Clicking might make it bigger.
Well, okay, maybe you took the Zeta Beam and were holidaying in Ciudad Vleeptron four weeks ago, but for everyone else stuck on Earth, this was, briefly and momentarily, bigger than the Beijing 2008 Olympics and noisier than the Russian military invasion of Georgia. In the middle of the night, one guy on a bus in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada decapitated the passenger sitting next to him. There followed anecdotal reports of cannibalism from other passengers. The decapitator and the decapitated had not previously known one another.
This is why I don't like long intercity bus rides. This is why I rode trains through Canada and the US anywhere they were still running. I did everything humanly possible to stay off of busses, and entirely succeeded. (One very pleasant long van schlep, along the seacoast from Halifax to Yarmouth NS.)
This kind of crap doesn't happen on trains and ferries. (There is the odd Unexplained Overboard Incident on ferries and cruise liners, but I think that's a much softer, kinder, gentler way to Perish while travelling.)
The American expatriate sociopath Tom Ripley murders a few people on a train in Western Europe, but just to help out a pal in a big jam. cf. "The American Friend" by Wim Wenders, starring Dennis Hopper, and the re-make "Ripley's Game," this time John Malkovich as Tom Ripley. The author Patricia Highsmith wrote "Strangers on a Train," you can rent the DVD.
Back to the bus: You can Google the lurid newspaper and wire service accounts and watch the CBC videos.
Agence-Vleeptron Presse, however, is pleased to provide the press releases from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, complete with law-enforcement advice on restraint and standards of basic decency for the media covering this unfortunate incident.
Take a long intercity bus ride, get decapitated and partially eaten by the stranger sitting next to you. C'est la vie. You buys your one-way ticket out of Winnipeg, you picks your seat, you takes your chances.
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Homicide on Greyhound Bus near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
Statement by S/Sgt Steve Colwell, D Division
July 31, 2008
14:00 hrs
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Re: Homicide on Greyhound Bus near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
• First, let me express on behalf of the entire RCMP my deepest condolences to the family of the victim of the homicide that occurred late last night on a Greyhound bus near Portage La Prairie Manitoba.
• I also want to acknowledge the driver and the other passengers on the bus. What you saw and what you experienced, would shake the most seasoned police officer. Yet I am told that each of you reacted swiftly, calmly and with bravery. We commend you for your level-headedness and strength in the face of truly extreme circumstances.
• We also want to thank you for your cooperation with our investigation into this incident. I know that conducting interviews with our officers was very difficult for many of you. If we could do our job without asking you to relive this terrible experience, believe me, we would. However the information that you have provided will be essential to the success of our investigation. Thank you, our thoughts are with you.
• Now, here are the details about this event that I can provide at this time.
• On the evening of July 30, 2008, at approximately 8:30 p.m. (local time), Portage La Prairie RCMP were advised that a male subject had been stabbed on a Greyhound bus traveling eastbound on Highway #1 (Trans Canada Highway) approximately 20 kms West of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
• RCMP officers immediately attended the scene and secured the bus, which was parked on the side of the highway. At this time victim and the suspect were still inside the bus. The driver and the remainder of the passengers had safely exited the bus prior to police arrival.
• Attending RCMP officers observed the suspect walking around the inside of the bus. When attempts to have the suspect exit the bus and surrender to police proved to be unsuccessful, additional resources, including the RCMP “D” Division Emergency Response Team (ERT) and a Negotiator Team were called in to assist.
• The highway was closed in both directions to ensure the safety of first responders, the other bus passengers and driver.
• At 1:28 a.m., the suspect, a 40 year old male, believed to be from out of province, broke a window and jumped out of the bus. He was immediately subdued and arrested without incident. He is currently in RCMP custody. His identity will not being released at this time.
• The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. His identity will also not be released at this time, pending notification of next of kin.
• The other passengers and the bus driver (35 people in total) were transported to Brandon, Manitoba where they were interviewed by police. They were also provided with food and lodging and crisis support services. They have now all been transported to their original destinations, or alternate destinations of their choice, by Greyhound.
• I would like to emphasize for everyone that the investigation into this incident is ongoing and will remain a priority for us.
• The investigation is being led by the Winnipeg RCMP Serious Crime Unit, with assistance from the Winnipeg, Brandon and Dauphin Major Crime Units, the Portage La Prairie Detachment and Winnipeg Forensic Identification Services.
• We have also received assistance in managing this event from the “D” Division Emergency Response Team (ERT), the MacGregor Volunteer Fire Department, the Winnipeg Medical Examiner’s Office, Westman Crisis Services, and Greyhound Canada. We are grateful for their professionalism and their support.
• This is all the information that we can provide at this time. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
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For more information contact:
* Greyhound Media Hotline: 972-789-7204
* RCMP Media Relations: 613-993-2999
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Content created: 2008-07-31
Content revised:
Page updated: 2008-08-01 Return to Top
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Homicide on Greyhound Bus near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba - Update
August 1, 2008 (Portage La Prairie, MB)—The RCMP are aware that portions of radio transmissions by police officers responding to the scene of the incident near Portage la Prairie on July 30, 2008 have been posted to the Internet.
The radio transmissions in question are operational police communications and as such are not meant for public consumption.
The RCMP has not given any media outlet, nor any other person(s) or agencies, permission to broadcast or repeat these transmissions in any form.
The RCMP wishes to remind the media that this was an extraordinary and terrible event for everyone involved - including the police officers, first responders from other emergency services and support workers who have been involved in this incident. While we appreciate the media's desire to provide as much information to their audiences as possible, we also ask for your patience, understanding and respect for the various investigative and legal processes involved in such a complex investigation and allow them to take their due course.
Once again we express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Our thoughts are with them and with all the other persons affected by this tragedy.
The investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released at
this time. Further details will be released as they become available.
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'D' Division Media Liaison
(204) 983-8497
RCMP National Media Relations
(613) 993-2999
==============
Homicide on Greyhound Bus near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba - Update
August 1, 2008 (Portage La Prairie, MB)—The accused Vince Weiguang LI, 40 years of age, appeared in Provincial Court of Manitoba in Portage la Prairie this morning and has been remanded into custody until August 5th, 2008.
The RCMP investigation to date indicates that Mr. LI has no known criminal record.
The investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released at this time.
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'D' Division Media Liaison
(204) 983-8497
RCMP National Media Relations
(613) 993-2999
==============
Homicide on Greyhound Bus near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba - Update
August 1, 2008 (Portage La Prairie, MB)—The RCMP have positively identified the victim of the homicide which occurred on July 30, 2008, near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, as 22 year old, Timothy Richard McLean, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
The investigation is ongoing and no further details are available at this time.
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'D' Division Media Liaison
(204) 983-8497
RCMP National Media Relations
(613) 993-2999
=================
Homicide on Greyhound Bus near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba - Name of Deceased Person
August 1, 2008 (Portage La Prairie, MB)—The RCMP are aware of media reports that the victim of this tragic incident has been identified. The Winnipeg Major Crime Services Unit has been in touch with the family of the deceased.
Out of respect for his family we will not be confirming the name of the deceased until after the post-mortem has been completed. The RCMP will then confer with the family as to how they would like to proceed in respect to the release of his name.
A post-mortem is scheduled for today (August 1, 2008) at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre.
In the meantime, the RCMP are mindful of the range of emotions being experienced by the family of the deceased over the loss of their loved one in such a horrific incident. Our thoughts are with them.
- 30 -
'D' Division Media Liaison
(204) 983-8497
RCMP National Media Relations
(613) 993-2999
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