Mark Becker Charged With First-Degree Murder In Ed Thomas Shooting, Has Long Rap Sheet
by Adam Jacobi on Jun 24, 2009 1:04 PM CDT
in Iowa Hawkeyes News
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Well, this didn't take long. Authorities have charged the man accused of killing Ed Thomas earlier this morning, Mark D. Becker, with first-degree murder. Becker's only 24, but as first seen in the comments below, has a long rap sheet, which drugs and physical violence both popping up.
We'll try to confirm this later today, but for now:
6/20/09 Eluding Parkersburg Police Department
6/20/09 Reckless Driving
6/20/09 Failure to Stop at Yield Sign
6/20/09 Speeding 20+ Over
3/2/09 Speeding 6-10 Over
12/19/08 Criminal Mischief 4th Degree (86 days in jail)
11/18/08 Assault Causing Bodily Injury
1/26/07 Speeding 20+ Over
9/8/05 Safety Belt
1/10/05 OWI 1st Offense
9/24/04 Speeding 1-5 Over
8/4/03 Unsafe Approach to Stationary Vehicle
(EDIT: Some charges previously listed were dismissed, and so are no longer included)
Back to the shooting. First-degree murder means premeditation, and that seems sufficiently likely here. There's nothing to suggest this killing was an accident or a crime of passion; Becker (allegedly) went to Thomas' workplace and shot him multiple times, including at least once in the head. We don't know if Becker tried to flee or where he was apprehended, but that's barely relevant at this point.
There's no word yet on where the gun came from, if it's his, etc. Maybe the killing was preventable. Maybe it wasn't. That's a matter for the days and months yet to come. For now, we reel and mourn.
(Oh, and that's probably an old mugshot; considering his already prodigious crime streak, the Courier probably already had a mug of his on record. We hope it's old, anyway; otherwise that smirk would be truly haunting.)
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You'll notice...
that there are about 4 different offenses from Saturday, June 20. Allegedly, he led several police departments on a chase from Cedar Falls to near a small town of Allison. Then, as police finally got him out of the car, he might have been talking some crazy (drug-influenced?) stuff. According to Ron Steele of Waterloo’s KWWL tv:
Becker allegedly shouted “I want to work for God, not Satan.”
Allegedly, he was taken to one of the Waterloo hospitals for a psychiatric evaluation. After that, he was supposed to be given back to Cedar Falls police. But, instead, he was (accidentally?) released.
Bad stuff all around.
Again, God Bless Ed, and his family.
WSIX.com, a Nashville Country Music Station
just mentioned this on their airtime. It just shows the vast amount of people and affect a man like Ed Thomas had on lives. This is truly a tragedy that should be wished upon noone.
God be with the Thomas and A-P families in this dire time.
by 2mannings1cup on Jun 24, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
ESPN...
also mentioned it on SportsCenter.
One other note: according to the DM Register, Becker served 4 days in jail for an assualt charge, with an 86-day portion being suspended.
Yeah, that's correct
Becker received time served, a fine, and the remaining 86 days of his sentence suspended (on a one-year probation) for that November assault. The crazy car chase would have obviously violated that probation, and there is no way this guy should have been outside the sight of a police officer at any time after June 20 unless he posted bail.
storminspank: "Or we could join you can take our pants off."
by Patrick Vint on Jun 24, 2009 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions
NY Times...
has the Thomas story as a bullet way far down on the sports page. I’m guessing most media outlets will have it by now, or very soon.
by WaterlooChazz on Jun 24, 2009 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions
that doesn't count...
the BBC is notorious for overplaying shootings like this because it bolster’s their opinion that the US is a gun-mad society.
Anyone watching news right now?
Watching MSNBC, or CNN? This South Carolina governor is now copping to an affair, and that is part of the reason why he has been absent (and lying about where he was) for like 5 days.
Isn’t it difficult to make sense of the world right now? We have leaders like scumbag Sanford at the heights of power. Meanwhile, a true leader like Ed Thomas gets shot after he gets up early to open the weight room for the betterment of kids.
Are we officially in the decadent (declining) era of America?
I disagree
if we were Rome we would string this guy up by his entrails as he deserves.
But I know what you’re saying, there’s a lot of depravity in our society, and not nearly enough personal accountabiltiy.
I don’t think it’s necessarily any worse recently, though.
by chitownhawkeye on Jun 24, 2009 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, I should probably have put "in some ways, analogous to" in between "are" and 'Rome."
by Bucketochicken on Jun 24, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Don't worry
I understood. It’s just in cases like this, I wish we were more like Rome in the punishment department. It just sickens me.
by chitownhawkeye on Jun 24, 2009 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions
That is my initial reaction.
But really, I side more with Gandhi: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
One death is enough.
by Bucketochicken on Jun 24, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't buy this "declining" stuff
We have one scumbag politician and one nutjob. There have always been a certain number of scumbags and nutjobs in the world, and I have no reason to think there are more of them now.
I agree
There are over 300 million people in this country, so there will always be an isolated nutjob here and there. And polticians have been lying and screwing around since the wooden-teeth days. With the Internet, cable news, etc., we just hear about this stuff more often.
by Black and Gold on Jun 24, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions
There is a special place in hell for this guy
I hope they cure him of his mental illness (that he allegedly has) and this eats away at him for the last 70 years of his life. Rest in peace, Coach.
by shada's revenge on Jun 24, 2009 7:33 PM CDT reply actions
11 ct SC
Doing a few minute spot on AP right now.
In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
- Thomas Jefferson
by Hawkeyewith49Jackrabbits on Jun 24, 2009 11:16 PM CDT reply actions
"Why would anyone want to do something like this?" asked former University of Iowa defensive coordinator Bob Elliott, who works in the athletic department at San Diego State University. "He’s the best. He’s the best of the best."
the sacred acre….
How big of an icon was Coach Thomas? The town named the football field in his honor. While he was still coaching!
The murderer was in the midst of a several day rampage. It would appear that some certain medical officials have some explaining to do.
this was as senseless as shocking. imagine those kids memory of seeing this icon, beloved person and leader of their community shot down like this. unbelievable
Somebody dropped the ball on Becker's whereabouts, that's for sure
I’m not a bible thumper, but believing that god (God? Gods?) had a reason for this is the only way to make sense or peace with it.
by YouCanPutYourEddsInIt on Jun 25, 2009 9:10 AM CDT reply actions
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