Death is result of debate about God

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http://www.freep.com/news/cfp/3/vshoot28_20041028.htm

 

TAYLOR: Death is result of debate about God

 

October 28, 2004

 

BY JOEL THURTELL

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

 

A Taylor police dispatcher took the call at precisely 12:44 p.m. on

Oct. 18.

 

A 49-year-old man said he'd just blasted a man with a revolver and a

shotgun because the man said he didn't believe in God.

 

The dispatcher said the alleged shooter told him he'd just shot " the

devil himself " and was still armed and standing over the body of the

62-year-old victim " in case he moved. "

 

" I want to make sure he's gone, " the alleged shooter told the dispatcher.

 

The dispatcher asked the suspect how many times he shot the victim.

 

" Hopefully enough, " was the suspect's chilling reply, according to the

dispatcher.

 

When police arrived in the 15600 block of McGuire, they could see the

victim seated on a living room couch with major trauma to his head,

officers said.

 

They said they were certain he was dead. He was.

 

Lying on a hallway floor was a black 12-gauge shotgun. Two spent

shotgun shells lay on the floor nearby.

 

Later, police found a revolver with five spent cartridge casings.

 

On the way to the police station, the suspect told police " he did not

want to deal with anyone that did not believe in God, " according to

the report.

 

The report also indicated that the suspect and the victim knew each

other, although their relationship was unclear.

 

The suspect said he was an Eagle Scout, the report said.

 

The suspect said the victim had told him there was nothing he could

say that would convince the 62-year-old to believe in God.

 

Following this discussion, the suspect said, he went into another room

and removed his shirt. Then he shaved his face.

 

He tried once more to convince the victim to believe in God, but this

time, he had the shotgun.

 

" How long would it take you to believe in God? " the suspect said he

asked the victim.

 

" Not until I hear Gabriel blow his horn, " the victim allegedly

replied, while tipping his hat.

 

That's when the suspect shot him.

 

" I did it because he is evil; he was not a believer, " the suspect told

police.

 

The suspect said the victim " has been locked up most of his life. "

 

Michigan Department of Corrections records indicate the victim was on

probation for a drug conviction.

 

At the police station, the suspect commented that he believed there is

a God.

 

Then, looking at the floor, he seemed to have second thoughts: " Maybe

there's not, " he said.

 

Contact JOEL THURTELL at 248-351-3296 or thurtell