Shooting at Shanty Town

[thelakelander]

From Janet on SPAR's discussion board.

Hi all,
Another quick post because I should really get some sleep but at this point it's just ridiculous. I just wanted everyone to know that I am overwhelmed with the support that everyone has offerred. It just proves again that there is no place in the world quite like Springfield.

And if you want to do something for me and Tom, seriously, support our friends at Shanty. Raise a glass in Tom's name and let the world know that this is STILL a great place to live.

Thank you all again.

-Janet

http://www.sparcouncil.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3790&start=30


images of the two arrested:

http://www.sparcouncil.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=30897#p30897

[Driven1]

$hitbags arrested...

[BridgeTroll]

I am happily surprised and very thankful that JSO got these guys.  I am also proud of the citizens who spoke up with enough information to aid in the apprehension.  All too often people do not want to get involved or are fearful of retaliation.  Good job to those who stood up and made a difference.  This same attitude can help with a PROactive approach to law enforcement rather than a REactive approach...

[Driven1]

from today's T-U...

Man shot while leaving bar is in critical condition

Police charge two men with attempted murder and armed robbery.

By MATT COLEMAN, The Times-Union

A Jacksonville man shot during an attempted robbery at a Springfield bar Monday is still in critical condition

Thomas Provost, 41, a Worcester, Mass., native nicknamed "Boston Tom," was shot about 9:45 while standing in the doorway of Shantytown Pub on West Sixth Street.

Provost was leaving the bar when he was approached by a gun-toting man and his accomplice. Police said Provost attempted to take the gun and was shot twice.

His sister, Linette Provost, said he was shot in the stomach and neck. Her brother is hooked up to a ventilator at Shands Jacksonville and unable to speak, she said.

"It is killing me inside," Provost said. "I just cannot imagine what is going on inside his head."

She said he is in and out of consciousness, and doctors are slowly trying to wean him off the ventilator.

Christopher Olberding was in the patio area of the bar with about 10 other people when he heard two "pops." He said he thought he heard fireworks until a bartender ran to the patio and yelled Provost had been shot.

"Everyone was in shock, and people were wandering around the bar like zombies," Olberding said. "They stayed inside because they didn't know if the shooter was still in the area."

Olberding said a group of kids in front of a bike shop near Shantytown saw the shooter and his accomplice run down Main Street and through an area neighborhood.

Police arrested Curtis Lee Jones III, 21, and Nicholas Jerome McCray, 18. They were charged with attempted murder and attempted armed robbery with a firearm. Jones also was charged with possession of a firearm or concealed weapon by a felon.

Provost said her brother, a cook at Zodiac Grill, doesn't have medical insurance. The Shantytown staff is setting up a fund to help pay for Provost's medical expenses. The owners and staff declined to comment.

[nvrenuf]

"Olberding said a group of kids in front of a bike shop near Shantytown saw the shooter and his accomplice run down Main Street and through an area neighborhood."

According to the witness on the police report, they left in the vehicle they had parked around the corner. A red 1994 Thunderbird. Of course she doesn't say how far around the corner they were so they probably saw them running to the vehicle.

[Seraphs]

JSO rounded these guys up quickly.  Good!  Sometimes shootings like this go unsolved for a long time.

[downtownparks]

The look on that second kids face make me want to smash his face in. Its bad enough you have hurt a friend, and traumatized a few more, but now you are going to get a mug shot acting like your all big and tough.

grrrrrr

[David]

yea I thought the same thing.

Should we assemble an angry mob?

Ah if it were only that easy......

[downtownparks]

I have the pitch forks if you have the torches.

Oh well. I guess we have to put out trust in the justice system. Hopefully Shorestien will find this case solid enough to bother prosecuting.

[RiversideGator]

If convicted, they are likely facing 25 to life based on the statutory guidelines for shooting someone.

[downtownparks]

River, the 21yo I understand was the shooter. As he is a convicted felon, doesn't that carry a harsher sentence? Also, the robbery charge with the discharge of a weapon carries a pretty stiff sentence too normally, doesn't it?

[RiversideGator]

If convicted, the shooter should get 3 years for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge and 25 years to life in prison for the shooting.  I am not certain about the accomplice although he will likely get hammered too (just not as much as the shooter).  Their lives are pretty much over if convicted.  Here is a summary of the statute and its effect on criminals convicted of gun crimes:

Mandatory Sentences Under the 10-20-Life Law

The legislation (Chapter 99-12) enacted to implement the Governor's proposal provided mandatory sentences for felons convicted of crimes in which they used a gun. The following provisions [Section 775.087 (2)-(4), Florida Statutes] became effective for crimes committed on or after July 1, 1999.

For pulling a gun during a crime, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years is imposed. For certain felony crimes or attempted felonies, the 10 year mandatory sentence is authorized if the criminal possessed a gun (or destructive device). For firing the gun during a crime the mandatory minimum sentence is 20 years. For injuring or killing a victim by firing the gun during a crime, a mandatory minimum sentence from 25 years to life in prison is authorized.

For many years, it has been a felony crime in Florida for felons to possess guns. Recognizing that felons who possess guns, despite this violation of law, may intend to commit other serious crimes using guns, the 10-20-Life legislation provided for a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 3 years for such known felons who possess a gun. This provision alone has affected many felons sentenced to prison in Florida.

The legislation also increased to 15 years the minimum prison term when the offender possesses a semiautomatic firearm and its high-capacity detachable box magazine or a machine gun. However, so few of these convictions and sentences have occurred that this report does not examine them separately.
Felon possessing a gun    3 Years
Pulling a gun to commit a crime    10 Years
Pulling the trigger during a crime    20 Years
Injuring or killing a victim by firing a gun during a crime.    25 Years to Life

http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/10-20-life/bg.html

[David]

They do look a bit like movie criminals don't they?

Like if you were a casting director for a batman film, the second one especially would be your guy.

That's probably the look he was aiming for...that or cj from gta.

I can't believe that's what some cultures believe you have to do to get respect/streetcred/ or whatever pointless bullshit that exist in ones mind. I would say it was just about getting quick money only but the mugshot shows he's trying to project a certain image...

But hey....it's even more disturbing when the felon is SMILING in their booking photo, like that unf employee who had road rage and flashed his gun at another unf student:

[Downtown Dweller]

Have you read the police report? They are public. The “driver” a third person who seems to be a female has already given witness,  the reports I saw said the guys planned this, they met several times throughout the day to plan,  it wasn’t a spur of the moment “let’s get some money” robbery. Read the report, the shooter was quoted as saying “ When he walked up to the door, the cracker (victim) tried to take his gun so he shot him twice”. If either of these two get probation it will be a miracle. I think it is dreaming that even the younger one gets probation. It looked like in the reports they had both admitted to what occurred.

[soxfan]

I would think that if the girl who was apparently in the car has definitely turned witness, then the prosecuters wouldn't necessarily need the younger punk to plead out for info on the the older one. If they already have one accomplice who was, to a lesser extent, involved that is willing and ,apparently, already cooperating with the investigators, why would they want to let the younger one go with less punishment? IMO they don't need to deal with him. Just hang both of them from their balls for the rest of their lives...And the girl should get a little something for being involved and not trying to stop it.. These pieces of shit have ruined Tom's life. They've confessed to it. Now they should all pay dearly for it..