and gotten out of their car and it looked like questioning and detainment were imminent do ya’ll think he would’ve opened fire on them Oswald-Tippit style or complied?
Interesting question, because Zodiac only shot helpless, defenseless people.
But CA had the death penalty at that time and he had to figure being stopped meant being arrested, and with Stine’s shirt on him, that probably means a one-way trip to the gas chamber.
I think we can assume his gun was almost fully loaded as Stine required just one bullet. I think he would’ve overcome his cowardice long enough to empty his revolver at Zelms and Foulke and then run.
Interesting question, because Zodiac only shot helpless, defenseless people.
But CA had the death penalty at that time and he had to figure being stopped meant being arrested, and with Stine’s shirt on him, that probably means a one-way trip to the gas chamber.
I think we can assume his gun was almost fully loaded as Stine required just one bullet. I think he would’ve overcome his cowardice long enough to empty his revolver at Zelms and Foulke and then run.
I kind of think he would’ve emptied out on them too. Gotta figure he would’ve expected the chamber for sure if caught. Then again I expect he may have enjoyed a long drawn out nationally covered trial so basically I have no idea either, but what the hell it’s an interesting ponderance.
empty his revolver
Minor point to the overall question but I think they found an ejected shell in Stine’s cab so it wasn’t a revolver. However that would mean he had more than 5 shots left.
One reason I’ve always believed they didn’t stop and talk to the guy is because I think he would have probably tried to run or would have opened fire as soon as the police said anything to him. He had the piece of shirt on him but also most likely had Stine’s blood on him which would have been an immediate sign he’s the guy. He couldn’t have risked any interaction with police.
California declared the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972, so the Zodiac had he been caught would never have been executed. The death penalty was obviously in place in 1969, but this wouldn’t have been a deterrent to Zodiac. He wouldn’t have hesitated to shoot both cops.
empty his revolver
Minor point to the overall question but I think they found an ejected shell in Stine’s cab so it wasn’t a revolver. However that would mean he had more than 5 shots left.
One reason I’ve always believed they didn’t stop and talk to the guy is because I think he would have probably tried to run or would have opened fire as soon as the police said anything to him. He had the piece of shirt on him but also most likely had Stine’s blood on him which would have been an immediate sign he’s the guy. He couldn’t have risked any interaction with police.
One of the 9mm pistols available at that time was the Browning Hi-Power which had a 13 round magazine, if that is what he had
he would have had more firepower than both Fouke and Zelms combined since they were likely armed with just 6 shot revolvers.
Hmmm….I don’t think they were using revolvers in late ’69, were they? I know they weren’t in Vallejo.
“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969
Hmmm….I don’t think they were using revolvers in late ’69, were they? I know they weren’t in Vallejo.
Many police departments nation wide used revolvers through the 1980s and some even into the early 90s.
IIRC I think I read Eric Zelms was carrying a 41 magnum revolver the night he was murdered.
California declared the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972, so the Zodiac had he been caught would never have been executed.
Zodiac could not have anticipated this though.
The death penalty was obviously in place in 1969, but this wouldn’t have been a deterrent to Zodiac. He wouldn’t have hesitated to shoot both cops.
Not sure if killing one cab driver would’ve been enough for execution. Maybe so, with the perversion of cutting away part of his shirt. But there was no reason for anyone to suspect him of being a mass murderer. However, I do agree, Zodiac wasn’t averse to killing people and risking the death penalty.
The only thing that may have made him hesitate was fear. Zodiac never shot anyone who had the remotest chance to fight back. Two officers, trained to use their weapons, with a police car as protection, would have been a very formidable adversary. Best chance he would’ve had would be to run, draw them away from their car, then drop, turn, and start firing.
Not sure if killing one cab driver would’ve been enough for execution.
don’t know the law in California at the time but most capital punishment cases come automatically when a murder is committed during another felony, such as robbery. Zodiac taking Stine’s wallet would have brought a robbery charge. His best bet to avoid the gas chamber would have been to plead to a life sentence in exchange for admitting to the other Zodiac crimes.
Zodiac never shot anyone who had the remotest chance to fight back.
That depends on if he committed the Domingo/Edwards murders. If he did, it’s believe Domingo fought with the attacker.
Two officers, trained to use their weapons, with a police car as protection, would have been a very formidable adversary.
Indeed, I suppose we could have found out if Zodiac was any good in a firefight. I’m suspecting he would not have been.
Best chance he would’ve had would be to run, draw them away from their car, then drop, turn, and start firing.
Best chance would have been to unload on them as soon as they stopped and before they got out of the car.
It is very frustrating to consider that Fouke and Pellisetti, both trained observers, and their partners were not able to come up with an account of what they observed that night, or a consistent retelling of their own actions besides. It is no wonder that conspiracy theories develop when members of law enforcement can not explain some very basic and obvious observations, and movements.
