talk about Latinos and the NAFTA superhighway?
If so, we should know this.
I am NOT saying ALL who participate on these sites would do this, but they do pander to the weak and drug addicted types who could magnify the intent and do things like what happened.
I want the investigation to at least check his websites and see what he was saying on the web.
The police and the justice dept. need to understand the motivations of killers like Smith and learn how to stop these heinous acts in the future.
Dee, you seem to be searching for the least little clue that might tip this into something it is not. Why? It's as though you can't get enough yourself; as though you are as addicted in your pursuit of white racists as this guy was to drugs.
There are bad people in this world, all races, all colors, all religions, all genders. And, when you add drugs to the mix, people become more vicious than animals ( most animals I might add).
Drugs are destroying this country and they've already destroyed large parts of Latin and South America. We need to stop this scourge on society. Nobody is safe from drug crazed killers or the gangs or cartels that sell them.
It is really reaching to try and claim that this guy was reading hate sites. Anti-illegal immigration sites are not hate sites anyway and what does illegal immigration have to do with this crime anyway? As was stated there was only one Latino involved in this crime. The rest were non-Latinos.
Anon,
Drugs ARE destroying our country. If you were a long time reader of my blog you would know I have always, always advocated against drugs. I believe your side should STOP all of your hate talk against immigrants (legal and illegal) and Latinos and instead Switch your topic to a War on Drugs! Then we would ALL be on the same side!!
You should also know, those countries YOU call 3rd countries are NOT the ones addicted to Drugs! The Top Drug USING countries are the USA, Britain, Australia and Canada. Dont you know this??
Anonymous said...
Drugs are destroying this country and they've already destroyed large parts of Latin and South America. We need to stop this scourge on society. Nobody is safe from drug crazed killers or the gangs or cartels that sell them.
OUR side does not make hate talk about legal or illegal immigrants. We have nothing against legal immigrants but we are opposed to illegal immigration. That isn't hate talk!
And don't come back giving examples of radical so-called anti's either. They don't represent the majority of anti's. But you demonize all of us anyway and the reason is that we don't agree with your type of CIR plan, your demands to stop immigration enforcment, detainment and securing our borders. It is as plain as day what your side's agenda is. To acheive it you demonize, pull the race card, use wrong terminology, lie and spin.
Az,
True.
All I am saying is, I want to know what internet sites he was linked to. Thats it. If there is a connection, we should know about it. I hope a reporter checks.
It was obvious that he had personal problems, that is all. Hate sites spew hatred against particular groups of people. How do you figure that he even remotely was connected to a hate site from all we know about his personal problems with no indiciation that he hated any particular group? Especially since he didn't even target any particular ethnic groups. You're getting desperate now in turning every crime into a hate crime against Latinos even when they weren't the only ones who were victims. Get a life!
He kills one latino and one white person, and yet you see it as a 'HATE CRIME" against latinos. You are pathetic Dee. Get a life.
Sure wish you'd start listing all the "hate" crimes against white people committed by your precious illegals. Lots of those Dee, lots and lots, but well I guess white people don't matter much to you. You are a typical selfish self-absorbed victim latina. It's no wonder Americans are beginning to hate "your" people.
Anon,
What on earth are you talking about. I have never heard of any "killed because he was white northern european" incident by anyone you term as "illegal alien." Never.
You know what else? Now the Utah paper commenters are saying let´s feel sorry for this drug addicted murder. He was a "victim" too.
Your side chastises every traffic accident by a Latino as indictment towards ALL Latinos. You say "illeeegal" but you cannot tell the difference between them and any other Latino so it IS an indictment against ALL Latinos!
You just dont get it!
These HATE CRIMES MUST STOP!!
Anonymous said...
Sure wish you'd start listing all the "hate" crimes against white people committed by your precious illegals.
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