Interesting story - Bicyclist Attacked, Shoots Attackers

[mjfletcher]

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=361536

New headline:

Victim kills teen robber on trail, police say

A 65-year-old man shot two teens, one fatally, as they tried to rob him Wednesday morning on a trail near the Schuylkill River, police said.

The Berks County coroner's office did not release the name of the boy who was killed, saying only that he was a 16-year-old from the city. Officials said his mother asked them to give her time to notify relatives before releasing his name.

He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:17 p.m. by Deputy Coroner Jonn M. Hollenbach. An autopsy is scheduled this afternoon in Reading Hospital.

The other teen, who was shot once, was taken to Reading Hospital. Police did not release his name. Information on his condition could not be obtained.

A third teen, identified only as a 15-year-old boy, was stopped at the scene by police and taken in for questioning. He was later committed to the county youth center in Bern Township on unspecified charges.

Authorities also did not release the name of the man, who was not charged.

Police said the shooting occurred shortly before 11 on the Thun Trail near the Schuylkill River pedestrian bridge between Reading and West Reading.

According to investigators:

The man was riding his bicycle on the trail near the Bertolet Fishing Dock at South First Avenue and Chestnut Street in West Reading.

The teens knocked the man off his bicycle, and two of them assaulted him.

The man pulled out a handgun and shot them both.

Someone flagged down a passer-by in the 200 block of Riverfront Drive near Reading Area Community College.

Within minutes officers from the city, West Reading, Cumru Township, state police and the Berks County sheriff's office were at the scene. They found the dead boy on a sliver of land that is part of Cumru at the end of the pedestrian bridge.

District Attorney John T. Adams responded with detectives from the county's forensic services unit.

After consulting with Adams, police decided to release the man and charge the juvenile.

Cumru police ask anyone with information to call 610-777-9595.

[son of the revolution]

He's suspected of shooting someone in self defense.

Nah, just sloppy reporting or intentional slander against the shooter. I've seen plenty of news accounts from other area's of the Country where the same exact incident would describe the shooter as " the intended victim".

Ignorance or yellow journalism, nothing more.

[American1776]

I'm glad the victim survived his assault, and had the tools and skills to keep himself alive.

Whenever I see stories like this, I always imagine in my mind the looks on the face(s) of the assailants just at the moment they realize that their victim has given them new holes through which to breath.

I also think to myself that more people should become self-sufficient like this man, and discard the stupid notion that no one needs carry a firearm for self protection b/c the 'state' will protect you. I do believe that the more people take responsibility for their own safety, the less likely punks will want to risk getting shot by their victims.

[middlefinger]

How about the fact that 15 and 16 year olds on a week day at noon were in a park and not at school

[mjfletcher]

From the update: "
The suspect, who had been riding a bicycle, remained in the area after the shooting and told police he shot the men in self-defense because they were trying to rob him. He was taken to a police car and taken to the Cumru police station for questioning."


Suspect? They mean victim, right?

He said he shot them in self defense but the police don't know that for a fact so until they confirm that hes a suspect in a shooting.

[Curmudgeon]

I'm glad he's not being charged. I wonder if it's someone we know?

[BestDefense=StrongOffense]

Who knows how many potential victims this man saved from becoming another statistic. If these criminals were looking for help assuming ambient temperature, they found the right man for the job. I wonder how long it will be before we hear about how innocent and wonderful this kid was, and how he NEVER got into any trouble...

[theduke]

Seems like the shooter needs to spend more time at the range!

[twency]

Seems like the shooter needs to spend more time at the range!

He stopped the threat and no one else got hurt. That's what matters.

[theduke]

He stopped the threat and no one else got hurt. That's what matters.

Except if the survivors continue their criminal ways, and some other victim gets hurt or killed