Vegas Shooters Provide Justification for Police Militarization

More details are coming out about the two would be revolutionaries who murdered two Las Vegas police officers in cold blood as they were eating lunch on Sunday at a pizza chain. The two perps, a charming couple named Jerad and Amanda Miller are being tabbed by authorities and the media as “extremists” and their history is chock full of right-wing ideology of the worst sort. These are not just libertarians concerned with the militarizing of the American police and gross transgressions of a rogue government but two obvious nut jobs who bought into too much of the same sort of agitprop that has been used to incite threats of violence against freed prisoner of war Bowe Bergdahl’s mother and father and his hometown of Hailey, Idaho which was forced to cancel a welcome home party due to the threat of a violent invasion by the same sort of deranged types as the Millers.

Reports have confirmed that the two left both a swastika emblem as well as a yellow Gadsden flag on the bodies of the slain officers  - Igor Soldo and Alyn Beck - and had come to see the police as oppressors and viewed law enforcement as fascism. That’s not too much of a reach in The Homeland where thanks to the federal government that local cops now more resemble soldiers in a war zone than peace officers. The two had bragged about attending the anti-government rally at the Cliven Bundy ranch in Nevada which was hyped by the usual pack of right-wing media and Republican political jackals who traffic in outrage and according to a Bundy relative they were run off as being too “radical”. The blog/website Little Green Footballs has several pictures that allegedly show Jared Miller at the ranch as well as of him being interviewed by a local television station. While it is not normally a place I would go on a regular basis for reliable information they have done a good job in compiling this stuff.

The activist talk radio host Alex Jones of Infowars.com is again being blamed for inciting an act of violence on police and a post that Jared Miller had written entitled “The Police (To Kill Or Not To Kill?)” has been published in the media. I have periodically listened to the Jones show over the years and long ago came to the conclusion that it is a front for the secretive ultra-conservative organization The Council For National Policy or CNP as well as the gun lobby and the John Birch Society but the actual host to my knowledge has never explicitly encouraged the killing of anybody let alone police officers. But it is the constant inflammatory rhetoric that incites troubled personalities to embark upon acts of violence such as what happened in Vegas over the weekend. I excerpt the following from Miller’s screed”

I believe in Gods law.  You know the ones.  Dont steal, dont murder, etc.  I fear that if they came, even with a warrant, that I feel they are being unlawfull and infringing upon my rights.  I feel that I have been violated and tread upon.  That the so called justice system has done me harm.  I do not wish to kill police.  I understand that most of them believe they are doing the right thing.  Yet, I will not go to jail, because I have not committed a crime!  I would rather die than be labeled as a criminal.  Let them call me a terrorist.  Let them label me as a fanatic, some nut job.  I know the truth, and so does God.  I’m sure our founding fathers were labeled as such.  Call me a radical, i will wear that badge with pride.  Because America is a radical idea!  Brought up upon radical thinking.  That each man has constitutional rights that are God given and cannot be taken away no matter what.  I refuse to stand by and let them dictate my life.  My family loves me, my neighbors love me.  I do good for the community, more than any cop can claim.  How can a police officer have a consience arresting people who have done nothing to harm a fellow american?  How can they sleep at night?  I wouldnt be able to.  So as i reflect, I’m being pushed further and further into a corner.  I am like a wild coyote.  You corner me, I will fight to the death.  I love America, i love the idea of it.  I am broken hearted tho to see people so pacified by materealism and obsession with hollywood stars.  It is our duty as American citizens to stand against tyranny.  To stand against corruption at all levels.  How did this happen?  That patriots like me could be resting under the boot of tyrants, and as i plead for help from my fellow americans they just walk on by.  All the while thinking, at least its not happening to me.  Yet, the sad thing is, it is happening to them.  So, do I kill cops and make a stand when they come to get me?  I would prefer to die than sit in their jail, when I have done nothing to hurt anyone.

While Jones’ bombastic style attracts the Jared Millers of the country and as it is so completely over the top that he is easily demonized – his website is now claiming that Batman has become the new Catcher in the Rye in seeking to defend the gun industry role in the ongoing wave of killings across the US as well as calling the killings a false flag – the real culprits are the accepted mainline “conservative” news organizations such as Fox and celebrity hosts such as Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck as well as the wave of cunning politicians seeking to cash in on anti-Obama paranoia. While I am a defender of the Second Amendment and a law-abiding gun owner it disgusts me to see the sort who have come to represent the right to bear arms – when your moral avatars are degenerate freaks like draft-dodging baby daddy Ted Nugent, a man who shit his pants at the draft board to avoid going to Nam so as to not confront something that actually shot back it is a problem. The plague of open carry laws, particularly in states like Georgia only serve to fuel the fantasies of the lunatic fringe like Miller and encourage them to buy more even more guns, booking profits for the gun manufacturers and their lobby the NRA and stripping Americans of their own Constitutional right not to end up being shot by one of these freaks.

While the Miller couple may have ambushed and executed those two police officers out of some twisted hope that their actions would trigger an uprising against what is in effect a heavily armed and truly dangerous police state in America they have only served to provide more justification for it.  In their desperate and ill-conceived rampage they have also done more damage to the Second Amendment rights of Americans that are constantly undermined by the actions of those who can only be called domestic terrorists. Sadly the criminals will become martyrs to a good many Americans despite their gift to the supporters of police militarization. 

Will Las Vegas Cop Shooting Trigger the Crackdown?

Sunday two Las Vegas police officers were shot and killed by a couple in a CiCi's Pizza restaurant by a two people who then reportedly shouted something about "the revolution" - according to various reports "tell the police the revolution has begun" or  "this is a revolution" - before taking the cops' weapons and proceeding to enter a Wal-Mart store where they killed one more person then themselves. There are reports that a Gadsden flag, the yellow Revolutionary war symbol used to drape the body of the slain officers although details are still sketchy regarding this act of violence that perfectly serves the need for the US government to engage in a massive national crackdown to squash the growing knowledge that the entire system has gone rogue. It certainly is fortuitous timing given that the Obama administration was reviving the national domestic terror task force for the first time since it was closed down in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks as the brown-skinned devil Muslims were the official enemy.

That the two shooters, who reportedly committed suicide while at the Wal-Mart store have already been tabbed by the authorities and the media as being white supremacists so expect an Obama speech - whenever he can pull himself away from pushing for hostilities leading to a war on Russia - denouncing the attack which while a cowardly act by two individuals with apparent grievances will be used to paint any anti-government dissent with a broad brush. A crackdown on right-wing groups, particularly white supremacists will provide perfect cover for also going after other groups like anti-war activists, environmentalists, BDS advocates, anti-abortion groups and allow for the government goons to be fully prepared for that massive protest in New York City this fall to call for action on climate change. As former Obama Chief of Staff and now Chicago mayor once said "we never want a serious crisis to go to waste" and this is a perfect opportunity to beat back the revolt of the peasants against the corrupt, entrenched oligarchy and their war machine.

The story is still developing but this account from The Las Vegas Review-Journal probably is the best account as it is local and other than the references to the two being white supremacists and wanting to kill cops hasn't yet been run through the national media spin cycle:

Shooters in Metro ambush that left five dead spoke of white supremacy and a desire to kill police

Two Las Vegas police officers were killed Sunday in what appears to be a politically motivated ambush in a pizza restaurant that spilled over to a nearby Wal-Mart, where the two shooters committed suicide after killing a woman in the store.

Details are sketchy but Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sources close to the investigation say the shooters shouted that “this is the start of a revolution” before opening fire on the officers, and draped their bodies with cloth showing a Revolutionary War-era flag. Investigators have also found paraphernalia associated with white supremacists.

Sunday night Metro homicide investigators and FBI agents cordoned off and were searching a small apartment complex at 110 S. Bruce St., about four miles from the shooting scene. A resident of the complex said he had spoken with a man who lived in the apartment being searched. He said the man appeared “militant,” and often talked about conspiracy theories.

Sheriff Doug Gillespie said officers Alyn Beck, 41, and Igor Soldo, 31 were shot while they ate lunch at a CiCi’s Pizza, 309 N. Nellis Boulevard, at about 11:20 a.m. Sunday. In a late afternoon news conference he said no motive for the attack has been determined.

“It’s a tragic day,” the sheriff said. “We have lost two officers with young families.”

Beck was a senior patrol officer who had taught Advanced Officer Skills Training and at the Metro academy. He was hired by Metro in 2001 and had a wife and three children.

Soldo has been a Metro officer since 2006 and had a wife and baby. Both were uniform patrol officers assigned to the Northeast Area Command.

A law enforcement official who has been briefed on the incident said an officer — unconfirmed reports indicate it was Soldo — was refilling a soft-drink when the female shooter approached him from behind and shot him in the head, killing him instantly.

The woman then shot the other officer several times as he drew his pistol. Gillespie said the officer was able to return fire but it was unclear if he hit anyone.

One officer was reported dead at the scene, while the other died later in surgery at University Medical Center.

Witnesses told police one of the shooters yelled “This is the start of a revolution” before shooting the officers. Gillespie later said he could not confirm that.

The shooters then stripped the officers of their weapons and ammunition and badges, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation. They then covered the officers with something that featured the Gadsden flag, a yellow banner with a coiled snake above the words, “Don’t tread on Me.”

The flag is named for Christopher Gadsden a Revolutionary War general who designed it. It has recently come back in vogue as an adopted symbol of the American tea party movement.

The shooters left the pizza parlor and headed into the Wal-Mart across the street at 201 North Nellis. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing shots fired in quick succession inside the Wal-Mart.

At a news conference at about 1 p.m. Assistant Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the male shooter, described as a tall white man, yelled “everyone get out” before shooting.

One unconfirmed report is that the two exchanged gunfire with a citizen who was carrying a concealed weapon, and that one of the shooters was injured.

A woman was shot and killed just inside the front doors of the Wal-Mart. Her name has not yet been released.

As Metro officers entered the front and back doors of the store they exchanged gunfire with the shooters, Gillespie said.

The female shooter then shot her accomplice at least once before shooting herself in the head, a law enforcement official said. The wounded man then shot and killed himself. Their identities have not been released by police.

Both shooters were reportedly carrying large duffle bags, and a bomb squad was called to the scene. It’s unclear what, if anything, was found in the bags. A fire department official said the bomb squad response was “a precaution.”

“We will not comment on specifics at this time,” FBI spokeswoman Bridget Pappas said of her agency’s involvement in the investigation. “The FBI is working closely with LVMPD and our law enforcement partners to determine the facts of this tragic incident.”

The shooters were a married couple thought to be in their late 20s who were new to the Las Vegas Valley, according to a law enforcement official close to the investigation. Police are looking into their links to the white supremacy movement and found swastika symbols during their initial investigation.

Residents of the Bruce Street apartment complex gathered outside the building to talk about the couple whose unit was being searched.

Neighbor Krista Koch described them as “militant.” They talked about planning to kill police officers, “going underground” and not coming out until the time was right to kill.

Brandon Monroe, 22, has lived in the complex for about two weeks. He said the man who lived in the apartment that was being searched often rambled about conspiracy theories. He often wore camouflage or dressed as Peter Pan as a Fremont Street Experience street performer. A woman lived with him, Monroe said, but he didn’t see her as often.

They were weird people, Monroe said, adding that he thought the couple used methamphetamines.

Neighbors did not know the couple’s names.

Las Vegas police have not said if they believe the attack was more than an isolated incident, but the department asked for any available off-duty officers to work Sunday afternoon. Patrol squads were doubling up so each officer would have a partner, sources said. Metro officers usually patrol solo, but Gillespie said they would continue to ride with partners in the coming days while the investigation continues.

Metro also asked all department members to shroud their badges with a diagonal black band, which is often done as a sign of respect for fallen officers.

“It’s a very, very difficult day,” Gillespie said, “but we still have a community to police, and we still have a community to protect.”

Marlene Buck works at the Denny’s on Nellis across from Wal-Mart. She said she was impressed with how quickly Metro responded.

“It took less than fifteen minutes,” she said.

As police patrol cars cordoned off the street, Buck said restaurant customers crowded against the windows and started to rush outside.

“I did everything I could to keep everyone inside,” she said, adding it looked like a war zone and making a machine-gun gesture with her hands.

Late into the afternoon dozens of bystanders were standing outside police tape, watching the investigation. Wal-Mart employees and shoppers cried and hugged before police took them to be interviewed in a nearby store. After talking with witnesses, officers took them to one of several buses waiting in the parking lot.

A grandmother who was shopping in Wal-Mart with her two teenage granddaughters said they crouched in a makeup aisle when they heard shots. She prayed out loud, but the girls asked her to keep quiet so the shooters wouldn’t find them. When they peeked around the aisle and couldn’t see the shooters, they ran out of the store.

Cici’s and Wal-Mart were closed while Metro investigated. CiCi’s Vice President of Operations Geoff Goodman expressed condolences on behalf of the chain.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and our hearts go out to the families and friends of the officers,” Goodman said in a statement. “CiCi’s is assisting police in any way we can.”

Metro had never before seen two officers killed in a single incident. Gillespie said Sunday was an “unprecedented day.”

Three Las Vegas police officers have died in separate on-duty incidents in recent years.

David Vanbuskirk, who died during a helicopter rescue at Mount Charleston, was the first Metro officer killed on-duty since 2009, a year when three officers died in traffic crashes and officer Trevor Nettleton was shot.

Nettleton had just finished his patrol shift when he was attacked in his garage by several would-be robbers, who were later charged with his murder. Although Nettleton had finished his patrol shift and was in street clothes, Metro classified his death as on-duty.

Sgt. Henry Prendes was shot and killed responding to a domestic violence call in 2007.

“We have been luckier than other police agencies,” a Metro officer who asked not to be identified said Sunday. “In a town like this, with the criminals and scumbags we’re dealing with every day, you’re always wondering when something is going to happen.”

The agency lists 18 other on-duty deaths in department history, including seven officers killed before the Las Vegas Police Department consolidated with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in 1973.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman called the attack “a senseless and cruel act killing three innocent people, two who dedicated their lives to protecting all of us in our community and one who was innocently going about her daily life. At UMC Trauma and thereafter with fellow officers, I saw their pain was evident and clear. Their resolve was greater than ever to serve our community with loyalty, dedication and to honor the memory of their two comrades and friends.”

Dozens of Metro patrol cars were parked around UMC on Sunday afternoon the North Las Vegas police Mobile Command Center also was stationed outside the hospital.

Goodman directed that all flags at city facilities be lowered to half-staff.

District Attorney Steve Wolfson went to the scene of the shooting, which he called senseless.

“It is a terrible, terrible day. This community is going to be rocked by this for some time,” Wolfson said.

Gov. Brian Sandoval late Sunday issued the following statement about the attack:

“I am devastated by the news today of two officers and an innocent bystander who were murdered in an act of senseless violence. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. I am receiving regular updates with regard to this tragedy and local and state law enforcement are assisting at the scene.”

Gillespie said he had spoken with the families of the fallen officers.

“Of course, they’re devastated,” Gillespie said. “At a moment’s notice they’ve lost their loved one. But we will be very close by and we will work very closely with them as we move forward through the grieving process.”

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

This could finally be the pretense that the US government needs to have the NSA begin to start generating the pickup lists and for the black vans to start rolling. As the LVRJ story advises "This is a developing story. Check back for details" of which there will be many once Washington has adapted this brutal act of violence to suit the agendas of the power structure.