[quote=no_such_reality]Looks like police have released the video from the gas station altercation.
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article66431532.html
[/quote]
I watched it and observed a few things. Even though it was 3 am, no one from inside the Kwik Stop came out to see what was going on. Kwik Stop Convenience stores/gas stations are usually open 24 hours, esp in cities. Perhaps the attendant window was facing another direction.
The MC driver was very tall, “white appearing” and young with long hair. He literally blocked the black car the college kids had just finished gassing up so they couldn’t leave without backing out (if there was no one parked behind them) and attempting to go around him. This was a very in-your-face, overt challenge. However, the kid pumping the gas had a hood on, so I’m not sure the MC driver could see what “race” each kid was before he drove up. In other words, it doesn’t yet seem to me like it was a planned “hate crime.”
The kid who claimed he tried to break up the fight (dark sweatshirt) didn’t try very hard, IMO. When he put his hands in his pockets and briefly stood near his trunk, I thought he was going to grab a tire bar or something from it, but he didn’t open it.
The gas-pumping kid in the dark sweatshirt made a call on his phone as the attacker was backing off towards his MC.
The kid who was banged up (in the light sweatshirt) had every opportunity to get a plate number when the MC driver got on his bike to drive away but apparently didn’t. He stood right behind the bike, motioning for the MC driver to leave … or “good riddance.”
The kid who wasn’t the primary attack target (gas-pumper, dark sweatshirt) had MULTIPLE opportunities to get that MC plate number but didn’t. Now they’re telling the press, essentially, that they were victims of a “hate crime” supposedly fueled by the Trump campaign.
Yes, it is definitely an assault but a “hate crime?”
I’ve been a passenger in a vehicle on several occasions where people have tried to run us off the road, brandish or flip us off, etc. THE VERY FIRST THING I’VE EVER DONE is GET THE PLATE NUMBER, even if I wrote it on my hand in eyeliner!
I guess I’m more geared to that due to my experience working in the criminal justice system but maybe the common person doesn’t think of it.
It will be very interesting to hear what any witnesses have to say.
