More information about the Southwest VA post-office hostage-taker

[Withywindle]

Followup to this story: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4196760&mesg_id=4196760

Basically, five (? Three at release time, but others escaped) people were held hostage in a standoff at a small-town Virginia post office for nearly 9 hours yesterday, the day before Christmas Eve. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the suspect is now in custody.

His name is Warren Taylor. He's 53 years old, diabetic, missing a leg, in a wheelchair, and he has quite a rap sheet.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/breaking/wb/230787

And a sad life. Oh, and he also appears to be a freeper who hates the government.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/230788

Here's a British take on the story:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1238259/Wheelchair-bound-gunman-surrenders-hour-post-office-siege.html

There is a rumor going around that he had a son who was killed in Afghanistan. This MSNBC story mentions that he told the hostages that, but I can't find any actual independent confirmation yet:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34586811/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/


The point? Well, it hits very close to me because I'm from this area. (It's pronounced "WITH-ville") But in the big picture, right now, this is a nation full of desperate, angry, violent, miserable people who believe they have nothing left to lose. I know this isn't a feel-good message for Christmas Eve. (Although the fact that no one was hurt in this incident IS - it could have gone much worse). It's still important to keep in mind all the time.