Bob CollinsAll it took for the billions of dollars and millons of hours soaked into the Olymnpic games by China to be made irrelevant was one knife-wielding Chinese man, who stabbed to death the CEO of Bachman’s. Todd Bachman, the father of former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman and CEO of Bachman Floral in Minneapolis, and his wife, Barbara, were visiting a tourist spot about 5 miles from the Olympic games.
Says the Associated Press:
The official Xinhua News Agency identified the attacker as Tang Yongming, 47, from the eastern city of Hangzhou. It said Tang attacked the two Americans and their Chinese tour guide, who was also injured, at 12:20 p.m. on the second level of the ancient tower, then leapt to his death immediately afterward. The second level of the tower is about 130 feet high.
“They were not wearing apparel or anything that would have specifically identified them as being members of our delegation” a U.S. Olympics team spokesman said.
One commenter on the KARE 11 Web site offered this testimonial to Mr. Bachman.
Of all the millions of people in Beijing right now, I am in utter disbelief that TODD BACHMAN, one of the most pleasant people I’ve ever met, was singled out and murdered. He and his entire family are walking examples of “Minnesota Nice.” As an old famiy friend, I send my deepest condoloences to the surviving Bachman girls, and all of the family and friends who had the honor of knowing this gentleman, Mr. Todd Bachman.
… and another…
My mom was a manager at Bachman’s for many years. Todd Bachman and the Bachman family were so good to my sister and I when my mom died. Todd searched the country for monarch butterflies to release at her funeral. I remember him being a very nice man and my heart goes out to his family in this terrible time.
