Tuesday

Crime came to my street with a vengeance.....


I woke this morning at 4:30 am to quite a commotion just a few doors from my house. Dozens of County Sheriffs cars and local police had my entire street blocked.  Yellow tape draped the crime scene from house to house and what could be 50 officers going back and forth.  From what I was told it happened at 3:30 am and I slept through the entire shooting that my neighbor's all said, was loud.  5 gunshots and 2 people dead.  The woman was murdered in her grandmothers house across the street and the man took his own life on the sidewalk of my friends house, his mother-in-law.
One by one the lights of the homes came on and the residents peeking out of windows and doors. Once I dressed and went out to my front porch a detective came over and asked me if I heard anything.  No, I said,  but what happened?  Since he was not at liberty to tell me all I could ask is, "Tell me it's not my friend who lives in the house your all concentrating on"... all he could say was, "No, not the ones who actually live in that house". 
This went on for hours. Neighbors going to each others front yards and talking of what they think happened.  Then the man right next door came to me and said, "I saw the whole thing".  3 am a man ran from one house to another and then took his own life on our friends sidewalk. The really sad part is this estranged husband shot his wife right in front of her grandmother and two small children.
What a way to start the day.  I had a 7am Dr. appointment but they were not going to let me out of my driveway.  You can see the back end of my white car in the drive.


news wtsp 10 photo

I was rattled to say the least as I have never been so close to a crime of this size, and my heart hurts for my friend.   
The end of a horrible morning... My friends daughter is dead, her two small children do not have a mom or dad. Then, I guess you could call it a blessing in disguise, the skies opened up to a very heavy downpour. The water ran from the front yard into the drain in front of my house, bright red. Ingrid will not have to clean up the mess on her sidewalk....
Then after the rain was over in came the Fire Department and they took out their high powered hose and cleaned the entire front yard.
Bless them. 
I may sound nieve  but I've never seen a crime scene as large as this or what the authorities  go through during an investigation. And the knowledge of what a mess it is when someone takes a high powered rifle to their head.

photo taken from my upstairs window

This news story reaffirms what I have always thought,
 "No one needs a gun" 
Guns kill people.
If this man used a bat or a knife this woman might have had a chance.

(nuff said on that subject)

Everyone go about your business today but first Hug your children, Kiss your mom and dad because we just don't know what tomorrow will bring.

I'm linking up to


18 comments:

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Oh Sandy...how tragic. I'm sorry for the neighbors and childrens loss. How sad.
I know you didn't open this up for discussion really, but I disagree about the guns. When people have evil intent in their hearts they are going to kill one another no matter the method. It isn't because they had a gun. That is just my opinion.
I enjoy so much reading your blog-- and I know you have a genuine pure heart and a deep respect for honesty. I think you deserve people to come to your blog and be real and not come here just to say they agree with you. I wouldn't leave a comment that was fake, just so you'd like me and visit my blog.
I just wanted to share.
I hope you and your neighbors,including the man who witnessed this tragedy will be able to cope and move on with each and every day. I am praying for the children.
Sincerely,
Pat

Charlotte said...

What a way to wake up! So sorry for your friend's family. Why can't people get along without killing each other?

Gail said...

A very sad incident but please do not blame the gun. If not a gun, it would have been any other weapon. People kill people.

Anonymous said...

I agree Sis, it's the type of anger a person will develope that could make him kill. Even though I know I have a gun to use my first thoughts are of grabbing the scissors or knife or japaneese wood sword and like you, get them in the knee or eyes, to chase them away!!
LOVE you

Whitney @ Drab to Fab Design said...

Omg, this is so sad. I can't imagine the feeling that poor grandmother and her two grandbabies are feeling right now. I pray those kids will find peace somehow.

p.s. Thank you for stopping by and saying hello Sandy. I hope you'll come back.

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Those poor children and grandmother. That's one of the saddest things I can imagine..

Unknown said...

This is so scary! I feel for the grandmother and children. What a horrible thing to have happen.

Debbie said...

This is so sad to me. It used to seem as if crime was always "somewhere else". More and more, it comes to our neighborhood streets. I'm sorry for your friends. This is just horrible.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Such a sad story--domestic violence is almost always tragic and certainly more so when guns are involved. I will pray for this family!

Annesphamily said...

What a terrible tragedy! Afew years ago my elderly neighbor, sick with cancer shot himself in the backyard. I did not hear the shot a few feet from our own yard and bedroom window but the cats jumped up and acted weird! Then the police arrived. His family knew of his intentions. He was in constant pain. Still so sad.
My co workers ex husband nearly beat her new beau to death a policy billy club! Where he got that no one knows! My cousin served on a jury for a guy that beat his pregnant wife to death with a baseball bat! My cousin said she did not sleep for months! The images of the dead woman still haunt her many many years later. Crime is such a terrible thing. If you are unhappy. Just walk away. But I guess mental illness takes over. My gf just divorced her hubby of 19 years. Mental illness fueled by alcohol and antidepressants. I think alcohol and drugs are worse than owning a gun! Why people need to own semi automatic weapons is odd anyway. There is usually one motive involved. So tragic. Sorry you were part of it.

Cathy said...

I'm very sorry. :(

Jeannette StG said...

So sorry this happened in your street. Everyone will be shaken up for a while. Be nice to yourself and don't try to stuff it, but talk about your feelings!

VBR said...

I don't think you are naive (sp?) at all. You are shocked that such a tragic event took place, more so because it involves people you know and care about. And it happened right next to your home. I am so sorry for these 2 precious children and the grandmother. And, I am sorry that this happened to you too.

Judie said...

Sandy, I agree with you. People do not need guns!!! Here in Tucson, however, people can bring guns everywhere!! It disgusts me!!

Pondside said...

I'm so sorry to read this Sandy - I can't imagine the fear and sorrow on your street.
I agree with you in regard to guns.

anitamombanita said...

Oh my. How unnerving to have something like that happen so close to home. :(

Jenny said...

Oh Sandy. What a incredibly awful thing to happen so close to your home and to someone you know.

My heart weeps for those poor children and the Grandmother who witnessed this all.

What a sad tragedy.

I'm so sorry.

I bet you are still shaking so I'm sending you a hug and a prayer.

A+

H said...

What a terrible thing to happen. I can't imagine the pain those two children and the grandmother must be feeling. It's not an experience anyone should ever have to endure.

I totally agree with you about guns. Although there are plenty of other ways to kill, a gun takes so little effort and is far more likely to be lethal. The effort and proximity required for killing with most other weapons is enough to make the potential killer think twice and gives the victim a better chance of surviving.