Detroit girl, 7, takes six bullets to save mom

[IDemo]

Source: The Detroit News

DETROIT — A 7-year-old-girl is being hailed as an "angel from heaven" and a hero for jumping in front of an enraged gunman, who pumped six bullets into the child as she used her body as a shield to save her mother's life.

Alexis Goggins, a first-grader at Campbell Elementary School, is at Children's Hospital in Detroit recovering from gunshot wounds to the eye, left temple, chin, cheek, chest and right arm.

"She is an angel from heaven," said Aisha Ford, a family friend for 15 years who also was caught up in the evening of terror.

The girl's mother, Selietha Parker, 30, was shot in the left side of her head and her bicep by a former boyfriend, who police said was trying to kill Parker. The gunman was disarmed by police and arrested at the scene of the shooting. Police identified him as Calvin Tillie, 29, a four-time convicted felon who Parker had dated for six months before breaking off the relationship.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5352346.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. OMG!!

:cry:

[azurnoir]

2. The 9/11 operater said they did not have a unit to send?

But they sure did once shots were fired. That in of it self should be investigated. As I was reading I found myself actually wishing the man had not dropped the gun so fast, anyone who would cold shoot a child in cold blood......

My thoughts and hopes go out this little girl and her mom, may they both have a complete and speedy recovery.

[Mike Daniels]

7. Interesting that the shooter had no qualms about shooting a little girl

but totally punked out when faced with the police.

Given all the cases of people mistakenly shot by the police why couldn't this waste of carbon based life inadvertently point the gun towards a cop.

[Wise Doubter]

120. Hell, he probably ran out of bullets ... n/t

[emMingo]

36. Sadly

This isn't even uncommon in Detroit. If the police do come, its probably two or three hours late anyway.

[knitter4democracy]

41. Amen to that.

My best friend moved out of Detroit proper to a nearby suburb when she had a guy come to her door, obviously casing the place, and she was home alone, pregnant, with her toddler daughter in the house. After her husband got home, the police had told her that, while they couldn't send anyone, she could come down to the station and make a report. Three hours later, after a lot of waiting and getting shuttled to three different cops who then said it wasn't their problem, they finally gave her the form. By this time, it was very late at night, and they wouldn't send anyone with her to make sure she got home safely or anything (laughed when she asked), but they had time to stand around and make jokes with each other. Grrrr.

[JeanGrey]

52. WHY do women even bother with men like this??

[KittyWampus]

70. That was actually my thought. Women shouldn't 'date' convicted felons.

especially when they've got children to protect.

[Stand and Fight]

94. Did it occur to you that maybe she found out AFTER they were together?

Did it occur to you that his felon status may have prompted her to end the relationship?

You should have followed your first thought with a wee bit more reflection.

[Wise Doubter]

121. Not ALL felons are dangerous killers!

Not ALL felons are dangerous killers!

How do I now so much ?? because I AM a convicted felon of a non violent offense. I`ve never owned a gun - legally, illegally or otherwise. Oh, except for my bb gun.

I actually obtained custody of MY 7 year old child from the courts(divorce) AFTER being released from prison. That was nine years ago.

I`ve been in steady relationship for the same nine years and about to finally get married.

Granted, there are some baaaad people were I was, but not ALL.

You could date a serial killer who just hasn`t been caught.


just sayin` Not ALL felons are dangerous killers! You have to be a good judge of character.

[TheWraith]

76. Some women have really bad taste and/or no common sense.

It's as simple as that. Same reason that some men date women who are obvious psych-cases or no good for them. People can be pretty stupid at times.

[IronLionZion]

80. Because nice men are boring

and too shy to ask them out anyway. :shrug:

[Chovexani]

106. ...

http://www.heartless-bitches.com/rants/niceguys/ng.shtml

[IronLionZion]

107. Wow

That provides some new perspectives. Thanks for sharing.

[Stand and Fight]

93. Is that really the issue here? Good grief...

This animal shot a mother and her child in cold-blood. That's the issue. In line with your point, however, she did END the relationship. Whose to say that she only found out about his being a convicted felon after they got serious! Perhaps that's what caused her to end the relationship and this goon wouldn't leave her be. How in the hell are people even asking why she bothered? She didn't! She ended the relationship and this fuck-tard came at her and her baby with a gun. He ought to be put to the slaughter. Period. This woman is not in any way to blame.

[Chovexani]

105. That little subthread has to be a new zero-to-sexist bullshit record

Don't you know it's always a woman's fault when she's attacked by a violent psychopath? Clearly she should have been psychic and/or dated a "nice guy" instead. (Because "nice guys" are never abusive, manipulative bastards)

:sarcasm:

[Triana]

110. Abusers and violent psychopaths are often disguised as "NICE" GUYS

DUH.

Thank you Chovexani.

Jeesus H. Frigging Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeerist!

BLAME this woman because a violent asshole shot her and her kid up.

Yap. That's the ticket.

It's ALL HER FAULT.

The "blame the victim" people in this thread, with their self-righteous "well, that'd never happen to ME because *I* am smarter than that and make better choices" - need some CLUES.

It's NOT about choices YOU make, kiddies. THEY choose YOU, especially if you seem to be a nice, compassionate, forgiving person.

PICK UP THE DAMN CLUE PHONE!

[Stand and Fight]

117. Amen and Amen! n/t

[Stand and Fight]

116. Isn't it just disgusting?

Blame the victim! I just don't get it...

[Triana]

111. A woman involved with a violent man or abuser is in the MOST DANGER when she tries to end it...

...that is likely what happened to her.

[Triana]

109. Excuse the HELL out of me but HOW IS THIS MAN'S BEHAVIOR the *WOMAN'S* fault?

I get really SICK of this 'blame the victim' crap.

These men can come on sickly sweet at first, "Mr. Perfect" romantic, etc. ONLY LATER does the woman find out he's abusive or violent.

THAT's how.

THEY LIE. They "hoover" women into emotional attachments with them then they show their REAL selves later. Weeks, months, or even YEARS later - and that transformation from "Dr. Jekyll" to "Mr. Hyde" can be very gradual - until the woman one day realizes that she's dealing with a violent person or an abuser - and that CAN take time.

And people - particularly when there are emotions involved LIKE to think the best of others, in general. YOU do, too when you are involved with someone.

THOSE MEN TARGET certain women just like that for victims JUST LIKE they target their other victims of their other crimes. AND I DON'T HEAR ANYONE BLAMING THE OTHER VICTIMS OF THIS MAN'S CRIMES.

ONLY the women he was intimately involved with whose 7-year old got maimed by the sonofabitch.

GOD you people are unbelievable. GET A CLUE!

:mad:

[susanna]

126. News story tonight here in Detroit about our 911 system...

I guess it's out of commission if funds aren't voted on ASAP. As it stands, it will run out of operating $$ by the end of this month. So this story seems to support the idea that they're running scaled down units. A story like this makes it that much more horrific. :-(

[Captain Hilts]

3. Whew! Heaven might have one hell of a safety now, but it doesn't need a 7 year old.

Gee whiz. This crap's gotta stop.

[Lautremont]

4. It's amazing that she's alive. Four bullets to the head alone!

Astonishing. What a maniac that guy must be.

[LeftishBrit]

5. How terrifying!

That little girl is a true heroine - it's a miracle she survived!

[Sultana]

6. ....

There are no words, this story is absolutely mind boggling. I hope the little girl and her mother recover from their wounds. :cry:

The girl IS throughly an angel.

[Blue Diadem]

8. That poor dear little girl. I hope

that POS that shot her rots in jail and then in hell.

And..what is with them not having an officer available until after shots were fired?

I hope little Alexis can recover from this.

[1620rock]

9. Capitol punishment in this instance.

[KamaAina]

21. Michigan doesn't have it

but see #10 below. :grr:

[hogwyld]

10. I hope the other inmates "teach" that POS

that it's not nice to shoot little girls. I know that eventually their wounds will heal, but will the little angel really fully recover?

[Arugula Latte]

43. I can't imagine how she'd come out of this without being seriously disfigured.

:(

[LisaL]

104. Apparently she is going to lose her eye.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[qanda]

11. There was no car to send and yet one arrived within a minute of shots being fired

This is so unacceptable. To read that the girls teeth were on the seat with spent bullet casings is just heart-wrenching. I don't know if our society can be saved.

[noonwitch]

15. The Detroit Police force has suffered cutbacks to staffing at an alarming rate

There used to be precincts-now, they have districts, which resulted from merging precincts. I had to make a police report at the Northeast District, which used to be the 11th precinct, the one for my neighborhood when I lived in the city. The report I made was about 2 years ago-it was around 5 pm, shift change time, and there were less than 10 police officers in the building, including the plainclothes officers. 20 years ago, I went in the same precinct (in it's old location on Davison) at shift change and there were probably 50 people, two shifts worth of cops, in the building. The districts cover more area than the precincts did, and they have less cops to cover the area. The priority is always downtown-Illitchville, greektown, casinos, DIA/DSO/Opera House.

The 911 dispatcher probably didn't know the cops was a block away until he put out the call.

[notadmblnd]

17. Pontiac is just as bad. One car on the road during the day

It's sad.

[roguevalley]

78. cuts are the worst. Anchorage's police department is at half what

it should be.

[fujiyama]

127. God the whole thing is horrific

The girl fits the definition of the word hero.

Your last sentence is especially apt, considering Detroit is also murder capital, USA.

[951-Riverside]

12. Only subhuman filth would shoot a little girl 6 times. n/t

[JeanGrey]

53. Yeah but we'll hear all about how his life should be "spared"

so we can study him or some such nonsense or how he was abused.

[boricua79]

60. why kill him?

1) Statistically cost more to go the death penalty route.
2) We debase ourselves by sanctioning HIS killing
3) He'll enjoy a quick out for his actions.

Let him spend a long lifetime enduring prison life. Much worse punishment. Nobody gets "spared" when you end up in prison for life. It ain't fun.

[phusion]

64. Thank you for that little bit of reason...n/t

[krispos42]

140. Because if he's dead, he can't write a book.

He can't send letters containing god-knows-what sadistic, perverse fantasies to the mom or the little girl.

He can't escape or be freed and decide to finish what he started. No parole from death, no appeal, no freeing based on a technicality or mental illness.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

108. first you blame the victim. now you want society to commit murder. do you have sympathy for anyone?

[hedgehog]

79. What kind of gun was he using? With some guns, once you start firing it's

hard to stop.

[Stand and Fight]

95. What the hell difference does that make?

One bullet or six! He shot another person, and, worst still, he shot a child! This guy is scum, a shit-sucking bottom-feeding no-good piece of offal.

[ManiacJoe]

101. For example?

I know of no properly functioning gun that could accurately be described that way.

[LeftHander]

13. Man walks into a gun shop....buys gun.

Sells gun a year later,

That buyer sells the gun to someone else...

Felon buys gun, felon shoots child and mother.

How about we cut off that first sale and ban the manufacture of such weapons.

In 20 years those handguns will be very difficult to get.

[abmand]

16. yes...great idea

...because we should give up freedoms based on the actions of criminals. heres some food for thought

Man buys car
man parks car on street
thug steals car
thug leads police on a chase which kills 2 little kids

lets make a law to require that all calls must be locked and parked into a garage- even though it violates property rights...its for the children right? very dangerous logic to subscribe to because it can support such things as the patriot act.

also your assumptions of 20 years is a bit too "optimistic" since there are over 80 million handguns in circulation in this country, i think it would take more than 20 years to accomplish a handgunless society. The only way to speed up the process is with a confiscation (since a buy back problem would only probably reduce the number by 5%). Confiscation would require the national guard and police forces going door to door looking for guns- and no matter what you say- the american people will not stand for police in swat gear breaking down doors of average americans who have done nothing wrong

This was a horrible act perpertrated by a man who should be locked away for life. I dont want not start a gun control argument based on no knowledge of how this guy got his weapon. All i can say is i am disgusted at this event.

[brentspeak]

30. What bothers me

("bothers" is too light a word) is how easy it is for even a four-time felon to obtain a firearm (which is what happened in this case).

[slackmaster]

32. If Mr. Four-Time Felon was in prison where he belonged

He'd have had a hard time getting a gun too.

[CreekDog]

34. why was the lady dating a four time felon

she's got a daughter, shouldn't she choose better company?

this is all the guy's fault of course, but why oh why did she go out with a four time loser?

[slackmaster]

35. Probably low self-esteem brought on by a lifetime of poverty and oppression

And maybe not very bright.

[theHandpuppet]

38. Exactly what I was thinking.

Some women will put up with anything just to have a man, ANY man -- and that includes pieces of scum-sucking garbage who could be a danger to their own children. Well I hope she's happy now.

[superconnected]

42. "Well I hope she's happy now."

Ding ding, first blame the victim on the thread.

Gee, is it the little girls fault too?

BTW, Is everyone responsible for what someone else does to them or just women?

[theHandpuppet]

63. No, the real victim is her little girl

Because this woman CHOSE to make that piece of shit guy part of their family, regardless of any cost to the well being of her child. I've been around too many folks -- some good friends of mine -- who were victimized in their childhood because Momma turned a blind eye to men who were abusive, violent, even pedophiles -- just to have a man in their life. Those children are the victims and yes it makes me angry when a woman chooses a piece of garbage over the welfare of her child.

[superconnected]

77. Sounds like she left the guy 6 months ago.

[LisaL]

103. No.

She dated him for six months.

[NickB79]

71. After my dad almost killed us and my mom, I was angry at my mom for a long time

The warning signs were everywhere for years before he finally snapped. Hell, the only reason he didn't kill anyone was that I, at age 17, was aware enough of the situation around me to keep my gun in the closet with a loaded clip next to it, "just in case."

My mom was a smart woman, but she kept going back to him time after time even after he was abusive to her and all of us. She had a job of her own, she could have supported us, but she kept clinging to the hope that he would change and become the sweet man he was when she first met him.

In the 10 years since then, I have been able to forgive both of them, because I held both of them to blame for the hell my brother, sister and myself went through.

[Marie26]

47. I'm sure she's not happy now

What an awful thing to say.

[theHandpuppet]

65. Yes it IS awful -- it SHOULD be awful

Because it's inexcusable that this woman put being around this piece of human scum over the welfare of her child. I know too many folks who have been scarred for life by being put through such situations when they were children. Kids forced to be around violent, abusive men, even pedophiles, because Mom couldn't bear to be without a boyfriend/husband. That's what's awful and the little girl paid the price.

[Lilith Velkor]

90. She BROKE UP with him

jackass!

[Stand and Fight]

97. My God -- someone with sense enough to think AND reading comprehension!

I was beginning to lose hope in people on here.

[theHandpuppet]

113. He should never have been allowed to set foot in their home -- EVER.

Two cases of assault, including felonious assault (assault while armed), home invasion, etc. -- a string of offenses dating back to 1996. Would you bring a man like this into your child's home? Four prior felonies, including weapons charges, home invasion and assault? Now he faces two more counts of assault with intent to commit murder, three counts of felonious assault, three counts of false imprisonment and single counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a habitual offender third offense, and using a firearm to commit a felony.

And this poor little girl will be physically and emotionally scarred for life.

So go ahead and call me a "jackass" for questioning this woman's judgment because she dated a scum-sucking, violent thug. In my neighborhood -- my BLOCK -- I've witnessed three cases in the past couple of years where mothers with small children had their scum-sucking boyfriends dragged out of the house in cuffs, with the children screaming and crying the whole time. Men who were meth addicts, dealers, one on the lam for beating another woman to a pulp. And the children are the ones who suffer. The last case was less than a week ago. I can still hear the heart-wrenching wailing of the children ringing in my ears.

Yes, no one deserves what happened to Selietha Parker but I seriously question her judgment. Calvin Tillie should never have set a foot inside their home. I only pray that little Alexis will never again be exposed to such a monster in their household.

Mr. Tillie, ex-boyfriend of Selietha Parker:
http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis2profile.asp?mdocNumber=276276

[Lilith Velkor]

115. Do felons always have their records tattooed on their foreheads?

No, but hey, whatever helps you blame the victim, right?

[theHandpuppet]

118. Is someone blaming Alexis?

That's odd -- I hadn't read any such posts. Have you?

As for her Mother -- of course she's a victim. Both of Mr. Scumbag Tillie and her own incredibly bad judgment.

And yeah, I'm sure that absolutely no one was aware of Tillie's background -- not his or her friends, family, neighbors or even acquaintances. After all, he's only been at the multiple felony assault thing for ten years or so and has to report to a parole officer on a regular basis.

You want to paint the Mother here as totally naive and uninformed -- perhaps that kind of faith is to be admired. But I've seen too much of this kind of crap right here in my own neighborhood and I will bet you dollars to donuts she knew exactly where he was coming from. I'm sick to death of children being put in situations where they are exposed to abuse, drugs, violence, sexual assault et al from boyfriends or live-ins. I know adults who have been scarred for life from such childhood experiences. The children in these situations are not the ones in control. So the parent has to be especially careful about who is invited to share their life and home and what kind of baggage this person might be carrying because there really is an innocent involved here -- a child.

Call me a cynic or a jackass, whatever. My heart bleeds for Alexis.

[Stand and Fight]

99. Your argument is idiotic and short-sighted.

She broke up with the guy. He came back and assaulted/attempted to murder her child and her.

Get a bloody clue!

[Marie26]

129. Blame the victim nonsense

It's fun to be self-rightously condemning of a woman who's been shot. She dated a guy, broke up with him, and was then shot by him. This is a pattern in many, many abusive relationships, where the ex-boyffriend becomes most dangerous to the woman after she leaves him. According to you, every woman who's broken up with someone & is then shot or killed should be blamed, judged & condemned. Not the abusive person himself. That's classic blame the victim thinking all the way.

[theHandpuppet]

133. Wow -- that's quite a spin

"According to you, every woman who's broken up with someone & is then shot or killed should be blamed, judged & condemned. Not the abusive person himself."

I don't know whose posts you've been reading but they certainly weren't mine.

[Marie26]

137. But isn't that just it?

This woman dated a man for six months, broke up with him, and is shot by him. And suddenly it's all her fault for ever dating him in the first place. That is blaming the victim, and that same POV can be (and IS) applied to victims of domestic violence in general. The most dangerous point is after someone leaves a violent/abusive boyfriend or relationship - so now when someone leaves & is shot for it, we can all self-righteously blame her for being attacked? That's just totally messed up. And it's so funny to me how this type of reasoning only springs up when a woman is the victim. Why was she dating him? Or why was she walking at night? Or why was she wearing a short skirt? Etc. Blame the criminal, not the victim.

[theHandpuppet]

138. Or are some of you forgetting the other victim in this equation?

You keep talking about the mother as "the" victim here.... interesting that some of you who are attacking me for questioning Ms. Parker's judgment refer to "victim" in the singular, as if Alexis isn't even part of this story. Well by golly, she is for me.

Alexis' mother chose to bring a violent, four-time felon into their home. Unfortunately, little Alexis didn't have any control over that. For her it wasn't a choice. In what universe do you consider bringing this scumbag into your home an example of good judgment or even good parenting? If she had invited a convicted, habitual pedophile into her home and Alexis ended up getting molested would you be so quick to paint Ms. Parker as the victim whose judgment is beyond reproach?

Yes, I'm appalled at what happened to both Selietha Parker and Alexis. But ask me if I am shocked. Tille is a sociopathic monster and one that should never have set a foot inside their home. Selietha was certainly victimized by Tillie but Alexis was twice victimized, not only by Tillie but also by her mother's incredibly poor judgment.

Does this mean that the millions of women in America who will be victims of violence every year somehow "deserve" it? Of course not - that's a ridiculous claim and incredibly insulting for you to have even suggested that I insinuated as much. Yet there are a small number of women who, where men are concerned, will turn a blind eye to virtually anything or even sacrifice the safety and well-being of their children. Are you denying this is true? Please don't -- I myself have friends who grew up in these kinds of households and in my neighborhood know of several RIGHT NOW.

Because millions of women are victims totally through no fault of their own doesn't mean that there are some whose judgment is questionable, especially when their own child or children are the ultimate victims of the fallout.

Yes, I'm angry. I'm angry mostly for Alexis because she had the least control over this situation but paid the greatest price. This little girl has had a hard life that has just been made even more difficult and for her there are no guarantees. So while some of you are shoveling your anger at me for Selietha Parker spare a little for Alexis, for all appearances the forgotten victim in this tragedy.

[Nailzberg]

66. And I still can't get a f'ing girlfriend!

Unbelievable.

[intheflow]

55. Some guys can be very charming

before they reveal themselves to be psychos. She only dated him for 6 months. Not hard to believe he could have been ok for 3 or 4 months, especially if they only saw each other once a week on a date. Just sayin'.

[IronLionZion]

81. Some men won't leave

and they use force.

[Stand and Fight]

96. Maybe... God people, think...

Maybe she did not know and that is what caused her to end the relationship in the first place.

[MadMaddie]

119. How would she know? How would you know?

You meet a nice gal or guy you have no real way of knowing who they are. She ditched him after 6 months she probably figured it out and realized he was bad news.

[colorado_ufo]

123. One way to know is how you meet them.

At least for starters. No guarantee for sure, but an introduction from a trusted family member or long-time friend of good repute helps. Someone met online or in a bar, or other such venue, is riskier. Then, keep the first few dates casual, keep to public places, and preferably with another couple. If it all "clicks," and you want to take the relationship further, then spend $100 and get a freakin' BACKGROUND CHECK. Worth every penny and then some. Then DON'T rush into sex (even protected sex), DON'T "move in together," and DON'T make excuses for the man (or woman!): the first time there is ever ANY hint of abuse, violence, control, threats, or anything else, END the relationship. No second chances, no starting over, no nuthin'. Let them move on to someone with lower standards.

AND NEVER LEAVE HIM OR HER ALONE WITH YOUR CHILD UNTIL YOU ARE LEGALLY MARRIED.

The above is the very, least, minimum you should do if you decide to get back into the dating world and have a child to protect. If you cannot or will not do at least the above, then for the sake of your child, for the sake of your NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY, stay single and stay home! In a very few years your child will be grown into a fine man or woman, and you will be free to ruin your life any way you please.

[MadMaddie]

139. Oh I agree....but people meet in the oddest places..

And never leave him with the children is right....

[fujiyama]

128. Maybe she just didn't know

I'll give her the benefit of the doubt until there is evidence that she should have known better. After all, I don't think most people run background checks on their significant others.

If she did know and did this, she's an idiot, and worse yet put her and her child's life in danger.

[slackmaster]

31. The third transaction in your hypothetical scenario was illegal

How about enforcing the laws we have now?

I'd make one significant change:

The background check system created by the Brady Act is by law unavailable to private individuals who have used guns to sell. In most states there is no practical way to check the background of a prospective buyer.

[NickB79]

73. I'd go one further: prosecute felons who try to purchase a gun and are denied

When someone mentions how the Brady Act instant background check has denied 1.5 million people from purchasing firearms, that means 1.5 million criminals have committed a felony and were never prosecuted for it.

Right on the 4473 form for purchasing a gun, it states that falsifying data on that form is a felony, and one of the questions specifically asks "have you ever been convicted of a felony?". If you lie, they run the background check, and you come up denied because you actually are a felon, that in itself was another felony!

What do we do then? We let you walk right out the door of the gun shop, never call the police, nothing.

[slackmaster]

112. I agree - That is one of the biggest holes in the current system

As thing stand there is almost no risk of an unqualified person being prosecuted for fraudulently attempting to buy a firearm.

[fujiyama]

130. Tha'ts a great idea actually

and should be a no brainer for members of both parties.

I don't know how better background checks would hurt honest law abiding gun owners.

[boricua79]

61. 2nd amendment arguments coming your way

Personally, I'd ban all guns, or only allow one per household (or per person). Countries like Cuba ban all weapons from their populace and their gun crime is extremely, though I'm persuaded by Michael moore's arguments in Bowling for Columbine that maybe the issue is fear and socialization of violence in the media.

[Xithras]

67. Unlikely.

Only a fraction of a percent of guns are used in crimes every year, and most guns are useable for up to 200 years if cared for (my dad has a rifle from the Spanis/American war that is still perfectly serviceable). If firearms sales were banned and existing firearms remained legal, it would take at least a century before gun crimes really started to vanish.

[Xenotime]

87. or at least add an enormous tax to each sale

[fed-up]

14. I hope they sue the dispatcher- "told that operator a guy with a gun was holding me hostage"

from the story for those that haven't clicked the link:



Ford said she dialed 911 on her cell phone as she walked into the station.

"The first operator clicked off and I dialed again and told that operator a guy with a gun was holding me hostage with a mother and baby and threatening to kill us. I told her the name of the gas station and then she said they didn't have a unit to send."

Ford said she paid for $5 of gas and slowly returned to the vehicle, stalling for time as she handed Tillie the change. She said she kept stopping and starting the pump, hoping the police would show up.

"I told him I needed more gas and took money out of my purse and went back into the station," she said. The attendant, Mohammad Alghazali, 30, said he noticed Ford was crying and she told him what was happening. He called 911 as he heard shots coming from the vehicle.

[SyntaxError]

18. oh yeah... That is fucked up...

The system totally failed here...

[abmand]

20. ive dealt with emergency service dispatchers on a daily basis

for a couple of years now (im a fireman) and i have to say that most of them really dont give a shit about the callers. Yes there are a few dedicated personnel, but i feel most of them have an attitude "atleast it isnt me". there responses are also disgustingly generic usually on the grounds of, huddle in a corner and wait for the services to come. I remember when i read a story in the Fire news about a dispatcher who told a family to stay put in their house while their house was on fire and wait for the fire department. Luckily the firedepartment was quick to respond, because the family had suffered massive smoke inhalation. (it should be noted that the family knew there was a clear way to get out but the operator advised against it. I can remember an specific incident, when i dialed 911 (as a civilian) to report a person who was harrassing drivers late at night in my town, the operator was mumbling and i asked her politely to repeat what she said because i could not hear, she subsequently responded with the comment "well i think you better get your hearing checked" and then angrily asked if this is a prank call. After i said it wasnt she said well she thought it was an hung up. As a fireman, i have seen dispatchers who completely ignore requests for mutual aid from chiefs causing problems at the scene. The system needs a real overhaul

[noonwitch]

27. She needs to call Fieger-he's made a career out of suing the city

But I don't blame the 9-11 operator without knowing more. It sounds like the police responded as soon as the report was made on the radio. The 9-11 operator just didn't know there was a car close by. That's why they have the radios.

[uppityperson]

19. Poor kid, poor mom, damn-it emergency system and media (why?)

Poor kid, poor mom, I hope they heal quickly. I hope the 911 system there improves.

And this type writing irks me, gets one of my peeves activated. Alexis didn't "take" 6 bullets that were "pumped" into her. She was shot 6 times. I really HATE mixing verbs, sporting events, war, shootings, other violence. I know, writing "she was shot" over and over isn't varied enough writing, but she didn't "take" 6 bullets. She was shot with 6 bullets. grrr. Trivializing it, making it more confusing. Did she take 6 bullets off the seat of the truck before she was shot? No. She was shot with them. end of rant.

Poor kid, poor mom. Sounds like a really scary nasty situation.

[Darth_Kitten]

56. You said it......

Poor little baby. :(

[Demobrat]

22. Another martyr to the 2nd amendment.

I'm sure this is exactly what the founding fathers had in mind.

[abmand]

23. another martyr to the justice system

well what do you mean by had in mind? As the amendments primary purpose? unintended consequences? misuse? the 2nd amendment doesnt apply to this guy because he is a 4 time convicted felon- which begs the question why is he out on the streets?

well actually how about a martyr to 8th amendment- if we could have just electricuted this guy the first felony this woudlnt have happened.

GOD DAMN CONSTITUTION IN THE WAY OF OUR SAFETY

[boricua79]

62. 2nd amendment was meant

to allow a legal framework for colonists to legally own weapons for

A) Hunting and feeding their families, in a time when hunting was still a major form of providing food for family
B) Protection from Native tribes
C) A militarized society, in the event of future attempts at invasion from European powers.

We've got grocery stores now, we don't have to protect ourselves from Natives, and no European power is coming to invade. It's time to revamp the Constitution. It was an amendment because it wasn't originally there..the Constitution was once amended to fit the social context, and we can amend it again to fit our newer social context.

[piedmont]

114. No, it was meant to ensure we wouldn't have another authoritarian government. nt

[-..__...]

24. Whistle blown... 10 yard penalty.

Improper interpretation.

Don't worry though... it'll only be a matter of time before another player recovers your fumble and runs with the 'blame the NRA and Charlton Heston' ball.

[abmand]

25. does the poster get to repeat the down?

[slackmaster]

33. No, but you can use a timeout here if you wish

:hi:

[Pavulon]

48. Lobby for its repeal

[abmand]

50. yes...

cause that will that it never pass. Even if it did it might cause such instability that it would cost more lives. do you think those 250,000 really fanatical gun owners are going to hand in their guns peacefully? What happens if they dont? you going to send SWAT or the National Guard after them. How american- government troops breaking down doors without warrants. Seriously, if you are going to propose something, think of the consequences. Disarming america is impossible without the use of the army- and to turn the army against its own citizens is very very very anti-american values. If this country did something like that we would have no right calling ourselves a beacon of freedom and justice

unless you are being sarcastic and then none of this applies to you

[IronLionZion]

85. That's pretty much why we have the 2nd amendment

it was put in place immediately after overthrowing the government. It's important to make sure that the government will not send the army against our citizens ever again. Make no mistake, they did not put in a constitutional amendment to protect our right to hunt deer. It's to protect the people from the government.

[IronLionZion]

86. Another politicization of a tragedy. nt

[Cronus Protagonist]

26. Does anyone want to collect money for flowers for the little girl?

She's a bona fide hero.

[sandnsea]

28. I will give

There will probably be an account set up somewhere. Maybe some kind of present and the rest to the personal bills. Somebody else needs to ask for the money though.

[Odin2005]

29. OMG! I hope I little girl comes out OK.

:cry:

[judaspriestess]

37. OMG how terrible

this reminds me of an episode from The First 48, where the boyfriend shoots and kills the ex girlfriend and her two year old daughter. He winds up killing himself by jumping in the river and drowns himself. The whole thing was just so senseless. It happened it Detroit also.

[NightHawk63]

39. Words fail me.

I consider myself a pretty "manly" man, but reading this article brought tears to my eyes earlier today. Its cases like this that make me very iffy on the death penalty. I wouldn't shed one tear over this bastard being put down.

[superconnected]

40. Aren't guns great. Especially the people who wield them.

Bet that guy was a big supporter.

Blessings to the child and the mother.

[abmand]

44. bet that guy

...didnt care about those pesky gun laws....but i doubt he was a supporter of the 2nd amendment since he did not have his second amendment rights....arent facts great

[superconnected]

46. What facts, you're supposing. You don't know if he supported the 2nd amendment or not.

Whether or not, he had 2nd amendment rights doesn't dictate whether he'd support it or not.

Aren't facts great.

[abmand]

49. but the crux of the issue

is that he probably didn't care. Usually thugs really dont care about those sort of things

[NickB79]

72. He chose to commit FOUR felonies before this incident

He clearly chose to throw away his constitutional rights, including his 2nd amendment rights, through the results of his actions. That doesn't sound like the behavior of a staunch supporter of the Constitution.

[IronLionZion]

82. I bet Mr. 4-time felon obeys the law too.

Because if he would have to pick one law to obey, the gun law would probably be it right? Not the murder law?

[Xenotime]

88. It wouldn't suprise me if that guy was an NRA member

[slackmaster]

135. It would surprise me

Joining the NRA costs money and requires a mailing address. The shooter was a low-life.

[Marie26]

45. A fund has been set up for her hospital care

"DETROIT -- A fund has been set up for 7-year-old Alexis Goggins, who police are calling a hero for stepping in front of an enraged gunman to save her mother's life.

... Alexis is still slipping in and out of consciousness, said Marvin Bodley, a Detroit Public Schools' attendance agent, who has been at her bedside in the hospital. ... Alexis, who was shot in the face, is having surgery to her eye Friday, he said. Bodley said all indications are that Alexis will lose the eye.

Offers of help have been pouring in from around the country, Bodley said.

The school has set up a fund through Comerica Bank to help with Alexis' care.

Checks should be made out to the Alexis Goggins Hero Fund and sent to Campbell Elementary School in care of the Alexis Goggins Hero Fund, 2301 E Alexandrine St, Detroit, MI 48207.

For information, call [phone]."

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071205/UPDATE/712050466/1361

[truthisfreedom]

51. No doubt this will put pressure on the police department in Detroit to have more units ready to

respond to crisis in the making.

Totally amazing that they both survived. I hope something good comes out of this for both of them. I hope this guy's legacy follows him into prison and he's given the disrespect he deserves.

[Nailzberg]

68. They won't. They can't.

The city is broke. Poverty everywhere you look. Prime downtown office space sitting vacant. Businesses closed everywhere. Ah, except the casinos, those are packed every night.

[fujiyama]

131. Packed with people from the suburbs who quite literally never step foot outside

They have a parking structure right off the freeway, allowing visitors to park and enter the casino.

[rolltidemattox]

54. Alexis!! The True "ANGEL"

Alexis, all I have to say is you are a true "ANGEL"
to your mother. You must have the biggest heart
"GOD" could ever have gave a child. I hope you come
through this ordeal to face the low life that tried to kill
you and your mother. I hope that we as a country don't keep
this "DEVIL" in our prison system for years to come,
he does not deserve to live. Please let everyone know if there
is a bank or an organization that may be taking donations to
help you and your mother through this ordeal. This will be a
long and hard road for the both of you. My prayers are with
both of you. 

[rocktivity]

74. Welcome to DU, Rolltidemattox!

And I'm sure that some kind of donations are being set up for brave Alexis.

:hi:
rocknation

[JVS]

57. wow

[boricua79]

58. my goodness..what an incredible story of self-sacrifice.

I hope God rewards this girl infinitely!

[rocktivity]

84. Well, we mere mortals can certainly reward Alexis in the meantime

Hopefully, donations and a truckload of Christmas presents are being assembled even as we speak--I mean, post.

The rewards for the man who threw himself on top of someone who'd fallen off a subway platform as a train passed over them included $10,000 from Donald Trump, scholarships for his children and attendance at Bush's 2007 State Of the Union address.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Witchy_Dem]

69. This deserves a bump

Heroes in all shapes and sizes.

Bless you Alexis.

[lonestarnot]

75. WTF DETROIT!????

"she said they didn't have a unit to send."

[hedgehog]

83. I was wondering if the felonies were drug crimes, but this guy is a

bad actor:

http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis2profile.asp?mdocNumber=276276

He served a year and a half on a 20 year sentence for robbery with a weapon. He was convicted to a year for a home invasion! Most of his convictions were plea bargains.


Maybe he would still be in prison if we weren't packing the prisons with people who wqant to smoke dope!

[fujiyama]

132. This state is so fucked with its finances

that I wouldn't be surprised if he were released partly due to prison overcrowding.

Why these sort of psychopaths are not locked for good is a mystery.

Detroit's local government is a joke, but it's shame the federal government would watch cities just rot.

[rocktivity]

89. Here's the info on the donations

"We have had calls offering help from as far away as Texas and Washington, D.C.," said Marvin Bodley, a Detroit Public Schools' attendance agent who visited Alexis..."We've had a couple of local businesses who called to help."

...Checks should be made out to the Alexis Goggins Hero Fund and sent to Campbell Elementary School in care of the Alexis Goggins Hero Fund, 2301 E Alexandrine St, Detroit, 48207. For information, call [phone].

Alexis remains in stable but critical condition...She is still slipping in and out of consciousness...She faces surgery to her eye on Friday. Bodley said all indications are that Alexis will lose the eye...

While she was being bathed on Wednesday, Alexis pushed away the nurse's hand, which onlookers considered to be a good sign, Bodley said.

Considering how much 7-year-olds HATE taking baths, I think that's an EXCELLENT sign! She even manages to give us reason to laugh--Alexis, you're a miracle indeed!

[Cronus Protagonist]

98. Excellent! Thanks for the link, RockNation and thanks for the heads-up

:)

[MrScorpio]

91. Yep, still the hardest city in America, my home town

I've always said that in Detroit, nice guys don't finish.

[Stand and Fight]

92. You know... This is a rare case when capital punishment is justified.

Reading this story... Well, many times on DU I have been disgusted by those who advocate the death penalty. I strongly oppose it myself. However, in this case, I am all for the death penalty. This prick deserves nothing less.

[LisaL]

102. He won't qualify.

Although he shot the child, the child isn't dead.

[galileo3000]

100. Peace, health, love and happiness to all affected by this story.

My humble blessings may not be much, but I will do my best to be more loving and less fearful of all I know.

[colorado_ufo]

122. I hope that dear child recovers with all her functions intact,

although four bullets to the head - with one to the eye - surely reduces her odds.

[colorado_ufo]

124. I hope the court takes into account the fact that he shot a HANDICAPPED child!

This poor little girl suffered a massive stroke as an infant, had a weak eye, walked with a limp, and needed special schooling. What a superhuman effort it took for her to climb over from the back seat of the car and put herself between her injured mother and this crazed gunman! Then to crawl onto the floor under the steering wheel to try to get away from being shot over and over again, her teeth lying on the seat of the car. Staggering act of courage!

[Mizmoon]

125. The love of a child is as pure as it gets

I hope that little angel recovers fully and quickly. God bless her.

[DIKB]

134. Habitual criminal. . .

and he had a gun.

Not to turn this into a gun debate, but people need to SERIOUSLY stop and think, "How many guns are used in valid cases of self-defense vs. How many are used to commit crimes?" (strictly speaking of the non-hunting variety of guns)

[slackmaster]

136. Habitual criminal = Not legally qualified to buy or posses a gun

There are holes in the system that make it too easy for unqualified people to get guns.