I'm in shock
Firstly, to me it is still Thursday, May 20. In reading the following keep this in mind.
A very sad and horrible thing happened this morning. A very honest, loyal and hard working man was brutally murdered.
My sister lives in Huntsville, AL with her SO of some 4 years, David. David's family owns a small grocery store and a convenience store called Mini-Mart. The incident in question directly effects Mini-Mart 2. At Mini-Mart 2, there have been three people holding things down: a woman, and two immirgant men who happen to also be roommates. Gentleman number one has been working for David's family for at least the last ten years. David's father had hired him because he needed a job in order to begin the naturalization process and eventually bring his wife over from Africa. Gentleman number two is currently working on his Master's degree and has been living with gentleman number one for 7+ years. They were each other's family here in the US since neither of them had any of their "natural" family here.
Not that long ago, they had sold Mini-Mart 1 - the first convenience store they had opened in Huntsville - due to the location and the fact that they weren't really making any money off of it. Gentleman number one who works at Mini-Mart 2 had a habit of also working a few shifts when he was needed at Mini-Mart 1 for the new owners.
Last night, gentleman number one had worked a shift for the new owners of Mini-Mart 1, and while working this shift he caught a customer shoplifting. He went to the man and told him that he needed to hand the stuff over or he was going to have to call the cops. Apparently the man handed over the goods and left.
This morning the man (customer) returned and fored a shotgun round into gentleman number one's stomach. They were apparently struggling with gentleman number one trying to keep from being shot, and after this round fired into his stomach he obviously stumbled and was thrown backwards. This is apparently when round two was fired. I was told, "It went into his eye and blew the back of his head off."
Now, this is a very sad and tragic event for people I care about. I have never personally met the man, but my mother has. And my sister is traumatized because she had spoken to him yesterday. My sister usually drops by Mini-Mart 2 to check on the status and everyone working there. She had called looking for someone's phone number and gentleman number one asked her where she had been and she promised to come by soon. David, on the other hand, remembers working beside this man over his summers beginning at age 15. This man had been an ever present part of his life for many years now. Not to mention the fact that he had just recieved a raise, he was almost finished with the naturalization process and would have been sending for his wife soon, and David's father had been so pleased with his work over the years that before completely relocating to California completely he was going to sell gentleman number one Mini-Mart 2 for pennies.
Currently Mini-Mart 2 is closed for business. This morning the woman was working her shift, but once everyone found out about what had happened at Mini-Mart 1 things fell to pieces. If you recall, I mentioned gentleman number two who was gentleman number one's roommate for 7+ years. Gentleman number two was hysterical and extremely distraught. As a matter of fact, some fellow countrymen whom he was apparently acquainted with took him into their home for the time being. David asked them to please keep a close eye on him since the two were so very close and as a result of the murder he was extremely unstable.
There is a positive note, if you can call it that. David's father - who had given gentleman number one a job in the first place because he was seeking naturalization, and he taught him most everything he knew about running the store - is hopping teh first flight he could get out of California back to Alabama. The flight leaves Saturday. "Big Dave" is going to fund a memorial service in Huntsville, pay to have gentleman number one's body returned to his wife in Africa, pay for the burial and memorial service for her in Africa, and send her a generous lump sum of money and various sundry items. While this may not seem like a positive note, I thought it extremely kind and generous of Big Dave to do this. He knew the man's position well and knew that he was soon to send for his wife, and while it isn't her ticket "home" to be with her husband, or the reunion she has surely hoped for and dreamt of...it is something to show gratitude for his being a part of their lives, and regret and sorrow that he was lost to all.
Now, you think my story ends here, but it doesn't. You see, after the man shot and killed gentleman number one, he took his shotgun next door to a barber shop. There he shot one man in the back who fell over onto a "young girl," but apparently he wasn't satisfied with his shot and approached and hten shot the man again in the back at a closer range. I'm unsure as to the condition of the "young girl" but I'm sure more will filter down from my sister as it gets to her. He also shot another man at the barber shop. Last I heard there were "two to three dead and 2 injured" as a result of this man's premeditated rampage. I say "premeditated" because it started with gentleman number one who had busted him the night before for shoplifting convienence store junk.
My sister has heard conflicting stories as to whether or not the man is in custody. Some say he is and some say he isn't. I suspect that there will be more news on this as well as it comes to her.
This is such a tragedy, and it is a sad, sad thing that we have to say that this goes on every day all over our country. I suppose my reason in posting this is two-fold. I wanted everyone to know about it, to talk about it, to state it for those I know to see. I also want you to think about it for a few moments. You see this stuff on the news every day, and you say, "That is so sad, but it could never happen to me." Well, the truth is that it very well could happen to you. Like my sister said, "What if we hadn't sold Mini-Mart 1? I mean, that could have been David...Or me!!" And she is right. It very well could have been either her or David, and it very well could be you. Now, I'm not saying to live your life like someone's out to take you down the first chance they get. I'm just saying to remember that life is a precious gift and at any moment some geeked out crack head might decide that it's your time to go like they did with gentleman number one. Tell your friends and relatives that you love them, show them, make sure that they know so that if today is your last at least you will know that they know that you love them. I learned this lesson myself almost twelve years ago when my life was taken from me, but I had another chance. Through medical technology and risk taking doctors I have been given another opportunity to make sure that I have the chance to let me loved ones know what they mean to me. And I do even though they hear it so much that they want me to stop telling them for a while. And they see it in the risks I take for them and the sacrifices I willingly give for them. You do that too. Make sure that they know.
With that I close this post. The hour grows late and I grow very tired.
A very sad and horrible thing happened this morning. A very honest, loyal and hard working man was brutally murdered.
My sister lives in Huntsville, AL with her SO of some 4 years, David. David's family owns a small grocery store and a convenience store called Mini-Mart. The incident in question directly effects Mini-Mart 2. At Mini-Mart 2, there have been three people holding things down: a woman, and two immirgant men who happen to also be roommates. Gentleman number one has been working for David's family for at least the last ten years. David's father had hired him because he needed a job in order to begin the naturalization process and eventually bring his wife over from Africa. Gentleman number two is currently working on his Master's degree and has been living with gentleman number one for 7+ years. They were each other's family here in the US since neither of them had any of their "natural" family here.
Not that long ago, they had sold Mini-Mart 1 - the first convenience store they had opened in Huntsville - due to the location and the fact that they weren't really making any money off of it. Gentleman number one who works at Mini-Mart 2 had a habit of also working a few shifts when he was needed at Mini-Mart 1 for the new owners.
Last night, gentleman number one had worked a shift for the new owners of Mini-Mart 1, and while working this shift he caught a customer shoplifting. He went to the man and told him that he needed to hand the stuff over or he was going to have to call the cops. Apparently the man handed over the goods and left.
This morning the man (customer) returned and fored a shotgun round into gentleman number one's stomach. They were apparently struggling with gentleman number one trying to keep from being shot, and after this round fired into his stomach he obviously stumbled and was thrown backwards. This is apparently when round two was fired. I was told, "It went into his eye and blew the back of his head off."
Now, this is a very sad and tragic event for people I care about. I have never personally met the man, but my mother has. And my sister is traumatized because she had spoken to him yesterday. My sister usually drops by Mini-Mart 2 to check on the status and everyone working there. She had called looking for someone's phone number and gentleman number one asked her where she had been and she promised to come by soon. David, on the other hand, remembers working beside this man over his summers beginning at age 15. This man had been an ever present part of his life for many years now. Not to mention the fact that he had just recieved a raise, he was almost finished with the naturalization process and would have been sending for his wife soon, and David's father had been so pleased with his work over the years that before completely relocating to California completely he was going to sell gentleman number one Mini-Mart 2 for pennies.
Currently Mini-Mart 2 is closed for business. This morning the woman was working her shift, but once everyone found out about what had happened at Mini-Mart 1 things fell to pieces. If you recall, I mentioned gentleman number two who was gentleman number one's roommate for 7+ years. Gentleman number two was hysterical and extremely distraught. As a matter of fact, some fellow countrymen whom he was apparently acquainted with took him into their home for the time being. David asked them to please keep a close eye on him since the two were so very close and as a result of the murder he was extremely unstable.
There is a positive note, if you can call it that. David's father - who had given gentleman number one a job in the first place because he was seeking naturalization, and he taught him most everything he knew about running the store - is hopping teh first flight he could get out of California back to Alabama. The flight leaves Saturday. "Big Dave" is going to fund a memorial service in Huntsville, pay to have gentleman number one's body returned to his wife in Africa, pay for the burial and memorial service for her in Africa, and send her a generous lump sum of money and various sundry items. While this may not seem like a positive note, I thought it extremely kind and generous of Big Dave to do this. He knew the man's position well and knew that he was soon to send for his wife, and while it isn't her ticket "home" to be with her husband, or the reunion she has surely hoped for and dreamt of...it is something to show gratitude for his being a part of their lives, and regret and sorrow that he was lost to all.
Now, you think my story ends here, but it doesn't. You see, after the man shot and killed gentleman number one, he took his shotgun next door to a barber shop. There he shot one man in the back who fell over onto a "young girl," but apparently he wasn't satisfied with his shot and approached and hten shot the man again in the back at a closer range. I'm unsure as to the condition of the "young girl" but I'm sure more will filter down from my sister as it gets to her. He also shot another man at the barber shop. Last I heard there were "two to three dead and 2 injured" as a result of this man's premeditated rampage. I say "premeditated" because it started with gentleman number one who had busted him the night before for shoplifting convienence store junk.
My sister has heard conflicting stories as to whether or not the man is in custody. Some say he is and some say he isn't. I suspect that there will be more news on this as well as it comes to her.
This is such a tragedy, and it is a sad, sad thing that we have to say that this goes on every day all over our country. I suppose my reason in posting this is two-fold. I wanted everyone to know about it, to talk about it, to state it for those I know to see. I also want you to think about it for a few moments. You see this stuff on the news every day, and you say, "That is so sad, but it could never happen to me." Well, the truth is that it very well could happen to you. Like my sister said, "What if we hadn't sold Mini-Mart 1? I mean, that could have been David...Or me!!" And she is right. It very well could have been either her or David, and it very well could be you. Now, I'm not saying to live your life like someone's out to take you down the first chance they get. I'm just saying to remember that life is a precious gift and at any moment some geeked out crack head might decide that it's your time to go like they did with gentleman number one. Tell your friends and relatives that you love them, show them, make sure that they know so that if today is your last at least you will know that they know that you love them. I learned this lesson myself almost twelve years ago when my life was taken from me, but I had another chance. Through medical technology and risk taking doctors I have been given another opportunity to make sure that I have the chance to let me loved ones know what they mean to me. And I do even though they hear it so much that they want me to stop telling them for a while. And they see it in the risks I take for them and the sacrifices I willingly give for them. You do that too. Make sure that they know.
With that I close this post. The hour grows late and I grow very tired.