My poor daughter was *terrorized* on her softball field yesterday!

[GeorgiaAristocat]

It's probably what they call a preliminary hearing and not the actual trial. I believe the preliminary hearing would be used to determine if they should continue to hold him and/or whether bail should be set.

Kelleigh is probably correct. A first appearance hearing has to be held w/in 48 hours (to inform him of the charges), the next step would be either a Preliminary Hearing (or show cause hearing) to determine if sufficient probable cause exists to charge, or a bond hearing, depending on how your local judicial system is set up. After that, the case will probably be presented to the Grand Jury for indictment.

If there are mental issues, the defense attorney should be moving for a psychological evaluation.

Your poor daughter. In my jurisdiction we would be charging him with Aggravated Assault (with a firearm) since the gun appears real. And other charges as well, of course.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Pellet Guns shoot a metal Projectile powered by air they can and do kill people.

 

[canwegosoon]

When I read your title line I thought...her daughter got ganged up on at a Softball game...but this- OMG - I cannot believe . I hope you both are trying to relax and that your daughter is spending time at the guidance office today. Why are there more, and more freaks out there, I don't get it? I am so sorry that this happened to those young girls.

 

[Aimeedyan]

How scary!!!!!!!!

 

[PhotobearSam]

OMG, that is horrible.

I can't say anything that will make you feel better but please tell you DD how much she is in our thoughts.

Mt parents and I were taken hostage at gunpoint when I was 11, it takes a long time to get over it but what helped is that my parents let me have a part in "securing" our house...I was able to feel better after that.

Please let us know what happens to the SCUMBAG that did this to your darling daughter.

Hugs and prayers...

 

[Pooh67_68]

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry your DD had to go through that experience. To have a gun pointed at you (even if it turned out to be a pellet gun) at any age is scary, but being so young she must have been terrified! Poor girl. All my best to her Keep us updated and let us know what happens with this sicko

 

[ead79]

Poor thing--that must've been beyond terrifying! I agree with the suggestion of counseling since that is a lot for anyone to process. for both of you.

 

[lyeag]

Wow. I am speechless. I can't even imagine how shaken up your daughter must have been. I am so sorry she had to go through that. Give her lots of hugs for me.

 

[chell]

Oh my gosh! Your poor daughter! I can't imagine what must have gone through her mind. I hope they REALLY throw the book at him, it doesn't matter that it was only a pellet gun. He needs to pay for torturing those poor kids and the adults on those fields.

 

[luvflorida]

I really don't even know what to say. It just infuriates me that this happened, especially to a group of kids just playing ball and having a good time. I can't imagine how scared they must have been.

Glad the nutcase was caught. to your daughter and all the other kids and adults who had to suffer through this.

 

[luvthatduke]

Transparent, my DH & I witnessed the police capturing the guy.

I am so glad the children are physically safe,
your DD and the others must have been very frightened!
We were the first ones waiting to turn left onto the road the schools are on
and the police sped around us on all sides plus coming at us,
(turning our signals green w/the arrow).
In the literal minute or 2 at MOST that it took us to
make our turn & drive the 1/4 mile to/past the school
(after determining no more sirens)
the first cop had the guy on the ground in handcuffs lying on the grass
in front of the Elementary school
(for others: there is an Elementary school in front of the Junior High).
Our heads were spinning with how fast they had the guy down!

My DH is gonna freak when I tell him what your daughter said,
which is much more serious than the local paper made it out to be!
edited to remove name of paper just in case...

More info - assuming it's accurate:
The guy is from Ct. and was visiting his GF locally.
He is 21, and is being held on $70,000 bail.
He's charged with several different counts, all very serious.
He claims that he was never anywhere near the kids,
that "they didn't even know I was there,"
and that he was shooting at birds (yeah, right).
The children and teachers heard the pops of the shots,
which is when the call was made and the kids were locked up in the school.
He bought the gun right down the road at the K-Mart
and I guess he walked to the school from there.

He's lucky he's alive, as a short while ago the same police force
killed a young man "defending" his mother with the same type of gun,
as they thought it was a real weapon being pointed at them.

 

[transparant]

luvthatduke - this guy also had on a hat with a hoodie on - the hood was pulled up over the hat. Not the kind of outfit you'd wear on a day that was as warm as it was the other day.

So many kids are upset about the newspaper report! He pointed that gun straight at so many of them! The kids did know he was there and the one's that he walked by could tell you exactly what his gun looked like as well. Not only that...but my dd had a game yesterday and I stood there the whole time to see if I saw any birds - I didn't see ONE! There are hundreds of kids on that field between baseball, softball, soccer and track. No birds were around at all. Oh yeah...he also said he was visiting his girlfriend but could only remember her phone number and didn't know where she lived!


The police want the kids that had the gun pointed at them to go down to the station tomorrow and fill in a written report. Thats all they have to do (they won't see him, he won't see them).

Plus....one of the mom's that I was talking to yesterday works at the court house and showed me his picture - very creepy looking!

 

[stemikger]

Thank God she is alright.

 

[MsDisney23]

Oh Sweet Jesus, Your poor DD, how scared she must have been along with the other kids! What is going on in this world?

 

[Martha7]

I wonder if your DD will be called upon to testify in court. I think she should get some counseling, which would help her in this eventuality as well. to your DD and her friends. They're awfully young to have the realization that sometimes the world can suddenly become a very dangerous place.

 

[luvthatduke]

Transparent, I can't tell you how glad I am that the police
are asking for statements!
This was the most concerning thing to DH & I,
after reading the article & then your post.
Please tell your DD that we and others are praying for she
and her friends, and so thankful they weren't hurt.
This episode in their lives is difficult, and the statements may be difficult,
but the fear will hopefully subside in the years to come.

BTW, that's interesting that he had a hoodie on...
When the officer had him down w/knee in his back putting cuffs on
(forgot to mention he was laying on the grass in front
of the doors at the Elementary school, in the bus lane),
... anyway, the hoodie thing: When we saw him he had on
a camouflage cap/hat (kind of like a ball cap),
and he was wearing a dark colored sleeveless shirt.
As soon as he saw him, my DH said that he noticed that his arms were muscular, and said he was sure he saw a gun in his back waistband!
If DH's eyes were right (usually are - he works in quality control LOL),
then the cop must have known that it was a pellet gun
and was more concerned with getting the guy incapacitated
as the 6 or 7 other police cars pulled into the parking lot.
We noticed this, of course, all in the few seconds it took us to completely
drive by the scene...

Please feel free to PM me if I can help in any way.

~Blessings