War on computer screen morphs into shooting in home

[DoYouEverWonder]

April 26, 2006

DUNEDIN - The father demanded his son do the laundry.

The son yelled back that he wasn't a slave.

The father complained that the 24-year-old spent all his time on the Internet, playing games such as World of Warcraft, and authorities said he threatened to shoot a real bullet through the computer monitor.

Instead, Tim Langenderfer says his father, an Army veteran, shot at him once with a .22-caliber pistol. The bullet hit a bedroom wall.

"Had he shot 2 feet closer to my head, I'd be dead and wouldn't see my 25th birthday in September," Tim Langenderfer said. He added that he never wanted to see his dad again.

Joseph Francis Langenderfer, 44, was arrested and charged with one count of attempted murder Monday after surrendering to Pinellas County sheriff's deputies, who used a public announcement system to order him out of his Frances Street home.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/26/Northpinellas/War_on_computer_scree.shtml


Even Carl Hiaasen couldn't make up shit this crazy.

[Rex]

1. This is a very sad story; dad is a vet and son is 24 and living at home.

Neither one seems to like the other, obviously dad needs some attention. I feel sorry for the both of them.

[slackmaster]

4. They're both miserable people

The home is rented.

[slackmaster]

2. Dupe topic - Already being discussed in GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1022559

[TomInTib]

3. Just watch the "kid" get the house in a civil suit.

He should have been kicked out long ago, it seems.

I moved my two sons (23 and 25, neither works)into an apartment and moved out of state.

[Ecumenist]

5. Florida. "sigh" figures.

[teknomanzer]

6. Crap like this is in every part of this country...

Quit acting like its just a "Florida" thing. What Hodunk Backwoods State are you from anyway...

Hint: Outside the urban zones they are all Hodunk Backwoods States.

[Ecumenist]

8. I'm not from a "Hodunk Backwoods, State"

I'm Californian, northern Californian. I live in the Southern Sacramento Valley and am moving to the northern Sacramento valley to a VERY RURAL area,(mountain lions, Coyotes, fishers, bears, foxes, etc) My grandmother grew up on a Osage Seminole Reservation in the Everglades and I still have ALOT of relatives in Florida. I was simply noting that lately, there has been alot of instances in Florida where people have been mistreated, especially children. True enough, all states have their problems but lately, it seems that there have been so many crazy things happening and it may very well have alot to do with who holds the governorship. I NEVER looked at Florida or any other southeastern state as "hodunk backwoods" as you so eloquently put it. My husband is from the South, A WHITE BOHEMIAN CZECH from Deepintheharta, Texas and I am African American. Before you come at another DU'er who is simply noting a problem, you should check yourself.

[Mojorabbit]

9. It's because

we are being invaded by northerners.:) Seriously, The old florida I grew up in was a lot different than what it is now.

[Ecumenist]

10. I know. The same thing is(was) happening here

The Bush family has infested many states and used their family pathology to screw up people's lives without so much as a by your leave and the refuse to bother their "beautiful minds" about it. You know, come to think about it, it is a modern day carpetbagger infestation but I have a feeling that things are turning around. People can only stomach so much stupidity, bloodshed and financial rape but I feel that it was the astronomically high fuel prices that have finally hit people right between the eyes. Not to mention the threat of this maniacal idiot starting a nuclear WWIII. It's no longer an abstract situation.

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Did you ever see the (short lived) series 'Maximum Bob'

with Beau Bridges? That show captured the essence of the insanity you find down here. There is definitely something about FL that attracts more then our share of crazies.

[electricray]

7. I smell a sitcom here...

There was the Odd Couple, then Will and Grace, now comes: Two Guys Who Have Nothing Left to Lose and a Country That Doesn't Give a Shit!

Just a little quick math and research reveals that this guy probably got wounded in a war while his son was about 2 or 3 years old. I wonder if his service had anything to do with the divorce. Raising a young family is difficult enough without a wheel chair. These poor guys never had a chance. Its too bad. They were both probably in need of something but too much baggage got in the way. Seems like they really tried to make a go of it too.