2010 Pentagon shooting: Difference between revisions
revert vandalism |
m Reverted 1 edit by Toitoine identified as vandalism to last revision by GoneAwayNowAndRetired. (TW) |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
[[image:arrestfile.jpg|frame|right|Picture of Bedell from arrest file]] |
[[image:arrestfile.jpg|frame|right|Picture of Bedell from arrest file]] |
||
== Shooting == |
|||
The suit-wearing gunman was killed after shooting at and injuring two Pentagon police officers. The shooting occurred around 6:40 p.m<ref name= myfoxboston1>{{cite web |url= http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/national/3-shot-outside-pentagon-metro-station-0304101267749516981 |title= Officials: Pentagon shooting suspect dies |author= My Fox Boston|date= March 5, 2010 |publisher= [[WFXT|My Fox Boston]] |accessdate=March 5, 2010}}</ref> during the evening rush-hour outside the [[Pentagon (Washington Metro)|Metro station]] entrance. As he neared the security checkpoint Bedell was reported to appear to be "pretty calm." Then as the officers started to ask for his pass "he drew a weapon from his pocket and started shooting," The officers, and another officer who came to their aid and also fired,<ref name= myfoxdc1>[http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/pentagon-metro-station-shooting-030510 Officers Hurt, Gunman Killed In Pentagon Shooting] MyFox DC Mar 05, 2010. Accessed Friday, Mar 05, 2010</ref> defended themselves, shooting their attacker, and the gunfire was over in less then a minute. Bedell was armed with two 9 mm semiautomatic firearms and had several spare loaded magazines, Chief Richard Keevill of the [[Pentagon Force Protection Agency]] reported. Authorities found more ammunition in his car, parked in a local parking garage.<ref name=chron_1>[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/6898569.html Official: Pentagon shooter was well armed] [[Associated Press]] on www.chron.com March 5, 2010. Accessed March 5, 2010</ref> |
|||
The two injured officers, named as Jeffrey Amos and Marvin Carraway, were soon released from the hospital.<ref name= myfoxdc1/> One had a thigh wound, and the other had a shoulder wound. Both injuries were superficial.<ref name=chron_1/> |
|||
== Response == |
== Response == |
||
| Line 20: | Line 26: | ||
== Beliefs == |
== Beliefs == |
||
John Patrick Bedell maintained a blog on Blogspot where he personally subscribed to many conservative/libertarian beliefs, including, "The most basic principle of economic justice is the protection of private property and the protection of the right to freely exchange that property. Modern governments, however, consistently and routinely violate the rights of property owners..."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://rothbardix.blogspot.com |title= John Patrick Bedell Blogspot Page: Rothbardix - Technology for Liberty and Justice |author J. Patrick Bedell |publisher= Blogspot |accessdate=March 5, 2010}}</ref> He also complained about the size of the United States government, organized theft by the government of citizen's personal property, government control of the economy including "[T]he constantly expanding regulation of business." Bedell also seems to suggest the United States government is controlled by an elite group of people and in his final paragraph of his last posting wrote, "The blatant violations of the Constitution's limitations on the economic role of the government, accomplished through many subtle usurpations over many decades, are perhaps even more pernicious than, and are certainly a key motivation for, the violent seizure of the United States government."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://rothbardix.blogspot.com |title= John Patrick Bedell Blogspot Page: Rothbardix - Technology for Liberty and Justice |author J. Patrick Bedell |publisher= Blogspot |accessdate=March 5, 2010}}</ref> |
|||
Bedell's anti-government views on his blog are also buttressed by his Facebook page, since deleted but image captured, wherein he associated himself as a fan of the libertarian/conservative [[Ludwig von Mises Institute]], [[Lew Rockwell]] [[lewrockwell.com]], and Shelly Roche (a self-described libertarian.)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4408406069_ab871e021c_o.jpg |title= John Patrick Bedell Facebook Page |author J. Patrick Bedell |publisher= Facebook |accessdate=March 5, 2010}}</ref> |
|||
On March 5, possible indications came out that Bedell harbored entrenched bitterness towards the US military and had qualms about the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He has also been described as a "follower of the [[9/11 Truth movement|9/11 'truth' movement]]."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7051419.ece |title= Pentagon gunman blamed US government for September 11 attacks |author= Judith Evans |date= March 5, 2010 |work= [[The Times]]|accessdate=March 5, 2010}}</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | Bedell was described as motivated by a hatred of the federal government and an expressed desire to expose what he considered[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0305/John-Patrick-Bedell-Did-right-wing-extremism-lead-to-shooting] an injustice in the case of a military suicide[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0305/Marine-Col.-James-Sabow-coverup-questions-surface-again] he argued was a coverup. He was reported to have stated that bringing attention to what he felt was military corruption would "see that justice is served in the death of Colonel James Sabow, as a step toward establishing the truth of events such as the September 11 demolitions and institutions such as the coup regime of 1963 that maintains itself in power through the global drug trade, financial corruption, and murder, among other crimes."[http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/03/05/crimesider/entry6269989.shtml] |
||
In 2006, he was arrested for growing [[cannabis]] <ref>[http://cannabis.wikia.com/wiki/Category:J_Patrick_Bedell J. Patrick Bedell] cannabis.wikia.com - he gave his motivations as 'My motivation is quite idiosyncratic, but also very intense. It's my hope that we will be able to reshape the way that we manage criminal information, and the file releases here are part of that effort. It's also my intention that the routine use of the cannabis plant will in no way be a criminal or legal matter. Volunteers for a 2008 electoral college to assemble at the State Capitols are welcomed! "</ref>. He mentioned on his blog, Rothbardix, his arrest and subsequent dealings with law enforcement officials resulting from his arrest on marijuana charges and obstructing an officer. <ref>{{cite web |url= http://rothbardix.blogspot.com |title= John Patrick Bedell Blogspot Page: Rothbardix - Technology for Liberty and Justice |author J. Patrick Bedell |publisher= Blogspot |accessdate=March 5, 2010}}</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | Bedell was described as motivated by a hatred of the federal government and an expressed desire to expose what he considered[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0305/John-Patrick-Bedell-Did-right-wing-extremism-lead-to-shooting] an injustice in the case of a military suicide he argued was a coverup. He was reported to have stated that bringing attention to what he felt was military corruption would "see that justice is served in the death of Colonel James Sabow, as a step toward establishing the truth of events such as the September 11 demolitions and institutions such as the coup regime of 1963 that maintains itself in power through the global drug trade, financial corruption, and murder, among other crimes."[http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/03/05/crimesider/entry6269989.shtml] |
||
Bedell also envisioned a system which required "billions and billions of carefully cultivated, highly valuable cannibis plants growing through the United States with complete security of property." This was to have been the basis for a proposed a new monetary system based on the value of a gram of cannabis.[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703915204575103131123111518.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond] |
Bedell also envisioned a system which required "billions and billions of carefully cultivated, highly valuable cannibis plants growing through the United States with complete security of property." This was to have been the basis for a proposed a new monetary system based on the value of a gram of cannabis.[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703915204575103131123111518.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond] |
||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
[[Category:American computer programmers]] |
[[Category:American computer programmers]] |
||
[[Category:Terrorism in the United States]] |
|||
Revision as of 19:38, 5 March 2010
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
John Patrick Bedell (May 20, 1973 – March 5, 2010) was the perpetrator in an incident on March 4, 2010, where he shot at two Pentagon police officers. They returned fire and struck him in the head. He died a few hours later on March 5.[1][2]
Shooting
The suit-wearing gunman was killed after shooting at and injuring two Pentagon police officers. The shooting occurred around 6:40 p.m[1] during the evening rush-hour outside the Metro station entrance. As he neared the security checkpoint Bedell was reported to appear to be "pretty calm." Then as the officers started to ask for his pass "he drew a weapon from his pocket and started shooting," The officers, and another officer who came to their aid and also fired,[3] defended themselves, shooting their attacker, and the gunfire was over in less then a minute. Bedell was armed with two 9 mm semiautomatic firearms and had several spare loaded magazines, Chief Richard Keevill of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency reported. Authorities found more ammunition in his car, parked in a local parking garage.[4]
The two injured officers, named as Jeffrey Amos and Marvin Carraway, were soon released from the hospital.[3] One had a thigh wound, and the other had a shoulder wound. Both injuries were superficial.[4]
Response
All the Pentagon's entrances were secured after the attack except one from the subway. All were reopened according to Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman. The Metro station had also been reopened by 8 p.m except the entrance nearest the area of the shooting. Whitman said the subway entrance was likely to remain closed overnight at least.[1]
The subway station is immediately next to the Pentagon. Re-designed after the 9/11 attacks, commuters no longer go directly into the building. Instead they must ride an escalator to the surface and pass through security outside buildings doors, where more security is located.[1]
Perpetrator
Bedell was a computer programmer from Hollister, California. He had been involved with Linux programming at least since 1996.[5]
"He was always on time. Always prepared. Always asking that great question that sparked further discussion," San Jose State University Professor David Parent said about Bedell, whose nickname was "JP." "I just feel for his family. I want his father to know that I remember him fondly.[6]
He graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz, 1992 – 1994, B.S., Physics. He also attended San Jose State University, 1995 – 1996 studying Biochemistry.[7]
Beliefs
Bedell was described as motivated by a hatred of the federal government and an expressed desire to expose what he considered[1] an injustice in the case of a military suicide[2] he argued was a coverup. He was reported to have stated that bringing attention to what he felt was military corruption would "see that justice is served in the death of Colonel James Sabow, as a step toward establishing the truth of events such as the September 11 demolitions and institutions such as the coup regime of 1963 that maintains itself in power through the global drug trade, financial corruption, and murder, among other crimes."[3]
Bedell also envisioned a system which required "billions and billions of carefully cultivated, highly valuable cannibis plants growing through the United States with complete security of property." This was to have been the basis for a proposed a new monetary system based on the value of a gram of cannabis.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d My Fox Boston (March 5, 2010). "Officials: Pentagon shooting suspect dies". My Fox Boston. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- ^ NBC News (March 5, 2010). "Pentagon gunman sought 'truth' about 9/11". MSNBC. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- ^ a b Officers Hurt, Gunman Killed In Pentagon Shooting MyFox DC Mar 05, 2010. Accessed Friday, Mar 05, 2010
- ^ a b Official: Pentagon shooter was well armed Associated Press on www.chron.com March 5, 2010. Accessed March 5, 2010
- ^ John Patrick Bedell (September 21, 1996). "Adobe Acrobat". Indiana University. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- ^ San Jose Mercury News (March 5, 2010). "Professor: Pentagon shooter was a top engineering student at SJSU". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- ^ John Patrick Bedell. "J. Patrick Bedell". LinkedIn. Retrieved March 5, 2010.