Obeying orders, and shot for it
Gabriel Falcon
AC360° Writer
She did everything she was ordered to do.
But it wasn't enough for the killer.
The video you are about to see is grainy and above all, it is gruesome, showing the taking of a life for a few dollars. The images were recorded last Tuesday night at around 9PM. They show the final seconds of the life of Linda Susan Raulerson.
A surveillance camera is fixed on the inside of the Joy America Food Store in Lake City, Florida.
At the counter is Mrs. Raulerson. She is the clerk. She is also a 56-year-old wife and mother.
Outside the window, a car pulls up. Police believe it is a four-door Buick Regal, white with black trim, uncertain of the year, but possibly 1993 to 1995 model.
We see a man enter the store. What happens next is hard to watch.
The man approaches Mrs. Raulerson, brandishes a gun and while barking orders, shoots her in the right arm. She screams. And then he fatally shoots her. Customers would later find her body in a pool of blood.
The motive was robbery. Sheriff Bill Gootee of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office is shocked. "This murder is especially heinous," he says. "Mrs. Raulerson did nothing but comply with the suspect and she was shot in a cold-blooded manner.”
Here is the video – we warn you it is graphic...
For those that do not wish to watch the video – here are several images of the suspect:
The sheriff is asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at (386)-754-7099.
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Filed under: Crime & Punishment |
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Its not about the money, he intended to kill someone. No one cares if someone robs a store for a few bucks, but if you kill someone its a national manhunt. These predators like killing, its about killing, the robbery is secondary....an excuse.
I live right down the road from where this awful crime took place. Thanks for making it a national story because the more publicity there is can only help to catch the brutal, worthless killer...
BuzzC, Lake City, FL
Why do negros always have to act like this?
This is why white folks in the elevator seem to be extra-aware when I get on the elevator with them, even though I am dressed in a 3-piece suit JUST like them. How do I tell them "I'm not one of THOSE kind of negros, you can relax"?
Whenever I hear or read these stories I am so embarassed to be black...
God, I hate black people 🙁
a killer who thinks that he save is wide open for a sucker punch. there is no safest place in the whole world. One question please, a person who is in the church service praying to his God and someone walks in and starts shooting, and he gets killed by a stray bullet, is he at the wrong place at a wrong time? Tell me. some people take killing as their idea of fun. God forbid.
Well Fay,
I tend to agree with you. There are a lot of good blacks but unfortunately a lot want to be thugs and live the thug life.. I have black neighbors and have never had a problem. Then 2 weeks ago and a car with 4 young blacks pulled up asking for directions it was dark (9:30pm) right in front of my house and as I went over to try to help them the driver pulled a gun on me and robbed me. Thankfully I didn't wind up like this poor woman. I did what she did I complied. But the next day I bought a gun and have applied for my carry permit.
Mike in NYC. If these figures are correct, and I highly doubt it; especially since blacks are being let out of jail in record numbers for crimes they DID NOT commit, but were convicted of. (thank God for DNA)
I understand how you may feel; however, this is not how all of us are. I wouldn't give a rip if he was purple. If he committed the crime, and it is proven beyond a shadow of doubt, and it seems very clear that it is.........then he should get everything coming to him.
Everyone's life is precious no matter who you are, or what race you are, and for someone to take that away from another individual and their family to suffer, then they should suffer in my book, and NEVER get out.
Hard labor, (in which if he had tried a little of this, he wouldn't have to kill someone for what he did not work for) is what he needs.
Jail should be just that........no cable, getting degrees, workouts, etc. I work to keep my cable on, yet this one, when caught will get it for free, and what is with getting a degree in jail, YOU CAN"T USE IT ONCE THEY DO A BACKGROUND CHECK- it is a waste of our money. Give these guys minimal everything, and I guarantee you, you won't see sensless, killings, robbings, rapings, drug dealings etc............ NO MATTER WHAT THEIR COLOR
Let's help solve the problems, instead of always blaiming eachothers race for something; these comments don't help any of us, it just continues to make us bitter.
John, Washington DC wrote:
"... and hired someone (conveniently, a black man) to do the job?"
Sorry to say this, John, but that's just silly. This guy did this on his own - that's virtually guaranteed.
Business establishments like convenience stores should come up with measures on how to saguards their employees especially those handling cash. Apart from the security cameras, they should provide a booth for the cashier where there is a divider between the cashier and the customer. In this case it appears that the crime was facilitated due to the absence of a divider. Also, owners of store should be required to have at least two employees at the same time particularly during the evening or if it situated in depressed areas. Because we do not know what is in the mind of a criminal unless it is translated into an overt act, the best way to stop if not deter the crime is to come up with measures, a few of which I already mentioned.
Fay, CA wrote:
"...when the majority, whom the media NEVER pays any attention to ... are working, going to school and living a life that has nothing to do with any crime whatsoever."
The media are filled with positive depictions of blacks, from competent professionals in TV shows, to confident and personable pitchmen in commercials, to saviors of the world in film. I would honestly say that the depictions of AA's in the media are, in general, better than the often sad reality.
To: John, Washington DC
You're hoping against hope, it seems. Oftentimes, human life really is that cheap.
"... hired someone (conveniently, a black man) ..."
Sorry to say this, John, but that's just silly. This guy did it on his own - that's virtually guaranteed. It happens all the time.
God bless everyone for being aware that this was a cold blooded killer regardless of the murderers race. It does not need to become a racial issue. I believe this animal would have killed no matter what the race.
I also believe there is someone out there who knows who this person is, especialy his family and friends. Do any of you have a conscience?
I guess time will tell.
This seems like a very odd crime. I hope the police dig deeper into the investigation. Why would this guy shoot her for that little amount of money? I understand that some people are just so corrupt and uncivilized that they would kill another person just "a few dollars." However, have they considered if anyone might have wanted her dead and hired someone (conveniently, a black man) to do the job? I hope they get the right guy.
He looks like he is wearing a mask. an alien mask. so it is hard to tell whether he is black or white.
There was no need to kill this woman – she was doing as asked. It seems though that some people do not value anyone's life other than their own these days. My condolences to Susan's family.
Annie Kate
Birmingham AL
This fool in no means represents the hard working, educated and law abiding African Americans of this country. His actions are his alone…
Exactly. I do not condone the terrible crime this individual committed in any shape or form, but it is unfortunate that images like these that the media has a tendency to focus on are the ones that shape opinions of blacks and black men in particular. It is easy for people to believe that ALL blacks are prone to committ these types of crimes when the majority, whom the media NEVER pays any attention to, even in a series like "Black In America", are working, going to school and living a life that has nothing to do with any crime whatsoever.
I agree with Martin on this one. This animal is responsible for his own actions not his race. This fool is a murderer and when he is arrested and convicted putting him to death would not be a fair price. it is too quick and painless these days. We really only need a couple of things in our country to toughen up our system. As already said...make prison a horrible place to be. Not just a boring place but really turn back the clock and get some chain gangs going again, hard labor..etc. Then the second step is to build half way houses to parole the prisoners who do their time. Only this time build them in the neighborhoods of the judges, politicians and lawyers who make our system unsafe. i bet there would be fewer paroles and more sentences that fit the crimes. just my opinion...
I agree with the others that this guy (when he gets caught) deserves to die for this crime. Too bad there is no "death by firing squad" in Florida, because that is what this scumbag deserves!
JC-Los Angeles
Let's look @ the big picture first & foremost these's are sign's of time "GOD" is on his way.
Let the truth be told once you turn 18 by law you are now legal. But however I do believe alot of these's unconcerned father's need to step up to the plate, and break the cycle.
There are so many broken famlies with 2 parent's, can you image what it would be like with one.
Alot of valid point's have been made but "the truth" go's alot deeper. All of us come from different walks of life, but the choice is your's. God gave us our own mind's, and most of us ( I said MOST) was taught right from wrong. WE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR OWN ACTION'S!
Trust me we as parent's have paid many price's for our children, even when it was not right, but that's what parent's do. Although their come's a time when that to will stop.
No one should rely on "security" any more – this is the limit. Pack some personal heat and to heck with "the law" – shoot these thugs- it's your LIFE! If everyone – or enough people to make it LIKELY to get shot – did it, these guys would think twice. Convenience store clerks and the like are easy prey and should be armed. It is just too dangerous any more.
Mike in NYC and Bill... This individual and others of his ilk do not represent my entire race. I personally believe anyone who commits a heinous act of violence should receive the same punishment they perpetrated on their victims. This fool in no means represents the hard working, educated and law abiding African Americans of this country. His actions are his alone… My condolences to her family…
@ Cody if prisons were like the one I visited in Yuma, AZ (now abandoned) I'd be all for it but the sad fact is prison is too cushy so I'd rather weed them out then support them.
Since criminals have no respect for the well being of others along with no self respect, it might be time to start holding family members accountable for the actions of their own.
If a gang member's mother were to be held accountable for his actions, it might cause some of these thugs to reconsider their cavalier approach to the lives of others.
If nothing else, slap civil lawsuits on the family members of these thugs and bankrupt them in court; I'm sure certain communities would get the word out quite quickly and start policing their own.
Wonder how much Charles Manson has cost the taxpayer?
I agree with Jobert, too. Why is the film so grainy? This is the hi tech age.
It's an outrage! But this thing does happen many times a day in any city in this country. And Congress is worried about their recess! Why can't they do something about the real problems in this country, & maybe there would be less of this violence–I can hope, can't I?
and people wonder why we still have the death penalty in the states. After seeing this I hope he gets the needle once caught
i don't care wether the murderer is black or white the fact remains he is still a murderer and should pay the extereme penalty for this horrible crime
Caroline from Los Angeles wrote:
“…you can hardly make the guy out at all.”
From the Gainesville Sun:
“Based on the surveillance video, the suspect was described as black, 25 years old to 35 years old, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 2 inches tall, with an average build, the Sheriff's Office reported. He was wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt with a baseball-style cap under the hood, long jean shorts, bright white sneakers, sunglasses and a shirt with horizontal stripes.”
Looks like plenty of detail there.
Whether he is black or white, he is a murderer, he should be punished. The police should investigate and if it proved beyond reasonable doubt. We should have a rule "eye for an eye". Thats it. End of story. We are not in any kind of loss, when we lose murderers, rapist, terrorist and violent individuals. We doesn't need to educate or give a second or third or forth chance to correct themselves. SO, "EYE FOR AN EYE".
Duhhhhh... He sure looks BLACK to me!!!!!!!
If ever a death by taser is justified, THIS GUY SHOULD BE IT!!!!! Its a shame that when they catch him and THEY WILL, the taxpayers will cover his room and board in prison , taxpayers will also pay to keep him fed and entertained with cable television........convict and execute, dont let him sit in jail for one moment and add to the census!!!
This is exceptionally cruel. But in my opinion, killing someone to show them that killing is wrong is totally hypocritical and stupid. If we execute him, we are no better than him. It may cost money to keep in him prison, but I think life in prison would be much more agonizing than a 30 second slow release from life. But it's also my opinion that most prisons are not hard enough on their inmates, at least of serious crimes such as murder.... I think we should be careful who we send to prison, but I think prison should be total hell. And I think this guy should be the first one to experience it.
A black on white crime, like 90% of all crimes involving blacks and whites.
From Walter Williams, “An Ugly Conspiracy of Silence,” August 18, 1999:
“In that year [1994], there were about 1,700,000 interracial crimes, of which 1,276,030 involved whites and blacks. In 90 percent of the cases, a white was the victim and a black was the perpetrator, while in 10 percent of the cases it was the reverse.”
Truth from a black writer.
This is why I'm in no mood to "apologize" for anything.
How many times a day does this go on in any major city?
I'm tired of these convenience store/gas station owners who pay their workers minimum wage yet will not provide a decent security camera to protect their workers.
Forget jail – this POS needs to be shot, killed, tased, electrocuted – I don't care how he dies but I'll be more than happy to execute it.
That's horrible! I used to work for a poilce department – I remember a particular case where a man (a husband and father) was fatally shot for $40 cash. The killer had no remorse, no respect for life. It was crazy! Needless to say, he was convicted and sentenced to jail. People can be so heartless and cruel.
Rot in jail. They need to execute this thug without appeals. He doesnt deserve one dime of taxpayers money to eat three square meals a day. Hey Obama would you consider this heinous act.
Jobert I always wonder the same thing. Why is it that security cameras have the worst footage....I mean, you can hardly make the guy out at all.
Appalling. I hope they catch they guy and make him sit in jail for the rest of his life. How terrible! It makes me wonder about another thing: in our high-tech digital age, why is the security camera footage always so poor? I have a twenty dollar webcam that does a far better job at a higher data rate...
People are ridiculous now a days. They will do anything for a dollar including kill some innocent person.
It probably wouldn't have mattered what Mrs. Raulerson did he was probably intent on killing her so there would be no one to ID him. Glad they had a video rolling! I hope that they catch him soon before he does this again!
Cindy...Ga.