In response to the phrase of being "at the wrong place, at the wrong time"
From a local television station interviewing the mother of a young man who was shot by a drive-by as he was walking to school. No one has been charged with his murder to my knowledge.
"The Police Chief says my son was in the wrong place, at the wrong time; NO ---- NO, HE WASN'T. My son was on his way to school, in time to be there before the bell rang. Had he been playing hooky or headed somewhere other than school, then he would have been in the wrong place. My son was RIGHT WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THERE, just like every morning. My son was in NO WAY to blame for this. The men with the guns were in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, regardless of what time they were there. These men have NO BUSINESS shooting at kids on the sidewalk. I will NOT let my son be thought of as being the one who was wrong here - my son did NOTHING wrong - the blame is NOT his."
This is the response as well as I could take it down from the television interview. I will never forget the determination or conviction that this mother said made this statement. After she delivered this she fell back into the arms of her family that were there. It was like she was delivering a message to the public at large, trying to make certain that her child was not depicted as being even partially to blame for being shot. It made an impact on me in so many ways. So often grieving people can make such profound statements, as if they can see straight through the confusion and smoke and see the truth that is evident.
The Indianapolis police no longer say this phrase when talking about innocent people being killed by drive-by shooters. The mother taught me the truth about this statement, from the depth of her grief.
"The Police Chief says my son was in the wrong place, at the wrong time; NO ---- NO, HE WASN'T. My son was on his way to school, in time to be there before the bell rang. Had he been playing hooky or headed somewhere other than school, then he would have been in the wrong place. My son was RIGHT WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THERE, just like every morning. My son was in NO WAY to blame for this. The men with the guns were in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, regardless of what time they were there. These men have NO BUSINESS shooting at kids on the sidewalk. I will NOT let my son be thought of as being the one who was wrong here - my son did NOTHING wrong - the blame is NOT his."
This is the response as well as I could take it down from the television interview. I will never forget the determination or conviction that this mother said made this statement. After she delivered this she fell back into the arms of her family that were there. It was like she was delivering a message to the public at large, trying to make certain that her child was not depicted as being even partially to blame for being shot. It made an impact on me in so many ways. So often grieving people can make such profound statements, as if they can see straight through the confusion and smoke and see the truth that is evident.
The Indianapolis police no longer say this phrase when talking about innocent people being killed by drive-by shooters. The mother taught me the truth about this statement, from the depth of her grief.
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Sad story but an incredible mom and family.