2 Killed, 4 Injured In WPB Wendy's Shooting by Tall, Black Jamaican Migrant

[The Bobster]

http://www.wpbf.com/news/15474521/detail.html

Police: Man Killed In Wendy's Shooting Went Back For Child's Toy
2 Killed, 4 Injured In WPB Shooting

POSTED: 12:24 pm EST March 3, 2008
UPDATED: 4:51 pm EST March 3, 2008

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A man killed during a random shooting at a West Palm Beach Wendy's restaurant was a fire-rescue lieutenant waiting in line to get a forgotten toy for his child, authorities said.

The victim, whose name has not yet been released, is reportedly 42-years-old and was having lunch with his wife and child at the Wendy's at Cherry Road and Military Trail around 12:18 p.m. Monday when an unidentified man shot and killed him. Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokesman Paul Miller said that the man had been a Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue employee since 2001 and had been promoted in January to lieutenant.

The lieutenant was about to leave the restaurant with his wife and daughter when he went back to the counter to get a forgotten toy, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Steve Delai said. Delai said that that is when the shooter, who is described as a tall black man wearing a baseball cap and a business suit, reportedly walked out of the bathroom shot the lieutenant, killing him.

"The toy was missing in the bag, so he had actually gone back inside Wendy's to retrieve the toy that was supposed to be in the bag. We don't believe that he ever knew what was happening. It appears as though he was the first one shot with the first bullet and died immediately," Delai said.

Miller told WPBF that the shooter then proceeded to "move from left to right," firing what is believed to be a 9-mm pistol at several other patrons inside the restaurant and hitting at least four others.

A 62-year-old man and 65-year-old woman were shot and taken to a local hospital in stable condition with non life-threatening injuries, Miller said.

A mother and her 16-year-old daughter were also injured in the shooting. Miller said that the teen was shot in the arm and the mother, who was not shot, appeared to have been injured while running away from the gunman.

Miller told WPBF that investigators are searching for other witnesses who were inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting who ran away. Miller told WPBF that several people fled the scene, some leaving their cars still running in the parking lot and drive-through.

Several lanes of Military Trail at Belvedere Road were closed while police investigated the scene.

A statement from the Wendy's corporate office detailed the company's condolences.

"This is a terrible and sad day for our restaurant and this community… because this is a senseless tragedy. Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families," the statement read.

A Wendy's spokesperson said that the restaurant is cooperating with the investigation and that the store's security cameras have been turned over to investigators.

[ZKR]

Wendy's Victim Went Back For Child's Toy

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A man killed during a random shooting at a West Palm Beach Wendy's restaurant was a fire-rescue lieutenant waiting in line to get a forgotten toy for his child, authorities said.



Lieutenant Rafael "Ray" Vazquez, 42, of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue was having lunch with his wife and child at the Wendy's at Cherry Road and Military Trail around 12:18 p.m. Monday when he was shot and killed.

Vazquez was at the restaurant with his wife and daughter when he went back to the counter to get a forgotten toy, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Steve Delai said. Delai said that that is when the shooter, who was described as a tall black man wearing a baseball cap and a business suit, reportedly walked out of the bathroom and shot the lieutenant, killing him.
Click here to find out more!

The shooter was later identified as Alburn Edward Blake, 60, of West Palm Beach. Police said he was a maintenance worker, but did not work at Wendy's.

"The toy was missing in the bag, so he had actually gone back inside Wendy's to retrieve the toy that was supposed to be in the bag. We don't believe that he ever knew what was happening. It appears as though he was the first one shot with the first bullet and died immediately," Delai said.

Vazquez, formerly a Town of Lake Park firefighter, was hired in February 2001 and was promoted to Rescue Lieutenant in January 2007. He was currently assigned to Rescue 28 at Station 28 in Royal Palm Beach. His wife, an officer with Palm Springs Public Safety and their five children, ages 4 to 21, survive Vazquez. Services will be announced later this week.

A total of four others were shot during the incident, including a 65-year-old man and 62-year-old woman who were taken to Delray Medical Center in stable condition with non life-threatening injuries, Miller said.

A mother and her 16-year-old daughter were also injured in the shooting. Miller said that the teen, a freshman at Lake Worth High School, was shot in the arm and the mother, who was not shot, appears to have been injured while running away from the gunman. They are being treated at Good Samaritan Medical Center.

A 43-year-old man was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in critical condition, Miller said. Witnesses said the sound of gunfire sent people running from the restaurant. Some people waiting in the drive-thru lane fled, leaving their cars running.

About 10 to 15 people were believed to be in the restaurant at the time of the shooting. No employees were hurt. A Wendy's International Inc. spokesman said employees gave statements and surveillance video to investigators.

Witnesses Describe Scene

Ashley Milton, 28, said she had just opened the door to get lunch when she heard the "pop pop" of gunfire and saw people running.

"I really didn't think that's what it was. I thought this can't be happening," she said. "You see your life flash before your eyes."

Sandra Jackson, 43, of Palm Springs, said she was across the street from the restaurant getting gas when the shooting started.

"I just saw a lady with a little boy in her arms come running out screaming 'somebody's shooting,"' Jackson said.

Jackson said several others came streaming out behind out the woman, who was hysterical because she said her husband was still inside.

Bob Bertini, a Wendy's spokesman based in Dublin, Ohio, said the restaurant was company owned and the chain was cooperating with the sheriff's office.

"This is a terrible and sad day for our restaurant and for this community. It was a senseless tragedy," Bertini said.

[ZKR]

And now, the inevitable puff piece about the "humanity" of the murderous jig....

Accused shooter known for his trucks, Christmas lights by neighbors

WEST PALM BEACH — The gunman in Monday's restaurant shooting didn't seem like the type to carry a gun, neighbors said.

Alburn Edward Blake, 60, of West Palm Beach, is accused of killing a Wendy's patron and himself in a restaurant shooting rampage that left four others injured.

West Palm police searched his residence but found no note. Officials believe he was unemployed, but may have worked in maintenance.

Blake lived in a tidy apartment complex near S. Olive Avenue and Wenonah Place in West Palm Beach. Neighbors were horrified to think that the man they greeted everyday was capable of such an act.

"He's an older man," said Eric Gutierrez, who lived one building down from Blake for the past three months. "He didn't look like Charles Manson."

As the sun went down Monday night, Gutierrez and other neighbors gathered in a small group in a courtyard near Blake's apartment and shared their impressions.

Betsy White said Blake was best known for his Christmas light displays.

"He put up nice lights," said Betsy White, whose kitchen window overlooked Blake's apartment. "In fact, his lights are still up." Just turned March, and the Christmas lights are still up....typical nigger sloth.

"We'd talk about the weather, we'd talk about Christmas foods," White said. "He was a nice man."

White's daughter, Christina Cambrelen, said she often stopped over Blake's house to have a drink with Blake and a woman she assumed was Blake's girlfriend, a tall woman in her mid 40s.

"I always used to see them drunk outside," Cambrelen said, speaking on a telephone from Massachussetts. "They always argued."

White added that she'd often hear a commotion from her neighbor's yard.

"They used to fight, yell all night long, yelling and screaming," she said.

When police broke down Blake's door to search his apartment this afternoon, the neighbors said, officers emerged carrying a big plastic bag of what looked like prescription medications.

Until Monday, the neighbors said, their biggest complaint about their neighbor was that he took up all the parking spots in the complex. He had two pickup trucks, which remained in front of his apartment Monday evening, and which his neighbors assumed he used in a maintenance or landscaping business. He also often would have a white van parked outside, which neighbors thought belonged to the woman who would stay with him.

One man, who wouldn't give his name, walked out to retrieve his mail.

He said he lived above Blake's apartment and would often hear Blake and the woman talking long into the night.

"I never knew somebody had a gun below me," the man said. After pausing for a moment, he rolled his mail up, tucked it under his arm and walked back inside. Gotta throw in that pro-gun control propaganda as the reader finishes the story. Typical Marxist agitprop journalism.

[3 Ks]

Wonder if they'll have a heroes celebration for this nigger, like the retarded ape in Kirkwood, MO?

[The Bobster]

Why not? It's another nigger with parking problems.

[Rasp]

Were any humans injured?

Man shot dead as he goes back to restaurant for toy



A group of primates gather to pray across the street near Wendy's restaurant in West Palm Beach, Florida.

[ZKR]

Killeen man a victim Wendy's shooting



A Killeen man is in stable condition after being injured Monday in West Palm Beach, Fla., when a gunman opened fire at a Wendy's restaurant, killing one and injuring four before turning the gun on himself.

Carl Michalek, 43, of Killeen, was shot in the upper right arm and was listed in stable condition, according to a news release from the Palm Beach County sheriff's office.

"I never even saw him (the gunman)," Michalek said from his hospital room Tuesday. "I got hit right away and I don't know what happened after that."

According to recordings released to local media at a press conference in West Palm Beach, Michalek called 911 and reported the shooting.

"I just got shot," he said to the operator. "A guy shot up the whole Wendy's ... My arm is blown half off. I'm losing lots of blood. Hurry."

Michalek, was in Florida for flight training in preparation for a new job as an airplane pilot. He said he was moved from intensive care on Tuesday morning. (Probable White victim, Rasp)

Michalek's name was not listed in the first reports of the shooting until his wife, Ruthanne, could be notified. According to reports, she flew to Florida on Tuesday to see him.

Until two weeks ago, Michalek worked as a salesman at Lone Star RV Center in Killeen. His former boss, J.T. Bowyer, said he quit because he was able to go back into flying commercial airplanes. Bowyer said Michalek was in Florida for a refresher course in flight safety.

"He's awesome," Bowyer said, describing Michalek. "Very dedicated person. Impeccable integrity. He would do anything in the world for you."

Bowyer is currently in Florida on vacation. Because he is 210 miles from West Palm Beach, he is hoping to visit Michalek in the hosptial today.

Paul Payson worked with Michalek at Lone Star RV Center. "We tried to get his information and to find out if his wife needed anything," Payson said about hearing of the shooting.

Officials in Florida are still trying to determine why Alburn E. Blake, 60, committed the shooting spree.

"We don't know any motive," said Paul Miller, a spokeman for the Palm Beach sheriff's office, adding that their investigation hasn't found any notes left by the gunman.

Miller said about 20 casings were found at the scene, 10 bullets of which struck victims.

"It's obvious he was trying to kill people, though," Miller said.

Brandishing a Glock 17 9 mm caliber handgun, Blake first shot Rafael Vazquez at point-blank range. Vazquez, a local off-duty paramedic, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Miller said Blake moved from left to right while shooting in the restaurant. Many people ducked under tables and Miller wasn't sure where each victim was in the room.

Finally, Blake shot himself. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.

Identifying numbers on the gun were "obliterated," Miller said, adding that tracing the gun's origin could take "a period of time" while the Burueau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted.

[Rasp]

'Demented' shooter abusive, ex says

[Whitebear]

Wendy's shooter born in Jamaica

On Monday, Alburn Edward Blake walked into a Wendy's in West Palm Beach, Florida and opened fire, killing one man before taking his own life.
Reports in the overseas media are that Blake was born in Jamaica.

When The Gleaner contacted the Jamaica Consulate office in Miami, Jamaica Information Service (JIS) officer, Cheryl Wynter, confirmed that Blake was, in fact, Jamaican.
She was however unable to give any further details as to where in the island he was born or what his family connections were.
"All I can say at this time is that he was born in Jamaica and came here on resident status," Wynter said.

Moved to Florida
According to PalmBeachPost.com, Blake was born in Jamaica, but moved to Florida 23 years ago.
Reports are that the 60-year-old landscaper walked into the crowded restaurant about 12:15 p.m., dressed in a sport and tie, and headed straight to the men's room.
He emerged several minutes later and immediately began spraying shots across the restaurant, killing a paramedic and injuring four others before shooting himself.
Investigators said Blake may have been depressed due to
Speaking with The Gleaner on Wednesday, Irwine Clare, managing director of the Caribbean Immigrant Services in New York, extended his condolences to the family of the dead paramedic and to those who were injured.
"The Jamaican and Caribbean community join with the rest of the world as we speak out against and condemn this heinous and tragic crime," he told The Gleaner from his office in New York.
"I would, however, like to categorically state that this is in no way a reflection of Jamaicans and Jamaican immigrants," added Clare.

A haven for immigrants
Clare said the United States was a haven for many immigrants from different countries and different walks of life who are exposed, like anyone else, to the same influences.
"Crime can happen at anytime and anywhere," he said. "It has no race, ethnicity, country or culture."
Clare, however, said he hoped the incident would not further malign Jamaica's already delicate image, and that the Jamaican community and its authorities would work assiduously to ensure that all is done to repair whatever damage may have been caused.

[ZKR]

Toxicology Report Finds Wendy's Shooter Was Not On Drugs

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A man who went on a suicidal shooting rampage inside a Wendy's restaurant in March in West Palm Beach was not under the influence of drugs at the time, authorities said.

A Palm Beach County medical examiner, however, did find extremely low levels of two specific metabolites in Alburn Blake's body.

Doctor Stuart Graham said Blake likely used cocaine possibly within days of the shooting. He said the low levels mean Blake was not high at the time.

The 60-year-old handyman walked into the fast food restaurant during the lunch rush on March 3 and killed a paramedic, then wounded four other customers before killing himself.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said the case is now closed.