A portion of California's interstate highway was brought to a halt after a 45-year-old convicted felon armed with three guns and wearing a bulletproof vest opened fire on two highway patrol officers, authorities said. Luckily, no one was killed, but Byron Christopher Williams has been placed under arrest for attempted murder. The showdown began shortly after midnight on Sunday morning when California Highway Patrol officers tried to stop a white Toyota truck that was allegedly speeding and weaving through traffic. Authorities said Williams was behind the wheel, but refused to heed the officers' directions to pull over. The suspect with an "extensive criminal record" eventually stopped, but as police approached the vehicle they realized Williams was armed with a high-powered rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun. As the gunman took aim, the two officers retreated to their squad cars and returned fire. It took ten officers to subdue the suspect who remains in serious, but stable condition after being shot in the arm, side, leg and foot. Williams is expected to survive; however, if convicted, this will be Williams' third offense which is something not looked kindly upon by the state of California. "This person blatantly and randomly shot at our officers without provocation," said CHP spokesman, officer Sam Morgan. Two officers suffered only minor injuries from flying glass. According to the suspect's mother, who spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle, Williams was upset because as an ex-felon he was having trouble securing a job, and was upset at "the way Congress was railroading through all these left-wing agenda items." "Something snapped," she said. "His life is over. He will go back to prison for the rest of his life. Our lives are over." The busy highway remained in gridlock until an Alameda County explosives team could confirm that the suspicious items in the car Williams was driving were not explosives. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20010978-504083.html
Police: Alleged freeway shooter was targeting ACLU Police say a California man arrested after a freeway shootout with authorities was planning to attack people at the American Civil Liberties Union and another nonprofit group. Oakland police Officer Jeff Thomason says Byron Williams was upset with the ACLU and Tides Foundation for their political views. Williams told investigators he was on his way to San Francisco late Saturday when California Highway Patrol officers pulled him over on Interstate 580. Authorities say Williams, wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with three guns, opened fire. He was arraigned Tuesday on four counts of attempted murder, plus weapons enhancements. He was released from the hospital earlier in the day after being treated for injuries from the shootout. http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0720/police-alleged-freeway-shooter-targeting-aclu/
the California highway patrol earlier this week, was headed to the ACLU and the Tides Center. Tides aggregates money from wealthy donors to distribute to worthy charitable organizations. Williams said he wanted to âstart a revolution.â After he was wounded and taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland, Williams told investigators âhis intention was to start a revolution by traveling to San Francisco and killing people of importance at the Tides Foundation and the ACLU,â Oakland police Sgt. Michael Weisenberg wrote in a court affidavit. ⦠The unemployed carpenter has two strikes â one for a 2001 bank robbery in Madera County and the other for a 1995 bank robbery in Washington state. That means he faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of a third strike in connection with the shootout. He is being held without bail. http://www.alan.com/2010/07/22/right-wing-gunman-was-headed-for-aclu-and-tides-groups/