Tuesday, March 4, 2008

An Almost Incident

My alma mater Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina was in the news yesterday. A mysterious man was seen walking near some college apartments with a handgun and wearing a ski mask. The campus was on lock down. The local police have no idea who he is or what he is up to. The man has not been found but the campus is still on alert. (Link to the full story here).

Now this reminds me of an incident that happened to me when I was a student at Appalachian State in 1994. One spring Saturday night I was hanging out with my friend Melissa and a couple of her roommates in their apartment. One of her roommates Christy was there with her boyfriend David. We all were just lounging around, having several beers and watching TV. Now I met David once before. My friend Melissa told me that he was in Boone by himself working and was not a student. He had some family problems in Pennsylvania and moved to Boone recently to get away. He seemed nice but oddly quiet. But, I didn’t know him well enough to judge him.

So as the evening progressed David went into the other room with Christy for a while. The rest of us paid no attention really. Then around 11pm we heard them arguing. I had no idea what they were fighting about but they were getting louder. They both came out of the bedroom and they were screaming at each other. Apparently this guy David was yelling at Christy for not paying attention to him. She is calling him crazy and possessive. Then Christy runs outside the apartment to the woods behind the dorm building. David chases after her. Obviously concerned, I then followed them. He wasn’t threatening her but we had this feeling something bad was going to happen. Melissa then called the campus police.

Outside the dorm I yelled to David to calm down and to leave her alone. We’ve been drinking a lot and you are not thinking rationally. This is where David shouts back at me ‘Vin, I suggest you go back inside as I have a gun’. I thought he was bullshit me at first. Then Christy told me that he was not. I turned white as a ghost. Yes I was worried that this guy was going to try to hurt her, but of course I didn’t want to get shot myself! My heart was beating faster than I’d ever experienced. But luckily somehow, Christy distracted him, and swiped the gun and holster from him. She came up to me with the gun in her hands hysterically crying. At that same moment, the campus police arrived. They calmed David down, put him in handcuffs and put him in the temporary jail over night. Christy explained to the police that he didn’t threaten her and that they both had too much to drink. She was not pressing charges. Lord knows why she didn’t. Hell, come to think of it why didn’t I press charges! At any rate, the gun was taken from him, he was set free but banned from our campus.

I spoke to Christy the next day and she explained to me that she felt bad for this guy David. Apparently he had no one else in his life. He was born into a strict Mennonites family in Pennsylvania. Christy told me he got some girl pregnant and they had an abortion. His family found out and ostracized him. They banished him and told him never to come back and he was no longer part of their family. Certainly a quite fantastic story. I am still not sure whether I believe it or not. Either way this guy David was really messed in the head. Later that week, Christy called me and said David wanted to apologize to me. I really wanted nothing to do with him. But for some reason, which still baffles me to this day, I agreed to meet with him. But I brought along Christy, Melissa and my roommate Ryan. We met one afternoon at an off campus in a public park. David was crying non stop begging me to forgive him for scaring me like he did. He partially told me about him problems back home. I just wanted this guy to go away so I said whatever dude, I accept your apology. I just suggested that he should stay away from me. I can feel bad about someone who has been dealt terrible cards in life, but not when my life is in danger.

I never did see him again. Christy, was smart enough and broke up with him soon after. I have no idea what happened to David. But I am lucky that this was just a passing incident and not a lot worse.

- The Mountain Cat

24 comments:

Karen said...

Wow. That is freaky story. You never know when someone is "packing" so you should always be cautious. There are certainly some sickos out there.

Lu' said...

Amen. Alcohol and guns shouldn't mix, desperation and guns shouldn't mix. Alcohol combined with desperation meets gun usually equals serious bodily injury or death. I am a trapshooter and rules state, had a drink you can not shoot. Even if you finish shooting and then get called for a shoot off later that night and you've had a drink, sorry forfeit! We do plenty when the event is over, but during, safety first. I know it might not sound like a good idea to drink even after the event, but to the best of my knowledge there has never been an incident involving the shotgun being used as a weapon at a trapshoot.

Ken said...

That certainly sounds like a scene that could have gone bad quickly.If his story is even partly true he could of been very scared kid in a scary world. If he was strict Mennonite he might have been having a hard time in the real world.

Doc said...

I agree... Keep the booze and the guns seperate.

Unknown said...

Shooting spree in Tennessee, killings at Wendy's in Florida, several college campus attacks...New York City is sounding more and more inviolable.

Leighann said...

Yikes. Scary stuff.

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

It's not unusual to see a man in Boone with a ski mask on or a man with a gun for that matter.

You can see why now the government has a division of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms.

Schmoop said...

Yikes indeed...Was the guy in the ski mask in the recent story Lloyd Carr? Cheers Cat!!

Anonymous said...

MTCAT
how can campus police let someone go when a firearm is involved...They have, as peace officers, a legal obligation to report the gun that was seized and the person who was using it as a threat against another. If this is the way these types of situations are handled on campus, I can see why other terrible things happen........even if the gun was registered it was used in a criminal fashion...Vin WOW! this upsets me.....

The Mountain Cat said...

Pat, Yup. I tried to remember all the exact details but I did see that guy a few days later off campus. I guess since no one pressed charges they couldn't hold him. Lesson learned on my part.

Ken said...

Hey Doc, it's Tuesday right?

Waiting........

Anonymous said...

I don't like guns...period. I'm not against them per say, but I definitely feel there's just no need for regular people to walk around packin'. Sporting or keeping it at home for protection is one thing, but this is a perfect example of why I feel the way I do.

...and I'm very happy that nothing happened to our precious Mt. Cat!! Whew! ; )

LeapOFaith

Doc said...

MickyT - Word game goes up at noon on Tuesday !!

Unknown said...

Doc,

Today is a day you should feel especially special and wonderful, cause you are the only one I'm commenting on!

Glad you liked the pie! It's awesome, isn't it? Did you make it the way I posted or did you do your own little twist?

Can't wait to catch up on this blogs!! Almost done with my 4th book!

Doc said...

Bina- I added my own twist because I do like green peppers so I used a whole bell pepper.. but I did ad your Mozz and parmesan cheese to the cheese mix... hell my wife actually told me without joking that I was gormet!!! (we are having the rest for leftover tonight)
Don't be a stranger Bina, come back after lunch and comment on my weekly word game...

The Mountain Cat said...

I posted this blog on a couple of Appalachian State blog pages. I hope to get some new visitors from the Blue Ridge Country.

Anonymous said...

That is some scary stuff right there! In the town I live in all we have is bank and gas station robbery's! that That is why I am licensed to carry a concealed weapon, but I don't I keep it in my apartment with me, and when I am going to be coming home really late I have it in my purse!

Stuff like this that is going on will drive you insane thinking of ways to protect yourself!

have a great day Mt.Cat , Doc I will be back for you post in a few!

Toodles
Single!

The Mountain Cat said...

Thanks SitC, I'd hate to confront you in a dark alleyway!

Doc said...

Hey Mt. Cat... Was the last handgun you ever held my nine milimeter?

The Mountain Cat said...

Yes Doc it is. What did do with that piece?

Doc said...

I will tell you some other time.

Anonymous said...

Booze and guns at Boone...I thought that was typical date material.

Jahooni said...

just a tad bit of info... i own 4 guns of my own. we have a complete arsenol at home. i love to shoot for pleasure. wierd isn't it.

TMC: say it over and over... i shall not fear GUNS. Again... I shall not fear GUNS.

The Mountain Cat said...

I shall not fear Jahooooni's GUNS.
I shall not fear Jahooooni's GUNS.
I shall not fear Jahooooni's GUNS.
I shall not fear Jahooooni's GUNS.