Last night a kid robbed the gas station down the road from us. The police chased him and he started shooting . . . so did they. Eventually they shot and killed the kid.
Was he one of our neighbors?
An officer reported fourteen bullets shot at them, hitting cars and one ricocheting to strike a deputy's boot. They were "pretty shaken up", are "in counseling now" and "it was a very dangerous situation".
They didn't even report the kid's name.
It might have been Tony, a handsome young man who used to live under us. He moved out with his mom a few months ago, and we saw him one time since--when he drove into our lot with a truck full of guys who milled around, then headed over to the next building. They called out some other kid, yelled a lot, and threw some punches. The young men were so excited (scared?) they were literally hopping around each other as they roughed the guy up. Then Tony's gang roared out of the complex, leaving an angry knot of youth in the parking lot.
Our neighbor was a former police officer and said often when that happens, they'll return at night with guns and do worse. We prayed, and this time it didn't happen.
We live between a youth correctional facility and and two adult jails. Walk down the road and you'll pass the SC Law Enforcement Division, Department of Juvenile Justice, SC Troopers Association, Criminal Justice Academy and Hall of Fame of Police Officers. Police cars cruise our apartments every day. A few weeks ago a man next door was being apprehended while five police cars blocked our lot and I watched one officer taking in a dog. Recently a neighbor told us about a murder on the other side of us a couple years back.
I'm sad for the families and angry at the "empty ways passed down from their fathers" that these kids grow up in . . . to the point where it seems expected that every young man will at least "serve his time" if not worse.
A neighbor boy was questioning us, "That's not right, is it, to use beer like that?" (his mother sometimes downs a pack at a time). No, we assured him, that's not a good way to use it. He's fifteen years old, and can see the point of using weed, but doesn't think it's worth the money. He takes care of our cats when we're gone to make a little money (which he has to keep away from his dad). But he didn't even know! We also assured him that it was right to not give money to his dad (to spend on drink), even though it felt hard.
"Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you".
Was he one of our neighbors?
An officer reported fourteen bullets shot at them, hitting cars and one ricocheting to strike a deputy's boot. They were "pretty shaken up", are "in counseling now" and "it was a very dangerous situation".
They didn't even report the kid's name.
It might have been Tony, a handsome young man who used to live under us. He moved out with his mom a few months ago, and we saw him one time since--when he drove into our lot with a truck full of guys who milled around, then headed over to the next building. They called out some other kid, yelled a lot, and threw some punches. The young men were so excited (scared?) they were literally hopping around each other as they roughed the guy up. Then Tony's gang roared out of the complex, leaving an angry knot of youth in the parking lot.
Our neighbor was a former police officer and said often when that happens, they'll return at night with guns and do worse. We prayed, and this time it didn't happen.
We live between a youth correctional facility and and two adult jails. Walk down the road and you'll pass the SC Law Enforcement Division, Department of Juvenile Justice, SC Troopers Association, Criminal Justice Academy and Hall of Fame of Police Officers. Police cars cruise our apartments every day. A few weeks ago a man next door was being apprehended while five police cars blocked our lot and I watched one officer taking in a dog. Recently a neighbor told us about a murder on the other side of us a couple years back.
I'm sad for the families and angry at the "empty ways passed down from their fathers" that these kids grow up in . . . to the point where it seems expected that every young man will at least "serve his time" if not worse.
A neighbor boy was questioning us, "That's not right, is it, to use beer like that?" (his mother sometimes downs a pack at a time). No, we assured him, that's not a good way to use it. He's fifteen years old, and can see the point of using weed, but doesn't think it's worth the money. He takes care of our cats when we're gone to make a little money (which he has to keep away from his dad). But he didn't even know! We also assured him that it was right to not give money to his dad (to spend on drink), even though it felt hard.
"Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you".
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