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Alabama Shooting: 17 Injured at Copper Top Bar in Tuscaloosa

by NowPublic Staff | July 17, 2012 at 05:53 am

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Copper Top Bar Shooting in Tuscaloosa: Gunman Arrested [Updated]

17 people were wounded in a shooting at the Copper Top Bar in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in the early hours of July 17, 2012. Four of those wounded are in critical condition.

The Tuscaloosa Police Department tweeted a photo of the suspect, taken by a CCTV camera in the bar parking lot. The video only shows the suspect's back. A photo from a different angle isn't sharp enough to capture the gunman's face.

Tuscaloosa Police on Facebook: CCTV Footage of Copper Top Bar Shooter

The shooter was wearing a backwards baseball cap and carrying a rifle. He has a tattoo on his left arm.

[Update: a suspect has been arrested for the Alabama bar shooting. He may have been targeting a specific person in the bar.

This is the suspect from the shooting this morning. If you know his identity please call crime stoppers at 752-STOP. pic.twitter.com/mei8qBky

University student Riley Dunn was at the Copper Top Bar when the shooting occurred: "It was kind of loud from the music, but we heard the gunshot, and no one really knew what to think. The first gunshot took place, then about 20 seconds later, that's when he really started firing them off. After that, everyone really scattered."

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PeaceFrog

at 10:09 on July 17th, 2012

From: Larry Richard <lrichard@cityofsantacruz.com>

To: Trisha Husome <thusome@cityofsantacruz.com>

Subject: Gang Stalking

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:36:20 –0700

Candice Nguyen from KION is doing a story ion this phenomenon called "Gang

Stalking". It has nothing to do with "gangs", rather it is a form of cyberbullying. The intent is a psychological impact and socially ostresizing the

targeted person. With tools available to track someone (Facebook, Twitter,

Linkedin, etc) it has made people more vulnerable to this. It has

implications to workplace violence, love relationships gone bad, etc. I told

Candice it is like Mean Girls or cyber-bullying on steroids.

http://gangstalkingworld.com/

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gang%20stalking

Lt Larry Richard #121

Santa Cruz Police Department

155 Center Street

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831)420-5842

http://www.stopos.info/lt-richard-pub-rec-request.pdf

The 1

at 10:54 on July 17th, 2012

Suspect taken into custody after turning himself in at business 50 miles away
Police say they will withhold name of suspect until charges are filed

commenting anonymously (not verified)

at 12:51 on July 17th, 2012

Thanks for your comments, PeaceFrog and The 1. It's only a matter of time before one of these shootings is traced back to the practice of "gang stalking", as it's called by some victims. (Thanks for posting the police memo, PF.)

PeaceFrog

at 13:07 on July 17th, 2012

Workplace connection to shooting:

Additionally, Brookwood Police Chief Randy Kizziah said Wilkins is a suspect in a possible arson at Capstone Oil in Brookwood that occurred in the early morning hours last night.

Wilkins worked there until March, Kizziah said. Kissiah said the case has been handed over to the state fire marshal and that he he would let his interview with the Tuscaloosa News stand as his statement.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/07/tuscaloosa_bar_shooting_suspec.html

anon posting (not verified)

at 18:06 on July 17th, 2012

Thanks for the link and additional information, PeaceFrog. (www2.alabamas13.com/news/2012/jul/17/nathan-van-wilkins-background-ar-4152735/) Birmingham, AL (WVTM) --- Nathan Van Wilkins listed his occupation as "toolpusher", commonly known as a rig manager for Capstone Oil in Brookwood. That’s about 20 miles east of his Northport home. Wilkins criminal background included a guilty plea to burglary back in 1988, for stealing a Mercedes Benz from a body shop. He received four years probation on that charge. In 2002, he pled guilty to criminal surveillance where he received a suspended 10 day sentence. Not only is he a dad, but Wilkins’ Facebook page also indicated he's a grandfather. A man with multiple tattoos, in Facebook photos, he posed on a motorcycle and holding a Hungarian AK-47, that's a military style semi-automatic weapon. One of Wilkins’ friends, Angela Faulkner said, "I will say he is a great friend and father and man... I dont know why this happened?" His ex-wife, Amy Wilkins, said by telephone, "We're no longer married and I have no comment." According to public records they were divorced in 2004. A restraining order against Nathan Wilkins was included in the divorce records.

anon, too (not verified)

at 18:17 on July 17th, 2012

If GS is a factor, I wonder if this guy could be a perp...................................................."Police were not sure of a motive. They were investigating whether the shootings came from a dispute between rival motorcycle gangs.-------------------There were signs Wilkins' life was unraveling. His former employer, Capstone Oilfield Services, tried to garnish his wages but couldn't because he declared bankruptcy last year. And the co-owner of the FedEx store where Wilkins turned himself in said Wilkins talked about being high on drugs during the shootings".-------------------Read more: www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation/20120717_ap_workertalksaboutmeetingaccusedalabargunman.html?viewAll=y#ixzz20w7kFVGE Watch sports videos you won't find anywhere else