Fw: Playful dog thwarts killing spree

[Guest guest]

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" BEKOFF MARC " <Marc.Bekoff

<undisclosed-recipients:>

Saturday, June 26, 2004 7:44 AM

Playful dog thwarts killing spree

 

 

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http://story.news./news?tmpl=story & cid=573 & e=12 & u=/nm/crime_canada_

gunman_dc

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> Reuters

> Friendly Dog Prevents Killing Spree?

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> Fri Jun 25, 7:56 AM ET

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> TORONTO (Reuters) - A Canadian man, driving a car packed with weapons and

> ammunition, was intent on killing as many people as possible in a Toronto

> neighborhood but gave up the plan at the last minute when he encountered a

> friendly dog, police said on Thursday.

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> The middle-aged man, who police said was mentally disturbed, had planned

> to carry out the shooting spree on Wednesday to ensure he would be put in

> jail permanently, Toronto police said.

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> He had set himself up in an east-end park to load his weapons and then

> planned to drive around shooting. He later told police that a dog then

> approached and started playing with him.

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> The encounter melted the man's heart, and he then went in search of police

> to give himself up, police said.

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> " He happens to be a pet lover, and decided that since there was such a

> nice dog in the area, that people were too nice and he wasn't going to

> carry out his plan, " Detective Nick Ashley told reporters.

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> Police found 6,000 rounds of ammunition, two rifles, a shotgun, a

> semi-automatic pistol, a revolver and an air rifle in the man's car, along

> with a machete and a hunting knife. The car also contained a throwing

> knife, a camouflage mask and netting.

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> He had recently arrived in Toronto from New Brunswick.

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> James Paul Stanson, 43, has been charged with a variety of weapons-related

> offenses and appeared in court for a bail hearing on Thursday.

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