Pistol-Wielding Homeless Man
Gives Berkeley PL a Scare
A violent scuffle between two homeless men spilled over into the Berkeley (Calif.) Public Library just before it opened at 1 p.m. Sunday, August 9. Berkeley Police Sergeant Henry Paige told reporters that Russell Murray, 36, shot Maurice Tilmon, 19, through the arm with a ball-and-powder pistol and chased him to the library doors. A staff member opened the door to admit Tilmon, but Murray also slipped in as the door was closing.
Tilmon fled upstairs to the children's room, but the gun-wielding Murray stayed on the main floor shouting for someone to call the police as he had a "citizen's arrest" to make. He put down his pistol but not before pointing it at the librarian on duty at the information desk, Audrey Powers, who was calling 911.
The library remained closed for the day after police apprehended Murray, who was a regular visitor to the library and used the rest room to shave.
Director Adelia Lines told American Libraries that the library will be moving to temporary quarters for two years beginning in October to accommodate a $30-million expansion and renovation project. "However, we will have a police officer come in and talk to staff about security from violent incidents," she said.
Posted August 17, 1998.
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