With this tragedy continuing to stir conversation, I want to allow a space here on this site to record and even allow for continued conversation as so many of us deal with this tragedy.
Having been at UNC, only 150 yards away from the shooting on Franklin Street in 1995, I have always dealt with a kind of strange regret for living. I don’t know to this day why I decided to walk home instead of taking the bus. I was at Alumni Hall after class and rather than go to Franklin Street to take the bus, I walked across campus back to Hinton James. I didn’t even know anything happened until I got to my dorm and people were screaming, crying, running and hugging. One of my friends ran up, grabbed me and said, I knew you were there. I thought it was you. I knew you would be there. Thank GOD you are OK. To which I responded, “what happened?” She as she cried said, “a guy walked out on Franklin Street and started shooting at everybody.
I can feel all of that again right now and what we went through back then was nothing compared to what has happened at VA Tech. My heart aches and it seems that I am right back there in the midst of the pain I so well remember.
Folks, I hurt for those that are going through this loss right now. It feels like I am there again.
Here are some things from UNC…
Wendell Williamson – UNC Shooting – 1/26/95
The Actual Court of Appeals File
Video – ABC 11 Vault
A Blog on his disappearance on night from his hospital
Another Post about his disappearance
And might I say, what are we thinking? Is this justice? I just don’t know.
Below are VA Tech articles and some questions. If you would like to comment on any of this, I would appreciate hearing from you. This simply exists to get this all out of our heads and off our chests.
VA Tech Articles
MSNBC Article
Yahoo Article – Names
Washington Post Article
CNN Article
Questions I have:
What were the motives in these shootings?
What does Ismale Ax mean for the VA shooter?
What is next for the hurting?
If you were a part of one of the many violent crimes in our school systems, what are your thoughts and feelings now, years later?
What can we do next?
How do we heal? How did you find healing?
How do we help people before they get to this point?
These are just some thoughts. Please, let’s talk.
pd