Sheriff: Gun in City Hall shooting came from straw buyer

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Sheriff: Gun in City Hall shooting came from straw buyer
| January 30, 2015 | Updated: January 30, 2015 8:12pm

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The shotgun used by a man who was killed in a confrontation with police outside a City Hall meeting in suburban Minneapolis was illegally channeled to him by a straw buyer, a sheriff said Friday night.

But prosecutors said the suspect in the so-called straw purchase had to be released because they didn't have sufficient evidence to hold him.

Raymond Kmetz, 68, had a long record of disputes with New Hope officials. He was killed Monday night after he opened fire on officers outside the New Hope City Council chambers. Kmetz could not legally buy a gun because of his history of mental illness, which included commitments to the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said told reporters Friday that Kmetz bought three guns via an online auction site and had a 42-year-old Golden Valley man pick them up for him at a licensed dealer. The guns included the shotgun he used Monday night.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Sheriff-Gun-in-Hew-Hope-shootings-came-from-6052549.php

[progree]

1. More on his long history of mental illness and commitments for that

"For New Hope shooter, criminal, mental health systems held no answer"

(Ray Kmetz, the one who shot 2 police officers in New Hope City Hall), 1/29/15

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/01/29/kmetz-timeline

[Judi Lynn]

2. Thank you for adding this background, progree. Sad. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

3. kick

what a fuckin' nutbar

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/27953911/video-raymond-kmetz-blames-new-hope-officials-for-his-divorce-homelessness

[passiveporcupine]

9. much empathy for the mentally ill

NOT

[Mnpaul]

4. The guns were purchased from the cops

The Duluth PD was the seller on the auction site.
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/290385351.html

Funny how they leave out that tidbit.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. No matter - there was a clean background check by a dealer

It was all done by the book, well, except for the part where the buyer was not the one making the transaction with the dealer.

If the police chose not to prosecute straw-buyers, then the practice will continue.

[Amishman]

14. The ATF can press charges as well, it doesn't have to be local

Since lying on the sale paperwork is a federal offense.

The ATF has a good 'Don't Lie for the Other Guy' program to deter straw purchases.

[onehandle]

5. Seems like guns need to be well regulated.

Say, that sounds familiar.

[Shamash]

6. Last I checked, shooting at people was illegal

Just like buying a firearm to transfer it to someone else is (straw purchase). That straw purchaser broke the law and was arrested for it.

Sounds pretty regulated to me. Unless you have a better suggestion that plays well with "presumption of innocence" and "the Democratic Party, the President and both his Supreme Court nominees accept that gun ownership is an individual right".

[onehandle]

7. Thank you for the regurgitation of NRA talking points.

Guns are not well regulated whatsoever.

But there will be a tipping point.

Tick-tock...



And goodbye...

[Shamash]

8. And thank you for demonstrating that you do -not- have a better suggestion, but we already knew that

[hack89]

11. Let's start by making straw purchases illegal. Nt

[ileus]

12. Along with murder...

[ManiacJoe]

13. This deserves a lot more explaining:

But prosecutors said the suspect in the so-called straw purchase had to be released because they didn't have sufficient evidence to hold him.