Hell's Angel - Thomas Wood
Thomas Wood - 36 years old & of Upper Darby
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I haven't been able to find too much information about Thomas. The news didn't say much about about him or his life. They simply reported about what happened surrounding his death - That he died in attempting to save an acquaintance.
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*Article from MSNBC.com:
January 19, 2005
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Local Town Braces For Hells Angels Funeral
WCAU-TV DOWNINGTOWN Pa. -
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The funeral of a murdered motorcycle club leader to be held Friday in Downingtown is leading authorities to devise a security plan hastily.
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I haven't been able to find too much information about Thomas. The news didn't say much about about him or his life. They simply reported about what happened surrounding his death - That he died in attempting to save an acquaintance.
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*Article from MSNBC.com:
January 19, 2005
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Local Town Braces For Hells Angels Funeral
WCAU-TV DOWNINGTOWN Pa. -
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The funeral of a murdered motorcycle club leader to be held Friday in Downingtown is leading authorities to devise a security plan hastily.
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Thomas "Thinker" Wood, 36, of Upper Darby, vice president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Hells Angels, was killed last week near where the Schuylkill Expressway meets Vare Avenue in South Philadelphia.
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His pickup truck was riddled with bullets. "We don't have any experience in this, but we are prepared," Downingtown Mayor Gary Galvin said of the funeral. "There will be significant police presence."
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The undertaker, James Terry, said he was not worried about violence. He said his concern was that he is expecting the largest turnout his funeral home has ever seen, with members of the Hells Angels coming in from all over the country.
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"Even if he wasn't in Hells Angels, I think attendance would be high because his mother is so active in the community," Terry said. Donna Farrell, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said parishioners and clergy at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Downingtown are not concerned about Friday's 11 a.m. Mass, but classes at the neighboring St. Joseph school have been canceled for the day.
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Meanwhile, John "John the Baptist" LoFranco, the president of the Hells Angels, East Coast, said in a statement released by his lawyer that his group is not planning retaliation against any rival motorcycle groups for Wood's death, despite fears expressed by police. "We do not know who killed Tommy, and we do not engage in retaliation," LoFranco said.
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Found Article Taken Listed Under Hell's Angels
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www.msnbc.com
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http://hells-angels.com/
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Found Article Taken Listed Under Hell's Angels
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www.msnbc.com
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http://hells-angels.com/
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Leader Gunned Down In Philadelphia
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POSTED: 6:12 am EST January 19, 2005
UPDATED: 7:33 pm EST January 20, 2005
POSTED: 6:12 am EST January 19, 2005
UPDATED: 7:33 pm EST January 20, 2005
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DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. -- Many Chester County residents are nervous as a notorious motorcycle gang -- the Hells Angels -- gets ready to bury one of its own.
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They are afraid a biker turf war could spill into Downingtown when Thomas "Thinker" Wood, 36, is laid to rest.
They are afraid a biker turf war could spill into Downingtown when Thomas "Thinker" Wood, 36, is laid to rest.
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Police are taking drastic actions to ensure things don't get out of control. Authorities are not spelling out their plan, but do say that they are getting reinforcements from federal, state and local officers.
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"We are preparing for the worst (by) making sure we have enough officers in place and that the officers are armed properly," said Lt. Steven Plaugher, of the Downingtown Police Department.
"We are preparing for the worst (by) making sure we have enough officers in place and that the officers are armed properly," said Lt. Steven Plaugher, of the Downingtown Police Department.
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Traditionally, Downingtown is the territory of The Pagans, the rivals of the Hells Angels.
Traditionally, Downingtown is the territory of The Pagans, the rivals of the Hells Angels.
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"We have uniformed officers from surrounding departments and four SWAT teams from various departments here within the county," Plaugher said.
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It is expected that at least 1,000 Hells Angels members will be attending services for Wood, their vice-president.
It is expected that at least 1,000 Hells Angels members will be attending services for Wood, their vice-president.
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The Downingtown native was gunned down in his truck last Friday morning just off the Schuylkill Expressway. Police sources said Wood shielded another Hells Angel member on a motorcycle from a hail of bullets by driving his truck between the shooter and the other man.
The Downingtown native was gunned down in his truck last Friday morning just off the Schuylkill Expressway. Police sources said Wood shielded another Hells Angel member on a motorcycle from a hail of bullets by driving his truck between the shooter and the other man.
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Plaugher said he has met with members of the Hells Angels.
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They're telling us that they're interested in coming in, paying the respects to their fallen member and leaving," Plaugher said.
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Police have requested the closure of bars in the area like Chelsy's Tavern and Crossroads.
Police have requested the closure of bars in the area like Chelsy's Tavern and Crossroads.
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Donna Farrell, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said parishioners and clergy at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Downingtown are not concerned about Friday's 11 a.m. Mass, but classes at the neighboring St. Joseph school have been canceled for the day.
Donna Farrell, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said parishioners and clergy at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Downingtown are not concerned about Friday's 11 a.m. Mass, but classes at the neighboring St. Joseph school have been canceled for the day.
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Wood gave NBC 10 this statement about her son:
Wood gave NBC 10 this statement about her son:
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"God gave him to us for 36 years. He was a good man. I want him to be remembered for the good man that he was and for the twinkle in his eye. He loved the three children he was raising as his own. He loved his three sisters."
"God gave him to us for 36 years. He was a good man. I want him to be remembered for the good man that he was and for the twinkle in his eye. He loved the three children he was raising as his own. He loved his three sisters."
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Wood said she doesn't want her son's memory marred by violence.
Wood said she doesn't want her son's memory marred by violence.
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John "John the Baptist" LoFranco, the president of the Hells Angels, East Coast, said in a statement released by his lawyer that his group is not planning retaliation against any rival motorcycle groups for Wood's death, despite fears expressed by police.
John "John the Baptist" LoFranco, the president of the Hells Angels, East Coast, said in a statement released by his lawyer that his group is not planning retaliation against any rival motorcycle groups for Wood's death, despite fears expressed by police.
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"We do not know who killed Tommy, and we do not engage in retaliation," LoFranco said.
"We do not know who killed Tommy, and we do not engage in retaliation," LoFranco said.
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Copyright 2005 by NBC10.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
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* Note: In doing link checking/post updating, I looked for the article under a search for Thomas on MSNBC, and didn't see any articles listed. 07.17.08.
posted by Rev. Marguerite Earhart at 1/21/2005 01:06:00 AM
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