Slaying in dispute over war might be a first

[Ruby Romaine]

By Lee Mueller

EASTERN KENTUCKY BUREAU

PRESTONSBURG - The Iraq war has been a divisive issue in America for more than two years now, but a shooting at an Eastern Kentucky flea market this week might have marked the first time a dispute over the war has resulted in a death.

A quarrel between two firearms vendors at a Floyd County flea market on Thursday allegedly led both men -- described as "good friends" -- to draw guns. Douglas Moore, 65, of Martin, who supports the war, shot and killed Harold Wayne Smith, 56, of Manchester, who opposed it, investigators said.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/state/12317968.htm

[htuttle]

1. I've heard that they have rather violent arguments about this in Iraq, too

Apparently, it comes up a lot over there.

:shrug:

[SteppingRazor]

2. As I said in another thread, this is far from a first:

Four days into the war, a supporter shot and killed an antiwar man here in South Florida:


When Mellor, who had about nine drinks that day, aggressively approached Komyakevich, the bartender stepped in. "Ron was trying to get around me -- it was like football," recalled Peretto. "It was like I was an offensive lineman. At one point, Ron said, 'Let me get around you, I swear I won't cold-cock him.' And John sat there looking at the TV and talking. I said, 'John, shut up.'"

Eventually, Komyakevich, who didn't have anything to drink that night, instructed Peretto to call the police. Mellor left. Rather than dial 911, the bartender locked the back door. "Ron seemed determined," Peretto said. "I thought he might come back. But a gun? I never thought that was possible. Fists? Oh yeah. Maybe even a knife. But not a gun."

Peretto told me the rest of the story. Ten minutes later, the six-foot-two, gray-haired Mellor returned through the unlocked front door, walked determinedly down the bar toward Komyakevich and lifted his silver-colored Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol.

<snip>

The first shot hit the bar but missed Komyakevich, who rose up from his stool to see Mellor coming at him. The second shot seemed to hit the Russian in the stomach. Komyakevich grasped his side and let out a scream of horror and pain, then turned and made a break for the back door. With cold determination, Mellor kept walking and firing the pistol, the bullets piercing Komyakevich's back.

http://www.newtimesbpb.com/issues/2003-04-10/news/norman.html

On edit: Now with working link!

[Ruby Romaine]

4. didn't some guy either kill or try to kill his girlfriend during a fight

about Iraq?
maybe in Florida

[SteppingRazor]

5. Yes, that was also in South Florida...

a guy tried to kill his girlfriend in the lead-up to the 2004 election, because she was anti-Bush. (not, one may point out, just antiwar. Some people just LOVES their Bush)

[cdb]

3. You can't fight in here! This is the war room! n/t