A Florida man killed himself last night after opening fire at a school board meeting.
Clay Duke, an ex-convict, confronted the Panama City school board last night, claiming that they had fired his wife. He spray-painted a red “V” on the wall – possibly an homage to the graphic novel-turned-movie V for Vendetta, about an anti-government crusader in a Guy Fawkes mask who ends up blowing up the British House of Parliament. Duke’s Facebook page contains the same image, and this “testament,” lifted from the V For Vendetta movie:
My Testament: Some people (the government sponsored media) will say I was evil, a monster (V)… no… I was just born poor in a country where the Wealthy manipulate, use, abuse, and economically enslave 95% of the population. Rich Republicans, Rich Democrats… same-same… rich… they take turns fleecing us… our few dollars… pyramiding the wealth for themselves. The 95%… the us, in US of A, are the neo slaves of the Global South. Our Masters, the Wealthy, do, as they like to us…
According to the AP:
Duke was charged in October 1999 with aggravated stalking, shooting or throwing a missile into a building or vehicle and obstructing justice, according to state records. He was convicted and sentenced in January 2000 to five years in prison and was released in January 2004. Records show Duke was a licensed massage therapist before his arrest but it wasn’t clear if he was employed.
Attorney Ben Bollinger, who represented Duke during his trial, told The News Herald of Panama City that Duke was waiting in the woods for his wife with a rifle, wearing a mask and a bulletproof vest. She confronted him and then tried to leave in a vehicle, and Duke shot the tires. He said that as part of his sentence, Duke was required to complete psychological counseling. Bollinger did not immediately return a phone message from the AP.
In the video, Duke lets everyone in the room leave except for “the men on the school board.” One woman, Ginger Littleton, sneaks back in and unsuccessfully attacks Duke with her purse, but he lets her go. Duke then questions the remaining members about taxes, and then lets off a round of gunshots. A security guard shoots him in the leg. According to the AP, soon after Duke shot himself in the head.
No one else at the meeting was hurt.
Here’s the video. Warning — it’s pretty graphic:
