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Two dead in Dallas shooting
01/03/2002
By WFAA-TV News
"Dallas police said gang activity may be
involved in an overnight shooting that left
two people dead and a third injured. Police
said three people were shot outside the
International House of Pancakes at 9203
Skillman St. around 2:30 a.m. Thursday. One
victim died at the scene; another died a
short time later at Parkland Memorial
Hospital. The condition of the third victim
was not released. Dallas police said they
were seeking as many as four suspects in
connection with the shootings. Other details
were not immediately available." |
Shocking
event January 3rd, 2:35am! After a successful show at
Moose & Vinny's, Dallas Karaoke owner Lee Van Steeter &
associate Ben Martinez were loading out. The restaurant
was closed and only employees were finishing up their
nightly duties. What was to follow shocked all and put
our beloved friends to an important test of life. A car
haphazardly jumped the median dividing Skillman St @
Audiela coming from the IHOP across the street. At full
speed, the vehicle then jumped the curb narrowly missing
the light poll at the corner and clearing the hedges in
one bounce.
"Ben had
already backed the trailer up for us to load out. I was
at the door when I heard gunshots coming from the IHOP
parking lot. I knew they were gunshots, since someone
had shot off a round two weeks ago over there after
hours," Lee Van
Steeter remembers, "I watched as a
car missing the light by inches came up over the hedges
in almost a rhythmic bounce and crashed into Yoli's
Seafood Restaurant, next door."
"Sounded
like somebody dropped something,"
explained Lena Thompson.
Our
friends, Lee Van Steeter, Ben Martinez, Susan Laitinen,
Bo Rust, and Lena Thompson were 1st responders to a
grizzly scene.
"I first heard a loud crash. A few
moments later an employee called my name. I came out and
saw 3 guys staggering out of the wreckage,"
recounts Bo Rust, MOD of Moose & Vinny's,
"I still heard shots fired from
across the street."
The
driver was found collapsed near the door of Moose &
Vinny's suffering from gunshot wounds. 2 other
passengers had also escaped the wreckage and made their
way outside the restaurant. Both in shock and arguing,
one then collapsed at the staircase.
"I came out and the driver hit the
ground to the right of Moose & Vinny's door. He couldn't
speak. I saw his injuries and started putting pressure
on his wounds," said Ben Martinez.
Bo and
Lena each called 911 to report the incident and the
injuries. Ben, Lee, & Susan struggled to attend the
driver until help could arrive.
"The ambulance responded across
the street to IHOP first, so I ran across the street to
direct them to where both guys were laying,"
explained Bo.
"I helped Ben
put pressure on his wounds until I saw Bo needing help
flagging down the ambulance across the street,"
Lee added,
"I returned to the driver. You
could tell he was in shock with no response. The other
guy was still talking. He was very concerned about his
injuries and safety. Just trying to survive…."
Sadly,
there was nothing to be done for the one victim, he died
as the ambulance & law enforcement arrived. The other
died later at Parkland Memorial Hospital.
"I cried for the death of a man I never met. I had his
blood on my hands,"
explained Susan Leatinan,
bartender/wait staff of Moose & Vinny's.
"Everyone at the club had blood on
their hands trying to help people,"
gasped Lee.
"I do not understand why people,
even after growing up in a rough area, have to take
somebody's life. If you have a problem with somebody,
handle it hand to hand and walk away friends,"
Ben continued in
tears, "Some of my friends
think I am hardcore and strong, but I had a guy die in
my arms. I am not at all. I had a guy die in my arms and
I could not save him. He wasn't even 20 years old. I
cried for 1 day and a half."
"You can't just drive down the
street on a bad day and flip off the guy who cut you
off; he might pull out a gun and it's over,"
Lee added,
"All I can think about is what if
it was any one of us at IHOP getting short, pissy, mad,
to raise an attitude-there you are in a car with bullets
trying to drive across the street!"
"Lee and Ben were great doing
everything they could for the guys. Everyone pulled
together that night and did their part,"
replied Susan.
"My heart goes out to their
families,"
Bo remarked.
We would
like to personally acknowledge Lee Van Steeter, Ben
Martinez & Susan Laitinen, Bo Rust, & Lena Thompson for
their bravery & action during this crisis. You are
heroes to all of us, thank you! Please note that this
disturbance was not related to Moose & Vinny's, Dallas
Karaoke, nor any of the singers that evening. It
occurred in the late after hours resulting in a dispute
started at IHOP across the street.
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