Bus Station Murder Trial Brings Spectre of Islamic Jihad to Southwest Missouri Community

Posted on March 24, 2013 by BobMcCarty

Did you hear the one about the man with a Muslim name who allegedly shot a total stranger at a Southwest Missouri bus station less than 48 hours ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States? If not, you’ve probably been relying too heavily upon the mainstream media for your news.

Mohamed H. Dawod

Mohamed H. Dawod is scheduled to stand trial April 16 in 31st Judicial District Judge Dan Conklin’s courtroom in Springfield, Mo.

Twenty-five years old at the time of the shooting, Dawod faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Sept. 8, 2011, shooting death of Justin Hall, 32, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He’ll be represented by Stuart Paul Huffman, a defense attorney who makes his living in the Show-Me State’s third-largest city of almost 160,000.

When I decided to update my coverage of this story, the only new item I discovered was that Dawod is, according to online court records, scheduled to be visited in his Greene County Jail cell March 8 and 9 by Dr. Thomas Blansett. The purpose(s) of the visits and/or whether or not they took place is not indicated in the list of docket entries online. One can assume, however, that the local psychologist might be assessing Dawod’s mental state for purposes of determining whether or not he was in his “right mind” at the time of the shooting.

Strangely, the only national coverage I’ve found related to the case appeared Feb. 24 in a round-up article in which Daniel Pipes examines eight killings in the United States of non-Muslims by Muslims that have gone unnoticed by the major media. His accurate summary of the Dawod case appears below:

Sep. 8, 2011: As Justin Hall, 32, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, was about to board a Greyhound bus in Springfield, Mo., Mohamed H. Dawod, 25, of Glendale, Ariz., shot him in the back. Dawod tried to fire more shots but his pistol, a .22-cal. semi-automatic, jammed, at which point other passengers subdued him. The attack appeared to be unprovoked. Police are seeking a motive. They charged Dawod with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting.

UPDATE 4/1/2013 at 8:41 a.m. Central: It appears another incident of Muslim Jihad took place in Ashtabula, Ohio, Sunday. In this case, however, the shooter knew his victim.

UPDATE 4/15/2013 at 9:50 p.m. Central: Instead of a trial, it appears a pre-trial hearing was held. During that hearing, a review of Dawod’s medical evaluation took place. No new trial date has been set.

UPDATE 4/17/2013 at 8:43 p.m. Central: According to a new docket entry posted Monday, Dawod’s defense attorney filed a motion for a psychiatric exam to determine whether his client is competent to stand trial.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I ask that you please READ and SHARE my extensive coverage of the Dawod case, because the national news media certainly will not. Headline links to my articles appear below in chronological order, oldest to newest:

• Police Say Deadly Shooting at Bus Station on Eve of 9-11 Anniversary Was Random, But Was It Really? (Sept. 9, 2011);

• Witness Says Suspect Asked Question in English After Deadly 9-11 Anniversary Shooting in Missouri(Sept. 14, 2011);

• Will MSM Cover Trial of Accused Killer in Bus Station Shooting on Eve of 9-11 Anniversary? (Sept. 16, 2011);

• Podcast of My Appearance on Aaron Klein Show (Oct. 3, 2011);

• Preliminary Hearing Set Monday Morning for Muslim Accused in Sept. 8 Murder at Missouri Bus Station (Nov. 24, 2011); and

• Whatever Happened to the Alleged Bus Station Shooter? (July 30, 2012).

Bob McCarty is the author of Three Days In August: A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier’s Fight For Military Justice, a nonfiction book that’s available in paperback and ebook via most online booksellers, including Amazon.com. It chronicles the life and wrongful conviction of Army Green Beret Sgt. 1st Class Kelly A. Stewart. His second book, THE CLAPPER MEMO, is coming soon.

Radioactive Waste Dangers Surface Again in Saint Louis

Posted on February 2, 2013 by BobMcCarty

KSDK-TV’s Leisa Zigman shared a series of investigative reports this week about cancer clusters many believe stem from piles of radioactive waste being dumped in the St. Louis area decades ago.

Zigman’s first report for the NBC affiliate (above) highlighted a cancer cluster map of St. Louis and spotlighted dumping near St. Louis’ Lambert International Airport and toxic runoff into nearby Coldwater Creek.

Her second report (below) focused on the Westlake Landfill, where a reported 8,000 tons of radioactive waste was allowed to be dumped in a flood plain, close to public water sources and without any barriers or other protective measures installed.

Zigman’s reports dovetail nicely with an exclusive story I broke 54 weeks ago about a controversial report about cancer rates among people living in the vicinity of the Department of Energy’s Weldon Spring Site in St. Charles County, Mo. The site had been placed on the EPA’s National Priorities List in 1987 because of the potential for groundwater contamination to adversely affect a drinking water well field less than a mile away that served 60,000 users in the area.

Click to read reports in my series, “Uphill Battle for Answers.”

Likewise, her reports complement the handful of follow-up efforts I’ve shared in my series, Uphill Battle for Answers.

Among my reports, I predicted that radiation exposure-related lawsuits were on the horizon after attending a meeting in St. Louis during which a gaggle of New York City personal-injury lawyers were hunting for potential clients.

In addition, I reported on how I had reached the conclusion that several Missouri state legislators seemed less interested in cancer dangers affecting people in their districts than they were in passing measures having to do with jumping jacks and butterflies.

Finally, after investigating similarities between the Weldon Spring Site and a “sister” site in Ohio, I used a headline to ask the question, Do Residents Living Near Weldon Spring Site Deserve Compensation for Radiation Exposure?

Now that KSDK-TV has entered the fray by reporting on this topic, I expect more questions — and more reports — will follow. Stay tuned!

UPDATE 2/7/2013 at 8:38 p.m. Central: Apparently, a handful of Missouri state legislators — including one mentioned in my post March 26, 2012 — paid attention to the KSDK-TV report and decided to unveil some of what Culture Vigilante Lisa Payne-Naeger calls “Yankee Doodle Legislation” requesting the U.S. Congress transfer authority for the remediation of the West Lake Landfill from the EPA to the Corps of Engineers’ FUSRAP project with the urgent, related request that the wastes be excavated from the Missouri River flood plain and be transported to a licensed radioactive waste facility, away from water and away from people. It’s a start, I guess.

"Three Days In August" Promotional Photo

Bob McCarty is the author of Three Days In August: A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier’s Fight For Military Justice, a nonfiction book that’s available in paperback and ebook via most online booksellers, including Amazon.com. His second book, The CLAPPER MEMO, is coming soon.

KSDK-TV to Highlight Radiation Dangers in St Louis Area

Posted on January 25, 2013 by BobMcCarty

NEWS ALERT: Barely one year after I scooped the local news media with my 2012 report, Missouri Health Agency Officials Refuse to Answer Questions About New Weldon Spring Cancer Report, I’ve learned KSDK-TV will broadcast an investigative report on the alleged impact radioactive waste sites are having on people’s health in the St. Louis area.

According to a promotional spot I watched on the NBC affiliate, investigative reporter Leisa Zigman’s first report on the topic is scheduled to air Thursday.

If you’re interested in this topic, I encourage you to read the reports in my series, Uphill Battle for Answers, and then let your elected officials know you want answers — especially if you live in an area close to one of the St. Louis area sites where radiation hazards exist.

Bob McCarty is the author of Three Days In August: A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier’s Fight For Military Justice, a nonfiction book that’s available in paperback and ebook via most online booksellers, including Amazon.com. His second book, The CLAPPER MEMO, is coming soon.

Senator Claire McCaskill Trying to Fool Missouri Voters

Posted on August 26, 2012 by BobMcCarty

Incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill would love for Missouri voters to think she is fiercely independent and not the dyed-in-the-wool Barack Obama supporter that she truly is. Perhaps that’s why, according to this June 29 report by KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo., she won’t be attending the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

Clearly, “Claire Bear” is trying to fool Missouri voters into thinking she’s opposes President Obama’s healthcare plan (a.k.a., “ObamaCare”); in reality, she supports it, voted for it and wants it to remain the law of the land.

If you do your homework, Missourians, you can reach only one logical conclusion: The Show-Me State needs a new U.S. senator, and the person for the job is Todd Akin.

Missouri 2012 GOP Primary Endorsements Offered

Posted on August 4, 2012 by BobMcCarty

For the first time in almost seven years online, I’ve decided to offer my endorsements of Republican primary candidates in Missouri who are running for seats in the governor’s mansion, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Those endorsements appear below with the two most important 2012 primary races, governor and U.S. Senate, listed first:

GOVERNOR: ELECT BILL RANDLES

Bill Randles & wife, Beverly

Randles’ GOP primary opponent is Dave Spence.

U.S. SENATE: ELECT TODD AKIN

U.S. Rep. Todd Akin

Congressman Akin’s GOP primary opponents are John Brunner and Sarah Steelman.

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Martin Baker

1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: ELECT MARTIN BAKER

Baker’s GOP primary opponent is Robyn Hamlin.

Dr. Randy Jotte

2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: ELECT RANDY JOTTE

Dr. Jotte’s GOP primary opponents are James O. Baker, John Morris and Ann Wagner.

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer

3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: RE-ELECT BLAINE LUETKEMEYER

Congressman Luetkemeyer has no GOP primary opponent.

U.S. Rep. Vicki Hartzler

4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: RE-ELECT VICKI HARTZLER

Congressman Hartzler’s GOP primary opponent is Bernie Mowinski.

Jacob Turk

5th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: ELECT JACOB TURK

Turk’s GOP primary opponents are Jason Greene, Jerry Nolte and Ron Paul Shawd.

6th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: No preference.

GOP candidates are incumbent Sam Graves, Bob Gough and Christopher Ryan.

Mike Moon

7th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: ELECT MIKE MOON

Moon’s GOP primary opponents are incumbent Billy Long and Tom Stilson.

Bob Parker

8th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: ELECT BOB PARKER

Parker’s GOP primary opponent is incumbent Jo Ann Emerson.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Don’t complain to me if you make choices Tuesday that are different than the ones I recommend above and your state and federals governments continue to run amok.

Bob McCarty is the author of “Three Days In August: A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier’s Fight For Military Justice,” a nonfiction book that’s available in paperback and ebook via most online booksellers, including Amazon.com. His second book, “The CLAPPER MEMO,” is set for release this fall.

Which State Has Highest Per-Capita Budget: California, Illinois or Missouri?

Posted on July 9, 2012 by BobMcCarty

Elected officials in the states of California and Illinois have built quite a reputation over the years, specializing in corruption, fraud and fiscal irresponsibility. Today, however, it appears their colleagues in Missouri are striving to gain similar notoriety in at least one of the aforementioned categories.

I reached that conclusion over the weekend after some simple math led me to answer the headline-shaping question above, “Which State Has the Highest Per-Capita Budget: California, Illinois or Missouri?”

According to the 2010 figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, California’s population was 37,253,956 while Illinois’ population was 12,830,632 and Missouri’s was 5,988,927.

The FY2013 state budget for California is, according to the Sunshine Review website, $92.1 billion. The Illinois state budget is, according to the same source, $33.7 billion. Missouri’s state budget, according to the Missouri Senate Blog, is $24 billion.

When you round and crunch those numbers, you get the following close approximations of how much money is budgeted per person in each of the three states: California budgets $2,626; Illinois budgets $2,472; and Missouri budgets a whopping $4,007!

Perhaps most disturbing about the numbers is something I didn’t spell out in the graphic above. The lines of data for California and Illinois are shown in BLUE to indicate the legislative bodies (i.e., house and senate) in both states are controlled by Democrat majorities while the lines of data for Missouri are shown in RED to indicate Republicans hold majorities in both houses of the Show-Me State legislature.

Surprised? Me, too! The information above stands as solid evidence of why we need to elect true fiscal conservatives — in Missouri and elsewhere across the nation — in 2012.

FYI: I’m not an economics wizard; therefore, I welcome any input that might prove wrong the conclusions I offer.

SEE ALSO: Brian Hook at Missouri Journal has been reporting on the state budget.

My second nonfiction book, “The CLAPPER MEMO,” is set for release this fall. While you await its release, be sure to order a copy of my first nonfiction book, “Three Days In August: A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier’s Fight For Military Justice.” Both books will make your blood boil!

Gardening Against the Law in Backwards Missouri City

Posted on July 3, 2012 by BobMcCarty

During World War I and World War II, it was considered one’s patriotic duty to plant a “victory garden” in order to reduce food costs. Doing such a thing today, however, could result in one man having to pay a hefty fine or worse if officials in the backward city of Ferguson, Mo., get their way.

According to a news release from Dave Roland at the Freedom Center of Missouri, Karl Tricamo never imagined that it would be especially controversial when he decided to plant a garden in his yard in order to secure cheap, nutritious, organic produce for his family. Just to be sure, however, he looked up all of the relevant ordinances in the city just north of St. Louis and confirmed that he would not be violating any laws.

Tricamo found that nothing in the ordinances prohibit citizens from growing healthy, organic produce on one’s property. In fact, the city’s zoning ordinances specifically allow residents to cultivate community gardens and urban agricultural uses in residential areas.

Because he planted the garden in front of his house instead of behind it, Ferguson city officials soon began to pester Tricamo, going so far as suggesting that his garden was illegal. Roland describes the chain of events that followed:

In March, shortly after he had tilled the garden in preparation for planting, the city sent a letter commanding that the yard be covered in straw and planted with grass seed – even though nothing in the city ordinances requires yards to be planted with grass or prohibits the planting of a garden on residential property.

Six weeks later city officials sent another letter demanding the removal of the vegetables from his yard because the property was not zoned for “agricultural” use, but of course the relevant section of Ferguson’s zoning ordinances explicitly allows gardens to be grown in residential areas. Then the City sent Mr. Tricamo a notice (below) alleging a violation of Ferguson ordinance number 7-133 – but that ordinance addresses the structural elements of residential buildings such as foundations, walls, windows and doors, stairways, chimneys, gutters, roofs, and buildings’ exterior surfaces. It says nothing about yards.

When Mr. Tricamo confronted the City about this violation notice, they rapidly backtracked and claimed that it had been sent by accident! The City said he should disregard the notice, but have continued to insist that Tricamo’s garden is illegal.

Coincidentally, Tricamo’s troubles are taking place just down the road from the city of Hazelwood, Mo., where city officials took issue with two Girl Scouts trying to sell cookies in the driveway. Coincidentally, the same lawyers who represented the city of Hazelwood against Caitlin and Abigail Mills are representing the city of Ferguson.

This situation illustrates a common practice among some city officials, writes Roland in the news release. When all else fails in their attempt to control citizens’ behavior, they sometimes just make stuff up.

Learn more about the case here.

After reading about this case, be sure to order a copy of my book, “Three Days In August: A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier’s Fight For Military Justice.” It, too, will make your blood boil!

BobMcCarty.com

Offering Opinionated Observations & investigative Reports Since 2006

Tag Archives: Missouri