I agree with kraut!!! He didn't want to be held accountable for his actions, so he took the chicken way out.

Didnt think so.

Nope.

Sympathy,empathy,compassion...?? It was said/written- SAD. That a young man killed himself out of such desperation/fear..Now do you see??

bighair - since I'm not smart enough, I won't try to explain to you why a newspaper needs to be held to a higher standard.

ericbakkum I should have known you weren't smart enough to figure out that someone must of told the police what they were driving by your comments. Why don't you write for the Gazette so everyone can pick you apart every time you make a mistake?

I actually do have kids and I completely understand what you are saying. I'm not arguing anything, I'm commenting on your post that was arguing with everyone else's comments. I realize the more desperate times get the more you will be seeing of this, but I still don't have sympathy. Times are tough for everyone, including me. I still know right from wrong, that was simply my point.

Sparky- you are not really understanding what I have written. Some of you people just want to "argue". You want to "pick apart" anything.. So in return I could make a lame argument and say: Well how do you know he didnt load the gun while being chased...etc. etc.. So what are you answers Sparky on how people will survive? Again- nobody is condoning this!! But lets face it, the more desperate the times get-the more you will see of this. Also Sparky- 19 is a very young adult at best. Obviously you dont have kids..You might understand better lets say if your "adult 19 yr. old son" was sent off to war or something..Your not understanding what I was writing/saying...So lets just agree to disagree.

Hey bighair, maybe you should re-read JCK's comment: "If no one saw them get into a car how did police know that was the car to chase?"

My point exactly.

Mickie,
This young man (ADULT). I say adult, because adults know wrong from right and should always be accountable for their actions, would have been punished by the system if he wouldn't have made the choice to take his life. The guns were obviously loaded because he shot himself. Meaning they had every intent of using them. That is an argument that nobody should even bring up. If you walk into a store with a gun, you have every intent of using it. Do you think the police or innocent person that is being robbed really cares if the person really plans on using the gun when it's pointed at them? As for the way people are going to survive during these times? It sure as hell isn't by robbing innocent people!!!!

Also JCK- I think after reading your comment you are at least grasping what I was trying to convey..Again- I totally agree that what they did was WRONG. Were the guns ready to be used? Would they have ever used them? Were they even loaded? We may never know. Still, I MYSELF would have rather seen this young man be punished by the system.

bzabel- you "bedazzle me"..Your sarcasm and wisdom are clearly a showing of who you must be. When and where did I write that this act was ok? I didnt. Look at the BIG PICTURE with the economy. And yes- I stand by my remark that it is a shame that a very young man felt so desperate that he killed himself. Was it horrible that he and the other robbed a a place. YES. Even more horrible that they used weapons...Again try and look out of your little box (very little box), and look at the big picture. Its very difficult to even get involved in these "blogs", actually kinda stupid. Mainly because it is alot of the same people who just want to shove their opinions down everybodys throat. I like a good, reasonable argument, infact it can sway my thoughts on a subject. But with most people I see posting on here its kinda pointless.

Maybe they did it because the quicky mart was out of blue slushie's. I sure know how that makes me feel.

ericbakkum You missed a lot. You need to reread the story and you will be able to answer your own questions!!!

Local, I think you may be missing the tone of sarcasm in bzabel's comments.

He chose his punishment, Mickie, not the police, not anyone posting here. The police would have given him a trial and a chance to exonerate himself and explain how the downturn in the economy drove him to desperation and an armed robbery. They would even have provided him with an attorney.
Of course it's a sad situation when a 19 year old kills himself but he didn't think twice about threatening the clerk with a shot gun. The fact he brought a loaded shotgun with him suggests that he was ready to use it if necessary. That doesn't earn him much sympathy in my world.

"Clearly the thugs are victims"? Are you kidding me? Common sense is no longer common. bzabel - you have your head on backwards, as your rearend is doing your thinking.

Could have been caught and had three hots and a cot for a while. If times were that tough for him. I doubt if these two were just honest people who were down on their luck looking to make a quick buck. These two were thugs.

Mickie's right. We are pretty cold and heartless and should extend all of our sympathies to the two thugs who had no other options in life but to threaten another's life with shotguns. Clearly the thugs are the victims here. Please someone tell me where I can send a donation. I hope some grief counselors were called in...

Some of you people really are heartless.. Now first of all no-one condones theft. But dont some of you realize just how bad it is out here, and how bad its gonna get for not just some but ALOT. I think its a complete sad shame that a messed up 19 yr. old young man killed himself out of such fear and desperation. People wake up! Your gonna see this over and over. Most adults these days cant get or find decent work, how do you expect our young and old to survive?
He of course needed punishment- but death? He was basically a kid. Its all so sad.

If no one saw them get into a car how did police know that was the car to chase?

need drugs

They do believe the same pair was responsible for the Fontana job.
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/358...
.
I wonder what the heck brought this guy to kill himself over an armed robbery (or two). Maybe he had some other priors and was due for a long stretch, but even so....

they must have fled the Handi Mart on foot...witness didn't see them get into a car, but they soon did. the cops saw the car, then the perps got out and fled on foot again...that's the only way the story as written could make sense...

They fled on foot from the scene and then got into a vehicle. That's when the chase started. The 19 year took his own life while being chased. He didn't shoot himself on accident. Case closed.

I agree.. im a bit confused.. fled on foot then spotted the vehicle.... also confused.. was he fiddeling with the gun to try to shoot at the officer and accidently shot himself? right there on the ice? wow... slighty lost..Lol
sorry for the families loss... i've been held up while working at a gas station before, so im also very sorry for the victim! Its scary!

Does it really matter? These two, well one now, clowns aren't worth even discussing.

I am glad to see that natural selection still holds true.

The writer of this article needs to take a course in continuity :)

JCK - they asked the suspect the same question, but he didn't respond. Your guess is as good as theirs.

Did he shoot himself accidentally or was it a suicide to avoid capture?

Is there something missing from this story?

". . .the men fled on foot. Minutes later, Lake Geneva police spotted the vehicle. . ."

"The" vehicle? What vehicle?

What a couple of nimrods.

Too bad for the families of these two idiots. I trust that the Handi Mart owner and employees are safe and sound.

Not only is the Gov. of Illinois a crook, but now some are coming north to do the same. Put up the Toll Booth please!!

One less bum that will suck off the teat of the state.

I wonder if these suspects were the same two whom robbed the Fontana BP on Monday night? I sure hope so, so I can sleep better at night knowing they were caught!