Soldier's Suicide by Cop to Avoid Return to Iraq

“Unbelievably sad story. Soldier was in Bush's Fallujah slaughter and came back hating the entire world.

____

Cop, Gunman Dead
http://modbee.com/local/v-print/story/9750300p-10616529c.html

By PATRICK GIBLIN
BEE STAFF WRITER

CERES — It started as a seemingly simple and somewhat routine call Sunday night: a man was acting strangely at a liquor store.

Moments later, a burst of gunfire echoed through the normally quiet neighborhood. One Ceres police officer lay dying, another was critically wounded, and law enforcement was storming the scene by land and air.

Helicopters hovered above as police ordered people to go inside, lock their doors and turn off the lights.

Three hours later, another gun battle erupted, this one ending in the death of a 19-year-old Marine from Modesto,suspected of shooting the two officers.

Altogether, police and neighbors said Monday, dozens of bullets flew, shattering windows and piercing vehicles as residents hunkered down in terror.

"Brap-brap-brap-brap-brap," said Anthony John Phillips, a 15-year-old boy who lives a block away, trying to describe the rapid gunfire. "I was scared. It was crazy."

In the end:

# Ceres police Sgt. Howard Stevenson, 39, was dead.

# Andres Raya, who police say seemed determined to die rather than return to Iraq, was dead.

# Ceres police officer Sam Ryno, 50, was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds. He was in critical condition Monday, and is expected to recover.

Monday, detectives from sev-eral law enforcement agencies — from the Ceres police to the FBI — sifted through events leading to Sunday's carnage.

Officers were still struggling to figure out what drove Raya to fire on officers.

"It was premeditated, planned, an ambush," Ceres Police Chief Art de Werk said. "It was a suicide by cop."

De Werk said investigators are not ruling out other motives or accomplices, but believe that Raya, a Marine who had served seven months in Iraq, was concerned about the possibility of going back into combat.

Raya returned to the United States in September and recently visited his family in Modesto.

Julia Cortez Raya said Monday that her son served in Fallujah: "He came back different."

Raya told family members he did not want to return to Iraq. But his father said the family believed by the end of his holiday visit, Raya had decided to make the best of the 2½ years he had left in the Marines.

He rejoined his unit at Camp Pendleton on Jan. 2. Sheriff's Lt. Bill Heyne said Raya was last seen at Camp Pendleton Saturday.

He reportedly told fellow soldiers he was going to get a quick bite to eat. Instead, he showed up in Ceres 24 hours later, armed with an SKS assault rifle. The rifle is a Chinese version of the weapon that Raya was trained to use in the Marines, Heyne said.

Video cameras catch carnage

The first moments of the three-hour drama were caught by video cameras at George's Liquors, 2125 Caswell Ave., near Central Avenue.

The tape shows Raya firing one round into the pavement of the store's parking lot. He then walks into the store.

According to police, Raya told the clerk that he had just been shot at and asked the clerk to call 911, Heyne said.

Steven Marchant, working at the store Sunday night, said he was standing in front of the store when he saw Raya walking toward him from across the street about 8 p.m. Raya was wearing a poncho and yelling "how much he hated the world," Marchant said.

Marchant recognized Raya as a friend of the owner's brother and a regular customer.

Marchant went into the store when Raya stopped at the front door and asked him to call police.

Another employee tried to calm Raya down. Then the employee realized Raya had a gun under the poncho. After Raya walked out, the employees locked the door and called police.

Raya waited outside, a surveillance videotape shows.

About 8:07 p.m., about two minutes after the call, Ryno and a police trainee pulled up into the parking lot of Jiro Tires Plus, a neighboring business that faces Central Avenue. The trainee's name was not released.

As the two officers peered around the corner of a building to locate Raya, a third officer pulled into the same parking lot. Raya opened fire on all three, hitting Ryno — who had stepped out from behind the building — several times in the leg and once in the lower back.

Raya then rushed the trainee, firing several times but missing. The trainee and the third officer, whose name was not released, shot back.

Raya ducked around the corner of George's. After a few seconds, he saw Stevenson pull up in front of the liquor store. Raya opened fire again, shooting through the window of a white car in the parking lot and hitting Stevenson.

He then ran out of view of the camera.

Stevenson, lying injured on the ground, was shot twice in the back of the head, Heyne said.

Witnesses: Raya appeared calm

"I was walking in my back yard to use my spa when I heard a horrible grinding noise," said Norm Travis, whose home is on Glenwood Drive, around the corner from George's.

"Then an alarm went off and there was a bunch of yelling and screaming and then another round of shots," he said.

"We knew that it was an automatic weapon," said his wife, Karen Travis.

Witnesses told police that after shooting the officers, Raya calmly walked east on Caswell and disappeared, either into a house or a back yard.

Within minutes, officers from the Ceres, Modesto, Turlock and Newman police departments, as well as the Stanislaus and Merced sheriff's offices and the California Highway Patrol, responded.

Nearly one square mile of the city's streets were closed as a CHP helicopter hovered and police officers and SWAT teams took positions around the neighborhood.

Police officers began shooting out street lights to diminish Raya's vision, officers said.

Residents were told to lock their doors and turn off their lights, said Kim Rose, 25, who lives about one block from the liquor store. She had been in the store about 20 minutes before the shooting.

"We heard a lot of gunfire, and I mean a lot of gunfire," Rose said. "Then a few minutes later, police were walking up and down the street with guns drawn, yelling for everyone to go back in their houses."

George Newton, who lives two blocks from the store on Beachwood Drive, said his 42-year-old daughter was visiting him when the neighborhood was locked down. She wasn't allowed to leave the home.

"She slept on my couch last night," Newton said. "She was stuck here until 4:30 a.m."

Some neighbors evacuated

Across the street, the Garcia family was evacuated. Their home was believed to be directly behind the home in which Raya was hiding. Members of a SWAT team took over the Garcia's house, Kandy Garcia said, positioning themselves in her back yard and on her neighbor's bal-cony.

"They were nice and professional but very firm and matter-of-fact," Garcia said. "They said we had to leave now."

She grabbed her four children and stayed the night at her mother's house.

The CHP helicopter beamed its light into the yards of homes on the south side of Beachwood and north side of Caswell.

After about two hours, officers began a slow house-to-house search, according to a press release issued Monday.

"Our poor neighbors across the street were evacuated, so they locked their doors," Norm Travis said. "Then about an hour later, the SWAT team broke down their front door to search for the suspect."

About 11:08 p.m., Raya jumped over a backyard fence from a home on Caswell and ended up in an alley between Glenwood and Myrtlewood drives.

Police say he fired at four officers who were positioned at the Glenwood end of the alley, about 100 yards away. The officers fired back and struck him multiple times.

He dropped his rifle but started running toward them. He motioned as if he was going for a second weapon, officers said, so they continued to fire.

He fell to the ground and died at the scene.

His body was still in the alley Monday afternoon as investigators worked the scene.

Police said that an exact number of rounds fired by Raya and police had not been determined Monday evening, but it was probably more than 60.

Police also released the liquor store video tape. De Werk said he wanted the public to see the tape so they could understand not only what happened but "what's really going on in the world."
last edited: 1/11/05 11:28:00 AM”

“an SKS assault rifle. The rifle is a Chinese version of the weapon that Raya was trained to use in the Marines.

A Marine's standard weapon is a M16A2 assault rifle.


Very different from the chinese SKS


I wonder if the rest of this article shows as much attention to the facts.”

“Suicide by cop? Sounds more like murder to me.”

“TT/BB - Did this death please you as much as the US troops killed by the 'anti-Bush' (your term) fighters in Iraq?
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/35801,3.php
last edited: 1/11/05 11:36:36 AM”

“Now tell me again whose at fought here?”

“So wingnuts... explain this guy to me please according to your world view? Did he get 'evil' in his heart?

Yeah... support the war people! Support the 'troops' LOL.

We may not have to worry about Islamic terrorists but our own military people coming back to cook the goose.
last edited: 1/11/05 11:36:21 AM”

“Funny coming from a troll that says Islamic terrorists are Anti-Bush Fighters.”

“TT, I think you would do quite well in Iraq. You're already mad at the world.”

“TrailTurtle is BuddaBear.”

“>“TT/BB - Did this death please you as much as
>the US troops killed by the 'anti-Bush' (your
>term) fighters in Iraq?”

Well, I predicted these things would happen back when 90% of America supported the idiocy. I was part of the 10% that didn't happen, and I was quite ridiculed at the time for saying all of the above (and far worse to come) would happen.

So if there is any emotion as you put it, it is the same emotion someone would get in telling their son or daughter that if they don't wear their safety belt they'll be killed in a car accident, only to see it happen.

That might be the kind of thing you think of as 'pleasure' Steve.

And if so, you'll be getting lots and lots more. This Iraq idiocy is just starting.

Each and every one of us will be be dealing with this idiocy for the next 25-30 years in one way or the other.

And then the Republicans in this thread, who have had to deal with it, will send their kids off to get killed by whatever imaginary monsters the government creates for them next, for some sadistic reasoning of 'well, I had to deal with it.'

And that's assuming we even get passed this one and it doesn't bankrupt the country. The Internet bailed us out of the financial nightmare created by the last two republican presidents, what will save us next?
last edited: 1/11/05 11:48:42 AM”

“> “TrailTurtle is BuddaBear.”

No, unfortunately I'm not, yet another one of the fantasies and imaginary demons you believe in Steve.”

“> TT, I think you would do quite well in Iraq.
> You're already mad at the world.

The only thing I'm 'mad' at is the incompetence of government and the pride, ignorance, and puritannical fantasy beliefs of 52% of the American people.

That guy is your fault Steve.. same for the cops... only you won't own up to it.”

“Wow! If it’s not BB there are some astounding similarities in style, format, verbiage, and horseshat.”

“Well, I predicted these things would happen back when 90% of America supported the idiocy. I was part of the 10% that didn't happen, and I was quite ridiculed at the time for saying all of the above (and far worse to come) would happen.
TrailTurtle
11:43:45 AM
1/11/05


Gee wiz, TrailTurtle only showed up on 12/21/04. How could he have 'predicted these things' if he's not BuddaBear?
You just outed yourself stupid.”

“Well, I predicted these things would happen back when 90% of America supported the idiocy. I was part of the 10% that didn't happen, and I was quite ridiculed at the time for saying all of the above .. ..

TrailTurtle
11:43:45 AM
1/11/05

Well you did not predict it here TrailTurtle as your profile only dates from 12/21/04, and GW was re-elected on 11/02/04 about 6 weeks earlier than you arriving at this board to enlighten us.

If was a lot earlier than that (if ever) when 90% of the US was in favor of an Iraqui invasion support, but again you were not here, you armchair quarterback.

I'll bet you can correctly predict the winning number from last weeks lottery also, so brilliant.”

“Ahh yes, change the subject and dig into my profile, LOL.

Nope, don't know who BB is but if it gives you comfort you are more than welcome to think there is only one person who thinks like I do, LOL.

... but it's a false comfort.”

“Well, I voted for Jr. in 2000 and wasn\'t thrilled with him, but turned totally against him 3 weeks after 9/11 and 2 weeks after his Nazi-speech declaring all the world evil.

And to be honest, I *STILL* can\'t believe that corrupt little rich boy coke-head alcoholic invaded Iraq. It\'s probably always been an \'inadequacy challenge\' for him. Only everything he\'s ever gotten has been given to him, and everything he\'s ever touched has been ruined.

I like to think good of humanity, but with people like Jr., it is very hard to. Some new predictions (the same ones from 3 years ago):

- \'Elections\' that don\'t elect anyone with any power to office in Iraq will be a flop / non-event and will make the situation significantly worse.

- Jr. isn\'t going to leave Iraq during his
term because he wants the oil, and he\'s making too much money, the next president will have to clean up the mess.

- Net deficit for this year alone will be higher this year than last year, we might see a small downtick the final year, but Jr.\'s just going to keep on spending.

- Most of Jr.\'s major initiatives will be a flop including Social Security, and other things because he doesn\'t really want to do them, (he did everything he REALLY wanted to do in the first term), and Iraq is going to continue to deteriorate, casualties will go up.

But, this time around, there are some variables that I don\'t know how they are going to go, the biggest of which is ... the U.S. military is basically out of troops by this summer.

They are down to 5000 national guards to rotate in / out, and after that they\'ll have to extend *beyond* two-year terms and that\'s going to be a new variable. How many national guards are really going to spend 4 years getting shot at in Iraq before enough is enough?

I suppose there is lots of troops who truly enjoy killing people / get off on it so they'll be there for awhile, and Bush can count on them.

But yep, all this is the fault of the people who support Bush, but I take solice in knowing you\'ll be paying for it all (and screaming bloody murder, blaming Democrats for it hypocritically.... You'll be paying for it all right along with me.
last edited: 1/11/05 12:26:26 PM”

“Oh yeah... another prediction.

The Iraqis are going to keep getting better at hitting us and our \'skills\' will deteriorate from morale and other issues.

Wing-nuts will blame all of this on people like me (rather than being honest about the fact we were there to rob & occupy them, not to \'free\' them, which we could\'ve done at anytime since the invasion by letting them field their own candidates).

The effects of the Iraq policy are just beginning.... we\'ve got 25+ years to deal with the problems it\'ll create... and we\'ll all be paying for them, liberal, centrist, & conservative alike. Only half the people will be very unhappy about it, including myself.


last edited: 1/11/05 12:38:58 PM”

“ah.......the sound of crickets.”

“Give it up Budda, you are toast.

Another stupid thing you did was call me 'steve'. Only BuddaBear called me that incorrect name.

Makes that selfclaimed 140 IQ seem just a little 'off'.”

“Well, I'm not 'Buddga' but it is pretty funny... my I.Q. is 136.”

“Mine is 199. Need to leave a little room for improvement.”

“Coward Troll.”

“Ummm... Steve... Buddha Bear was all for attacking Iraq.”

“LOL...”

“Ummmm...VileMan... maybe four YEARS ago.”

“It hurts my head to think down to all y'alls level.”

“That Vileman IS pretty damn low.”

“No - You're such a brilliant detective and Keeper of the Archives. Why not read over a few of the threads from just before the invasion?”

“Buddha Bear was all for attacking Iraq at first. He was more than just a war hawk. This isn't about the war, but it shows were he was politically after 9/11:

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/10115,-1,1.php”

“Yea pedx, but since then he has gone insane.”

“Calling the guerilla opposition in Iraq, both terrorist and non-terrorist (car bombs are terrorist, shooting at soldiers isn't in my dictionary) "anti-Bush fighters" is as ridiculous as saying they are all fighting to oppose democracy, or that they are all Saddam loyalists and non-Iraqi jihadists.”

“LOL... nope, I can assure you this ain't me, sounds more like you StoveStomp steve!

Steve... are you sure you aren't BB?


> Expell any middle eastern students or
> people with visa's in the US.
> Stop the flow of any money or aid to middle
> eastern countries, or countries that harbor
> terrorists.

>. Stop supporting businesses owned by people
> of middle eastern background in this
>country (many of these people support the
>terrorist efforts with money.)

>4. Institute "special" search procedures for
> people of middle eastern decent.

>5. Heavily bomb the countries harboring any
>terrorist organizations that are even
>remotely tied to the suicide bombings. If
>the causualties include women and children,
>so be it.

>6. Create a law allowing our government to
>actively assasinate terrorist and world
>leaders who condone this behavior.
last edited: 1/11/05 1:05:08 PM”

“TT, sack of #&%!$. LOL”

“:)”

“Check out Buddha's posts here:

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/21252,-1.php#537918”

“Is calling them terrorist just another tactic?

The VC were never called terrorists, were they? French underground?”

“I definitely don't criticize the French either.

Far from it, they are the only smart party involved in any of this. Jr. is going to need to do something, he needs lots and lots of help, and it is a fact that the French military is one of the very best at dealing with these kinds of political-military issues like this (BTW, did you know France still maintains a military presence in Afghanistan that until a year ago was larger than the U.S. presence?).

If the Iraqis win, they'll do a deal with France and Jr. may have to himself.

The French are likely to ultimately end up with a huge slice of the oil revenue no matter how this works out... without costing the French a penny. ;)

I wish Chirac was our president instead of the numnutz we are stuck with.
last edited: 1/11/05 1:12:17 PM”

“I hope your eyes are closed because the wool is going to scratch your corneas and blur your vision. Because what you don't see is that The French Connection is larger than the iceberg that sank the Titanic.

Why do you wish that 'Chirac was our president instead of the numnutz we are stuck with' so we could be owed 4 billion by the Iraq government for arms and infrastructure projects or cheap oil? It really is about money, is it not? Avaricious, what a lovely human trait.

You know it was French made missles that shot down Air Force Maj. Jim Ewald's A-10 Thunderbolt fighter over Baghdad on April 8 and French made missles that hammered Rashid Hotel in Baghdad on Oct. 26, 2003. I can go on if need be about other items, a connection was there till '02. French, Russian and Chinese made products are killings American soldiers.

Sadly the truth here may never be known regarding The French Connection and whatever comes to light over this matter will most likely be discounted as a 'french bashing Republican conspiracy' or something along those lines by folks like you.

The paper trail is there if you choose to follow it all the way to Paris, Moscow and Beijing. I'll see ya there if you're willing.”

“CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- A young Marine who feared returning to Iraq persuaded his cousin to shoot him in the leg, then told police he was hit by random gang gunfire, authorities said.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/07/15/marine.shooting.ap/index.html


Things are looking up for Bush. At least they are now only injuring themselves instead of commiting suicde.”