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Man Shot Anti-Abortion Protester Over 'Grudge'

Gunman also killed a gravel company owner, had a third target

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 12, 2009 8:24 AM CDT
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(Newser) – James Harlan Drake, the 33-year-old trucker who shot noted anti-abortion activist James Pouillon in front of a high school yesterday, also shot a local gravel company owner, and intended to kill a third man before police arrested him. He had “a list in his head,” a police chief said. “The defendant had ill will toward these three individuals—not for the same reason, necessarily, but had a grudge.”

In Pouillon’s case, Drake apparently objected to the protester’s graphic signs, which depicted mutilated fetuses. Curiously, “it didn’t appear to be a case where Pouillon was pro-life and Drake was pro-choice,” said one detective. When police arrested Drake, he also admitted to killing gravel company owner Mike Fuoss, whose body had been found less than 15 minutes earlier. He also intended to kill a local realtor.

A Michigan State Police officer exits the Fuoss Gravel Company offices Friday, in Owosso, Mich.
A Michigan State Police officer exits the Fuoss Gravel Company offices Friday, in Owosso, Mich.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Owosso Police Department Ptl. Eric Chery carries a sign which belonged to anti-abortion activist Jim Pouillon Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 in Owosso, Mich.
Owosso Police Department Ptl. Eric Chery carries a sign which belonged to anti-abortion activist Jim Pouillon Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 in Owosso, Mich.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Owosso Police Department Det. Sgt. Thomas Holcomb holds a sign, showing bullet trajectory posts, which belonged to anti-abortion activist Jim Pouillon Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 in Owosso, Mich.
Owosso Police Department Det. Sgt. Thomas Holcomb holds a sign, showing bullet trajectory posts, which belonged to anti-abortion activist Jim Pouillon Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 in Owosso, Mich.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
In an August 2002 photo, anti-abortion activist Jim Pouillon, left, has a heated discussion with a Planned Parenthood employee in Owosso, Mich.
In an August 2002 photo, anti-abortion activist Jim Pouillon, left, has a heated discussion with a Planned Parenthood employee in Owosso, Mich.   (AP Photo/The Argus-Press)
Owosso Police Department Ptl. Eric Chery investigates a sign as evidence which belonged to anti-abortion activist Jim Pouillon Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 in Owosso, Mich.
Owosso Police Department Ptl. Eric Chery investigates a sign as evidence which belonged to anti-abortion activist Jim Pouillon Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 in Owosso, Mich.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
Snarfeh
Sep 15, 2009 3:52 AM CDT
But the problem, Hawk, is that some gun owners ARE responsible, armed citizens *until* they lose their mind and shoot someone. It is not only people who already have a criminal record who shoot people with guns.
wwwonderer
Sep 14, 2009 8:29 AM CDT
Plus it takes courage to actually walk up to someone and decide to stab them, or otherwise engage in hand-to-hand. This is my thing about gun control arguments and drive-by shootings. I'd like to know the statistics on drive-by stabbings. I'd also like to know how many people lost their lives to a stray knife. Guns make violence an 'impulse buy' as opposed to a 'budgeted, planned purchase'.
Mad
Sep 13, 2009 3:09 AM CDT
The Minutemen had single shot muskets. If you insist on owning a weapon, I suppose I won't complain about one of those weapons. Tec-9's with a 30 round mag is NOT what the framers of the Constitution meant!

 
abortion • murder • Michigan • shooting • anti-abortion activists • James Pouillon • Harlan James Drake

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