When I first ran across this incident, I figured there had to be more to it. That this was all part of a conspiracy to protect a greater, more complicated crime. Not just a revenge killing. After all, it doesn't really take 9 people to kill one thief. (Not a very good thief, either, since everybody and his brother seems to have known about Kauffman's intended crime.) Instead I find this is a bungled bunch of excess stupidity involving far too many people to keep it secret.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry.....ef=mostpopular

In other words, it *is* like the joke about the lightbulb.

Although I would like to know why these cops would go to such lengths to cover-up their association with a liquor store. What? Cops can't be "associated" with a liquor store in CA?

Of course, if that "association" is the fact that they knew about the murder before it took place and did nothing to prevent it.... Well that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

Anyway, I'll be interested to see how this plays out.