Police: Mother gives son tattoo money, son purchases AR-15 with intent to conduct school shooting

[brooklynite]

Source: WKYT-TV

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - The Lexington student accused of threatening to shoot classmates at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Monday.

Timothy Felker, 18, is charged with second-degree terroristic threatening.

Police released new details in Monday's testimony, saying that the student bought an AR-15 using money his mother gave him to get a tattoo.

"Around Christmas or December 2017 is when he purchased the AR-15 with money that his mom gave him for a tattoo, and that he also purchased 500 rounds of ammunition," Lexington police detective Sean Stafford said.

Read more: http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Hearing-for-Lexington-teen-accused-of-threatening-to-kill-classmates-477916203.html

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Too bad; when he ends up in jail, that tattoo might have come in handy...

[hlthe2b]

1. A tattoo is approximately the same cost as an AR15?

Seriously... Asking?

[jmowreader]

4. Depends on how big the tattoo is

A shoulder-to-wrist sleeve tattoo would probably be about the same price as an AR-15 and 500 rounds of ammo...but who has the courage to go to their mom for enough money to get a tattoo that big?

[LisaL]

7. Must have been a very elaborate tattoo.

[still_one]

14. That was some expensive tattooooooooooooooooooooo

[yellowdogintexas]

25. my daughter charges $120 an hour ( I think, unless she recently raised her rates)

She has designed and tattooed some really huge pieces which took 10 to 12 hours to complete (not all at once of course)

https://www.facebook.com/margaret.able.tattoos/ for some samples.

All original work.

She is in North Scottsdale, AZ

[Shrike47]

27. I dont like tattoos but your daughter certainly is talented.

[hlthe2b]

33. designs are gorgeous...

though I'm not a "tattoo" person, myself. Still I can appreciate the artistry.

[NickB79]

28. AR's start at $500, 500 rd of ammo costs $150-$200

How much do tattoos cost? I've never had one.

[hlthe2b]

29. that is about what I thought for the AR15... know nothing about tattoos

but from what others have posted, I guess it is possible for a big one.

[wysimdnwyg]

34. I've got three

The smallest one, I got a long time ago, and it was $90. The largest I got a few years ago, covers about 40 sq inches (5x8), and took about 6-7 hours to complete. That one cost $500. So yeah, if the quote for the AR and ammo below is right, it's about the same (depending on the expectation of the tattoo and how much the artist charges, of course).

[Miigwech]

2. How about money to go to college

instead of a tat.

[brooklynite]

3. I'm just guessing here, but...

...perhaps he's not college material.

[LisaL]

24. Apparently he was interested in college. Performing arts.

That's not going to look good on his CV.

[John Fante]

5. Muh son ain't goin to no librul college ta get indot... induc... brainwashed!

[justhanginon]

16. Love it!

[Throck]

6. Should of got his Lifetime NRA membership too.

[truthisfreedom]

8. Lucky for his classmates he started with threats.

[LisaL]

9. Luckily the threats were paid attention to.

[Hoyt]

10. A kid feels bullied, so he buys a gun to get even. All too common.

[christx30]

17. That's why kids shouldn't bully.

Don't know who's going to take it, who's going to kill themselves, and who's going to kill you in retaliation. Treat others the way you'd like to be treated, and you'll have less to worry about.

[Hoyt]

18. Yes. Hopefully, Melania's anti-bullying program will work. She has lots

of experience with one.

[onecent]

11. I feel sorry for the mother....Thought she had a boy that would go and buy a tatoo,

instead now he's in jail. WOW, that would be so horrible.

[LisaL]

13. He is at home with an ankle monitor.

She never asked him where his tattoo was?

[BigmanPigman]

12. Brenda Spencer was given a gun for a Christmas gift and she shot

the school across the street from her house. She "Did not like Mondays" was her reason for the murders.

"For Christmas 1978, he gave her a Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic .22 caliber rifle with a telescopic sight and 500 rounds of ammunition. [6][8] Spencer later said, "I asked for a radio and he bought me a gun."

On the morning of Monday, January 29, 1979, Spencer began shooting at children waiting for principal Burton Wragg (aged 53) to open the gates to Cleveland Elementary School.[12] She injured eight children. Spencer shot and killed Wragg as he tried to help children. She also killed custodian Mike Suchar (aged 56) as he tried to pull a student to safety.[6] A police officer (aged 28), responding to a call for assistance during the incident, was wounded in the neck as he arrived.[6]

After firing 30 times, Spencer barricaded herself inside her home for several hours. While there, she spoke by telephone to a reporter from The San Diego Union-Tribune. Spencer told the reporter she shot at the schoolchildren and adults because "I don't like Mondays. This livens up the day." She also told police negotiators the kids and adults whom she shot were easy targets and that she was going to "come out shooting."

[kacekwl]

15. Mom gives son money for a tattoo.

What is wrong with that statement ? Any moms out there ? How bout dads ?

[EarthFirst]

19. Dad checking in...

Yes; we just recently paid for the consultation and the subsequent cost associated with our daughter getting a tattoo for her 21st birthday.

My wife and I sat with our daughter and discussed everything associated with the idea.

Ultimately:

Her idea. Her vision. Her body.

[LisaL]

20. Her idea, her vision, her body.

And yet you are paying for it?

[OriginalGeek]

23. That's how gifts generally work

Our son paid for his daughter's tattoo for her 17th birthday.

[LisaL]

37. Gift is generally something you want somebody to have.

[OriginalGeek]

39. was there anything in his post that indicated he didn't want her to have it?

And gifts can also be something the receiver wants.

At any rate I figure the fact that he paid for it is enough reason to assume he was OK with it.

[Codeine]

22. I think we generally give people

gifts that are things they desire. Assuming a parent has no objection to tattoos in general and the recipient is of legal tattoo age then it seems like a perfectly fine gift.

If one of our kids asked for that as a birthday gift we would probably consider it. Their mom has an enormous number of tattoos and their uncle is a widely-respected tattoo artist, so it’s not something our family considers problematic.

Of course, the more likely scenario is that their Uncle Rudy would just do the tattoo for free, but you get my point.

[raven mad]

21. Sad. However,he is of age.

Maybe someone in the prison system can rewire his brain. Of course mom doesn't sound like the one to do so.

[secondwind]

26. Teens should pay for their own tattoos. n/t

[mpcamb]

32. And know the risks associated- Hep C infection was nearly six-fold higher among those with tattoos

compared with those without tattoos.


from: Tattooing Significantly Increases the Risk of Contracting Hep C

https://www.poz.com/article/hepatitis-hcv-tattoo-18940-2918

[wysimdnwyg]

35. While this is true...

The odds of receiving an infection at a properly run and regulated tattoo parlor are low. Don't get it from your cousin Bob. Go to a clean shop that uses disinfectant, clean (new) needles every time, etc.

[mpcamb]

40. or refrain.

[wysimdnwyg]

41. Surely that is an option

But many people are willing to take the very, VERY low risk, and that's our decision. I merely offer the advice that, if you decide to get a tattoo, do so at a facility that is well-regulated and clean, and the risk of infection or disease is negligible.

[tclambert]

30. You may find Republican politicians willing to support universal background checks for tattoos . . .

or raising the age for getting a tattoo to 21. The gun part? Well, thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers.

[Vinca]

31. I would have loved to have seen my dad's reaction if I'd asked for money for a tattoo.

He nearly had a coronary when I discovered mascara.

[yurbud]

36. "The gift of the Republican Magi"

[dembotoz]

38. now that is funny