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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Boston Herald apologizes for photos of Sox' fan killed by cop
2004-10-23
The Boston Herald yesterday apologized for running explicit photos of an Emerson College student who was killed in the melee that followed the Red Sox' pennant victory. ``Yesterday, we ran two very graphic photos that angered and upset many in our community,'' Editorial Director Ken Chandler said. ``Our aim was to illustrate this terrible tragedy as comprehensively as possible and to prevent a repetition by portraying the harsh reality of what can happen when a crowd acts irresponsibly. ``It was never our intent to disrespect Victoria Snelgrove or her family,'' Chandler said. ``In retrospect, the images of this unusually ugly incident were too graphic. I apologize to the Snelgroves and the community at large.'' Snelgrove, who would have turned 22 next week, was a bystander in a crowd of thousands outside Fenway Park early Thursday when she was shot by one of several pepper balls fired by police to try to subdue fans throwing bottles and bricks. The Herald ran on its front and inside pages two photographs of her bloodied body splayed on Lansdowne Street, triggering scores of complaints.
An incredible upbeat mood enveloped the Hub over the Red Sox's victory, then this horrible tragedy, taking the life of a bystander, 21 year old Victoria Snelgrove, a journalism major at Emerson College, who was shot in the eye by a 'non-lethal projectile' fired by a cop. Was this ***hole aiming at the girl's face?
Posted by:Mark Espinola

#4  The so-called non-lethal baton-rounds (rubber bullets) in Northern Ireland used to kill people periodically, too. Best thing to do is to stay away from those demonstrations that look like they will deteriorate into mob actions. Learned that in Berkeley in the 60s. No bumps, no scars, got all fingers and toes.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-10-23 4:30:04 PM  

#3  Unlike painballs, these pepper balls are made from hard plastic that shatters when it hits something hard. If it hit her square in the eye, I can understand where it might penetrate the thin bone of the eye socket.
Posted by: ed   2004-10-23 11:06:54 AM  

#2  The projectile could have ricocheted off something--or its intended target might have ducked out of the way--nobody can say for sure based on newspaper articles alone. Certainly, if the cop who fired it was not aiming and was discharging this recklessly into a crowd, he needs to be punished.

This is most certainly a terrible tragedy, but I hope it doesn't prevent the police from responding to the inevitable riots coming next week. It is truly disgusting how these "celebrations" over a team's big win turn into orgies of burning and destruction anymore. The cops need to crack down on these morons--and somehow avoid incidents like this! This crap has been happening in Chicago, Montreal, Detroit, and many other cities--it needs to stop now.
Posted by: Dar   2004-10-23 10:48:14 AM  

#1  It's "non-lethal" at a safe range and the stupid fu asshat that fired it should have been aiming for a torso. What was a pepper ball being used on a crowd for? They are intended to be used on individuals not crowds. Sounds like the police were trying to start trouble not nip it in the bud.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2004-10-23 7:07:14 AM  

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