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PS3 shooting case is still open, says DA
Despite a grand jury dismissal of murder charges earlier this week, New Hanover County Cpl. Christopher Long could still be retried over the shooting of a suspected PS3 thief. New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David told North Carolina's WCNC that the investigation against Long is continuing and that a new grand jury convening next month could decide to bring charges against him.Long's attorney argued that in the absence of any new evidence, the court should not second-guess the determination of the original grand jury. He also insisted Long be allowed to testify to any future grand jury, a privilege he was not allowed during the first trial.Also see: Deputy charged with second degree murder
PS3 crime spree, part III: Rise of the righteous
While selling a PS3 soon after launch day probably paid some hefty dividends for those lucky enough to secure one, pistol-whipping someone in order to make it happen probably isn't worth the trouble. Apparently a cash-strapped (or completely crazed) Massachusetts duo couldn't quite weigh the consequences before taking action, and are now under arrest for "attempted murder and robbery." One gunman, William J. Robertson, is already being held under a $1 million (or about 600 to 700 properly eBayed PlayStation 3s, whichever you prefer) bond, while his 17-year old partner in attempted larceny remains "on the loose." While we knew the PS3 launch would potentially bring out the worst in people, unloading ammunition to get your game (or profiteering) on is just taking things a bit too far -- so while camping out weeks in advance for a next generation console may surely pay off in the short-term, we'd say pulling a criminal stunt to get one probably won't.Update: Looks like the second fellow has now been apprehended and faces his own $1 million bond. Tsk tsk.
PS3 hopefuls shot with BB's at Kentucky Best Buy
If you thought shacking up outside of a Best Buy in near-freezing temperatures (say, Ann Arbor, Michigan) for nearly two weeks is hardcore, imagine how folks waiting in Lexington, Kentucky felt when a drive-by shooter let the pellets fly into a group of PS3 hopefuls. Apparently bitter and distraught from not getting their name on a (shaky) pre-order list, enraged suspects drove by a Best Buy on Nicholasville Road and "injured four people with BB pellets," including a news reporter who was conducting an interview with one of the campers. Although none of the folks were seriously injured, we can't help but wonder who pulls off a drive-by shooting with cameras rolling, and moreover, did the "mildly wounded" individuals waiting in line forfeit their position to visit a hospital? The soldier in us says negative.[Via digg]
Having a cell phone in Afghanistan may kill you
You thought dropped calls were bad, what about dropping a person, Sopranos-style, over a phone call? Seriously, apparently the situation in southwestern Afghanistan is getting so bad that the Taliban has started a resurgence in some areas, reports the British newspaper, The Independent in an article dated August 20. Nelofer Pazira, the Canadian journalist who starred in the film "Kandahar," quotes an Afghan man named Besmillah, who says that at Taliban checkpoints, the big angry extremists are checking everyone's cell phone. He goes on to say that if these bearded thugs find a number that "looks suspicous" they will call it immediately and furthermore, if the voice on the other end answers in English, they'll kill the owner of that cell phone on the spot. So let's review: next time you're in southern Afghanistan, change all the numbers on your phone to read Mullah Omar -- or better yet, just leave your phone at home.
