bent*spud » Crime

Failed Broadway career may have driven Times Square car bomb suspect

Roy Bouth — Thu, 06 May 2010 15:26:23 +0000

Faisal Shahzad: If I can't make it there...

New York, NY -- As federal investigation into the attempted bombing in New York's Times Square continues, new details have emerged pointing to another possible motivation that led to suspect Faisal Shahzad's criminal actions: revenge for a failed Broadway career.

Anonymous sources say the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has obtained strong evidence indicating the Pakistani born U.S. citizen had tried to forge a career on the Broadway stage as early as 2004, when he tried out for the role of Jacob in the revival of La Cage aux Folles. With no real stage experience under his belt, Shahzad failed to get the part, which eventually went to Michael Benjamin Washington.

The initial setback did not stop Shahzad from pursuing his Broadway dream. He subsequently auditioned for parts in countless other shows including Rent, Avenue Q, Wicked, Spring Awakening, and most recently, The Lion King. All of his Broadway attempts met with disappointing results, and that may have pushed the one-time accountant to go over the edge, according to the top secret FBI files.

"There is a strong possibility this is simply the vengeful act of a man who wanted to sing and dance on Broadway but didn't get to."

"The last straw may have been his outright rejection by the casting team for 'The Lion King,'" said an FBI insider. "This fully explains why he parked the explosives-filled vehicle adjacent to the Minskoff Theatre which was showing that musical."

Since his arrest Monday, Shahzad has taken full responsibility for the failed terrorist attack, claiming he had received training in bomb-making in the Waziristan region of Pakistan. Pakistani foreign affairs minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said there is ample reason to believe the Taliban may have been involved. Federal investigators are still mum on the issue.

"It's far too easy to slap the Taliban or Al-Qaeda label on Shahzad," said the FBI insider. "But there is a strong possibility this is simply the vengeful act of a man who wanted to sing and dance on Broadway but didn't get to. The investigation is considering this as a valid angle."

A complaint filed in federal court on Tuesday charges Shahzad with five counts of terrorism-related crimes, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. If convicted on these charges, he faces up to life in prison.

Related items:

Kitten saves boy, 13, from cougar

Atiq Roshan — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:59:27 +0000

Cougar: Stopped by a pussy

Gros Cap, MI -- A 13-year-old boy survived a potentially emotionally scarring cougar attack thanks to a three-week-old kitten that proved to be too cute to resist.

Bart Lloyd was in his family's backyard playing in the snow with his kitten Fluffy when he was confronted by 45-year-old cougar Kim Siegfried of Garfield Township, who had managed to slip into the premises through an unlocked side entrance.

"She had this hungry look on her face and asked me if my parents were home," said Lloyd, who immediately sensed the danger and started toward the house.

Siegfried allegedly charged toward him, but stopped dead in her tracks after spotting the kitten on the porch. She instantly came up to the light orange tabby and started petting it.

The distraction gave the boy enough time to get back into the house and call the police.

"Fortunately, the nearest state trooper was just a minute away," said Miranda Lloyd, the boy's mother.

"Sometimes it's slim pickings for these ladies, especially the ones who are getting on in years," Gore said. "They get desperate, and boys like Bart are easy targets."

When the trooper arrived, the cougar had Fluffy in her lap and was singing Donna Lewis's "I Love You Always Forever." She was handcuffed and remanded into custody, pending charges of child endangerment and attempted sexual abuse.

The kitten reeked of Elizabeth Arden's Red Door but is otherwise unhurt. The boy is shaken up a bit, but is expected to recover from the scary experience.

"I think he's slowly getting over the fact that he was sexually targeted by an older woman, and very grateful his kitten was there to deflect the attention," said the boy's father, Anthony Lloyd.

Sgt. Randall Gore of the Michigan State Police said it's uncommon – but not unheard of – for cougars to go after young boys.

"Sometimes it's slim pickings for these ladies, especially the ones who are getting on in years," Gore said. "They get desperate, and boys like Bart are easy targets."

Related items:

Perm saves man from vicious mugging

Roy Bouth — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:47:41 +0000

Hartford: Saved by perm

Lubbock, TX -- A man who has just had a perm was held up at gunpoint but mysteriously let go by a mugger in an incident that has baffled police.

Brian Hartford, 34, said he was walking to his car after getting a perm at the Village Hairstyles Salon on 82nd St. when he was accosted by the would-be robber who was wearing a stocking over his face to conceal his identity. The gun-wielding man immediately demanded money, but paused after noticing Hartford's hair.

"He seemed to be mesmerized by my hair," Hartford said. "He just stared at it for a long time, and then told me 'Your hair is nice' before walking away."

Hartford said he contemplated running to his car to get his shotgun and chase after the would-be robber, but instead decided to call 911 to report the incident. Lubbock Police Officer Harold Kemp, who took Hartford's statement at the scene of the uncommitted crime, said they are working on identifying the hooligan, who may have mugged others in the area.

"Our criminal profiler is presently focusing on this guy's fascination with curly hair," said Kemp. "He can run, but he can't hide. We're gonna bag this curly-hair-adoring thug. It's only a matter of time."

Hartford said he is going to put the experience behind him and is thankful for the good job his beautician did on his hair.

"I'm just glad I got the perm. If that guy had gotten to me with my limp and lifeless hair, Christmas would've been very bleak this year," said Hartford.

Related items:

Tom Cruise sues pants off homeless man

Roy Bouth — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:26:48 +0000

Tom Cruise: I'm so happy!

North Las Vegas, NV -- A homeless man in the Clark County area has been rendered pantless after Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise successfully sued him for slander and defamation of character.

In a landmark ruling, the North Las Vegas Supreme Court found Roderick Gillis, 54, guilty of slandering the Top Gun star for sleeping in a cardboard box which had graffiti on it that said "Tom, UR so gay!".

In his brief opening statement, Cruise's lawyer, Haskell Watkins said: "My client is one of the most famous people in the world, if not the most famous. Any use of his name, be it first or last, in any negative tone whatsoever is libelous and must not be tolerated."

The trial, which only lasted for two hours, heard testimony from a number of people, including Cruise's publicist Paul Bloch and Rainman co-star Dustin Hoffman, who echoed the prosecution team's argument.

"When I see or hear the name Tom, all I could think of is Tom Cruise," said Hoffman. "The message on the defendant's shelter is most definitely malicious in my opinion."

The lawsuit originally sought damages of up to $15 million USD, but Judge Hilda Gomez called for leniency and reduced them to the pair of pants Gillis was wearing in court. She also ordered his cardboard shelter to be destroyed immediately.

"I hope this teaches you a lesson, Mr. Gillis. We are all responsible for our actions. You can't just say or do anything you want in our civilized society," Gomez told the defendant shortly after he was de-panted.

Cruise wasn't present during the court proceedings but Bloch said he is "extremely pleased" with the outcome. When asked what the movie star would do with a homeless man's pants, he said: "He'll probably have them cleaned and de-loused and give them to one of his gardeners for Narconon Day. But none of that is important. What's important is that justice prevailed."

The defendant's lawyer, Jericho Martinez, was nonplused and felt sorry for his client. "My heart goes out to him," he said. "We tried our best, but it's just hard to go up against someone like Mr. Cruise, and with their bullet-proof argument."

"What am I supposed to do now? That was my last good pair," said Gillis after the court was adjourned. The former postal worker said he has no plans to appeal the decision and "will probably move to Florida" in the summer.

Related items:

Straight clubgoers pick ‘gays over guns’

Atiq Roshan — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:05:36 +0000

White: straight, but parties with the gays

Toronto, ON -- Antwan White is a handsome and athletic 23-year-old law student who loves the ladies and likes to go clubbing. He also likes to hang out at gay bars. And no, he is not a part-time male prostitute.

White is among a rapidly growing number of mostly black, young heterosexual males who are eschewing the usual watering holes of choice of heterosexual clubgoers in favor of venues largely catering to homosexuals. Their reason? Gun violence.

"It's gotten really out of hand, man," says White. "You can't get your groove on anymore without getting shot at. It's totally insane."

"If you come to a gay bar dressed in last season's Prada, or wearing mismatched colors, then expect deadly catty remarks fired your way. But other than that, you should expect an experience without bloodshed."

White's comments come in the wake of reports that three men have been shot inside Guvernment Nightclub, an entertainment venue in downtown Toronto popular among young heterosexuals. Last year, 36 people succumbed to injuries sustained in gun-related incidents in Toronto. At least 10 of those murder victims were clubgoers.

White said he started going to gay bars in the Fall of last year because he had "had enough of the stupid and senseless gun violence at heterosexual clubs."

"The thing I enjoy the most about clubbing, besides groping hot girl booty, is not leaving the club in a body bag," he says. "So I started hanging out at gay clubs with my gay friend Deon."

According to statistics collected to date by the Toronto Gay Crime Watchers, other than pot shots at bad fashion choices, no other shots have ever been fired at gay venues in the city in the last twenty-five years. This supports the long-held belief that gays are among the most peaceful and nonviolent social strata, and gay venues among the safest places on the planet.

"If you come to a gay bar dressed in last season's Prada, or wearing mismatched colors, then expect deadly catty remarks fired your way," says the group's spokesperson, RuShawn LeDonde. "But other than that, you should expect an experience without bloodshed."

While there is a noticeable "lack of girl booty" at gay venues, White says he doesn't mind and actually relishes the attention he gets from the gays.

"The gays are a hoot. They buy me drinks and tell me I'm pretty, and all I gotta do is let them touch my crotch sometimes, and I get to come home alive," says White.

LeDonde said he is personally pleased that more and more heterosexual males are flocking to gay clubs for fun and frivolity, but warned these new haven-seeking patrons not to take the gays for granted or play with their hearts.

"We are a resilient and resourceful bunch, and when push comes to shove, we can be meaner than thugs with guns," LeDonde added. "So you best be on your best behavior, boys."

Related items: