Okay, maybe the headline is a little alarminst. Hey, I just write the stories, not the headlines! Blame my editor. But as Confederate Yankee reminds us,
. And the guy's name, you know, is
.
A University graduate careened his silver Jeep Grand Cherokee through the Pit on Friday about noon, striking nine pedestrians and sending six to UNC Hospitals.
Mohammed Reza Taheriazar, 23, who graduated in 2005, is in custody at the Department of Public Safety after turning himself in after the incident. He was born May 5, 1983, according to University registrar records. He was a psychology and philosophy major. He was published in The Charlotte Observer for dean's list honors in spring 2005.
At about 2 p.m. a bomb threat was called into the University Commons apartments, at 303 Smith Level Road. State Bureau of Investigations officials entered the building at 3:03 p.m.
Capt. Joel Booker, of the Carrboro Police Department, said they are not sure how the threat is related to the campus incident.
Chapel Hill police spokeswoman Jane Cousins said a Mohammed Reza Taheri-Azar has a prior arrest. He was arrested June 16, 2003 on one count of resisting arrest and reckless driving.
Six victims were transported to UNC Hospitals, including a 20-year-old female suffering from a head injury and a 42-year-old male suffering from road rash. Five of the victims were students.
Stephanie Crayton, hospitals spokeswoman, said she does not anticipate that any of the victims will be admitted.
Sophomores Tiffany McDole and Jeff Hoffman were among those hit.
"I see everyone kind of part because there's a car coming through Â… and the next thing I know, I'm on his windshield," Hoffman said afterward. His arm was bandaged but he mostly was OK.
According to reports on the scene, the vehicle entered the Pit through the walkway between Greenlaw Hall and Lenoir Dining Hall, going through the Pit and exiting between Lenoir and Davis Library. Skid marks were visible around the corner of Lenoir and Greenlaw.
"He hit one person, I remember, he just hit him and the guy just flew," said junior Michael Highland, who was at the scene. "A few others got hit partially. I and some other people ran after it to get a license plate. But he was too far away. We ran after him to see where he went."....
Capt. George Hare, of DPS, said at a University press conference that it was an ongoing investigation.
"It's in its early stages," he said.
Hare said police will charge Taheriazar with "at least" multiple felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. The car is the weapon in the assault.
"This assault Â… is not a traffic accident. It's an assault."
. Could just be some drunk Persian. I hope so. But I also hope that the police and UNC won't try to make a preemptive, "this is not terrorism" statement like
. When such statements are made before ANY investigation, it just looks like a cover up. Especially given the context of the GWOT and threats made over the Muhammed cartoons.
1
Why don't we jump the gun a little bit, folks?
Posted by: Hepstyle at March 03, 2006 03:54 PM (M8Cvj)
2
Prediction as follows: Muslim students will become very afraid these next few days as more, and more large healthy football players give them the evil eye.
Posted by: Leatherneck at March 03, 2006 05:08 PM (D2g/j)
3
I'm going with the rogue SUV angle - they are out to destroy the world!
Posted by: hondo at March 03, 2006 05:08 PM (fyKFC)
4
terrorism ?? or mental illness ? it is often difficult to tell the difference
Posted by: john ryan at March 03, 2006 05:38 PM (TcoRJ)
5
Mohammed Reza Taheriazar has admitted that he did it in retribution for the treatment of Muslims around the world:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=local&id=3958312
Posted by: Tim at March 03, 2006 07:06 PM (5rYy9)
6
I bet he just had a bad week. Now, now, don't go blaming this on his religion;after all it does advocate peace.
Bonus peace points!: --"[A student tells WRAL that "He was speeding up and swerving to hit people. One person got knocked out of a WHEELCHAIR, and he didn't care."]"
(
Posted by: jonathan at March 03, 2006 07:57 PM (rh5AQ)
7
I bet he just had a bad week. Now, now, don't go blaming this on his religion; after all it does advocate peace.
Bonus peace points!: --"[A student tells WRAL that "He was speeding up and swerving to hit people. One person got knocked out of a WHEELCHAIR, and he didn't care."]"
(Incredulous caps mine)
Posted by: jonathan at March 03, 2006 07:59 PM (rh5AQ)
8
From Tim's link:
Sources say Taheriazar told police he was seeking retribution for the treatment of Muslims around the world, according to ABC News justice correspondent Pierre Thomas. Taheriazar apparently told police he tried to rent the biggest SUV he could find to use in the attack.
Angry about cartoons? -- run people over with a SUV.
I think this is my all time favorite Islam "funny" pic.
http://www.sacredcowburgers.com/parodies/real_islam.jpg
"We're a religion of peace, and we'll kill you to prove it!"
Posted by: dave at March 03, 2006 09:33 PM (CcXvt)
9
As with my comment on another thread; anyone who can present a convinving argument why we shouldn't start rounding up muslims and hanging them, I'd love to hear it.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at March 03, 2006 11:15 PM (0yYS2)
10
I still can't believe he did this at UNC. He's a UNC grad, and UNC is the most liberal school in the state. There is a lot sympathy for Muslims there. Why not drive 15 minutes away and attack UNC's arch-nemisis at Duke? It would be a bonus for him because Duke is full of those evil rich white men that everyone hates.
Posted by: Laura at March 04, 2006 12:44 AM (igEmp)
11
OK...this is insane. I think that this guy should be locked up and the key should be melted into a bullet to shoot him with. Even if he claimed this attack was on behalf of his religion, what good would it do to his cause? If anything it will worsen tentions between people of middle eastern/ muslim decent and everyone else. I personally have nothing agaist Islam, but horrible people like him don't deserve the air they continue to breathe. How is running over innncoent people in cars any different than what is being done to the "muslims around the world". People like this guy are the reason why I support the death penalty. And yes I AM a minority.
Posted by: Donovan at March 04, 2006 01:54 AM (PX1C0)
12
I just want to say to any Muslim or person of middle eastern decent who may be reading this, I KNOW that this guy may share your same religion but does NOT necessarily share all of your same morals and beliefs. I hope that others at this university will feel the same way, and reconize that your culture is not only unique, and valid in its own right.
Posted by: Donovan at March 04, 2006 01:59 AM (PX1C0)
13
"I think that this guy should be locked up and the key should be melted into a bullet to shoot him with."
IM, I believe you've just been one-upped!
Posted by: Oyster at March 04, 2006 08:54 AM (YudAC)
14
>>>I still can't believe he did this at UNC. He's a UNC grad, and UNC is the most liberal school in the state.
Liberals will get the heads chopped as surely as we conservatives would if these muslim nutjobs get their way. We keep telling you that and you keep ignoring it.
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at March 04, 2006 10:00 AM (8e/V4)
15
Ok...
1.) "I did it cause of the way Americans treat Muslims."
My response: Yeah.. I guess cutting off people's heads on TV is pretty humane. That and strapping bombs to yourself and killing anyone around you. Sounds like people in that region of the world are born with mental issues...
2.) UNC Campus?
My response: Go to school in your own country if you hate Americans
3.) Let's hit random students
My response: Yes.. nothing like hurting innocent people to prove your point (if you have one)... thats the signature of a Muslim who is mad......
4.) Prior arrests for resisting arrest and reckless driving??
My response: You're so fu*kin going to jail this time, and ACLU cannot do a damn thing
:-) Why does immigration even bother letting them IN if this is the sentiment they have for this nation? Let Europeans in here, at least they aren't total loose cannon psychopaths
Posted by: Mikey K at March 04, 2006 01:42 PM (gC0GX)
16
where to begin!?
UNC? liberal school.
What did americans do to him?
Oh...let him into our country and take up a spot at UNC.
What is his point? The majority of his own religion does not agree with him...
If this guy is so smart he could have used the pit as an theatre to talk about how he felt..and used his philosophy/ psychology degree for some good.
it just gives me a great idea...i'll throw applesauce at random people walking in the mall and think to myself "yes! i've proved my point!"
when your actions have no connection to your plight...you are just wasting your time and our time.
When you rely on your ethnic or religious background alone to speak as your reasoning, you are promoting racial and religious profiling, and misrepresenting millions of people.
Posted by: monkey girl at March 04, 2006 02:37 PM (JW3d2)
17
Hmmm, key made into bullet... yep, that's a good one, to which I shall retort after a few beers.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at March 04, 2006 03:08 PM (0yYS2)
18
Taheriazar! Terrorizer? You do the math!
Posted by: Beavislam at March 05, 2006 04:46 PM (Y2ILH)
19
Uhhhhh Laura.... to even suggest he go somewhere else and attack people at another school, and then drag RACE into it (evil white men) makes you no better than Mr. Taheriazar himself. To even joke around about something like that is totally disgusting.
I am a Liberal and even I found that in poor and totally uneducated taste..
Posted by: Mikey K at March 05, 2006 04:55 PM (8tO5m)
20
Yeah... I agree with Mikey on that one... Laura your remark was sickening at best. That's the kind of mindset that is making this nation fall apart more and more each year... when Americans support the dismantling of their own homeland and the dismissal of our own suffering simply to please those who don't like us.
Think before you post, cause I already have the impression that you are a far left moron.
Posted by: Bender at March 06, 2006 12:09 PM (8tO5m)
Posted by: Carloso at March 11, 2006 11:01 PM (8tO5m)
22
Laura, who the f$ck do you think you are saying something like that? You should be disenrolled for such idiocy.
Fat bitch
Posted by: Jonathan at March 24, 2006 08:19 AM (3mpfi)
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