PA: Fatal shooting at range investigated as murder

[seamusTX]

According to reports, a man was fatally shot at a range in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, yesterday and his class III weapon was stolen by an unknown suspect.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index. ... ame_l.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.whtm.com/news/stories/0710/757764.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/A ... QJ4Kg.cspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[seamusTX]

No progress.

http://www.whptv.com/mostpopular/story/ ... EY5Cw.cspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[Hoi Polloi]

Wow! Shoot a guy who is actively shooting. What gumption!

That CBS article was terribly written.

[Oldgringo]

Not that it has anything to do with nothin', I also carry my SA 1911 LW Compact when I go to the range to shoot my .22's; especially, if I go alone.

I can imagine some drive-by crackhead thinkin' he could take my scoped CZ 452 off its rest while I waddle out to reset targets. I doubt that I could hit him from 50-100 yards but he doesn't know that. I'll also turn to look if a vehicle motor is behind me on the hard road and doesn't sound right. It's called situational awareness/paying attention and it's required 24/7, 365 a year whether you're out and about or repairing your roof.

You just never know....

[Keith B]

Yeah, but being 'sniped' at the range would be no feat. You are at the bench and focused on shooting. Someone could easily get within range to take you out with a rifle and you would never even know it was coming. The shot that gets you is the one you never hear.

[jester]

Not that it has anything to do with nothin', I also carry my SA 1911 LW Compact when I go to the range to shoot my .22's; especially, if I go alone.

Not to minimize the importance of having a gun but in this case it looks like it wouldn't have helped much. It sounds like he was assassinated, perhaps using a rifle from concealment.

ABC story: "They say he was shot several times from some distance away."

CBS story: "The coroner says that he died from multiple gunshot wounds ... The D.A. says someone shot him from a distance"

[Oldgringo]

He must "have got somebody's goat"? Like I said earlier, "you just never know...".

[seamusTX]

I don't think this was a targeted assassination of the person. There are more discreet ways to accomplish that.

From what I can gather, the range is unattended state-owned land where people go to shoot. I think some yahoo with no scruples saw a guy with a good rifle and decided to take it -- like carjacking a Mercedes or Lexus. There can be some class envy in these rural areas. Deliverance was fiction, but it wasn't fantasy.

- Jim

[OldCannon]

Matix and Platt (the criminals involved in the notorious FBI shootout in Florida in 1986) killed a guy at an unsupervised/remote gun range and stole his weapon(s).

Never shoot alone at a range. Ever. And not just for anti-crime reasons.

[seniorshooteress]

This will more than likely go to the Cold Case file. Unless there is a witness that hasn't come forward yet, likelyhood of anyone getting charged with this one is almost nil.

[seamusTX]

Not necessarily. Criminals tend to run their mouths, and their buddies eventually talk to the cops. Plus, the relatives of the murdered man are in a position to offer a sizable reward, which tends to bring the vermin into the daylight.

- Jim

[mctowalot]

One of the storys mentions that a Rememington 700 rifle was recently stolen from the same range. Wonder what he was shot with.

[KD5NRH]

I doubt that I could hit him from 50-100 yards but he doesn't know that.

Not sure where the "sweet spots" on the front sight are for the compact, but for a full size, using the base of the blade as if it were the tip is usually pretty close at 75-100 yards.

[seamusTX]

Two men were charged in this case today and the stolen weapon was reportedly recovered:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index. ... in_en.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-getgen-i ... 2235.story" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Earlier article: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index. ... encer.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[Beiruty]

Good news!