Beware the Shod Foot: A Deadly Reminder of Ground-Fight Realities
by Jeff Young
On October 17, 2025, in downtown Baltimore, 71-year-old Gregory Turnipseed—a dedicated 14-year veteran of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation—was simply doing his job. He politely approached a parked SUV to inform the occupants that another driver was waiting for the spot.
What happened next was tragic and senseless: A 15-year-old girl in the passenger seat exploded in rage, jumped out, and began punching Turnipseed in the head. The driver—believed to be her mother, 49-year-old Kiannah Bonaparte—exited the vehicle, jumped on his back, forced him to the ground, and repeatedly kicked him in the head. The assault caused severe brain bleeding; Turnipseed fought for weeks but succumbed to his injuries the day before Thanksgiving.
Bonaparte, a convicted felon reportedly on parole, was arrested and charged. The teenage daughter has not been publicly charged as of recent reports.
This wasn’t a “high-risk” encounter—it was a routine interaction that escalated into lethal violence in seconds.
Hard Lessons from a Brutal Attack
At Lone Pine Tactical, we study real incidents like this to extract lifesaving truths:
1. Unstable People Are Everywhere—Mind Your BusinessTurnipseed was courteous and professional, yet it cost him his life. Our world has individuals who escalate to violence over nothing. “Road rage” isn’t just on highways—it’s in parking lots, sidewalks, and daily interactions. Avoid injecting yourself into others’ affairs unless absolutely necessary. A little courtesy helps, but de-escalate fast or disengage entirely when tensions rise.
2. The Lethal Danger of Going to the Ground in a Multiple-Assailant FightOnce knocked down—especially against two or more attackers—you’re vulnerable to stomps and kicks. Shod feet on concrete turn heads into targets for fatal trauma. Brain bleeds and death don’t require weapons; boots do the job. Gang beatings escalate quickly and end badly.
3. Firearms as a Force Multiplier—Even from the GroundDefensive gunfire can instantly disperse most mobs, even enraged ones. But it requires skills many lack: smooth draw, accurate shooting, and malfunction clears while prone or on your back. Training these under stress prevents becoming a victim of stomps.
4. Civility is at Historic Lows—De-Escalate AggressivelyAs noted recently, societal patience is thin. Avoid heated words with strangers. When confrontation is unavoidable, back off verbally and physically.
5. Avoidance is King: “Don’t Be There”Periodically review your routines, routes, and associations. The best fight is the one you never enter. Second best: Exit early.
As Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) quips in the 2024 series Landman:
“The ‘moral high-ground’ gets real windy at night.”
Train for the Worst—Because It Happens
Incidents like this underscore why we train ground fighting, multiple threats, and disadvantaged-position shooting at Lone Pine Tactical. Our Defensive Handgun and Advanced courses include drills for drawing/shooting from the ground, retaining your firearm in clinches, and managing multi-assailant scenarios.
Don’t wait for tragedy to highlight gaps in your skills. Check our schedule and sign up today at lonepinetactical.com/upcoming-classes. Stay aware, stay armed, stay trained.
Jeff Young, Owner/Instructor, Lone Pine Tactical—Preparing Civilians for Real Threats.
