Tampa man pointed gun at USF talent show crowd, police say
TAMPA -- A gun was anything but a prop at a USF talent show Thursday evening, when a Tampa man refused to leave the stage and pointed a loaded .357 magnum at some 100 attendees, officers say.
David Joseph Thornton, 26, left, was arrested on felony charges of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm on school property, grand theft of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon, according to police reports. Thornton was released on $7,000 bail.
Police say Thornton, pictured left, brandished the gun in front of Russell M. Cooper Hall, USF's key arts and sciences building, around 10:30 p.m.
Thornton, who is not a USF student, performed in the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity's Blu Pollo talent show, said University Police Spokeswoman Lt. Meg Ross.
Thornton then left the scene and went to his car, police said, where he was later arrested at gunpoint.
Markus Jerrell Raines, seated in the passenger seat of the car, also was arrested on misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession. Officers searched Raines, 22, after Thornton's arrest and said they found marijuana in his pocket.
Raines, who also does not attend USF, was released on $500 bail.
Victoria Bekiempis, Times staff writer
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When will Mr Thornton learn? Milli Vanilli impersonators are not wanted at talent shows
Posted by: Oh No it's MONGO | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I heard the name of the show was "The Nut Crackhead"
Posted by: MiamiMike | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 12:48 PM
You know whats funny about the situation? Yes what this guy did was idiotic but you sit back and talk smack on a computer knowing that if you were confronted by him you would have an accident in your pants.
Posted by: CaneBuc | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 01:48 PM
i wouldn't canebuc. Takes more then a 2 bit punk to scare me. just cause a guy looks freakie don't make them a bad _ss. Saw many of them fall in nam, thinking they were all that.
Posted by: mrknowitall | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Nice doo...
Posted by: laker | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 02:30 PM
Perhaps he did not have the right venue?
Maybe they were suppose to audition for the lead roles in "Dumb and Dumber - Stuk in Da Ville".
Posted by: TriplePlay | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 03:24 PM
$7,000 bail?! What? Something is wrong here. Why not $70,000 bail? Better yet,spend the $1.00 for a 45 cal. and use it on the punk! Future problems eliminated. 'Nuff Said
Posted by: carl | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 05:29 PM
As usual, the perp is back on the street and by now has another gun. 7K
sure seems low for all these charges. This guy is a danger to the public.
Posted by: lanienus | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 06:30 PM
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HATING! WE GOT BOND MONEY$$$ AND LAWYER MONEY FOOL!!!
Posted by: zipper | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 06:42 PM
wooohoooo you must be quite the thug with a name like "ZIPPER" I'll bet you dont pay your tickets on purpose, so you get locked up. Fruitloop!
Posted by: Bugsy McGee | Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 03:31 AM
internet gangsta i'll give attention!!!!
Posted by: zipper | Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 04:39 AM
Put this guy down save the tax money and time. We need some population control.
Posted by: joe cool | Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 09:22 AM
hey Zipper Wow I guess your the tougher of the 2 guys from Milli Vanilli! How about you give attention to this!!!!! ya jizzbucket!
Posted by: Bugsy McGee | Monday, March 30, 2009 at 03:57 AM