Saddness

 

I’ve had something on my mind all week, that has really been bugging me and I just have to write about it to get it off my mind.

Here in Cincinnati last week, we had a very sad event take place that I just can’t shake.  Last Thursday the police chased 4 young black men in a stolen car.  The event ended when an 18-year-old was shot 6 times and killed. The next day a retired policeman was volunteering to direct traffic at the Univ of Cincinnati (UC) Commencement ceremony when he was deliberately hit and killed in the street.  The driver of the car was the father of the boy killed on Thursday.  The father had just viewed the police bodycam footage of the killing of his son, left the station distraught and happened upon the traffic management at UC.

Obviously, the father was detained and is now facing murder charges.  There are many more details, but here is what caught my attention.  First, there have been hours and hours of local media coverage regarding the retired police officer.  He was obviously highly regarded and the city has been flooded with support for him from all over the country.

There has been some coverage regarding the son and father, but not much.  I’ve researched a little and cannot find any reporting that neither the son nor the Dad had any prior record.  The father is facing multiple murder charges and either a life sentence or death sentence.

I totally get it.  What he did was completely wrong and must be punished.  What I don’t get is how no one, no where, any where has made any comment in any media about the effect of being told your son has been killed and then watch the same on video.

I’ve never been a biological parent.  But I do consider myself to be a person of compassion and empathy, and I cannot image, in any way, how it would affect me to learn that my child was killed and then watch as my child is shot to death.  What my emotional response would be, regardless of the situation.

I doubt that we’ll ever hear or see much regarding him, certainly not coverage like the police officer received.  But my heart goes out to him.  I grieve for him, his son and his entire family.