pwned

redbull · 06-21-2007, 02:42 AM

June 21, 2007, 12:14AM
FATAL BEATING IN AUSTIN
Crowd kills passenger of car that struck child
No arrests yet after Juneteenth festivities that took a tragic turn

By POLLY ROSS HUGHES
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
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Man fatally beaten by crowd

AUSTIN — A crowd of Juneteenth partyers outside an East Austin housing project turned violent with several beating a man to death after the car he was riding in apparently struck a small child.

A veteran police official said Wednesday that he never had seen such a "spontaneous" eruption of mob violence.

Witnesses reported that several males attacked David Rivas Morales, 40, who was riding home from a painting job with a co-worker his family knew only as "Victor."

A preliminary autopsy showed Morales — who stepped out of the vehicle to defend the driver from the angry crowd — died of blunt trauma, police said.

No arrests have been made.

Police declined to identify the toddler who was struck in the parking lot Tuesday night, but said he was not seriously injured.

Margaret Morales, the victim's sister, wiped away tears Wednesday as she sat on her stoop at the Booker T. Washington apartment complex, staring at the parking lot where her big brother died.

"He was bleeding really bad from the head. There was blood everywhere," she said.

Police said hundreds of revelers packed into the parking lot as 3,000 attending a city-sponsored Juneteenth festival a block away began dispersing.

"The whole parking lot was full of cars. The street was full of cars. It was really packed," the victim's sister said. "The whole celebration was going on, and my brother was being dropped off from work when this happened."

Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, the day Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with news of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had freed slaves two years earlier.

"It's sad for the city," said Commander Harold Piatt, who leads the Austin Police Department's homicide division.

Piatt, who said he'd worked the city's famed Sixth Street entertainment district for years, said he had never before seen such a "spontaneous" eruption of mob violence.

Morales is the 11th homicide victim in the state's capital city this year.

"I've been doing this for 28 years. This is the first time I can ever recall something like this," Piatt said, noting he knew of no one who tried to prevent the attack on Morales.

He attributed the crowd's reaction to the boy being struck, although he said he suspected alcohol might have played a role.

"It's not a hate crime," he said. "It's not racially motivated in any way. The assault has nothing to do with the (city-sponsored) Juneteenth celebration."

Driver cooperating
Piatt said police believe anywhere from two to six assailants attacked Morales, but detectives were continuing to sort through conflicting accounts of events.

About two dozen people were crowded directly around the vehicle that struck the boy, he said.

Police, who indicated no guns or knives were used in the assault, did not identify the driver, calling him a witness who is cooperating with the homicide investigation.

"It's unusual where you have what appears to be multiple assailants attacking and actually harming (the victim) to where it causes death," said Piatt.

"You get one or two people who lose control. If you've got a number of folks around, it could spread very quickly to the crowd," he said. "People do things they normally wouldn't do."

Taken off life support

Margaret Morales, the victim's sister, said she ran outside her apartment and into the crowded parking lot around

9 p.m. after a child alerted her to the attack on her brother.

"All I could see was my brother lying there," she said. "He was barely breathing. I believe he could hear my voice. Somebody just said some guys jumped him."

Margaret Morales said those remaining at the scene were screaming, asking why there was no ambulance.

"The ambulance took forever, about 30 minutes" she said.

The ambulance arrived in less than two minutes after being called but was ordered to wait near the scene until cleared by police, said Warren Hassinger, spokesman for the Austin-Travis County Emergency Services.

He said David Morales arrived at the hospital 35 minutes after emergency workers received the 911 call.

Margaret Morales said her mother, Mary, ordered life support removed at Brackenridge Hospital after medical staff told her that her son would not survive.

On Wednesday, the family began planning David Morales' burial, saying it would need donations to cover funeral costs, including a casket.

"He liked to watch football, basketball. He liked to hang out with his friends," Morales' sister said. "He was a real generous guy and loving person."

Dogfighter28 · 06-21-2007, 02:43 AM

thats pretty terrible

Boycott Graceland · 06-21-2007, 02:53 AM

damn, i hope that wasn't one of my austin buds. although i'm sure none of them are douchey enough to go to something called the "juneteenth festival"

Future Boy · 06-21-2007, 03:17 AM

Something like that happened in chicago once.

Martyr · 06-21-2007, 04:12 AM

Quote:

the toddler was struck in the parking lot Tuesday night, but he was not seriously injured

Overreaction?

mistle · 06-21-2007, 06:06 AM

you think?!

god i despise people like that more than anything else

these goons are the worst. fucking. scum.

Trotskilicious · 06-21-2007, 06:17 AM

ah the old neighborhood

smurfing · 06-21-2007, 09:57 AM

how did i know it would be a black crowd, a black child, and a non-black victim?

06-21-2007, 02:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
redbull Braindead Location: rims big, make the car look like it's two stories Posts: 16,357	pwned June 21, 2007, 12:14AM FATAL BEATING IN AUSTIN Crowd kills passenger of car that struck child No arrests yet after Juneteenth festivities that took a tragic turn By POLLY ROSS HUGHES Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau TOOLS Email Get section feed Print Subscribe NOW Comments Recommend RESOURCES Man fatally beaten by crowd AUSTIN — A crowd of Juneteenth partyers outside an East Austin housing project turned violent with several beating a man to death after the car he was riding in apparently struck a small child. A veteran police official said Wednesday that he never had seen such a "spontaneous" eruption of mob violence. Witnesses reported that several males attacked David Rivas Morales, 40, who was riding home from a painting job with a co-worker his family knew only as "Victor." A preliminary autopsy showed Morales — who stepped out of the vehicle to defend the driver from the angry crowd — died of blunt trauma, police said. No arrests have been made. Police declined to identify the toddler who was struck in the parking lot Tuesday night, but said he was not seriously injured. Margaret Morales, the victim's sister, wiped away tears Wednesday as she sat on her stoop at the Booker T. Washington apartment complex, staring at the parking lot where her big brother died. "He was bleeding really bad from the head. There was blood everywhere," she said. Police said hundreds of revelers packed into the parking lot as 3,000 attending a city-sponsored Juneteenth festival a block away began dispersing. "The whole parking lot was full of cars. The street was full of cars. It was really packed," the victim's sister said. "The whole celebration was going on, and my brother was being dropped off from work when this happened." Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, the day Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with news of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had freed slaves two years earlier. "It's sad for the city," said Commander Harold Piatt, who leads the Austin Police Department's homicide division. Piatt, who said he'd worked the city's famed Sixth Street entertainment district for years, said he had never before seen such a "spontaneous" eruption of mob violence. Morales is the 11th homicide victim in the state's capital city this year. "I've been doing this for 28 years. This is the first time I can ever recall something like this," Piatt said, noting he knew of no one who tried to prevent the attack on Morales. He attributed the crowd's reaction to the boy being struck, although he said he suspected alcohol might have played a role. "It's not a hate crime," he said. "It's not racially motivated in any way. The assault has nothing to do with the (city-sponsored) Juneteenth celebration." Driver cooperating Piatt said police believe anywhere from two to six assailants attacked Morales, but detectives were continuing to sort through conflicting accounts of events. About two dozen people were crowded directly around the vehicle that struck the boy, he said. Police, who indicated no guns or knives were used in the assault, did not identify the driver, calling him a witness who is cooperating with the homicide investigation. "It's unusual where you have what appears to be multiple assailants attacking and actually harming (the victim) to where it causes death," said Piatt. "You get one or two people who lose control. If you've got a number of folks around, it could spread very quickly to the crowd," he said. "People do things they normally wouldn't do." Taken off life support Margaret Morales, the victim's sister, said she ran outside her apartment and into the crowded parking lot around 9 p.m. after a child alerted her to the attack on her brother. "All I could see was my brother lying there," she said. "He was barely breathing. I believe he could hear my voice. Somebody just said some guys jumped him." Margaret Morales said those remaining at the scene were screaming, asking why there was no ambulance. "The ambulance took forever, about 30 minutes" she said. The ambulance arrived in less than two minutes after being called but was ordered to wait near the scene until cleared by police, said Warren Hassinger, spokesman for the Austin-Travis County Emergency Services. He said David Morales arrived at the hospital 35 minutes after emergency workers received the 911 call. Margaret Morales said her mother, Mary, ordered life support removed at Brackenridge Hospital after medical staff told her that her son would not survive. On Wednesday, the family began planning David Morales' burial, saying it would need donations to cover funeral costs, including a casket. "He liked to watch football, basketball. He liked to hang out with his friends," Morales' sister said. "He was a real generous guy and loving person."

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06-21-2007, 02:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dogfighter28 P4k Reader Baron Burns Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 5,794	thats pretty terrible

06-21-2007, 02:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Boycott Graceland rusty savage Location: leprechaun julius Posts: 10,328	damn, i hope that wasn't one of my austin buds. although i'm sure none of them are douchey enough to go to something called the "juneteenth festival"

06-21-2007, 03:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
Future Boy a good, solid B+ Posts: 22,125	Something like that happened in chicago once.

06-21-2007, 06:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
mistle bonnie stars Location: saxophone Posts: 12,084	you think?! god i despise people like that more than anything else these goons are the worst. fucking. scum.

06-21-2007, 06:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
Trotskilicious u wan play spies Location: MonteLDS says (4:40 PM): So u think your all that b/c u know how many ppl are in the usa Posts: 72,297	ah the old neighborhood

06-21-2007, 09:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
smurfing quit netphor until nov 5 Location: quit netphor til nov 5, 2007. Posts: 4,366	how did i know it would be a black crowd, a black child, and a non-black victim?