Man shoots 4 cops,killing 1,who came to his house to serve search warrant,in AL
Joe1orbit
Hello,
Over in Alabama yesterday, a team of police officers went to the home of Ezra
George Peterson and Connie Stozzie, to serve them with a search warrant. It
would seem that George & Connie were quite alert tactically, because as soon
as the Chief of the county drug task force knocked on the door to announce his
intention to forcibly enter and search the premises, both George & Connie,
wearing bulletproof vests, opened fire upon the cops.
The Chief, 46 year old Chris McCurley, was shot to death right through the
front door where he was standing and knocking. When the other cops saw their
leader bite the dust, they naturally tried to make a tactical retreat. Ezra,
aged 50, would have none of that. He opened the door to his house, and wearing
his bulletproof vest and toting an AK-47 assault rifle with a BEAUTIFUL 100
round drum magazine, Ezra proceeded to open fire on all the other cops, as
they turned tail and ran for cover. He shot three more cops, one of them
remains in serious condition.
Meanwhile, cops had retreated behind trees, and they returned fire on Ezra,
wounding him slightly in the legs, and managing to take him into custody after
wounding him. Both George & Connie are under arrest, and George is in the
hospital, recovering from his leg wounds.
An AK-47 with a 100 round drum magazine, that is a beautiful combination. The
only type of combination that I would prefer over that one, is an AR-15 rifle
with a 120 round drum magazine. Nothing beats being able to unleash 100-120
rounds without having to change magazines/drums. This article does not state
whether the AK-47 was a semi-automatic, or if it had full auto capability.
Most likely it was a semi, which still does a beautiful job in the hands of an
experienced shooter.
Take care, JOE
The following appears courtesy of today's Associated Press news wire:
RAINBOW CITY, Ala. (AP) - Officers who went to a house with a warrant to search
for drugs were met at the door by a couple in bulletproof vests and a surprise
gunfight.
A blast from an assault weapon, apparently fired through the front door, killed
Chris McCurley, 46, the recently appointed chief of Etowah Country's drug task
force, authorities said.
Etowah County Sheriff James Hayes said a man and woman came to the door wearing
bulletproof vests when law officers arrived Friday at their new house in a
quiet neighborhood near the Coosa River about 65 miles northeast of
Birmingham.
After McCurley was shot, the man walked outside and continued firing, striking
three more officers before he was finally shot down by police hiding behind
trees, said Minnie Bellew, who lives across the street.
Ezra George Petersen, 50, was hospitalized with minor gunshot wounds to his
extremities, Hayes said. He was under guard at Gadsden Regional Medical
Center. The woman, Connie Stozzie, 30, was taken to jail and was on
investigative hold.
Petersen shot at officers with an AK-47 assault weapon with a 100-round drum of
ammunition, Hayes said.
Officer Gary Lee Entrekin, 34, was in serious condition with a gunshot wound to
the back, said M.D. Garmon, a spokesman at Riverview Regional Medical Center
in Gadsden.
Altoona police officer Khris Yancey, 26, was shot in the back, but his wounds
were not thought to be serious. Reserve officer Rick Correll, 46, was in fair
condition with wounds to an arm and foot.
``The law enforcement community and its supporters will not rest in this county
until Petersen gets what he justly deserves - and that's the electric chair,''
Hayes said.
Neighbors said the tall, tattooed Petersen was a friendly man frequently seen
riding a motorcycle. He had bought $20 worth of oranges Wednesday from Mrs.
Bellow's grandson, who was selling fruit for a school fund-raiser.
``He was real nice. I talked to him about his motorcycles, all the stuff he did
to them,'' 14-year-old Jake Bellew said.
AP-NY-10-11-97
bso...@pcl.net
Hello Joe,
I was just wonder how you could glorify the use of an AK-47 against a
police officer. Perhaps you'd like to join me tomorrow at Chris
Mucurley's funeral? Would you be able to look at his closest family
members, wife and children and repeat what you wrote?
> An AK-47 with a 100 round drum magazine, that is a beautiful combination.
The
> only type of combination that I would prefer over that one, is an AR-15
rifle
> with a 120 round drum magazine. Nothing beats being able to unleash 100-120
> rounds without having to change magazines/drums. This article does not state
> whether the AK-47 was a semi-automatic, or if it had full auto capability.
> Most likely it was a semi, which still does a beautiful job in the hands of
an
> experienced shooter."
I think not. Perhaps you like to show how you feel by sending flowers to
Collier-Butler Funeral home or send a donation to the St. Judes Children
Hospital in Tenn.? Chris would have liked that.
Susan Owens
A Gadsden Police Officer's Wife
In article <19971011123...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
joe1...@aol.com (Joe1orbit) wrote:
>
> Hello
>
> Over in Alabama yesterday, a team of police officers went to the home of
Ezra
> George Peterson and Connie Stozzie, to serve them with a search warrant. It
> would seem that George & Connie were quite alert tactically, because as soon
> as the Chief of the county drug task force knocked on the door to announce
his
> intention to forcibly enter and search the premises, both George & Connie,
> wearing bulletproof vests, opened fire upon the cops.
>
> The Chief, 46 year old Chris McCurley, was shot to death right through the
> front door where he was standing and knocking. When the other cops saw their
> leader bite the dust, they naturally tried to make a tactical retreat. Ezra,
> aged 50, would have none of that. He opened the door to his house, and
wearing
> his bulletproof vest and toting an AK-47 assault rifle with a BEAUTIFUL 100
> round drum magazine, Ezra proceeded to open fire on all the other cops, as
> they turned tail and ran for cover. He shot three more cops, one of them
> remains in serious condition.
>
> Meanwhile, cops had retreated behind trees, and they returned fire on Ezra,
> wounding him slightly in the legs, and managing to take him into custody
after
> wounding him. Both George & Connie are under arrest, and George is in the
> hospital, recovering from his leg wounds.
>
>
-------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
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Joe1orbit
bso...@pcl.net Wrote:
>Hello Joe,
Hello Susan,
>I was just wonder how you could glorify the use of an AK-47 against a
>police officer.
I respect the right of any person to act as their True Reality dictates. Ezra
George Peterson felt that he had a right to try and kill police officers. I
respect his right to have felt, and to feel, that way. I am an amoral person,
which you might realize if you read the 2000+ posts that I have made to this
true crime Usenet newsgroup over the past year. And as far as police officers
go, I certainly do not place any greater value upon their lives, then I do
upon the lives of any other human being.
I do not celebrate the death of the police officer in this incident, but I
fully respect the right of Ezra George Peterson to have acted as his True
Reality perception of life and his own place in society, dictated
> Perhaps you'd like to join me tomorrow at Chris
>Mucurley's funeral?
No thank you, I do not attend funerals.
> Would you be able to look at his closest family
>members, wife and children and repeat what you wrote?
I am not a verbal person. I do not initiate conversations with people, face
to face. But if I was in their presence, and they confronted me and asked me
if I was 100% sincere in the sentiments that I expressed in my post, I
absolutely would be fully able and willing to look them in the eye and repeat
what I wrote in my post.
Joe1...@aol.com Wrote:
>> An AK-47 with a 100 round drum magazine, that is a beautiful combination.
>The
>> only type of combination that I would prefer over that one, is an AR-15
>rifle
>> with a 120 round drum magazine. Nothing beats being able to unleash
>100-120
>> rounds without having to change magazines/drums. This article does not
>state
>> whether the AK-47 was a semi-automatic, or if it had full auto capability.
>> Most likely it was a semi, which still does a beautiful job in the hands
>of
>an
>> experienced shooter."
>I think not.
It is a free cyberspace world, and you are of course entitled to think and
post whatever opinion or comments your true reality dictates.
>Perhaps you like to show how you feel by sending flowers to
>Collier-Butler Funeral home or send a donation to the St. Judes Children
>Hospital in Tenn.? Chris would have liked that.
No, I do not send flowers, and I do not donate money. In fact, in my entire
life, I have never purchased flowers or made any monetary "donation" to
ANYONE, or in anyone's name, under any circumstances.
But I do want you to know that I am not "celebrating" Chris's death, for
whatever that is worth. I am amoral, and unable to form positive emotions
towards anyone, and his death is meaningless to me. But if he a friend or
acquaintance of your's, then I feel sorry, in my limited capacity to empathize
with others, for your loss.
Take care, JOE
EdgelarVes
Finally a criminal with some sense! If you are going to open fire on a cop you
better go all the way! The fool should have shot at the remaining cops though
the window though because he got his legs shot up. At least they had their
vests on.
PLMerite
The first I've heard of this was reading it in this NG - just now catching
up on things. What was the result of the search when they finally conducted
it - how much dope was this guy defending that he would think this was the
best course of action?
>> RAINBOW CITY, Ala. (AP) - Officers who went to a house with a warrant to
>search
>> for drugs were met at the door by a couple in bulletproof vests and a
>surprise
>> gunfight.
>>
>> A blast from an assault weapon, apparently fired through the front door,
>killed
>> Chris McCurley, 46, the recently appointed chief of Etowah Country's
drug
>task
>> force, authorities said.
>>
(remainder snipped)
Regards, PLMerite
Joe1orbit
"PLMerite" Stoc...@smokebombhill.com> Wrote:
>The first I've heard of this was reading it in this NG - just now catching
>up on things. What was the result of the search when they finally conducted
>it - how much dope was this guy defending that he would think this was the
>best course of action?
Hello,
Below is an update on this case, which answers your question.
Joe1...@aol.com Wrote:
>>> RAINBOW CITY, Ala. (AP) - Officers who went to a house with a warrant to
>>search
>>> for drugs were met at the door by a couple in bulletproof vests and a
>>surprise
>>> gunfight.
>>>
>>> A blast from an assault weapon, apparently fired through the front door,
>>killed
>>> Chris McCurley, 46, the recently appointed chief of Etowah Country's
>drug
>>task
>>> force, authorities said.
>>>
>(remainder snipped)
>Regards, PLMerite
In the update below, we learn that Ezra George is making a good recovery from
the bullet wounds that he suffered in the firefight with police, where he
killed Sheriff Chris McCurley and shot three other cops, one of whom remains
in serious condition but will survive.
Ezra George has been transferred from Gadsden hospital, where he was being
treated for his injuries, to a prison. He has already been charged with
capital murder, and three additional counts of attempted murder will almost
certainly be filed as well.
The woman in the house with him, Connie Stozzie, is also going to be charged
with attempted murder, although police admit that they have no evidence to
indicate that she ever fired a single shot during the incident. IMNSVHO, it is
outrageous for any "attempted murder" charge to be brought against Connie
unless there is SOLID evidence that she did shoot a gun directly at a police
officer, during this gun battle between Ezra George and the cops.
To answer your specific question, PLMerite, a search of the house only found
numerous weapons, which may have been legally owned, and three ounces of
Crystal Methamamphetamine, along with evidence that later led them to a
storage facility where they found an additional half pound of the controlled
substance.
Take care, JOE
The following appears courtesy of the 10/17/97 online edition of The
Birmingham Post-Herald newspaper:
Murder charges filed in sheriff's death
By Dave Fitz
Birmingham Post-Herald
GADSDEN - Capital murder charges have been filed against a Rainbow City couple
in connection with the ambush slaying last week of an Etowah County deputy
sheriff.
Sheriff James Hayes said warrants were issued Thursday against Ezra George
Petersen, 50, and Connie Stozzie, 30. They are charged in connection with the
fatal shooting of Chris McCurley, 46, head of the Etowah County Major Crimes
and Drug Task Force.
Hayes said Peterson and Ms. Stozzie are also both charged with three counts of
attempted murder, in connection with the shootings of Rainbow City Detective
Gary Entrekin, task force member Khris Yancey and reserve deputy Rick Correll.
Entrekin remains hospitalized in serious condition with multiple gunshot
wounds to the legs. The other two officers have been released from the
hospital.
Petersen was released from a Gadsden hospital Thursday morning after treatment
for gunshot wounds he received in a brief gunfight with officers, police said.
Hayes said late Thursday that Petersen would be transferred to an undisclosed
jail where he will be held pending further court action. Ms. Stozzie was
transferred to another jail on Sunday.
Sgt. Joe Nabors of the Alabama Bureau of Investigation said authorities still
have not determined if Ms. Stozzie fired a weapon. A number of weapons were
found in the couple's home and the Department of Forensic Science is
continuing to test them, authorities said.
The four officers, accompanied by three others, were attempting to execute a
search warrant at the couple's Rainbow City home when the occupants opened
fire with an AK-47, Hayes said.
The officers ``never stood a chance,'' he said.
Officers said that during a search of the couple's home the following day, they
found about three ounces of crystal methamphitamene and evidence that led them
to a mini-warehouse where half a pound of the drug was confiscated.
Authorities initially filed drug charges against the couple, including drug
trafficking, to hold them until the capital murder warrants could be obtained.
zerohtol...@gmail.com
> Hello,
> Over in Alabama yesterday, a team of police officers went to the home of Ezra
> George Peterson and Connie Stozzie, to serve them with a search warrant. It
> would seem that George & Connie were quite alert tactically, because as soon
> as the Chief of the county drug task force knocked on the door to announce his
> intention to forcibly enter and search the premises, both George & Connie,
> wearing bulletproof vests, opened fire upon the cops.
>
> The Chief, 46 year old Chris McCurley, was shot to death right through the
> front door where he was standing and knocking. When the other cops saw their
> leader bite the dust, they naturally tried to make a tactical retreat. Ezra,
> aged 50, would have none of that. He opened the door to his house, and wearing
> his bulletproof vest and toting an AK-47 assault rifle with a BEAUTIFUL 100
> round drum magazine, Ezra proceeded to open fire on all the other cops, as
> they turned tail and ran for cover. He shot three more cops, one of them
> remains in serious condition.
>
> Meanwhile, cops had retreated behind trees, and they returned fire on Ezra,
> wounding him slightly in the legs, and managing to take him into custody after
> wounding him. Both George & Connie are under arrest, and George is in the
> hospital, recovering from his leg wounds.
>
> only type of combination that I would prefer over that one, is an AR-15 rifle
> with a 120 round drum magazine. Nothing beats being able to unleash 100-120
> rounds without having to change magazines/drums. This article does not state
> whether the AK-47 was a semi-automatic, or if it had full auto capability.
> Most likely it was a semi, which still does a beautiful job in the hands of an
> experienced shooter.
>
>
>
> for drugs were met at the door by a couple in bulletproof vests and a surprise
> gunfight.
>
> A blast from an assault weapon, apparently fired through the front door, killed
> Chris McCurley, 46, the recently appointed chief of Etowah Country's drug task
> force, authorities said.
>
> bulletproof vests when law officers arrived Friday at their new house in a
> quiet neighborhood near the Coosa River about 65 miles northeast of
> Birmingham.
>
> After McCurley was shot, the man walked outside and continued firing, striking
zerohtol...@gmail.com
Want to know about this case? I was the witness interviewed in all of the media about it, since I was a neighbor standing behind the house in the wooded area and had to dive face down on the ground as bullets were ripping leaves off of the trees & smacking into the trunks beside my head.
I had met both Connie and George, they had stopped in front of my house numerous times to compliment my flower gardens and my children.
I cared about the cops because I had to listen to them scream in agony that they were dying, begging for their lives, and being almost shot by the police, when they saw me and weren't expecting to, & they were legitimately as spooked just as much as I was, the whole thing was pretty awful, which fucked me up for a good long while.
There were also spent rounds feet away from where my children played daily.
If they hadn't been in school, they could've been hit.
The rounds were automatic fire, & to the best of my memory there were three rounds. Connie was feeding rounds into the drum, and also had an rifle strapped across her chest when arrested.
George came out of the house and shot officers again that were already down in the driveway, until officers were able to take him out in the legs, because he was wearing body armor. They roughed him up transferring him to jail.
The house directly across the street from Peterson's was riddled with rounds, luckily the lady had taken her small child out for the day.
George was tipped off because a fellow dealer who lived further up the road spotted the sheriff & deputies heading his way & called & tipped him off that they could be coming his way. A chunk of meth was found frozen in a block in the freezer.
They later found a rather large drug cache and it was revealed George was in the witness protection program and had realms of previous arrest records, yet he was put out in a virtually crime free rural area.
I don't much care about your amorality, one way or another, tbh.
But, at least this way you know the truth. I was actually googling trying to find the original articles and ran across this posting of yours. I want to see original copies of the newspapers from those few days.
Helicopters scanned all night the night of the shooting
and the next, police taped off several acres and walked it with metal detectors, and within 24 hrs car haulers had Peterson's motorcycles and vehicles loaded & removed, & by the morning after the shooting, the house had been completely emptied, along with the couple and everything they owned that lived directly to the right of Peterson, making obvious to all of us, that those people were in some type of witness protection, as well. This caused a lot of trauma for my kids, so whether I give a shit about anyone else, I do care about that. Luckily, they turned out ok, but they still remember it as a bad time in their childhoods.
sherr...@yahoo.com
Greg Carr
zerohtol...@gmail.com
Anyway, I am glad my original comment is still here and I hope this one stays, too, in case anyone else ever gets curious about what happened.