Summer of the Gun

by Loren Coleman ©2012

Jeffrey T. Johnson will forever be known as the Empire State Building Shooter who disturbed New York City during the Summer of the Gun. A fan of McDonald's breakfasts, of a grey suit, and of painting pirate art for his teeshirt company, we are being told Johnson simmered for a year. Then he committed a murder during a moment of workplace violence at his former job site, Hazan Imports. Johnson was taken out via "suicide by cop." Nine bystanders were injured in seconds, during the firefight across the street from the Empire State Building.

The Empire State Building shooter apparently "opened fire across from the Legends Bar. Of course, Ridley Scott [Tony Scott's brother] directed the 1985 film, Legend. It's a very interesting word from the point of view of ritual sacrifice," writes correspondent Matthew Bell. He further shares the definition below.

"Legend" derives from the Latin "legendus" (from "legō," or "pick out, select") which has an interesting semantic range. From Wiktionary, "legendus" can designate that: 

1. which is to be chosen, selected, appointed; 2. which is to be collected, gathered, brought together; 3. which is to be taken, stolen; 4. which is to be traversed, passed through; or 5. which is to be read (aloud), recited.

How do we put all of this in context? Humans, via their words and media, come up with umbrella terms, of course.

As long ago as early July 2012, Sun News television commentaries in Canada were using the term "Summer of the Gun." Joe Warmington's “summer of the gun” commentary was called "fear mongering," even as Canada's increasing gang fights and gun violence skyrocketed.

The phrase "Summer of the Gun" is a natural one, of course. For example, a Western novel used it as a book title in 2000. Many people have employed it in 2012.

After the red dawn event of Colorado's Aurora on July 20, 2012, the USA, then North America, and finally the world, woke up to the unique period of violence in which we find ourselves. By August 2012, several media outlets, like the Atlantic, began using "The Summer of the Gun."

The non-stop wall-to-wall coverage, however, caused some thoughts on "Going Numb in the Summer of the Gun," as the Atlantic Wire termed it. By the time Secret Sun's Christopher Loring Knowles used it to mention his radio appearance on August 24, 2012, the phrase had gained widespread use.

After the fatal shootings at Aurora (13 dead), Pendleton (2 dead), Oak Creek (8 dead), College Station (3 dead), and Empire State Building (2 dead), combined with a recent rash of "insider" or "green on blue" shootings occurring in Afghanistan and Mexico, you do get the idea that people are being pushed over the edge. Even gang violence, whether in Canada or Chicago or LA, is being highlighted and seems to be increasing. "Summer of the Gun" is a logical moniker for the media to employ. 

During a climate of many media-driven mass shootings, often ending in the death of the shooter, those sitting on the anger-vulnerability-suicidal-homicidal fence fall off and take action via a model for behaving that is presented to these individuals by the mainstream press and news reports. These people then go out shooting. It's called the copycat effect.

I noted in my 2003 book, The Copycat Effect, that we have seen something like this before. During the warm months of 2001, in the Northern Hemisphere, the "if it bleeds, its leads" media called that period the "Summer of the Shark." It was also the "Summer of the Gators" too, from fatal attacks caused by alligators (mostly in Florida) and by sharks (in several locations). These deaths were all over the news. The shark attacks even got a cover on Time. Strangely, this happened after an intense time of school shootings, from 1999-2001.

Besides the shark attacks, several highly publicized deadly alligator encounters happened during the summer of 2001 in the Sunshine State. Few read of the final fatal alligator attack that year (that we know about). It happened on September 11, 2001, and it was buried in the events of that day outside of Florida.

What occurred to end the "Summer of the Shark" and the "Summer of the Gators"? 9/11 happened. The media changed their focus to the attack on the Twin Towers, and our war in Afghanistan (you know, the one that's still going on). The news organizations did not have energy for sharks and alligators. But also, they quit reporting on school shootings. Actual school shootings, relatively speaking, disappeared for almost 18 months from the American media, and from taking place.

The media gets tired of its own news. The article about "Going Numb in the Summer of the Gun" says as much about the media as it does about people on the street. Ask people in New York City, and they will still tell you they are super-aware of events that might be another terrorist attack. Talk to people going to theaters this week. They are very alert to random noises and who is sitting behind them. The media moves on. People don't, necessarily.

The media is growing bored with the mass shootings. They are looking for a hurricane (Isaac?), a war (Israel vs Iran?), or a political assassination (fill in?) to change their concentration. Watch. It will happen.

I'm not saying this won't be a bad thing (the shift, not the source of the shift). After all, there may be less copycats in the wake of Aurora because of a change in the mainstream focus.  But, frankly, I like to be conscious of how I am being manipulated.

The Copycat Effect

(NY: Simon and Schuster, 2004)

Empire State Building Shooting

Note the plaid shirt. Apparently the main victim was shot near the Empire State Building.

The FBI and the ATF are at the iconic Empire State Building, investigating a shooting. Four to six people have been shot, with ten in total injured, with two people dead, including the gunman who was killed by the NYPD.  A witness says the gunman was firing indiscriminately. Most of the activity appears to be on 33rd Street.

New York City officials say at least four people have been shot outside the Empire State Building and that the gunman is dead.

City police say at least four people have been wounded in the Friday morning shooting. Some of the victims were reportedly found inside the lobby of the Empire State Building while some were found on the street.

A fire department spokesman says it received a call about the shooting just after at 9 a.m. Friday and that emergency units were on the scene within minutes.

Aliyah Imam tells Fox 5 News that she was standing at a red light when a woman standing next to her fell to the ground. She says the woman was hit in the hip. She says the gunman was "shooting indiscriminately at people."

The shooting reportedly occurred at 33rd Street and Fifth Avenue, and it is 33rd Street that is blocked off.  Hazan Imports, outside of where this occurred, is located at 10 W 33rd St, New York, NY 10001. Their website is a deadlink, http://www.hazanimport.com.

This grab is from WABC-TV; emergency personnel respond to reports of several people being shot outside the Empire State Building, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, in New York. Authorities say the shooter is dead. Photo by AP/WABC-TV.

Gawker published a series of photos (the mildest one above is shown) allegedly of the shooter, in a gray suit, dead, being examined by police.

Empire State Building is in the foreground, with the Twin Towers under attack on 9/11/2001.

Latest reports by NYC Police is that this is "not domestic terrorism," but allegedly the gunman was fired from his job yesterday. The date of this person leaving his job was given incorrectly in the early reports. He was laid off a year ago from Hazan Imports*.

Ralph Hazan is in charge of Hazan Imports. A "John Hazan" works at Bain & Company, Inc.

At the news conference this am, it was revealed the victim was a coworker, 41, shot by Jeffrey Johnson, first reported to be 53. Johnson was killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers. Nine other people (seven men, two women) were injured in crossfire.

The New York Times metro desk tweeted that Johnson was 58, not 53, and lives on East 82nd Street in Manhattan. He apparently lost his job a year ago when the company downsized.

The New York Post reported that Johnson stalked his former boss down the street and shot him.

Jeffrey Johnson, his neighbors said, went to McDonald's every day wearing the same suit he apparently wore during the shooting.

Johnson was an artist, who posted his art at several sites on the Internet.

Images of the victim are showing up more quickly than Johnson's photo.

A relative identified the victim as Steve Ercolino (pictured), who was the vice president of sales at Hazan. (The name Ercolino means "bow leg," and is also associated with the name Miller, for one "who works in a mill.")


Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a spokesperson for the "Mayors Against Illegal Guns," heading a campaign called “Demand A Plan,” which is pushing the 2012 presidential candidates to “detail specific plans to prevent the gun violence.”

On February 24, 1997, a gunman shot seven people on the observation deck, killing one, then fatally killing himself.
++++
*Hazan Imports

Here is a 2009 press release about that company:


Hazan Import Corp.

Hazan Imports, located in NYC at 10 West 33rd Street, brings over 30 years of experience in the handbag industry run by Isaac and Ralph Hazan. They are entering the branded market with BUM Equipment. They want entry into the majors and feel the BUM brand can open the doors for them. Ralph Hazan foresees a big opportunity in the kids’ segment of bags. “Branding is the name of the game for us. Today’s world is brand-centric,” states Ralph Hazan. Hazan chose BUM for its consistent ranking in the top 10 for consumer awareness and brand appeal. “We feel BUM Equipment will bring a fresh appeal to our product, adding to our huge and still growing customer base,” adds Hazan. Stephen Wayne remarks, “Hazan is a leading handbag company known to be young thinking, dynamic and always fashion conscious.”

Hazan will be distribute BUM to chains including specialty stores, mass merchandisers and sporting goods stores as well as independent retailers nationwide. Prices will retail from $14.99 to $39.00. Sales Manager, Steve Ercolino says, “We have kicked off our Spring selling with an emphasis on the Varsity look for Back to School. We are mixing fabrics and offering a fresh look plus color is more important than ever and is driving sales.” Nostalgia and vintage are the statements for Fall 2007. Hazan has developed a unique stamping process that puffs the fabric they treat and retailers are ecstatic it. “This eye-catching styling is crucial to the savvy junior brand consumer in our marketplace,” adds Ercolino.

Hazan’s design concept is simple says Ralph Hazan: “Take the best of the past and infuse it with the best of today! “We have high expectations for the BUM Equipment brand, and we hope to enjoy a glorious ‘revival’ with both old and new audiences.”

From sweats to a complete ACCESSORIES LINEUP in 2007: According to Stephen Wayne, “With the signing of both L’Egent and Hazan, we now have a full line of accessories under the BUM Equipment brand.” In Addition to the signing of these two new licenses, L’Egent and International and Hazan Imports, At the end of December Bum Equipment renewed all of its other existing licenses to new and additional terms. ROI EYEWEAR continues with Ophthalmic Sunglasses for another three years as one of the most successful licensees on the Bum roster. ROIhas been a licensee of Bum since 1997. Wayne is pleased to also announce the renewals of GENENDER INTERNATIONAL for watches and MONARCH LUGGAGE/BAY TRAVELGEAR for luggage and backpacks. They too have been licensees of Bum Equipment since 1997. BROWN SHOE for footwear and GOLD MEDAL HOSIERY for hosiery and cold weather accessories have renewed their contracts for additional terms too. Bum Equipment footwear can be found at all Famous Footwear retail stores across America.

Source.

Man Jumps From Empire State Building

A man died by suicide after he jumped off the Empire State Building, the third tallest building in the United States. The man's name is Cameron Dabghi, and he was a Yale University student at the young age of 21-years-old.

Dabaghi was from Austin, Texas. He was expected to graduate in 2011 majoring in East Asian studies. Yale College Dean Mary Miller wrote in a message to students today, "We are all deeply distressed by this news."

Police are investigating the incident. It is believed that Dabaghi took a running start and climbed and jumped off at the 86th floor. This is important to note, the building is 103 story's tall so he did not jump off the top.

Dabaghi jumped during rush hour traffic at 6:15 p.m. on March 30th. He fell down in front of a Bank of America business. A man covered his body with an umbrella to cover his shattered body.

The last believed suicide jumper leaped from the Empire State Building in 2006. Authorites believe there has been a total of 34 people who have jumped to their deaths from the Empire State Building since it opened in 1931.

Source: Wire service report by Mitch Marconi