MEAD, Wash. -- The motocross community and beyond are now mourning the loss of a dear friend and racer.
According to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, John Franklin and his son were approached by security for trespassing on land belonging to the Bonneville Power Administration in Mead. Deputies say a verbal and physical altercation followed, and ended with shots fired at Franklin and his son. John was pronounced dead at the scene, while his son was rushed to the hospital.
"MX is pretty tribal by itself but I think it's growing to more of a community effort, and it's been emotional for the whole area," said Josh Hitchens, owner of Airway X Motocross Park.
Hitchens says Franklin and his family were always the first to arrive to the track, and the last to leave.
"On the weekends you'd always look over and see their truck sitting at the gate, and that was just kind of a given thing. So it's going to be tough," said Hitchens.
According to Hitchens, word of the incident spread across the racetrack quickly.
"I text John immediately and said, 'there's some crazy stuff floating around and hopefully you're okay.'"
On Sunday, all funds raised at the Airway X Motocross Park will go the Franklin family. The following week, an auction will take place at the track as well. When John's surviving son, Brock, heals and can ride again, a memorial ride will be held to honor John.
"Trying to turn something that was horrifically negative and saddening into the most positive thing is what we're going to do. And the most supportive for the family for sure, especially the kids," Hitchens said.
For more information on ways to support the Franklin family, click here: https://www.airwayx.com/
What a horrible thing to happen, a man with a kid on dirt bikes is shot. Who shoots a man with a child over riding dirt bikes on their property? Guy needs to be locked up !!
Have you been on this site lately? Protecting your property with guns is often discussed on this forum and the trespasser or thief is generally not the one being felt sorry for. I'm not saying that's my opinion, but there are plenty examples - go look at any "what insurance should I get?" thread. I'm not sure what happened in the story above but it looks like there are trails surrounding it, a track even directly to the East.
But yet the biker boys roam city streets n not one gets what they deserve.
Well this quickly went political and will soon go to Non-Moto or the Dumbgeon.
Not what the OP meant to happen but people can’t help themselves
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We probably need to know more about the "verbal and physical altercation". Could have been an over-zealous rent-a-cop, or it could have been a guy with a family of his own that was attacked for just doing his job. Sad either way that two grown men allowed a trivial encounter to escalate to a point someone felt the need to use deadly force.
What a tragic situation. RIP to the man and I hope his son can recover. Trespassing is the big elephant in the room of offroading.
Don't turn this thread into a pro gun/anti gun/political debate.
I started the thread because a member of the moto community was killed, and I thought some members might know who he is.
Godbless their family in this horrible time.
Maybe he should of left when asked or told to ,and NOT get into a verbal and physical altercation?
I'm afraid the train has left the station on that one . It's inevitable here .
Absolutely a tragedy, we don't know all the details it sounds like. Hell he probably wasn't even aware he was on the wrong piece of property. His family definitely needs our prayers.
My post has nothing to do with progun. Just act civilized.
I wonder where they were riding at what spot? I'm not super familiar with the area but I don't remember outside of the track. Of any legal spots that close to town.
Shooting the father after an altercation, maybe, but shooting the kid? Terrible.
So sad for the family and the community.
A few things to note here... FEDERAL Property. That has significant implications. This was not some crazy private property owner with a gun. This was a Federal Agent or Security guard hired by and working for the Federal Government. I'll refrain from saying more to respect the deceased gentleman and his family, but this is a critical part to know.
With recent attacks on power stations, I wouldn't go around any kind of major infrastructure for any reason. Homeland security both public and private is on high alert.
Again godspeed Sir and condolences to the family.
It is a really sad deal. It is private property but people have been riding there for 20+ years........but still it is marked no trespassing.
Emotions are high locally. Eventually it will come out exactly what went down, and if the guard was justified in the shooting.
A lot of poeple are really quick to condemn the security guard without knowing the whole story.
Pit Row
well a shooting in self defense would typically only be justified in a case like this if the person was an aggressor, using a weapon. The fact that two grown men are involved in a physical altercation or fight with punches thrown is not enough to justify using lethal force.
Nah, people in Philly are fed up, the whole city was on a manhunt finding this dude earlier this week: https://www.inquirer.com/crime/philadelphia-motorcycle-attack-arrest-wi…
Two things:
1. Witnesses say both him and his son were in a physical interaction with the guard.
2. Washington is a Stand your Ground State.
Not saying it was or was not justified......but not one person here knows the truth.
yes you can have a stand your ground law. this is an affirmative defense, but now you have a burden shift. The burden is on the security guard in this case to prove that a reasonable person would believe he is in imminent danger of death or severe injury. Stand your ground almost never justifies shooting an attacker with bare hands.
Super sad deal. Hate to hear that.
People need to quit trespassing.
So bad to jump to conclusions one way or the other.
https://www.krem.com/article/news/crime/mead-shooting-hawethorne-road-latest-updates/293-6ddd521f-82cb-4ffb-aa35-89c5b2a657ba
Some of you need to go back and read my post. This occurred on FEDERAL property. State laws about trespassing, stand your ground, yadda yadda... are irrelevant. This appears to not be a case of a crazy private property owner over reacting. This appears to be a case of a Federal Agent protecting federal property/critical infrastructure. If you are not familiar with the Federal laws pertaining to trespassing on federal property/critical infrastructure or the Rules of engagement that Federal Officers have to protect that, you really should not comment.
Sad deal for sure with a kid seeing his dad killed in front of him.
As for scenarios, anything could have happened but it sounds like this was a popular (illegal) riding spot for a lot of people. So not only did we lose someone, but a lot of riders probably just lost their favorite riding spot. Due to recent wild fires and increased national security, the utility company might have put their foot down heavily on trespassing recently. A threat from security escalated into heated words, and then shots fired.
I could easily see the rider saying to the security guard "dude calm down, I've been riding here for 20 years and I'm just trail riding with my son today." I think a lot of us have been in these situations where we bickered with a chest pounding rent-a-cop, but would never expect it to result in shots fired.
It sounds like there were witnesses though, so we'll find out eventually what happened.
Yep, common sense, then leave if you are told to leave.
This ^
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