This is quite disturbing. I heard on the news sunday night that there was a mall shooting in Upstate NY, earlier that day. Saw a picture and it was Ulster County PD (next county over from where I grew up), and sure enough, the only mall in Ulster County is the Hudson Valley Mall. I frequented there when I was growing up.
Last night on the news here, mind you, Im in Colorado, they said the shooters name. His name is Robert Bonelli Jr. Well check this out, him and I and few other kids played together when we were younger. Kind of getting into trouble and doing mischievious things. I actually have a home movie from like 15-20 years ago with him on it.
The reason why it was mentioned here in Colorado, his because they think the guy had a fascination with the Columbine Shootings here in Colorado like 5 years ago. Thats some crazy @!#$ right there.
Anyone in NY also know this guy or live close to that area??
Quote:
TOWN OF ULSTER - A 25-year-old man who open fired at the Hudson Valley Mall appeared to have a "lurid fascination" with the Columbine High School shooting and a "respect" for those who participated in those killing, Ulster County's top law enforcement official said Monday.Ulster County District Attorney Donald A. Williams said that during a search of suspect Robert C. Bonelli Jr.'s home, which is at 13 Liberty St. in Glasco, numerous materials were recovered that indicated he had a fascination "with that tragedy.
"It appears clear that, at a bare minimum, he had a respect for the shooters who perpetrated the crimes in Columbine, and that is dangerously disturbing," Williams said.
Williams said that assessment is based on detailed material, including newspaper clippings and news accounts taken off the Internet, that were found in Bonelli's home as the result of a court-ordered search warrant. Williams would not be more specific, but said interviews conducted with Bonelli also suggest the Columbine connection.
In that case, 15 people were left dead after being shot by students on April 20, 1999, in Colorado. According to town of Ulster police, Bonelli walked into the Best Buy store Sunday afternoon at the Hudson Valley Mall, open fired with an assault rifle, and wounded two people at the popular shopping center on U.S. Route 9W.
Army National Guard Private Thomas Haire, 20, of Pine Plains, a military policeman, was shot in his left knee. He was in critical condition Monday at Albany Medical Center in Albany, police said. Police said Sunday he might lose his leg. Further information on his condition was not available Monday. Steve Silk, 56, of Kingston, suffered hand and legs wounds from bullet fragments and shrapnel and was treated and released at Kingston Hospital, according to police.
Williams said law enforcement officials have secured a blood sample from the suspect and it is being tested for the presence of drugs or alcohol. The prosecutor said the toxicology testing would take about 45 days to complete.
Bonelli was arraigned Monday morning before Ulster Town Justice Paula Leonard and ordered sent to Ulster County Jail without bail. The 15-minute appearance was held at 12:41 a.m. and included a court order for Bonelli to be assigned a public defender after a not guilty plea was entered on Bonelli's behalf by the judge.
Bonelli is charged with two counts of felony assault and one count of felony reckless endangerment. He faces up to 25 years in prison on the most serious assault charge.
Williams said after evidence examination as well as interviews with witnesses to the mall shooting it was determined that Bonelli was not on a "conscious effort to kill."
According to a report filed by state Trooper Kenneth Ward Jr., who secured Bonelli in his vehicle after he was restrained by mall employees and a town of Ulster police officer, the shooting suspect asked if he had killed anyone and told police that he acted alone. As he was sitting handcuffed in the back of the trooper's car, Ward reported, civilians exiting the mall began threatening Bonelli. After a quick conference with Ulster town Police Chief Paul Watzka, it was decided remove the suspect to Ulster police headquarters immediately for his own safety.
Bonelli, who is scheduled to reappear in Town Court for a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Wednesday, was dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit and flanked by two Ulster town police officers. He has a stocky build and closely cropped blonde hair.
Information was not clear during the arraignment whether Bonelli has prior arrests. He told the judge there was a probation hearing in December but following the court appearance police said details were not immediately available.
Williams said he does not believe the suspect had a significant criminal history. He would not be more specific.
Additionally, Williams said law enforcement officials are investigating the possibility that the assault rifle used in the shootings was purchased at a gun show held at TechCity in the town of Ulster. The district attorney said investigators with U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigations are tracking the history of the weapon and how it was purchased.
Watzka said the gun was purchased in October 2004 at a gun show in Ulster County.
Williams said he expects the Bonelli case to be given to an Ulster County grand jury in two weeks.
According to police, the following is what happened during Sunday's shooting spree:
Just before 3:15 p.m. Bonelli parked his black, 1993 two-door Saturn at the west entrance to Best Buy at the mall. He got out of the car with the Hesse Model 47 assault rifle and approached the entrance to that store.
Once inside Best Buy, he went east through that store, and started to fire rounds from the gun. During the Best Buy shooting was when Silk was struck by bullet fragments and shrapnel. Bonelli continued through Best Buy and entered the common area of the Hudson Valley Hall, continuing to fire his weapon.
Bonelli then walked south through the mall, toward the center court of the mall, firing along the way. Haire, who working at a recruiting booth at center court, was struck by bullet.
Haire was removed to a nearby store where employees and police used clothing and medical kits to control his bleeding.
As Bonelli walked still farther south into the mall, continuing to fire, he fired the rest of the ammunition and then dropped the weapon. At that point, he continued to walk and was tackled by mall employees.
Three town of Ulster police officers and a state trooper were able to take Bonelli into custody without injury.
The assault rifle was recovered at the scene. In all, Williams said that between 50 and 60 rounds were fired during the shooting. Bonelli, police said, had reloaded his rifle at least once during the shooting spree.
Freeman reporter Jesse J. Smith and correspondent William J. Kemble contributed to this report.
Quote:
GLASCO - The father of the suspect in the weekend Hudson Valley mall shooting pleaded for understanding Monday, saying his son never meant to harm anyone and that he has a history of mental illness.Robert Bonelli Sr., whose son, Robert C. Bonelli Jr., 25, lived with him at 13 Liberty St. in Glasco, also stressed that the family is in shock and is deeply apologetic to victims hurt during the shooting spree at the Hudson Valley Mall.
Bonelli, at times choking back tears, spoke to a Freeman reporter Monday outside the home where his mother, the suspect's grandmother, also lives.
"I truly want to apologize to the families and I truly say that, in my heart of hearts, he was not meaning to hurt anybody," Bonelli said. "If it had been a little bit longer ... he would have hurt himself."
"If whatever happened in that mall didn't happen as quickly as it did, I would be going to a funeral today," Bonelli said.
Bonelli referred to the fact that his son, who dropped out of high school, had fired between 50 to 60 rounds, ran out of ammunition, put the assault rifle down, and was tackled by mall employees before getting off any more shots.
"I don't think he went there with the intention to hurt anyone," Bonelli reiterated. "If anything, it was a cry for help in the only way he knew how."
The suspect's father said his son has suffered from varying types of mental illness, including depression, for quite some time.
"He has been through long emotional problems over the years," said Bonelli, who added that he and the suspect's mother, are no longer together. "He was very lonely inside, always a feeling of inadequacy."
"For as long as I can remember, he had a need for his mother that wasn't there and I think for the longest time he needed that love from his mother that he didn't have," Bonelli said. "Even though he is a young man at 25, some problems go deep."
Bonelli said he does not think prison will help his son, who, at times, worked odds jobs or did handyman work.
"Prison or jail isn't going to straighten it out," Bonelli said. "It isn't going to make the problem any better. I am just hoping that he gets the help he needs and, one day, I will get my son back, hopefully."
Bonelli said that "from time to time" his son would go to counseling.
"It seemed OK for a little while and things seemed to have gotten better," Bonelli said. "Up until this, everything was OK, as far as I see."
Bonelli said he also tried to help his son, who also suffers from low self-esteem.
"I always tried to make him see the brighter side of things and that somehow, some way, we would be able to work it out, be able to help him," Bonelli said. "No matter what happens he will always be my son and I will always be by his side."
Bonelli said his son telephoned him at about 3 a.m. Monday, presumably from the Ulster County Jail. The father said he didn't say much but was concerned about the family and his grandmother.
"We, as a father and son, had our problems," Bonelli said. "We had our differences. We didn't always see eye to eye on a lot of things, but I stuck by him since he was a little baby. ... That's how long my daughter and him have been with me and I never gave up on either one of them and I don't intend to now."
The Bonelli home, in which the two have lived for about 15 years, is a gray-colored duplex, located in Glasco, a close-knit, working-class section of Saugerties. Neighbors there, for the most part, were not talking about, the case but a couple of them said the Bonelli family is warm-hearted.
At times Monday, media representatives scoured around the neighborhood, which is located just off state Route 32. According to town of Ulster Police Chief Paul Watzka, the suspect is single with no children.
One of those who knew the Bonelli family is Vera White, an employee of Quick Stop Delicatessen in the town of Ulster. Both Robert Bonelli Sr. and his son often came into the store to purchase, among other things, sandwiches or play the Quick Draw lottery game, she said.
White was at the Hudson Valley Mall when the shooting occurred, she said.
"His son has always been pleasant and respectful," White said. "There were a few times he (Robert Bonelli Jr.) would come in, either by himself or with a friend, and you would never know they were back there (playing Quick Draw). He was pretty much quiet and to himself, but he was polite."
White said that, at times, she would see him at the mall. White said that his father is a "down-to-earth guy."
"My whole heart goes out to the whole Bonelli family, they are a big family, and they are a tight-knit family," White said.
Bonelli said that he spoke with his son on Sunday, before the shooting occurred.
"He just walked out the door and said, 'Dad, I will see you,' and that was the last I saw him," Bonelli said.
Jason P.
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