Scott McGann
Thanks to Tony W. for sending a link to a NY Daily News article about Scott McCann, who placed a fake bomb at LaGuardia. He’s now at Bellevue for observation, and his mother is upset, to say the least:
The distraught mother of would-be LaGuardia bomber Scott McGann defended her mentally ill son Sunday night.
“He’s not a kook,” Margie Jones told the Daily News, barely able to speak through her tears.
She said her 32-year-old son suffers from catatonic schizophrenia – a form of the disease that leaves victims in a psychotic state where they’re unable to speak, respond or even move.
“I love my son,” said Jones, a school psychologist who lives three hours north of San Francisco in Willits, a town of 5,000.
The heartsick mother had planned to see McGann this past weekend after buying him a ticket to fly to California some time before Saturday’s airport scare.
The question of his mental illness and diagnosis is likely to be pursued intently if there’s a criminal trial, and catatonic schizophrenia seems, on the surface, an odd explanation for this particular event. More about McGann from the article:
A computer programmer and artist, McGann was described by friends as a kind and pensive person who peddled his handmade goods in Union Square.
“He was a friendly guy who worked a lot with skateboarders,” said William Saar, 50, who sells used books in Union Square.
“He didn’t seem like the type of guy to do something like this,” Saar said.
…
Christopher Gause, 20, another artist who sells in Union Square, said McGann made sculptures out of scrap metal.
“There was some spirituality he found in his art,” Gause said. “He was very calm, very friendly, and smiled.”
Sounds like such a nice guy. I wish the diagnosis hadn’t been disclosed so early on — or maybe I just wish it weren’t true. While to “normal” citizens, the diagnosis seemingly explains bizarre behavior, to those who deal with mental health issues — especially those with schizophrenia — it merely exacerbates the perception that we’re all dangerous and could “snap” at any moment.
LaGuardia fake bomber Scott McGann’s mom says he’s sick and needs help, not crazy
For a more humorous look at the situation, you must check out New York Magazine’s take on how Scott McGann could be your boyfriend.
[Photo copyright NY Daily News]
liz | 10:21 AM | SCHIZOPHRENIA, violence
I was a bit dismayed at the juxtaposition of “schizophrenic” and “terrorist” in the New York Magazine’s little article. Maybe I’m being overly sensitive? Living with this illness is bad enough without it being improperly associated with mass-killers and terrorists. That’s just my two-cents worth of commentary.
He’s not been diagnosed with catatonic schizophrenia. His mother just pulled that off the internet, which makes me angry. His diagnosis is still in progress.
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