Section A·Page 7
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, March 2, 2000
Nation
Two killed during rampage
The Associate Press
WILKINSBURG, Pa. — A gunman who reportedly flew into a rage because of a broken door at his apartment went on a rampage yesterday, shooting a maintenance worker at his apartment and customers at two fast-food restaurants before surrendering to police during a hostage stand-off. Two people were killed and three were critically wounded.
Ronald Taylor, 39. of Wilkinsburg, was arrested in an office building after he kept police at bay for two hours, holding four or five people in wheelchairs hostage at a senior hospice center.
"His mood went from anger to confusion — distraught, fear and remorse," said Sgt. John Fisher, a negotiator for the Pittsburgh SWAT team who talked to Taylor. "He bantered back and forth between killing himself and surrendering."
During the standoff, more than three-dozen children from a third-floor day-care center in the
"Me and my stepfather were sitting in the truck, and this guy just walked up and started shooting."
Q
Candy Zambo
Witness
building were evacuated, along with other workers.
Taylor, who was arraigned last night, was charged with two counts of criminal homicide. The specific charges Taylor may face will be set at a subsequent hearing. No ball was set, and Taylor was not required to enter a plea.
Police said they did not know whether Taylor had a job. He had no prior criminal record, said Detective James Morton.
The shooting spree began about 11:15 a.m. in this working-class suburb with nine miles east of downtown Pittsburgh. Police, responding to a call, followed him
Four people were shot at the Burger King and McDonald's restaurants along the main street in the borough of about 21,000 people.
to the restaurants and chased him into the office building.
The Allegheny County coroner's office said the deceased were John Kroll, 55, of Cabot, and Joseph Healy, 71, of Wilkensburg. Only one of the other victims, Richard Clinger, was identified.
Wilkinsburg police Chief Gerald Brewer said two people were dead, and three others were in critical condition in Pittsburgh area hospitals as of last night. At least two of the victims were shot in the head, said doctors at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Presbyterian.
Clinger was shot while sitting in his van in the McDonald's parking lot, his stepdaughter said.
"Me and my stepfather were sitting in the truck, and this guy just walked up and started shooting," said Candy Zambo, who was unhurt.
Stolen gun led to school shooting
The Associated Press
MOUNT MORRIS TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The 6-year-old boy who killed a first-grade classmate used a stolen gun he apparently discovered loaded and lying around in a bedroom at the "flophouse" where he was living, investigators said yesterday.
Authorities focused on possible criminal charges against any adults who gave the boy access to the .32-caliber pistol he used to shoot 6-year-old Kayla Rolland on Tuesday morning, a day after the two apparently had scuffled on the playground at Buell Elementary School
The boy is too young to understand what he was doing and probably won't be charged, the prosecutor said.
After the shooting, the boy put the gun in his desk and went to the school office, Superintendent Ira Rutherford said. After police questioned him, the boy busied himself by drawing pictures, Police Chief Eric King said.
"He is a victim in many ways," Genesee County Prosecutor Arthur Busch said. "It is very sad. We need to put our arms around him and love him."
Bush said the house where the boy and his brother were staying with an uncle was frequently by strangers, and the boy's father — who is in jail
— told the sheriff that people at the house traded crack for guns.
The uncle, Sirmarcus B. Winney, was arrested Tuesday night on an outstanding warrant on charges of receiving stolen property and was to be questioned, police said. A second man, who authorities believe once had the gun used in the shooting, turned himself in for questioning.
ing. "It's our understanding from the police investigation that this gun was obtained from a bedroom under
some blankets which had been left laying, apparently loaded, in this bedroom." Busch said.
Investigators also found a stolen 12-gauge shotgun and drugs in the house, the prosecutor said.
Outside the school yesterday, mourners created memorials of candles, flowers and cards for Kayla, who died a half-hour after she was shot once in the chest. Classes were canceled for the day, but counselors were on hand for anyone who needed them.
Police said they had gotten conflicting stories from the young witnesses about what exactly happened inside Room 6. Some said the boy pointed the gun at others first; others said he didn't. Some reported that he said something to Kayla first; others said he said nothing.
Busch said the boy was placed with his maternal aunt after the shooting, and police said he would be put in state custody.
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