More information about the Southwest VA post-office hostage-taker

[Withywindle]

Followup to this story: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4196760&mesg_id=4196760

Basically, five (? Three at release time, but others escaped) people were held hostage in a standoff at a small-town Virginia post office for nearly 9 hours yesterday, the day before Christmas Eve. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the suspect is now in custody.

His name is Warren Taylor. He's 53 years old, diabetic, missing a leg, in a wheelchair, and he has quite a rap sheet.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/breaking/wb/230787

And a sad life. Oh, and he also appears to be a freeper who hates the government.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/230788

Here's a British take on the story:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1238259/Wheelchair-bound-gunman-surrenders-hour-post-office-siege.html

There is a rumor going around that he had a son who was killed in Afghanistan. This MSNBC story mentions that he told the hostages that, but I can't find any actual independent confirmation yet:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34586811/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/


The point? Well, it hits very close to me because I'm from this area. (It's pronounced "WITH-ville") But in the big picture, right now, this is a nation full of desperate, angry, violent, miserable people who believe they have nothing left to lose. I know this isn't a feel-good message for Christmas Eve. (Although the fact that no one was hurt in this incident IS - it could have gone much worse). It's still important to keep in mind all the time.

[Withywindle]

1. kick

[PDJane]

2. and recommend.

Because yes, it's important to remember.....

[Withywindle]

3. kick again.

Sorry the area is too remote for it to have been a cable-news phenomenon for 3 days, but it's still worth reading.

[X_Digger]

4. Definitely sounds disturbed..

"Both the grandparents, and Taylor’s daughter, Kerri Lee Taylor, died in December."

"On Tuesday, Taylor told Gross he was headed back to Florida for a couple of weeks to attend the funeral of a good friend who recently died. "

One more death pushing him off the crazy cliff?

"Taylor was convicted of attempted second-degree murder and the two sex charges and sentenced Aug. 15, 1994, to serve 12 years in prison.

He served four years and was released on Dec. 23, 1998"

4 years?!? meh, we need to release the non-violent drug offenders and keep more guys like this in jail longer.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

5. "This is what happens when you FUCK a STRANGER in the ASS, Larry."

I can't be the only one to see the resemblance,

[proteus_lives]

6. Oh, I see it too.

His problem was he didn't have a Dude of his own to confide in.

[Withywindle]

7. OMG.

:spray: