Don't wear a Bin Laden mask in Costa Rica

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-12-14 04:57pm

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) take note: You wouldn't be safe in Costa Rica. A startled taxi driver shot and wounded a jokester wearing a plastic mask of the al-Qaida leader, police said Tuesday.

Leonel Arias, 47, told police he was playing a practical joke by donning the Bin Laden mask, toting his pellet rifle and jumping out to scare drivers on a narrow street in his hometown, Carrizal de Alajuela, about 20 miles north of San Jose.

Arias had startled several drivers that way on Monday afternoon. But when he jumped out in front of taxi driver Juan Pablo Sandoval, the motorist reached for a gun and shot him twice in the stomach. He was hospitalized in stable condition.

"For me and I think for anybody else at a time like that one thinks the worst and so I fired my gun," Sandoval told Channel 7 television.

Police declined to detain Sandoval, saying he had believed he was acting in self-defense.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-14 05:05pm

Jesus fuck, I don't care what mask he was wearing... jumping out at traffic with what appears to be a rifle qualifies him for a Darwin Award in and of itself...

CJvR · Post by **CJvR** » 2004-12-14 05:27pm

Evolution in action...

Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba · Post by **Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba** » 2004-12-14 07:56pm

Warning: Do not jump out at drivers in Costa Rica holding a gun and looking like an Al-Qaeda member.

Mitth`raw`nuruodo · Post by **Mitth`raw`nuruodo** » 2004-12-14 10:08pm

The key in this case is not the bin-laden mask, I think, but the pellet gun.

This guy wasn't very bright.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2004-12-14 11:24pm

Well, there's a surefire Darwin Award Winner. There are some things that common sense dictates that you shouldn't do, and go out in public dressed up as Osama bin Laden with a pellet gun is one of those things.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-14 11:29pm

Don't forget the jumping out and surprising people part.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2004-12-15 10:33am

Well it's good to know the people of Costa Rica are with us in the War on Terror.

Guy N. Cognito · Post by **Guy N. Cognito** » 2004-12-15 01:12pm

I can see the interview with the taxi driver.
Interviewer: "Sir, it was nice of you to shoot the man you thought was Bin-Laden only in the stomach so he could be arrested and tried."

Taxi Driver: "Are you kidding! I shot him in the stomach because I missed the head"

bohemianfey · Post by **bohemianfey** » 2004-12-15 01:19pm

At least he did the rest of us a favour by removing himself from the gene pool.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-15 06:03pm

bohemianfey wrote:At least he did the rest of us a favour by removing himself from the gene pool.

Unfortunately, no, the report listed him in stable condition and no genital mutilation was mentioned, so likely in addition to the numerous children he's probably already had, his survival will inspire him to procreate more.

Alas.

bohemianfey · Post by **bohemianfey** » 2004-12-15 06:06pm

Petrosjko wrote:
bohemianfey wrote:At least he did the rest of us a favour by removing himself from the gene pool.
Unfortunately, no, the report listed him in stable condition and no genital mutilation was mentioned, so likely in addition to the numerous children he's probably already had, his survival will inspire him to procreate more.

Alas.

**sobs**

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-12-15 06:10pm

so, he was toting a pellet gun out in public? absolutely brilliant! surefire way to get gunned down by the cops or other random passersby who happen to be armed.