Man using leaf blower shot in the head, killed by neighbor in Northern Illinois

[RandySF]

ANTIOCH, Ill. — An elderly man in Northern Illinois has been charged with murder after prosecutors say he fatally shot his neighbor in the head while he was using a leaf blower earlier this month.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office says 79-year-old Ettore Lacchei was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the death of 59-year-old William Martys.

Deputies were dispatched to the 40700 block of North Black Oak Avenue, Unincorporated Antioch, on April 12 for a report of an unresponsive man on a driveway. The man, identified as Martys, was found shot in the head and later died at the hospital.

Lacchei, who is Martys next-door neighbor, had "various perceived grievances with Martys," according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On the day of the murder, Martys was approached by Lacchei while he was using a leaf blower in his yard. Lacchei began arguing with Martys and then allegedly shot him in the head, the sheriff's office says.


https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/elderly-man-shoots-kills-neighbor-who-was-using-his-leaf-blower-in-northern-illinois

[WarGamer]

1. the new electric ones are much quieter.

[Maru Kitteh]

6. Yeah, because that's the real problem.

I really don't care if it was the loudest leaf blower on Earth. As a matter of fact, I'd love to see a whole fucking crowd of activists show up with the loudest, smelliest leaf blowers they can find.

[WarGamer]

7. No need to be testy...

I was just thinking WHY the old guy did it...

Doesn't mean it was OK to do it... just explains the WHY.

[ecstatic]

9. Leaf blowers are awful

It's the first sound I hear on Monday morning. Thank goodness they're limited to once a week in my neighborhood.

[WarGamer]

11. and weed whippers...

In my city I think we've banned gas powered ones... everyone uses the battery powered ones.

[ProfessorGAC]

35. That's All I've Ever Had

When my blower (which I only use to blow leaves out of the garden, then mulch & collect with my battery driven lawnmower) bites the dust, I'm getting an EGO blower.
When a blower carburetor goes bad, replacement is nearly the sane price as a repair. So, electric it is.
I never understood the need for a gas power weed whip for homeowner with a typical lot. Same with hedge trimmers. I've never had the need for more power than a battery operated Craftsman supplies.

[Arthur_Frain]

39. It's not just the sound

Leaf blowers are the ultimate “gonna make my problem go away by making it your problem” tool. Rarely if ever do I see leaf blowers bagging any leaves/grass.

[Maru Kitteh]

10. I apologize. The old guy shot him because he had a gun, and that's

how we problem-solve now. The leaf-blower is incidental.

[WarGamer]

14. What if he ran him over with a car?

Don't get me wrong, I've argued here many times... guns are tool #1 for murderers.

And if I had a magic wand and could make them all disappear, I would.

But... IMHO... there's something unique and dark and murderous about American culture. I believe 110% that without guns, we'd STILL be a violent country.

[Maru Kitteh]

15. Well that's much more difficult and potentially survivable isn't it.

So quite likely, the victim would be alive. I'll take my chances diving out of the way of an 80yo driver and call the ambulance for him when he crashes into the light pole at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Right after I call the police.

[WarGamer]

18. In my own home town... a few days ago...

A fugitive on the run INTENTIONALLY ran his car up onto a curb in front of a High School, killing a 15 year old.

There's something WRONG in the hearts of these people.

The tool they use... is just a matter of what they can get their hands on.

[Maru Kitteh]

22. I stand by what I've said. 'We need to change people's hearts" is right-wing pablum.

Belongs right next to "thoughts and prayers."

[WarGamer]

23. It's too bad this is a digital platform.

Over a tea we'd really enjoy each others thoughts.

I think it's ABSOLUTELY what is in the persons head.

The gun is the preferred tool of the violent. That's a fact.

But I can't possibly believe that minus the gun... they wouldn't just find another way to kill.

The largest mass murders in the USA haven't been from guns, they've been from arson and explosions.

I'm 100% for gun control.

I'm 100% for researching wtf is wrong in Americans heads.

[RandySF]

26. It's much easier for a 79-year old man to kill with a gun than without.

[Maru Kitteh]

27. I too am 100% for both of those things, but criminy,

I've been to other countries and seen vigorous arguments break out aplenty. Not once was I ever worried about getting caught in the crossfire of a hail of bullets.

Occams Razor.

[XorXor]

38. I don't we should be as dismissive of the mental health aspects

That doesn't mean it's the only solution, but it has to be part of it. I feel like it's dismissed by many because the pro-gun right just use it as a distraction to move the topic away from guns. They have no intention on doing anything that would help the mental health aspects of these sorts of things. In fact, they would likely try to block anything that did address it. But I don't think we should let them own that cause for their own fake reason. We should integrate real mental health solutions into our plans and then force them show their true colors.

[ecstatic]

40. "there's something unique and dark and murderous about American culture."

This country was founded (stolen) by some very violent, cruel, murderous individuals. Harsh, but true. Those of us who do not have violent tendencies probably have little or no genetic ties to the "forefathers."

[sheshe2]

16. Next thing you know a basketball will be kicked into your yard.

Or a neighbor laughs to loud.
Knocks at your door
Turns into your driveway.
Delivers groceries.
Black while being a neighbor.

[Celerity]

19. he has been attacking neighbours up and down the street for ages, I am sure if it had not been

the blower (if that was even the cause) it may well have been another thing.

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/man-charged-shooting-killing-neighbor-unincorporated-antioch/

[WarGamer]

20. evil... sad and unfortunate.

[Celerity]

24. oh, the irony (foreshadowing?)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elsalerno1969/recent-activity/

[WarGamer]

25. yikes... good find, Celerity

[ProfessorGAC]

36. I Like That! (nt)

[sanatanadharma]

31. Because he had a gun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Renew Deal]

33. I think there is plenty of need to be testy

Also, flippant and disrespectful.

[Caliman73]

34. Why he did it:

He is an angry/scared old man who had access to a gun.

There are leaf blowers up and down my street, sometimes they are being used too early for my taste. I have never thought "Hmm, I'm gonna shoot someone in the head"

The noise may be annoying, but the motivation was internal.

[rsdsharp]

2. That's horrific, but TWO counts of first degree murder?

Did he kill him twice?

[Jack from Charlotte]

5. Double Tap *

*

[John1956PA]

3. New NRA talking point: Only a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a leaf blower. n/t

[2naSalit]

4. Wow.

A sibling used to live there. A pretty quiet, woody town.

[LudwigPastorius]

8. "An armed society is a poli...err....leafy society."

[moniss]

12. Same little craphole town

that Killer Kyle was from.

[Diamond_Dog]

13. Rand Paul take note....

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

17. why two accounts of 1st degree murder?

[canetoad]

28. I can't give the exact numbers

But am I wrong in thinking that many of the recent 'get off my lawn' shootings are by people in their 60s and 70s? It seems like it to me, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Can't help but think of the ageing population, the sheer nastiness of the magats, the amount of weapons in the US and a large percentage of people developing dementia.

[RandySF]

29. A lot.

Anger + guns.

[ZonkerHarris]

30. Enjoy prison old man. You're going to die there.

[sanatanadharma]

32. There is no 2nd amendment carve out for demented, angry and mean

The 2nd amendment doesn't authorize societal self-defense so we keep arming the many who are sociopaths, psychopaths and common variety incompetents, a well as the clearly deranged.

Schools need classes on making of wills and arranging end of life issues ahead of time. One never knows when normal daily activities may result in the death of dad at work, the kids in school, the teens at a concert, or mom in the grocery store.

[womanofthehills]

37. I guess he didn't consider noise vs rest of his life in prison

In my previous neighborhood, we had a young guy with a wife & 2 kids often running around the neighborhood drunk with his gun. When his wife left, he went crazy (his house was next to mine) - I heard a gunshot - A neighbor & I came out & called the police because we knew he was suicidal. When the police came, his sister drove up & started yelling at us for calling the police & for me calling animal control about his poor dog. . Sister knocked on door - he says “Hey Sis - watch this & shoots himself in the head. It was sad but we were all releaved. Next month, his wife moves back in with a new guy.

About 3 days before he died, there was a shot right under my bedroom window. He stole someone’s pig, tied it to the fence between us and shot it in the head - then had a huge barbecue.

[ecstatic]

41. omg! horrible story. nt

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

42. Wow

I admit they can be obnoxiously noisy but I've never felt like killing someone over these.