It's the same sad tale that gets replayed just about every day in America...
A young man, full of life, talent and hope, dies violently. One is my friend's stepson, Zachary.
I got the news today via a letter. The letter was accompanied by an article from THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY (the local newspaper for Atlantic City, New Jersey). Zachary, an aspiring rapper, was fatally shot on Atlantic City's Westside around 9:30 on a Monday evening.
It was a relatively brief article, and I was surprised by its overall shortness. A nineteen-year-old was gunned down, but there was little to say. There were some basic facts about the deceased's life, to include his checkered past in juvenile detention, as well as his developing talent as a rapper who was beginning to gather a regular following of local fans.
His family is devastated. I quickly took my last sympathy card and wrote a brief condolence along with a passage from the Scriptures. I also included a letter. I told my friend that I am praying for the family and asked the Lord to comfort their hearts. I added that it is okay to cry, and to grieve for as long as it takes. It is also okay to ask God why, I wrote. After all, I would think that most people who've lost a loved one in this manner do ask why. I would, too.
In addition, the article also covered the unrelated shootings of two other young men, one of whom was only seventeen, and the other 24. Both survived. Apparently, for Atlantic City's citizens and law enforcement personnel, it was just another violent night in the city of big and brightly lit casinos.
While a sidebar to the article said, "Anyone with information about Zachary Taylor's killing is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Unit at 509-909-7666 or the Atlantic City Detective Bureau at 609- 347 -5766."
So ends the story of young Zachary's life. What a waste!
D.B.
I got the news today via a letter. The letter was accompanied by an article from THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY (the local newspaper for Atlantic City, New Jersey). Zachary, an aspiring rapper, was fatally shot on Atlantic City's Westside around 9:30 on a Monday evening.
It was a relatively brief article, and I was surprised by its overall shortness. A nineteen-year-old was gunned down, but there was little to say. There were some basic facts about the deceased's life, to include his checkered past in juvenile detention, as well as his developing talent as a rapper who was beginning to gather a regular following of local fans.
His family is devastated. I quickly took my last sympathy card and wrote a brief condolence along with a passage from the Scriptures. I also included a letter. I told my friend that I am praying for the family and asked the Lord to comfort their hearts. I added that it is okay to cry, and to grieve for as long as it takes. It is also okay to ask God why, I wrote. After all, I would think that most people who've lost a loved one in this manner do ask why. I would, too.
In addition, the article also covered the unrelated shootings of two other young men, one of whom was only seventeen, and the other 24. Both survived. Apparently, for Atlantic City's citizens and law enforcement personnel, it was just another violent night in the city of big and brightly lit casinos.
While a sidebar to the article said, "Anyone with information about Zachary Taylor's killing is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Unit at 509-909-7666 or the Atlantic City Detective Bureau at 609- 347 -5766."
So ends the story of young Zachary's life. What a waste!
D.B.
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