Pro-life demonstrator murdered at Michigan high school; Update: Motive confirmed

On the day that we remember almost 3,000 Americans murdered by radical Islamists, we should all condemn this lunatic murder in Michigan.  A pro-life protestor got shot by an assailant in front of Owosso High School and died before anyone could rescue the victim.  The shooter is in custody, but neither he nor the victim has been identified:

The Michigan State Police say an anti-abortion activist has been shot and killed in front of Owosso High School.

The Flint Journal reports the shooting took place around 7:30 a.m. today, and a suspect was taken into custody about 45 minutes later at the suspect’s home.

The victim’s identity has not yet been released.

LifeNews has more details:

The shooting did not take place on school property but officials have locked down the school and taped off most of the front portions of the school grounds.

According to the Associated Press, in the spot where the protester stood, a black car is parked and a portable oxygen tank is lying next to a sign with a picture of an unborn child and the words life.

NBC 25 is reporting that interim school superintendent, Susan Wooden says the person is a well-known local pro-life advocate — a man who frequently stands in high traffic areas with the sign to protest abortion.

When abortionists get murdered by lunatics, the Left uses these incidents to indict the pro-life cause while the Right correctly notes that lunatics don’t adhere to any set of rules but their own madness.  The pro-life advocates tempted to use this as a tu quoque, either in the murder itself or reactions to it, should resist the urge.  Lunacy is evidence of only one thing — lunacy.

Today, of all days, we should remember that.  Terrorism and murder are never acceptable forms of political action in a democracy of free people, not for any reason or provocation.  People who toss bombs, shoot people, and conspire to commit acts of terror to impose their view of the world on free men and women should be objects of derision, regardless of our personal politics.

My prayers go to the family of the deceased, his friends and colleagues, and the emergency responders in the area who acted so quickly to make their community safe and try to save the life of the protester.

Update: And that’s assuming abortion had anything to do with the shooting at all. It may have been a personal conflict. We should know more soon.

Update II: Part of a murder spree?

Update III: Police have identified the murder suspect, who allegedly committed both murders out of personal grudges — and in the case of the pro-life  protester, the grudge was political:

Harlan Drake of Owosso, near Lansing, was arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder and other gun-related crimes. Prosecutors said Drake also had planned to kill a third, unidentified person. …

Drake was arrested at home about an hour later. Police said he stated he had also shot Fuoss.

“The indication is that he had ill will … a grudge against these three individuals,” said Shiawassee County Prosecutor Randy Colbry. “The defendant was offended by the manner of Mr. Pouillon’s message.”

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