James Pouillon, RIP.
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Pro-Life Advocate Murdered Outside Michigan School While Protesting Abortion
Owosso, MI -- Local officials and state police are confirming that a pro-life advocate was shot and killed outside a high school in this Michigan town. The person, who is described as well-known but whose identity has not been released, was shot multiple times while protesting abortion outside Owosso High School.[/FONT] Officials say the shooting occurred at 7:30 a.m. local time and most students were inside the school building at the time of the incident. State police have also confirmed they apprehended a suspect about 8:15 a.m. at the suspect's home in this small community northeast of Lansing.
The shooting did not take place on school property but officials have locked down the school and taped off most of the front portions of the school grounds. Now, local police say there has been a second, possibly related shooting, in Owosso that they are now investigating. The suspect in custody may have been involved in the second shooting that took place at a gravel company and officials say they are looking for other suspects who may have been involved.
"We have two murders," Shiawassee County sheriff George Braidwood told the Argus Press. "We believe they are related and we have a suspect in custody. According to the Associated Press, in the spot where the protester stood, a black car is parked and a portable oxygen tank is lying next to a sign with a picture of an unborn child and the words life. NBC 25 is reporting that interim school superintendent, Susan Wooden says the person is a well-known local pro-life advocate -- a man who frequently stands in high traffic areas with the sign to protest abortion.
LifeNews.com has learned that the pro-life advocate is James Pouillon and the local Argus Press newspaper in Owosso has confirmed that to be the case. He was reportedly shot multiple times.
Gary Sheph, a local resident who lives near the high school, told the paper, he was sleeping when he heard “four shots and tires squeeling.”
“I just saw several people that I knew who were medical officials working on Pouillon and giving him CPR,” Shepherd said. “It's a pretty sad day when somebody shoots someone over a political agenda that he had. He was always known as the ‘sign man.' ... This country is based on freedom of speech.”
Father Frank Pavone, the director of Priests for Life, has commented on the shooting in an email to LifeNews.com.
"We do not know the motive yet. But this is a time to console one another, and to renew our determination to organize peaceful protests," he said. "It is no time for fear." Pavone called on abortion advocates to condemn the shooting.
"I am waiting to hear abortion advocates condemn this killing," he said.
The shooting follows on the heels of the killing of late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller of Kansas, who had been under investigation by the state medical board for allegedly doing illegal abortions. Abortion advocates came down hard on the pro-life community for allegedly bearing responsibility for the shooting even though it appears the alleged assailant, Scott Roeder, has no official connections with any pro-life groups.Leading pro-life organizations are expected to condemn today's shooting and call on pro-abortion groups to do the same.
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Pro-Life Advocate Murdered Outside Michigan School While Protesting Abortion
by Steven Ertelt
September 11[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif], 2009
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]September 11[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif], 2009
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Owosso, MI -- Local officials and state police are confirming that a pro-life advocate was shot and killed outside a high school in this Michigan town. The person, who is described as well-known but whose identity has not been released, was shot multiple times while protesting abortion outside Owosso High School.[/FONT] Officials say the shooting occurred at 7:30 a.m. local time and most students were inside the school building at the time of the incident. State police have also confirmed they apprehended a suspect about 8:15 a.m. at the suspect's home in this small community northeast of Lansing.
The shooting did not take place on school property but officials have locked down the school and taped off most of the front portions of the school grounds. Now, local police say there has been a second, possibly related shooting, in Owosso that they are now investigating. The suspect in custody may have been involved in the second shooting that took place at a gravel company and officials say they are looking for other suspects who may have been involved.
"We have two murders," Shiawassee County sheriff George Braidwood told the Argus Press. "We believe they are related and we have a suspect in custody. According to the Associated Press, in the spot where the protester stood, a black car is parked and a portable oxygen tank is lying next to a sign with a picture of an unborn child and the words life. NBC 25 is reporting that interim school superintendent, Susan Wooden says the person is a well-known local pro-life advocate -- a man who frequently stands in high traffic areas with the sign to protest abortion.
LifeNews.com has learned that the pro-life advocate is James Pouillon and the local Argus Press newspaper in Owosso has confirmed that to be the case. He was reportedly shot multiple times.
Gary Sheph, a local resident who lives near the high school, told the paper, he was sleeping when he heard “four shots and tires squeeling.”
“I just saw several people that I knew who were medical officials working on Pouillon and giving him CPR,” Shepherd said. “It's a pretty sad day when somebody shoots someone over a political agenda that he had. He was always known as the ‘sign man.' ... This country is based on freedom of speech.”
Father Frank Pavone, the director of Priests for Life, has commented on the shooting in an email to LifeNews.com.
"We do not know the motive yet. But this is a time to console one another, and to renew our determination to organize peaceful protests," he said. "It is no time for fear." Pavone called on abortion advocates to condemn the shooting.
"I am waiting to hear abortion advocates condemn this killing," he said.
The shooting follows on the heels of the killing of late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller of Kansas, who had been under investigation by the state medical board for allegedly doing illegal abortions. Abortion advocates came down hard on the pro-life community for allegedly bearing responsibility for the shooting even though it appears the alleged assailant, Scott Roeder, has no official connections with any pro-life groups.Leading pro-life organizations are expected to condemn today's shooting and call on pro-abortion groups to do the same.
