Taxi Driver Shoots Man in Bin Laden Mask

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) - Osama bin Laden take note: You wouldn't be safe in Costa Rica. A startled taxi driver shot and wounded a jokester wearing a plastic mask of the al-Qaida leader, police said Tuesday.

Leonel Arias, 47, told police he was playing a practical joke by donning the Bin Laden mask, toting his pellet rifle and jumping out to scare drivers on a narrow street in his hometown, Carrizal de Alajuela, about 20 miles north of San Jose.

Arias had startled several drivers that way on Monday afternoon. But when he jumped out in front of taxi driver Juan Pablo Sandoval, the motorist reached for a gun and shot him twice in the stomach. He was hospitalized in stable condition.

``For me and I think for anybody else at a time like that one thinks the worst and so I fired my gun,'' Sandoval told Channel 7 television.

Police declined to detain Sandoval, saying he had believed he was acting in self-defense.

12/15/04 09:13

Can be verified at CNN: http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20041215%2F0913687810.htm&sc=1120&photoid=20041119BEI101

Submitted on 12/15/2004

Submitted by: ichael Gallo
Reference: CNN 12/15/04

Copyright © 2004 DarwinAwards.com

Charles said:
Maybe Toss: Other
I've been a bit leery of accepting people who dare other people to shoot them... which is what this guy was doing. Yes, he was doing stupid stuff... but I don't think there was any way he could have been expecting people to use deadly force against him.

Daniel said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I like this one! Dressing up as the most wanted criminal on earth, carrying an apparant weapon, he was pretty much daring them to shoot.

Jack said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I am going to go with Daniel on this one. He could have been wearing a Bush mask, but if someone jumps out in front of me wearing a mask and brandishing a weapon, I'm going to shoot first. But I must admit that I'm in favor of shooting any practical jokers...

Jason said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
If someone did that to me I'd shoot him too, several times.

Jorge said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention

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