I heard the neighbors say the robber wanted his bike.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/NEWS03/807160409/-1/NEWS
Roland Gladieux was awakened yesterday morning by two men arguing outside his house in South Toledo.
Still groggy, Mr. Gladieux peered out his bedroom window about 5:40 a.m. and saw one man hovering over a man on a bicycle, threatening to shoot him.
Seconds later, there was a gunshot and the victim fell backward.
“I saw him pull the trigger,” Mr. Gladieux said. “I seen the gun flash.”
The victim, David Babcock, 46, of 908 Kingston Ave., who was riding his bike to work to save money on gas, was shot once in the corner of his mouth in the 800 block of Western Avenue, near Langdon Street.
It was the first time he had set out on what was to be an eight-mile ride to work.
Read the rest at the blade article above - (admin edit - removed copy to keep with fair use)
That's like the second of these muggings in that area in the last couple of weeks that made the Blade (this is the only one who died as far as I know). I worry because my brother lives in that area & has been mugged a few times - most recently, for two dollars & beaten up badly. My brother is an alcholic who rents a room in that area - he'd been in a serious car accident, and between that & the booze, his mental facilities are compromised badly. A sweet guy,, just one of those who never quite got anything together in his life - from grade school teachers not picking up on the mental issues & just moving him along - through to his adult life, where he'd given up on himself & any kind of real life a long time ago. My brother's physical condition (not even counting a few beers) prohibits him from standing a chance from one of these creeps - even though he's almost six feet tall, physically, he can't handle it. Beaten & robbed for two dollars. Sign of the times, I'm afraid. My guess is that whoever killed this guy, didn't want his bike to keep, as much as to pawn.
almost every day. ....
What a damn shame. And to hear it be told. Crime is down in Toledo. Bike thefts are up. The library system is reporting a rash of bicycle thefts from their patrons. I don't think it is the gas prices motivating this. Scap metal crook ? Maybe the shooter was tired of walking and wanted to ride to the crack house.
For a proper COLA this may have all been avoided. Risked his life on the dark Toledo streets to save $12 a week in gas. I hope they catch the person responsible for this. And throw the book at him.
to drive a car.
I'm sorry to hear about your brother, Starling.
Then this poor guy, shot by criminals for his bicycle? A few dollars? I hope the police catch the perpetrator, but I doubt they will.
Travel in groups, pack your pistol with you. It's about all you can do.
But they didn't take the bike, they didn't take his wallet either, they only took his keys.