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NEW YORK, NY—COLUMBIA University
CNN, CBS, NBC, Fox, and Univision broadcast vans were parked on Columbia’s magnificent campus. In addition to national news correspondents, communication majors were scattered about, preparing to write award-worthy pieces. The stage was set for an FBI led press conference in the middle of the school’s quad. FBI Agent Sean Duffy had been in front of reporters, spectators, as well as concerned students and staff of the school. The agent was a short, solid man and packed a big punch. He specialized in taking down violators of the U.S. Crimes Code. He was at a make-shift podium flanked by New York’s top brass: Mayor Bob Rodin (with his marital problems), Jack Toussant and Columbia University President, Janet Elkind.
“First, I’d like to offer the country’s sincere condolences to all victims of this horrific crime, to everyone here on the campus, and in New York City.
He then covered intelligence known to the public from eye-witness accounts, including social media posts. Those were unsurprising developments, and the federal agent was there with the current details. “Chiefly, the suspect who appeared alone staggered a mini-van onto the campus and slammed into a tree. Seconds later it exploded, apparently from a dirty-bomb that was detonated by the suspect or an accomplice. That was quickly followed by the culprit open firing on students and passerby with a recovered Daniel Defense DDM4A1 semiautomatic Tactical Rifle. He had emptied two thirty-round magazines, carrying six more in his cargo pants pocket. He came with two hundred forty bullets ready to go. Straight savage. He was shot by a campus policeman seventeen times at 10:41 am and pronounced dead at the scene.”
A reporter yelled, “Can you tell us his name and details about this man. Is he a terrorist?”
Agent Duffy took a deep breath and sighed. “Can I fucking talk? He’s been identified as Vladimir Leon. A black male of Haitian descent. He was hired by Columbia University in 2006 as a bilingual Research Assistant in the Stroke Division of Columbia’s Department of Neurology. As of right now, we don’t know of any terrorist connection.”
“Why would a staff of the school kill anyone? Especially on the campus?” a reporter screamed above other reporter’s trying to get a question in.
“Let me defer to school president, Janet Elkind,” Agent Duffy replied, moving aside.
Elkind stepped in front of the microphone, and said, “Thank you,” looking at the agent. Her voice was husky and she had a low boyish haircut. “Mr. Leon complained that he was being bullied by other employees, his co-workers in the study, particularly because he was Haitian. He perceived that he was regarded differently by other employees, who were Dominican. Allegedly, the Dominican employees belittled Mr. Leon’s Spanish speaking ability, made racial comments about black people being less intelligent, and comments within his earshot about the first black U.S. president. These occurrences were reported to management, under investigation, and he was told it would be taken care of. It seems that he took care of it himself to the detriment of the beloved victims.” She was teary-eyed and losing her calm composer.
Undeterred reporters hurled additional questions but were met with the stiff hand of Agent Duffy. He gently put a hand on Elkind’s shoulder, before he shuffled the president away from the microphone, and said, “This is a fluid investigation, and we have divulged all that we can at this time. We will brief you all again the moment we learn more.” He started moving away from the mic with an arm around Elkind’s shoulder.
“Does this have any connection to the murder of Chief Justice Weston in Washington?”
FBI Agent Duffy stopped, backed up to the microphone, looked deeply into the lenses of the camera, and said, “We’re praying that these two atrocities aren’t connected. That would be a catastrophe.” He walked away, and thought, if they are connected things would be problematic.
Two Killers.
One day.
Another yelled, “Mayor Rodin, you didn’t speak. Are you going to divorce your wife?”
The mayor’s stoned expression confessed all, before he said, “No,” and continued off the podium.