Friend says alleged Bristol gunman battling a mental illness, military history revealed
http://wjhl.com/2016/07/14/bristol-gunman-used-automatic-rifle-to-qualify-for-marksman-badge-in-army/BRISTOL, TN (WJHL) – The suspected gunman charged with killing one person and injuring three others when he opened fire in Bristol, Tennessee last week was good enough with an automatic rifle to hit more than half of his targets while in basic training, according to his military records.
A close family friend says Lakeem Keon Scott was not motivated by racial tensions when he opened fire along Volunteer Parkway last week, killing one person and injuring three others. Instead, Lacey Francis says the alleged shooting spree was the likely result of her friend’s ongoing battle with mental illness.
“No matter how much people want to say this was racially fueled, it was not,” Francis said. “It has to do with the reality that mental health is something we don’t want to talk about. Do I think he went out there with hate in his heart to kill somebody? No. Do I think he went out there hoping for a suicide by cop? Absolutely.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has said preliminary information suggests Scott may have targeted people and police after being troubled by recent incidents involving African-Americans and law enforcement officers in other parts of the country. Today, when asked if there was any more indication about a possible motive, a TBI spokesperson said, “Not that we can comment on publicly.”
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