Thursday, February 7, 2008

Shooting Survivor Honors 5 Who Died

CHICAGO -- The lone survivor of a shooting at a suburban clothing store commented publicly for the first time Wednesday, calling the victims "five of the bravest women I have ever met."

The weekend killings occurred during an apparent botched robbery at the Lane Bryant store. Authorities are still hunting for the gunman, who they say wore a knit cap pulled over thick braided hair during the rampage.

The survivor, who issued her statement through police, called the attack "an unspeakable tragedy" and a "horrific crime that ripped our worlds apart."

The women who died, who ranged in age from 22 to 42, were "five of the bravest women I have ever met," she said, ". . . My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to their families and friends. Please know that during the unfathomable events of that day, their thoughts were focused on you and coming home. My heart aches that they were unable to do so."

The survivor of the attack at the strip mall southwest of downtown Chicago is in protective custody, Tinley Park Mayor Edward J. Zabrocki has said. Police have said only that they have taken steps to ensure her safety.

It has been reported widely that the parents of the survivor have said their daughter escaped serious injury when the bullet meant for her head struck her neck.

Cleared but Charged Again

MIAMI -- A man acquitted of terrorism conspiracy charges after a lengthy criminal trial has been accused of nearly identical offenses by federal immigration officials who want to deport him to Haiti. The immigration charges were filed Tuesday against Lyglenson Lemorin, 33, a member of "Liberty City Seven" group that is accused of plotting, with a man they thought was from al-Qaeda, to destroy Chicago's Sears Tower and bomb FBI offices in Miami and elsewhere.

Storm May Delay Shuttle Trip

CAPE CANAVERAL -- A cold front that spawned killer tornadoes in the southeastern United States is heading to Florida, where it may stall NASA's plans to launch its first space shuttle mission of the year Thursday, officials said. Managers at the Kennedy Space Center plan to meet early Thursday to assess the forecast and decide whether to fill the shuttle Atlantis's fuel tank for a launch at 2:45 p.m. on a mission to deliver Europe's first permanent laboratory to the international space station.

-- From News Services