So, if the police knew about the Higland Park terrorist, why didn't a red flag

[Baitball Blogger]

strategy work?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. What did they know about him?

Serious question. I'm "working" now. I don't have the TV on.

Thanks.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. That's all I know. That he was on the police's radar.

My guess is that his father had some social standing in the community, so they gave him a pass.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. And that gives them cause to ... what? NT

[Baitball Blogger]

7. No idea what comes next. Red flag warnings sound really sexy, but,

apparently it means nothing.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. Depends

If he had been in a bar fight and been arrested for that, or had beat up a girlfriend and been arrested for that, or had been in a string of DUI-related MVAs and been arrested for those, then I can see where the police could do something.

If all they knew about him was, "hey, there's that guy that goes around Highland Par, dressed as 'Where's Waldo?'," I don't see where's that a lot to go on.

If he doesn't have a record, then maybe there was no red flag.

[Jilly_in_VA]

15. I can't imagine

THAT having a girlfriend. Boyfriend maybe, if said BF were really a masochist.....and I recognize that as possibly an anti-gay slur, for which I deeply apologize.

[Effete Snob]

16. Nothing

Police can't initiate the process in Illinois anyway...

https://icjia.illinois.gov/researchhub/articles/firearm-restraining-orders-in-illinois/

Only individuals with certain relationships to those who are at risk are eligible to file a FRO petition against them in Illinois; eligible individuals include blood relatives, presently married spouses, former spouses, persons who have a child in common, and household members (e.g. roommates, unmarried partners).

[Effete Snob]

14. The police have nothing to do with it in Illinois

Here's some information about Illinois' red flag law. The police cannot initiate a firearm restraining order:

https://icjia.illinois.gov/researchhub/articles/firearm-restraining-orders-in-illinois/

Only individuals with certain relationships to those who are at risk are eligible to file a FRO petition against them in Illinois; eligible individuals include blood relatives, presently married spouses, former spouses, persons who have a child in common, and household members (e.g. roommates, unmarried partners).

What is it you would have wanted the police to do?

[MontanaMama]

4. I'm curious about this as well.

I heard multiple times on MSNBC that the suspect was “known to law enforcement.”

[ForgedCrank]

9. It is an

interesting point for sure.
It could amount to just general stupid behavior in his past. When things are worded that way as I read on the WGN News website, it makes me believe he had multiple encounters with police, not that he was necessarily on some watch list. Maybe just a common nuisance or something.
I'd certainly like to know more about that. I'm sure we will in the coming days.

[Chainfire]

19. Heck, every one of us may be "known to law enforcement" just from posting here.

No telling what databases we are in.

I suspect that over the next few days, we will find out more than we want to about the murderer. Like most folks here, I presume that he is guilty until proven innocent, so the most important think to know about him is that he is an American terrorist, who was (probably quite legally) armed with weapon that was made to kill people, and had no mental or moral reservations about attacking random people for sport, probably seeking some kind of "meaning" to his pathetic life.

What we can be assured or, is that there are more just like him out there planning similar actions. There will be people who have already bought the guns and ammo and are waiting for their chance to become infamous. Our government enables them through their lack of willpower to go against the firearm industry. We can look to other nations to see the effectiveness of sane firearm controls, but we are unwilling to enact them. It is the power of the almighty dollar.

[LeftInTX]

21. A small town where everyone knows everyone.

His dad ran for mayor and city council, which puts him in the public eye.

I believe he may have had an arrest record.

However, when you drive around a small town with a vehicle that looks like this, the cops will "know you"...

Link to tweet

/photo/1

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Good looking people are below the radar

[rzemanfl]

11. He was WHAT? n/t

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Exactly

[Sympthsical]

6. Was this put into any kind of database?

I know California has a database for these things, so when someone goes to buy a gun, it gets flagged.

I don't know what Illinois law is.

There's also a difference between being aware and proactively taking steps. If there are laws to prevent this kind of thing and no one bothered to trigger the law, did they really use any kind of strategy?

[Effete Snob]

8. What, specifically, did they know?

The IL red flag law allows for two week suspension and temporary removal of the person's firearms, once certain conditions are met, and requires a court hearing.

It must be renewed every two weeks.

So, what is it that the police knew that would have been worth going to court every two weeks to prove?

[AkFemDem]

13. He's a weird looking guy with facial tats who made rap music

And sought lots of public attention. I’m sure he has had small run ins with the law, but that doesn’t mean he’d actually ever been charged with a crime that would have landed him on a red flag list. Being known to law enforcement doesn’t mean he had been suspected of violence- it could have been as simple as being known as a local pot head or petty thief.

[RobinA]

17. Yeah, I'm Not Sure

we want to live in a place where anybody "on police radar" is surveilled and/or harassed. I think it's called profiling. Which no one likes until somebody who fits a profile actually does something.

[LeftInTX]

18. Just "knowing someone" doesn't make them a "red flag" candidate

If he was driving around town in this crazy vehicle, cops would certainly have known him. His dad ran unsuccessfully for mayor and city council, so this would also put him in the spot light.

I believe he may have had a misdemeanor arrest in the past.

Link to tweet

/photo/1

[RussBLib]

20. because he is white?

just guessing.

Seems like maybe there should be some restrictions on posting murderous videos like this kid was doing.

"Oh, it's only my art" presents a rather tough nut to crack.

[usonian]

22. Strategies work ONLY IF YOU CARE.

Now, suppose that he was
• Black
• Posting "anti-fascist" stuff

There'd be detectives parked outside his house 24 by 7.

To quote a famous sports personality: "COME ON PEOPLE"

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

23. FYI, In Illinois...

https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/illinois-red-flag-gun-law-explained-how-to-petition-to-remove-someones-firearm
What is a Red Flag in Illinois Gun Law?

A “red flag” is considered to be any sign that points to a person’s potential intent or likelihood to commit an act of violence against themselves or others. These can include threats or comments relating to violence, a history of lashing out aggressively, or social media posts and text messages relating to violence. These red flags can also include signs of a person’s potential violence against themselves such as a history of self-harm or deep depression.

Under the Firearms Restraining Order Act, these “red flags” may serve as evidence to petition for an individual to have their firearms removed for at least two weeks. Recognizing and noting these signs of potential violence can be vital in assuring that a petition for a temporary firearms restraining order is granted and to know that a person is protected from hurting themselves or others.

How to Remove Someone’s Firearm in Illinois

A petition can be filed by a family member, an interested third party, or by police against an individual they believe to be an immediate and present danger to themselves or others. This petition for the temporary restraining order must be heard by a judge as soon as possible, either the same day it is filed or on the next court day. The hearing and order can occur ex parte, meaning with or without the accused individual present and without notice to the individual.