Shooting victim still in hospital
Taco stand owner's family hopes information offered
Villicana
Martin Villicana is clinging to life in intensive care after being shot Friday night during a robbery at his taco stand in North Charleston, his family said.
His assailants riddled the 39-year-old father's abdomen with seven bullets, and he hasn't spoken since, said his daughter, Cinthya Villicana. He has six children depending on him, and his girlfriend is due to deliver his baby in October.
Police are searching for the four men who robbed him, and his family hopes someone in the community will come forward with information.
Cinthya Villicana, 17, just started her senior year at Stall High School. Now she's spending her evenings at her father's bedside.
"I pray every night, every night," she said.
She said it's hard to see her father hooked to his breathing machine. He can open his eyes and move his fingers but not much else. He has had at least two surgeries.
A child witnessed the 9:15 p.m. shooting at the Alston Arms apartments after purchasing corn chips from Villicana and offered this account:
Villicana was walking down a set of stairs from his taco stand when four young men wearing black clothing leaned over a tall fence next to the stand. One of the men covered his face with a bandanna.
Villicana grabbed a chair and tried to block the shots as they opened fire, and then they ran away. They appeared to be teenagers, and one could have been as young as age 14.
Villicana told police the men robbed him, an incident report said.
The child, who called 911 to report the attack, is having nightmares about the gunmen but was happy to learn that Villicana was alive.
Villicana moved to the Charleston area from Mexico several years ago. He was well-known in the apartment complex in the Midland Park community where he set up his stand about two months ago. Neighborhood children visited his stand after school, and people often stopped by for dinner.
Alston Arms resident Erik Garcia expressed anger about the shooting. He heard the shots Friday night but thought it was fireworks. He said he is just glad that Villicana's girlfriend and 7-year-old son weren't with him, as they had been many nights.
"I'm sorry for him," Garcia said.
Villicana's daughter said the family is living in fear and won't rest until the robbers are behind bars. They need the community to tell police who the young men are, she said. Her father is a good man.
"He loves his children. He is a hard worker. He's a man that has a lot of friends," his daughter said. "I want the ones that shot him to go to jail."
Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@post andcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 47 comment(s)
Posted by Cid95 on August 28, 2008 at 3:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I swear one year of journalism in high school taught me more about writing news stories than is demonstrated here!
"Villicana moved to the Charleston area from Mexico several years ago." Obvious question from the reporter her would be legally or illegally.
"...four young men wearing black clothing leaned over a tall fence next to the stand. One of the men covered his face with a bandanna." Obvious question here would be what race are the men, since only one had his face covered.
Due to lack of witnesses, I guess I can accept the discrepancy between the statement about them robbing him vs the one about them shooting him from the other side of a fence then running away.
As usual - more information needed.
I hope he pulls through and they catch these guys.
Posted by Mex_foreigner on August 28, 2008 at 5:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The man was shot. This is not an immigration article.
..."yea, but I have MY rights. You can go back to where you came from"...
Classic and very predictable
Posted by watchdog on August 28, 2008 at 6:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you Mex Foreigner, I hope they catch the scumbags that did this. The witness said one of the gunman appeared to be 14 yrs. old, we have a huge problem in this community, we have to get control of our guns, and stop building prisons, and start investing in our education system.Wake up people, ITS OUR PROBLEM....
Posted by moonpie on August 28, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CID95 you must know by know friend that the P&C is a politically correct news paper. They cannot tell you that the suspects were likely young black men, nor that the victim is a likely illegal citizen. Can't tell you that he has 6 children here illegally too and another "anchor baby" on the way!
I do hope he survives and I'm amazed this kind of thing happens and there is no out cry to find these thugs. If I were an illegal I would call the popo every time I saw a 14 to 28 yr old black guy in my neighborhood. You know they ain't visiting! That should get things stirred this morning. Good day!
Posted by moonpie on August 28, 2008 at 6:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey lets shoot for 300 post on this one. I loved to hear from the people that say your a racist because you don't believe the crap they believe OR that blame everything on everyone else OR believe that these illegals have a right to be here illegally.
4000 WAR PROTESTERS WERE IN THE STREETS AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION YESTERDAY, 4000! IF WE STARTED DOING THAT THEN MAYBE OUR POLITICIANS WOULD LISTEN TO US. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE WELFARE SYSTEM THEY CREATED, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ILLEGAL PROBLEM. AT LEAST THE LEFT WING LUNY'S STAND FOR SOMETHING. THAT'S WHY I ADMIRE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVERS AND SHAKERS, IF THEY WERE WRONGED THE GOV AND PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT IT!
Posted by DoaMM on August 28, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why you gotta go and mess with the Taco Stands? The punks should be strung up by their nads when they are caught! If one of 'em was really around 14 y/o, he won't keep quiet for long...Young folk like to brag too much.
Hope he pulls through...
Posted by NativeSon on August 28, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I sincerely hope that he recovers completely.
Having said that, isn't it a shame that should he be here illegally this would never have happened had he not done so.
Posted by captivated on August 28, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NativeSon - Say What?
Posted by ms_lady2u on August 28, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Illegal or not, the fact remains that someone's life is on the line, due to 4 lazy bastards & he's no longer able to provide for his loving family.Find the culprits,lock them away for life,because you know they will hurt again illegal or legals!
Posted by Cid95 on August 28, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a newspaper article about a crime. In such articles, good (or even average) journalism requires that relevant details about the victim and the perpetrators be included. Relevant details such as...whether or not the victim was involved in any crime (such as illegally entering the US) and a basic description of the suspects (such as their race).
Quit embarrassing yourself with these halfass articles P&C!
Posted by Paul on August 28, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Comment Generator:
Mix illegal immigrants, roving band of immature black kids with guns, its not "their fault" ...
Posted by suec on August 28, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This man was shot on Friday night? Today is Thursday! Why wasn't this in the paper a week ago?
I saw on WCIV that they were black males.
Posted by Tammie on August 28, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesnt matter if they were black, white, fuschia, etc. Point is, an innocent man got shot and I hope they catch whoever did it.
Posted by luckylady on August 28, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I really don't think it matters what race or what origin the victim and vicious perps were - the fact is a family is suffering due to our violent streets. The victim is a man, he and his family deserve justice. The police need to work in finding these thugs as quick as they would for anybody in this situation. Lock your doors and be careful at night. I pray for the total recovery of this man, my heart breaks for his family.
Posted by singleroni on August 28, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
one criminal being preyed on by another. you think he would be any safer in mexico. hope he gets well then deport him.
Posted by luckylady on August 28, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cypress_jones - I never said it does not matter whether he was here illegally or not. I just can't say - he got what he deserved because he was here illegally. He is still a human being. Was he involved in drugs or other stuff - is he here illegally - don't know. Should they come here legally - absolutely. If he was in drugs or other stuff then my sympathy would only be for the family and then I would add - if he dies the rest of them, if illegal, should be deported. Maybe we should start slipping our hardened criminals under the fence and let them deal with it.
Posted by SCHoser on August 28, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He must have been selling a hell of a lot of taco's to support 6 kids and a wife! This article is horrible-along with a lack of information, it gives conflicting information as well. The beginning of the story says he was all shot up and has not spoken since, and yet further in the story he tells detectives that he was robbed??? On top of that, the paragraph above the so called "robbery" statement says that he used a chair to try and block the bullets, and then they ran away. WTH? Was there a robbery or not?
And yes, I want to know if he is legal or not-I have the feeling it is the taxpayers who are going to foot the bill for his care now. Who is going to pay for his 6 kids? Where are the kids? So yes, his status does matter! I hope he is okay, and I don't think anyone has the right to shoot someone like this, but damn I'm tired of the drain on our already depleting finances. This is another perfect example of only ONE of the problematic issues about illegals.
Posted by Weeeee on August 28, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Luckylady, if illegal, shouldn't they be deported regardless of whether he lives or dies? I mean. Isn't that the whole point of illegal?
Very similar to that case of the teacher and the illegal running to Mexico. She's in prison and now he's an illegal given asylum because he went with the whole plan until it benefited him to rat her out.
Posted by luckylady on August 28, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Weeeee - yes - I stand corrected.
Posted by jeff61 on August 28, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Right on SCHOSER
Posted by Weeeee on August 28, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm fine. Why are you "shouting"?
Posted by number1volsfan1 on August 28, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Watchdog says:
"we have to get control of our guns, and stop building prisons, and start investing in our education system.Wake up people, ITS OUR PROBLEM...."
Well, you are half right. We need to get control of criminals. Guns are just tools criminals use to commit their crimes. No gun has ever robbed, raped, or murdered anyone. It was the criminal holding the tool which committed the act.
Posted by CaptPete on August 28, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope they catch the people who did this.
Posted by sullivan on August 28, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The comments posted range from taking readers to school regarding proper journalism technique to being racially critical of people of color and illegals.
All agree that this is yet another tragic event being played out in our country.
The problem to the North Charleston area is not remote and is rampant in other areas also , but the real question citizens that live ,work and raise their families in areas like this should ask is : How much of this crap do we accept as a definition and existence of our community before WE do something and get involved with leaders elected or otherwise to stop the drug dealers and thugs from creating a living Hell to raise our families??
If you believe nothing can be done or that YOU can't make a difference in your community ; then you should probably move to a remote island and live in a cave instead of just seting judgement & criticizing.
Posted by DoaMM on August 28, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sullivan, you have the right idea but you also have to understand that most people in society today think that if they don't have an association with a person (even as little as eye contact) then that person won't harm them. Most people live in their own little world or think that it couldn't happen to them. Thanks to government on both sides, Americans have a false sense of security about their personal safety.
You can ALWAYS reduce the risk of something happening to you, but the simple fact remains that if you've been targeted by someone, and that someone has enough nerve to do damage to you, you will be hard-pressed to avoid it.
And until citizens realize this in a HUGE, MASSIVE fashion and start REALLY defending themselves with anything that suits them, crime will always be high and most of the targets will be "innocent victims".
Off my soapbox now...sorry...
Posted by SCHoser on August 28, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sullivan-I don't think anyone here believes that nothing can be done about this, I think it's that nothing can be done the way we are doing them now. We are going down, and we are going fast. This approach of trying to analyze these pos's just isn't working. I could not care less WHY a guy murders rapes and robs other people, he has got to go! His reasons are his own and he must answer for what he has done, not what he thinks. We have to get tough on crime period! We need to start over with our children, and let parents and schools start running the show again. When little Johnny gets in trouble, don't yell at the cops for picking on him, take little Johnny to task! Kids now have all the things that adults have and then some, and they want to act like adults without the responsibility. Bring back spankings-not beatings, mind you, but spanking-there is a difference. Years back when we let kids tell us we couldn't discipline them, it was all over! Then the courts said the kids were right, and parents couldn't discipline their kids any more, and we let this happen. Our children is where we need to start-how in the hell are you going to change an adult set in his ways?
Posted by blah_blah_blah on August 28, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We can only blame ourselves for the immigration issue, right? We can't blame those here illegally, right?
We have presented this opportunity for them to make their life better by putting them to work for cheaper wages. The reason they are here, is because we are hiring them. Can't blame them for wanting to provide for their families.
As for this guy, I assume he is here legally, and was making an honest life for himself. Catch the cowards.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on August 28, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone remember the article while back where an illegal man was the victim of a shooting?They said in the article that if an illegal is a victim of a violent crime here,they can get instant legal status.I actually made jokes then about how illegals would start shooting each other to get legal status.So,I'm betting now that this man will get legal status.(that is assuming he recovers)
Posted by Yeah_I_said_it on August 28, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
From the article: "He has six children depending on him, and his girlfriend is due to deliver his baby in October."
Hmmm....does anyone know whether Lovely_One is Mexican? She does have 6 children and one on the way due around October/November. Lol!!!!!
Posted by I_Love_d_Peninsula on August 28, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel so sorry for the kid who had the misfortune of witnessing this heinous crime. The poor kid will never recover. And you wonder what has happened to our kids these days. They see too much, too soon. Sad.
Posted by Weeeee on August 28, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oristo,
Work requires caps? Deltek?
YISI,
That'd be messed up!
Posted by Booniechic on August 28, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
6 kids and 1 on the way??! Get a hobby...a different one! But seriously i wish you a speedy recovery!
Posted by jeff61 on August 28, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That was the walking ATM story. Another flaw in the system that needs corrected.
Posted by Yeah_I_said_it on August 28, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Weeee, that would be wouldn't it! LMAO!
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on August 28, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jeff61-You're right that was the article I was talking about.Maybe tomorrow we'll get an updated more informative article.There are many unanswered questions here.
Posted by sc4peace on August 28, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At least this man was working to earn money to support his family- instead of thugging it out like the men/little boys who shot him- I think that when they are caught- they should be lined up in front of a taco stand, holding only chairs and shot the same way- it is what it is- if you have the ba**s to shoot someone, then you better have steel ba**s to block the bullets headed back at you.
Posted by suec on August 28, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This man used to be my neighbor. I had given his GF (I thought they were married) a ride to the grocery store a couple of times. She had cash, not an EBT card. I doubt if they were on welfare since the taco business was not his only job. He worked ALL the time. The mobile home they lived in was tiny but it was what they could afford.
My husband talked to him right before they moved and he was happy that they were moving into a bigger and nicer place. They were saving money to buy their own place and were also suporting her mother in Mexico.
Needless to say, they didn't own a big screen TV or Wii. To say they scrimped and saved would be an understatement.
Posted by Mex_foreigner on August 28, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
...and your point please
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on August 28, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They need to catch these nasty little pieces of crap who shot him.And honestly people if the PnC wouldve stated his legal status then none of us would be speculating.If he is here legally the PnC shouldve put it in the article.
Posted by Canadian_THGLIFE on August 28, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does it really matter if he's illegal or has health insurance? As long as the people who shot him were legal, our country has an obligation to care for him. If we cannot control our domestic youth, we need to be responsible for the deplorable acts they commit.
The legality of his citizenship is another matter, not an excuse to ship him home in a box and say he had no right to be here.
Posted by luvmydogs59 on August 28, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by suec on August 28, 2008 at 2:32 p.m.
"This man used to be my neighbor. I had given his GF (I thought they were married) a ride to the grocery store a couple of times. She had cash, not an EBT card. I doubt if they were on welfare since the taco business was not his only job. He worked ALL the time. The mobile home they lived in was tiny but it was what they could afford.
My husband talked to him right before they moved and he was happy that they were moving into a bigger and nicer place. They were saving money to buy their own place and were also suporting her mother in Mexico.
Needless to say, they didn't own a big screen TV or Wii. To say they scrimped and saved would be an understatement."
You know, even if he is illegal, and that can be dealt with after this poor man recovers...what suec said just shows that at least not every illegal is persuing a life of crime and thuggery. Illegal or not, I give this man and family credit for being law abiding and productive.
Posted by blah_blah_blah on August 28, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Illegals are here because WE are giving them the opportunity to better their lives.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on August 28, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
luvmydogs59 posted "Illegal or not, I give this man and family credit for being law abiding and productive."
Um...huh? Illegal and law abiding??Maybe you should try looking up the definitions for those words.It's an oxymoron to say someone is a law abiding illegal.
Posted by suec on August 28, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Focus your hate and anger on the thugs who shot him.
Do you think they would not do the same to you if given a chance?
Posted by jeff61 on August 28, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is no justification for this man being shot. If this is such a high crime area why are police not permanently patrolling the area? I am not saying that would have prevented this crime but perhaps the thugs may have been apprehended so they could not continue their murderous spree. With that said,,,,This "WE" is not giving people who are in this country illegally the opportunity to do anything except leave. I do not do business with those companies, to include the Mexican Restaurants and Roach Coaches that hire them and I advise others not to do so either. Yes it does matter if he has health insurance. WE should not have to pay for an illegal medical care and this WE is not responsible for these murderous thugs crimes on others except supporters those who would see to the execution of these murderous bastards. Christ this liberal mind-set is why this country is in such decline. Maybe all these thugs and illegal should move to Canada and lets see how “they” deal with them???? If Canada is all that great then why does your bet talent come here to work and live?????
Posted by SCPDBLUE on August 28, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cid95,Thomas1776, cypress_jones, SCHoser, Thank You and I agree with your comments. NOW,NOW DoaMM Dont use comments like "The punks should be strung up by their nads when they are caught!" Because people reading these post will call you a racist. Why because of the words "Should be STRUNG UP".Not PC when the suspects are black. As for who is going to pay his medical bills, Thats easy: The tax payers thats who just like when a homie gets shot. Does he have a Board of Health permit for his puke wagon,and if so how come North Chuc didnt check his legal status? his girlfriend is having a ANCHOR BABY who i might ad we will pay for.And lastly to our friends at ICE. Here is a REAL good tip on illegal aliens. The father is in the hospital,a pregnant girlfriend,a daughter who is attending Stall high school and five others you could round up. GET TO WORK,GO GET THEM
Posted by SCPDBLUE on August 29, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Taco stand owner's family hopes information offered. YES I SENT MY INFORMATION TO THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT or ICE.