horrific

[liberty]

I am sure this is nothing for most of you guys and the areas you all live in, but is horrific for here.

http://myarklamiss.com/fulltext?nxd_id=167602
WINNSBORO -- It's a somber night in Winnsboro as dozens of community members gather at Liberty Christian Church to pay their respects and pray for burn victim, 20-year old Sharmeka Moffitt.

Those prayers echoed loudly, in light of the what happened to Moffitt on Sunday night.

"Our purpose tonight is to come together and pray for the family," said church pastor, Linda Trimble. "They definitely need support tonight because I think it's so random and unprepared for."

The incident happened around 8 p.m. Sunday night. The victim, 20-year-old Sharmeka L. Moffit, called 911 saying she had been set on fire on a walking trail in Civitan Park in Winnsboro.

The victim was able to put out the fire herself and told the officer she had been set on fire by three males. During a news conference Monday morning, investigators said they found racial slurs written on Moffitt's car including the letters "KKK".

Moffitt was transported to LSU-Shreveport hospital and is being treated for her burns.

People packed the sanctuary at the church, where Moffit's relatives attend. From neighbors just across the street, to the city mayor, many faces of the community came to show their support.

As soon as word spread, some traveled miles just to unite in prayer, like Amos Montgomery, who jumped in a church van from Ferriday.

"It was a must that I be here, and continue to be here to show my support for the family and the young lady," he said.

The church pastors also aimed to inform the community on staying safe and protecting themselves.

"Some people are in fear right now that something might happen to them," Trimble said.

"That's our biggest thing is to try and keep everybody focused and let the enforcers do what they have to do and we need to just keep peace," said pastor Warren Trimble.

Nearby, more gathered for a candlelight vigil at Davis Park.

"Just a horrific crime, a lot of attention -- a lot of fear," said Winnsboro resident, Darcel Diggs. "I want the community to come together and to blend, show support for her family -- mother, father, brothers, and sisters -- And show that we care, we all care."

The investigation into the incident continues. The community is organizing another candlelight vigil Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Civitan Park.



Pastors speaking to a crowd at Liberty Christian Church in Winnsboro.

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[MajGenl.Meade]

A horrible event. But at least they have a sense of humour....

The community is organizing another candlelight vigil Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Civitan Park

[Lord Jim]

I am sure this is nothing for most of you guys

Yeah, lib hardly the day goes by around here that I don't pass someone on the street who's been set on fire...

I don't even take any notice of it any more...

[rubato]

A walking trail? An unlikely place for a group of KKKers to lie in wait prepared to burn someone isn't it?

Unconvinced that the story is all true.

yrs,
rubato

[liberty]

I am sure this is nothing for most of you guys

Yeah, lib hardly the day goes by around here that I don't pass someone on the street who's been set on fire...

I don't even take any notice of it any more...

If the KKk part was removed would it even make the news in the San Francisco area?

[Lord Jim]

Lib, I have to say say you have some, uh, "interesting" ideas about what conditions are like outside of your neck of the woods....

Yes, I can state without fear of contradiction, that a woman being set on fire by three assailants would definitely make the news out here....

As for this story...

It is of course possible that what she is claiming did not actually happen. This could be the case of a deeply troubled young woman who did this to herself to get sympathy and attention, or to cover for a foolhardy suicide attempt that went wrong, (or to cover for somebody else who did it; like a sadistic boyfriend.)

Such things happen. (It would be interesting to know the extent of the burns; the article doesn't say)

But if that's the case, what usually happens in those types of situations is that eventually the person breaks down and tells the truth after a fairly short period, so we'll just have to wait and see.

[liberty]

A walking trail? An unlikely place for a group of KKKers to lie in wait prepared to burn someone isn't it?

Unconvinced that the story is all true.

yrs,
rubato

It does seem odd; I would think it would be more of a place for dopers than racist, but you can’t depend on feelings. The world is full of odd people that don’t fit the pattern. A good investigator or scientist for that matter (an investigator can be a scientist) deals with facts and hard evidence and is never afraid to say I don’t know.

[liberty]

DNA Evidence Collected from Attack Site in Winnsboro
By: Staff
Updated: October 23, 2012
Louisiana State Police say DNA evidence has been gathered from the scene in Winnsboro where a woman was attacked and set on fire.

According to Louisiana State Trooper Albert Paxton, the DNA has been sent to the crime lab in Baton Rouge.
Sharmeka Moffitt was burned Sunday night in the Civitan Park in Winnsboro.

She's in critical condition at LSU-Shreveport and is expected to have surgery today.

[liberty]

WINNSBORO — Police had few leads and no suspects late Monday in the Civitan Park attack of Sharmeka Moffitt, who was set afire Sunday night in Winnsboro by three men who wrote "KKK" on her car with what police believe was toothpaste.
Moffitt, 20, who called 911 from the park, couldn't identify the race of her attackers, but said they were wearing white T-shirt hoodies. Moffitt, who remained in critical condition at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport late Monday, is black.
When asked about his first reaction to the crime, Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas said, "Devastated."
Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb was also shaken, saying he had never worked such a crime.
"It's most definitely a horrific event that has created an uneasy feeling in the community," Cobb said.
Franklin Parish's two top cops were joined by the Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana Fire Marshal and the FBI and will later determine whether the attack could be considered a hate crime, which is classified as violating someone's civil rights.
"These are very unusual and troubling circumstances and won't be taken lightly," Cobb said. "We will follow the facts and seek justice. The best thing we can do now is pray for Sharmeka's healing and for her family."
Police said Moffitt, who was apparently walking in the normally serene park on a paved trail, dialed 911 about 8 p.m. Cobb said a police unit was on the scene within 30 to 45 seconds.
Thomas said there are some lights in the park, which is adjacent to Louisiana 15, the largest highway through Winnsboro, but so far no witnesses have been located or come forward. The attack occurred about a half-mile from Louisiana 15.
Police haven't determined the sequence of events leading up to the attack, whether it was random or if Moffitt was a target.
Police believe Moffitt, a temporary employee with Manpower who has been working at the ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston plant in Delhi since last month and has applied to be a substitute teacher in Franklin Parish, was doused in a flammable liquid and set afire.

[liberty]

If this is true this is sadder than her being attacked; what in hell would possess someone to set one’s self on fire; there are much better way to gain attention or to kill one’s self. If I were the DA I would not file charges against her; she has been punished enough even though her claim theoretically could have resulted in some innocent person going to prison. Remember the Duke Lacrosse team?


Police in Winnsboro are announing at a news conference that they believe Sharmeka Moffitt fabricated a story about being attacked and burned Sunday night at Civitan Park in Winnsboro by three men who wrote “KKK” on the hood of her car.

Moffitt, 20, told police she was walking on a park trail when she was attacked and set afire by three men wearing white T-shirt hoodies. She remains at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport in critical condition.


Police now believe it was Moffitt who wrote “KKK” and “nigger” on the hood of her Buick LaCross with toothpaste and then set fire to herself. She told police she couldn’t identify the race of those she claimed had attacked her. She called 911 from the park.

[dales]

Spontaneous combustion?

[rubato]

I am sure this is nothing for most of you guys and the areas you all live in, but is horrific for here.
... "

The South has the highest murder rate of any quadrant of the US:

The murder rate in Louisiana is more than 2x that of California.
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/murder- ... -and-state


The murder rate in New Orleans is 19 x times that of San Francisco and the highest of any city over 250,000 population in 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Sta ... crime_rate

So if anyone would be more inured to horror, it would be you.

yrs,
rubato

[liberty]

I am sure this is nothing for most of you guys and the areas you all live in, but is horrific for here.
... "

The South has the highest murder rate of any quadrant of the US:

The murder rate in Louisiana is more than 2x that of California.
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/murder- ... -and-state Because of New Orleans

The murder rate in New Orleans is 19 x times that of San Francisco and the highest of any city over 250,000 population in 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Sta ... crime_rate No argument here, if it was up to me I revoke their charter, fire their bourocrat and rule them like an old British colony.

yrs,
rubato

New Orleans is a secret California colony.

[Joe Guy]

I'm certain that the klux-people always leave their signature KKK at all their crime scenes.

Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?

[dales]

New Orleans is a secret California colony.

Shhhhh.........the plan is to infiltrate Lousiana via New Oreleans and turn all you hicks queer as 3-dollar bills.

[Gob]

Toothless Man: [grinning] "He got a real pretty mouth ain't he? Them panties. Take 'em off. Hey boy, you look just like a hog Come on piggy, give me a ride...Looks like we got us a sow here, instead of a boar....I bet you can squeal. I bet you can squeal like a pig."

[MajGenl.Meade]

Lord deliver us. One suspects that the KKK being written in toothpaste may have been an indicator. We all know Klansmen never clean their tooth.

This is a very sad story under any circmstance.

Meade

[rubato]

I am sure this is nothing for most of you guys and the areas you all live in, but is horrific for here.
... "

The South has the highest murder rate of any quadrant of the US:

The murder rate in Louisiana is more than 2x that of California.
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/murder- ... -and-state Because of New Orleans

The murder rate in New Orleans is 19 x times that of San Francisco and the highest of any city over 250,000 population in 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Sta ... crime_rate No argument here, if it was up to me I revoke their charter, fire their bourocrat and rule them like an old British colony.

yrs,
rubato

New Orleans is a secret California colony.

Baton Rouge as well?
http://www.wafb.com/story/14831241/bato ... -in-nation


Shreveport too? 2 x the national rate for violent crime?

http://www.cityrating.com/crime-statist ... IfqIIZ418F

Any more bullshit excuses you'd like to express?

It appears that the NO murder rate is high because it is in Louisiana, not the other way around.

yrs,
rubato

[Guinevere]

I thought Chicago was the nation's most violent city. 52 people killed in March alone -- mostly gang-related violence. Well over 400 homicides so far this year (New York had only 209 total last year). 160 in New Orleans. On a per capita basis, well, someone can do the math -- obviously Chicago is far larger than NoLa, but it is also certainly our bloodiest city in sheer numbers.

[dgs49]

I think Rubie was referring to per capita homicides, not absolute numbers.

Anyone care to calculate the rates minus BxB homicides? I suspect a different picture would emerge.