Charlotte Velo

A cyclist fired 13 shots into a group outside a home in Rock Hill.  One 16 year old male was injured and taken to Piedmont Medical Center for treatment.   The cyclist got away on his bicycle.

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Final UPDATE?:

The sentencing was today for the shooter, Charles Diez, who pleaded guilty to the charge of Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

The judge gave him 120 days in jail, 30 months of probation and anger management class.  This is a big victory for Diez who should have received a minimum of 15 months in jail.

Admitted into evidence was a performance review from a former fire captain that stated that “Diez complained and often escalated arguments and was quick to anger.“  That evidence might have been offset by the particularly effeminate manner in which Diez spoke in court.

The cyclist is in the early stages of organizing a ride in Asheville.  I plan to join him.  I hope he pursues a civil case.

http://www.wlos.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/wlos_vid_1278.shtml

UPDATE:

A judge reduced his bond from $500,000 to $200,000.  He posted it and has been released.  A grand jury also reduced the charge from Attempted Murder (1st degree) to a special North Carolina offense of ‘Assault With a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill’.  Without serious bodily injury, as in this case, this is only a Class E felony punishable by 15-31 months in prison.  The trial date has not been set.

Original Post:

July 26, 2009

I suppose you read about the firefighter that shot at the family cycling in Asheville, striking the father in the helmet.

I consider this a hate crime.  As a cyclist, I sense a clear bias against cyclists from the general population in Charlotte; but I always thought Asheville was different, with its Subarus, brown rice and pop-up canvas dog bowls.  I was wrong about Asheville.

Now, you can find a homicidal beserko anywhere, but this story drew very familiar comments in the local paper (on-line).  The readers [drivers] cried about Asheville traffic having to slow down for cyclists and how they unfairly pay for road with vehicle taxes and registrations fees.  Does this culture sound familiar, Charlotte?

I’d like to see the city of Asheville react and do something to prevent this from happening again.  “Watch for Bikes” signs, like the one pictured below at the spot of the shooting, didn’t calm the shooter.  Perhaps they should start by training cops, fireman and bus drivers on how to share the road.

Here’s the story:

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090727/NEWS01/907270323

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