Suicide pilot leaves behind Web harangue against taxation office
Source: Agencies |
February 20, 2010, Saturday
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A SOFTWARE engineer who crashed his plane into a Texas building housing a United States Internal Revenue Service office, killing himself and at least one worker, apparently left behind an anti-government manifesto detailing his financial difficulties and tax problems.
Before flying his single engine Piper PA-28 into the hulking black-glass office building with nearly 200 people inside on Thursday morning, A. Joseph Stack III apparently posted a rambling screed on a Website in which he railed against "big brother," the Catholic Church, the "unthinkable atrocities" committed by big business and the governments bailouts that followed.
In the online note, signed "Joe Stack (1956-2010)" and dated Thursday, he said he slowly came to the conclusion that "violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer."
Law enforcement officials said the 53-year-old Stack apparently set fire to his house and posted the screed on the Internet before launching his suicide attack on the IRS.
"He didn't rant about anything," said Pam Parker, an Austin attorney whose husband played in a band with Stack. "He wasn't obsessed with the government or any of that. Not a loner, not off in a corner. He had friends and conversation and ordinary stuff."
But in the self-described "rant," the author fumed about the IRS and wrote: "Nothing changes unless there is a body count.
"I have had all I can stand. I choose not to keep looking over my shoulder at 'big brother' while he strips my carcass."
The pilot took off in the four-seat, single engine Piper PA-28 from an airport in Georgetown, about 48 kilometers from Austin. He flew low over the Austin skyline before plowing into the side of the building just before 10am.
Flames shot from the building, windows exploded and workers fled.
The Pentagon scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to patrol over the burning building before it became clear it was the act of a lone pilot, and US President Barack Obama was briefed.
"It felt like a bomb blew off," said Peggy Walker, an IRS revenue officer who was sitting at her desk. "The ceiling caved in and windows blew in. We got up and ran."
The entire outside of the second floor was gone on the side of the building where the plane hit. Support beams were bent inward.
Emergency crews originally said people were missing inside the building, but later recovered two bodies. At least 13 other people were injured, with two reported in critical condition.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said "heroic actions" by federal employees may explain why the death toll was low.
The tirade posted online registered in Stack's name began: "If you're reading this, you're no doubt asking yourself, 'Why did this have to happen?'"
He recounted his financial reverses, his difficulty finding work in Austin, and at least two clashes with the IRS.
Before flying his single engine Piper PA-28 into the hulking black-glass office building with nearly 200 people inside on Thursday morning, A. Joseph Stack III apparently posted a rambling screed on a Website in which he railed against "big brother," the Catholic Church, the "unthinkable atrocities" committed by big business and the governments bailouts that followed.
In the online note, signed "Joe Stack (1956-2010)" and dated Thursday, he said he slowly came to the conclusion that "violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer."
Law enforcement officials said the 53-year-old Stack apparently set fire to his house and posted the screed on the Internet before launching his suicide attack on the IRS.
"He didn't rant about anything," said Pam Parker, an Austin attorney whose husband played in a band with Stack. "He wasn't obsessed with the government or any of that. Not a loner, not off in a corner. He had friends and conversation and ordinary stuff."
But in the self-described "rant," the author fumed about the IRS and wrote: "Nothing changes unless there is a body count.
"I have had all I can stand. I choose not to keep looking over my shoulder at 'big brother' while he strips my carcass."
The pilot took off in the four-seat, single engine Piper PA-28 from an airport in Georgetown, about 48 kilometers from Austin. He flew low over the Austin skyline before plowing into the side of the building just before 10am.
Flames shot from the building, windows exploded and workers fled.
The Pentagon scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to patrol over the burning building before it became clear it was the act of a lone pilot, and US President Barack Obama was briefed.
"It felt like a bomb blew off," said Peggy Walker, an IRS revenue officer who was sitting at her desk. "The ceiling caved in and windows blew in. We got up and ran."
The entire outside of the second floor was gone on the side of the building where the plane hit. Support beams were bent inward.
Emergency crews originally said people were missing inside the building, but later recovered two bodies. At least 13 other people were injured, with two reported in critical condition.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said "heroic actions" by federal employees may explain why the death toll was low.
The tirade posted online registered in Stack's name began: "If you're reading this, you're no doubt asking yourself, 'Why did this have to happen?'"
He recounted his financial reverses, his difficulty finding work in Austin, and at least two clashes with the IRS.
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