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OnStar leads police to carjacked vehicle; 2 teens arrested
By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 18, 2008
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Kwame Weaver was arrested on charges of being a principal to an armed carjacking.
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ST. PETERSBURG - William Walker and a friend had stopped at the Kmart on U.S. 19 after spending Wednesday enjoying a Scottish heritage event at a library. As they were about to drive off in Walker's 2007 silver Chevrolet Impala, a teenager jumped out. He had a rifle. Walker, 80, is a World War II veteran and the son of Scottish immigrants. He was with his friend Katharine Manson, 87. The teenager pointed the sawed-off .22-caliber rifle at Walker's chest and said: "Give me the keys. And step back now." Walker complied. The teenager then screamed at Manson. She yelled back but got out. Then, the teenager with the gun and another young man sped off in the Impala. "They're pointing that gun straight at your middle," Walker said. "What would you do?" But the carjackers made a mistake, police said. They didn't know that Walker's car had an OnStar Global Positioning System. Someone in the parking lot called police, and Walker told officers about the OnStar system. After locating the Impala at a nearby gas station, OnStar called St. Petersburg police, who pursued the Impala to a home in the 1800 block of 21st Street S. The Impala hit three cars before finally breaking down in the yard. Police surrounded the home and arrested two teenagers: 17-year-old Michael Thomas and 18-year-old Kwame Weaver. Thomas was arrested on a charge of armed carjacking, as well as numerous other charges such as hit-and-run and fleeing and eluding. Weaver was arrested on charges of being a principal to armed carjacking and two counts of obstruction. "I don't understand what's going on in this world," Walker said. "Yes, I'm a World War II veteran, but I've never seen anything like this in my life." Walker, a foreman for the Raytheon Co. for more than two decades, said his car was totaled. He bought the Impala in February, and now doesn't have a vehicle to get around. He doesn't expect to get back in insurance what he paid for the Impala. "I'm out thousands of dollars because of some idiot. It's terrible," Walker said. Walker praised the police who tracked down the teenagers, calling them very polite. He said he plans to press for full prosecution of the two teenagers. Walker said one officer told him that one of the teens threatened to buy a gun when he got out of jail and go after the police. "I don't know what's going to happen in the future with children like this," Walker said. Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or 727 893-8472.
[Last modified January 17, 2008, 22:37:21]
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by Dr_Dug
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02/14/08 01:14 PM
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Again....Black on White crime! Someone call Al Sharpton...wait a minute..he won't do crap unless its White on Black. Someone call David Duke!! Aren't you voters glad you spent ALL that money on the South-Side redevelopment? Send them away for LIFE!!
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by adrian
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01/20/08 07:22 PM
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No its not the parents i know it for a fact kwame my cousin man its just the times we livin in .the neiborhoods were livin in its everybody fault cause what are you doing to try and prevent this these kids feel its no hope so why do right
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by Paul
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01/18/08 09:06 PM
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Parents?? ...that's a profane assumption to use the plural form. babies...having babies...babies CANT raise responsible adults...not even in lower mammals...it's counter to natural law. Sometimes even in the best circumstances, we get COLUMBINE.
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by Rickster
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01/18/08 04:26 PM
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Chad's comments are the most racist thing I have ever seen in your paper.
How they got past the 'editors', I have no idea?
Round 'em all up, and send them home?
Very helpful.....
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by Kim
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01/18/08 04:19 PM
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...parents and not the system fault, let parents tear their behinds up like we use to get growing up, it wasn't child abuse then, so what make you think it is now, & for God's sake put prayer back in the schools, there is no respect for auth. now!
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by Pamela
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01/18/08 02:56 PM
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You People are crazy,,always blaming the parents..you don't know anything about the family and kids now a days, go bad no matter how much parenting..always blaming the parents..these are grown boys who know right from wrong...Just stop it!
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by Paul
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01/18/08 01:28 PM
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Ok, where are the Uhuru's now? Why are they not out protesting these scum bags be locked up?
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by Chad
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01/18/08 11:29 AM
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Separate,segregate then repatriate.
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by donnie
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01/18/08 11:18 AM
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throw the parents in jail for raising such fine children
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by donna
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01/18/08 09:54 AM
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The parents of these two thugs should have to reimburse Mr. Walker for the money he's out. They raised criminals and they should be held just as responsible as the two criminals.
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by KC
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01/18/08 06:25 AM
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"I don't know what's going to happen in the future with children like this"....good parenting would help for starters.
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by Craig
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01/18/08 05:28 AM
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Punks like this should be locked up for life.
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