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Earlier this week, I found myself at the scene of a murder.
I’m still a bit haunted by it.
So, I’m going to talk about it.
1/
I’m still a bit haunted by it.
So, I’m going to talk about it.
1/
I was in an area I have no ordinary occasion to be. It’s not close to me. I have no personal connection to the people or place or neighborhood. I just happened to be there and happened to walk up.
There had been a shooting. A person had been killed.
Police were just arriving.
There had been a shooting. A person had been killed.
Police were just arriving.
As I first looked at the scene and saw the victim, my first two thoughts were:
That person is young.
They never stood a chance.
3/
That person is young.
They never stood a chance.
3/
Whatever had transpired, it was clear the person lying there dead had been given no warning.
They had been given no chance to run away. They had stood no chance of surviving.
Their life had just been... taken. In an instant.
4/
They had been given no chance to run away. They had stood no chance of surviving.
Their life had just been... taken. In an instant.
4/
I watched as the police cordoned off the scene and shuttled people away.
I watched as they stood around silently for what would be hours before the coroner would arrive.
And all the while, a young person lay there murdered as the world passed by and went about its day.
5/
I watched as they stood around silently for what would be hours before the coroner would arrive.
And all the while, a young person lay there murdered as the world passed by and went about its day.
5/
In the days since, it hasn’t made the news. It wasn’t written about or paid any attention.
It is as if a meteorite struck a small clearing in the woods.
Some smoke. Some earth disturbed. But then all of the forest just fills in the void as if there had never been one.
6/
It is as if a meteorite struck a small clearing in the woods.
Some smoke. Some earth disturbed. But then all of the forest just fills in the void as if there had never been one.
6/
I found the name of the victim. Googled him. Found what could be found.
He had been in his neighborhood. A short walk from home. Not far at all from the place where his parents now undoubtedly shuffled about like ghosts numb in their shock and grief.
7/
He had been in his neighborhood. A short walk from home. Not far at all from the place where his parents now undoubtedly shuffled about like ghosts numb in their shock and grief.
7/
I imagine there will be a service and the condolences of friends and, for a while, visitors bringing food.
But then the house will grow quiet and the reality will settle in like an inescapable fog.
That room upstairs is now empty. It will always be empty.
8/
But then the house will grow quiet and the reality will settle in like an inescapable fog.
That room upstairs is now empty. It will always be empty.
8/
The evening of their son’s murder, I went back past the scene. Gone were the police and police tape and evidence markers.
A small group stood chatting unaware of any of this.
And all the forest grows in to fill the void.
9/
A small group stood chatting unaware of any of this.
And all the forest grows in to fill the void.
9/
As the Childish Gambino song goes “This is America”.
This really IS America.
A family has lost their son only blocks from their home.
Killed beside his bike.
10/
This really IS America.
A family has lost their son only blocks from their home.
Killed beside his bike.
10/
I’ve gone by a few times since.
There is no trace of what happened.
I still see that family’s son there though.
Then I drive away knowing today, like every other, a family has been left to their grief while all the world moves on unchanged.
And, man, that’s depressing.
11/11
There is no trace of what happened.
I still see that family’s son there though.
Then I drive away knowing today, like every other, a family has been left to their grief while all the world moves on unchanged.
And, man, that’s depressing.
11/11
