needed perspective

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 11:23 p.m.

newsboy1....you are way out of line in this tragedy! let go of your agenda! Mourning is more appropriate and a fitting tribute to a beautiful person!

Carolyn

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 12:46 p.m.

@ DeNise Crockett @ inmyownwords @ TAJohnson You all are the only ones who are REALLY speaking to the trajedy of this situation. The rest is just ego filled diatribes. The bottom line: A beautiful, vibrant, talented CHILD's life has just ended and the life of the CHILD who took this life is about to change forever. Could we please refocus on this? As a adults we DO need to stay with this thought and work together without pointing fingers at the "other side". We need to find ways that we can help youth avoid ending up in a similar situation. The church program may not be perfect but it certainly seems to me that it is reaching some young men. And that is a good thing - at least this church is being proactive about not only identifying a need but addressing it as best as they have resources to do so.

TAJohnson

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 7:45 a.m.

I've know Chris King since he played football for Saline High School; he was a very good young man that has a great father and mother. The problem is the perspective of what being a man is in society, when we as older men stand up and say enough; raise our young men in the home, classroom, athletic fields and through college is when the senseless violence will stop. We have to be better examples for the future generation by getting involved. To the King family during their time of lose, Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

inmyownwords

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 5:28 a.m.

to know both people nvolved in this situation is to know exactly how unfortunate it is. i know michael and HE IS A GOOD PERSON WHO MADE A TERIBLE MISTAKE!! i cannot read these bloggers speak bad on his mother and his family, aboout politics, and all your personal opinions about this community. tears are comming too my eyes as i write this. to hear all these older blacks speak soo bad on the generation you all created whom i am apart of!! The investigation is still ongoing. we do live in a country with a judicial system. let it run its course. thank you.

racerx

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 4:51 a.m.

@keepingitReal-my point exactly! The local black community gathered itself to protest the reassignment of Judge Simpson. This, in my opinion, isnt the type of matter to be concerned with. Sheez, how many young teenagers even have jobs that keeps them off the streets! And for @DeNise Crockett, I would have to again, agree with KeepingItReal, that the events that occur at Second Baptist arent really geared for those in need. The troubled youth arent attending services in the first place. Though I thank you for the invite and Im familiar with the activities with your church. Also, not that Im just some blogger posting my opinion, several years ago I volunteered my time to assistance those who couldnt read through Project Literacy in Willow Run. So I have put in my time where my opinionated mind speaks, since I strongly feel that education is an essential part of this solution.

rob

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 3:56 a.m.

he will be missed iv'e known him for years we chilled we went to school together lifted weights together i cant believe he's gone

Jared

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 11:50 p.m.

Dennise I Know Both Of Them Personally I Know What Happened MY Friend Dropped Chris Off At A Hotel Party In Micheal In His Buddy Started Shit With Chris Then They Got There Asses Beat Then Chris Kings Mom Dropped Chris Off At K Mart Then They Shot Chris I Can Honestly Say Quit Saying Chris Robbed Him Nope Chris Is Not That Type Chris Was A Successful Good Hearted Young Man Micheal Was A Piece Of Shit Chris Never Started Anything Ever He Wouldnt Pick On Nebody However Cant Say The Same For Micheal He Was A Loud Mouth Lets Jump Somebody Where Chris Was A Laid Back Lets Get Along Kinda Guy So Fuck Your Opion And You Telling People Not To Judge Fuck That I Hope Prison Makes Micheals Life Hell In He Dosent Get The Pleasure Of Death I Wish The Worst On Him Honestly He Use To Bully Kids Start Stuff Jump People He Made The African Community Look Bad Hes The Kind That Give African Americans Sterotypes Chris Wasnt Chris Was A Good Student Great Friend Nice Polite Track Star In Foot Ball Star So Fuck Off

DeNise Crockett

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 10:09 p.m.

To aj121: Unfortunately no father presence growing up or male mentor.

aj121

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 9:41 p.m.

Was anyone mentoring Michael Crockett?

DeNise Crockett

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 9:01 p.m.

To Community 101: We have been for a while addressing this specific problem at Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor. Every single male youth member under the age of 18 is paired and mentored by a adult male church member. Anyone interested in this male youth ministry and have questions or want to become involved please contac my Pastor, the Rev. Mark J. Lyons at 734 663 9369 ext. 4 or email mjlyons05@msn.com Mark 2:17

Ricebrnr

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 8:30 p.m.

"Killing someone is never justified." Umm sorry no. Without applying specifically to this case; Legally and morally, when innocents are being threatened with death or great bodily harm killing in defense of self and others is both just and justified. A criminal's life is NOT more important than mine or those important to me. In the comfort of your home and normal life, you may take such "moralistic" positions but come that moment when your life or your loved ones are threatened, I doubt you would willingly go into that good night without fighting against the dying of the light.

community101

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 7:57 p.m.

Ms. Crockett, would it be possible for your church to get involved with the lives of middle school kids around the area? More to the point, the men at the church. Can they come and talk to these young men, help them with shoes, clothes, homework, time. Just be a role model. I'm sorry but I don't see enough fathers involved. In my personal opinion, this would be the beginning of changing our children's trust toward adults and faith in what future they can have. Kids who genuinely need a male figure in their life need the men in your church and community to come to them.

DeNise Crockett

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 7:50 p.m.

Killing someone is never justified. You tell me if someone shot at you 1st then would you try to protect yourself with any means possible? I don't know what really happened but like AnnArbor.com commented to everyone, this is a developing story and the full story has not been told yet. Let's give this to the victim and the suspect's family to know the truth. All the details have not yet been revealed to the public.

DeNise Crockett

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 7:30 p.m.

We started this ministry because our "church based youths" were experiencing these same problems.

aj121

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 7:27 p.m.

@ Crockett ~ So now being robbed justifies murder? Don't think so. The man who got robbed, at noon, putting his child into his car on Golfside did not pull out a weapon and shoot his robber. Amazing! I remember what a behavior problem Crockett was in high school.....the family didn't do much to support WRHS then.

KeepingItReal

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 6:17 p.m.

@Denise Crockett: Am aware of the program but not impressed. It's good to "talk about the problem" but there needs to be a strong community commitment to address it. The youth you target are church based youth and the ones most in need are not necessarily in the church. Also, we can't start out proselytizing to these youth.

Hammer

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 6:17 p.m.

If you account for single parenthood, there is no difference between black and white crime rates.

DeNise Crockett

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 5:22 p.m.

If Racerx wants to get involved with our black crime dilemma come to my church, Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor at 850 Red Oak St. We talk about this and have a ministry designed just to address this subject. Also thank you Paula Gardner of AnnArbor.com in letting everyone know this a developing story and the police are aware that the suspect was being robbed at the time the victim was fatally shot.Also to Lola, our prayers should be with the King family as well as the Crockett family.-----------Ms.DeNise Crockett

ypsiteacher

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 5:20 p.m.

Newsboy1, thank you. I wish more people understood how so many kids need our public school system to do right by them, when the rest of the 'village' has left them behind. Not every teacher can reach every kid, or their family, but we truly are the last hope many kids have to learn equality, respect, and conflict resolution skills Chris was a good soul with a lot of admirable qualities. He was a positive person in my life and the lives of my young children, who also loved him. His life could have had a different direction. I am so grateful that the young man who chose to shoot him (allegedly) has been caught. The whole story is never ours to know. Both sides show our community that much more needs to be done to protect them, years before the violence gets to this point. Education is the only protection against ignorance.

Newsboy1

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 3:55 p.m.

And, if the sorry coaches at Saline High School would have cared more about Chris King as a human being, and less about Chris King as an athlete, he may not have been near the "street thug hood" in the first place. But, after he was done helping them win on the football field and the track, they threw him in their alternative ed program at Union so he wouldn't negatively contribute to their graduation rate. Way to go SHS. Yes, it does take a village.

Saline Character

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 1:04 p.m.

Any update on suspect and apprehension? I find it hard to believe that a 20 yr old street thug hood is smart enough to stay underground this long... unless his family is hiding him well! The Washtenaw Cty Sheriff's Dept is better than this... they should have him by now.

Lola

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 12:52 p.m.

Hmmm, the suspect is 20 years old and 5'4" tall. Do you suppose he lacks self confidence because of his short stature and needs a gun to feel big? I'm also wondering if he had a father at home to provide a good role model. I think men abandoning their children is the real epidemic that needs to be addressed. Bill Cosby and Chris Rock have both addressed this issue. RIP Mr. King. Shame on you Mr.Crockett.

mm1001

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 11:09 a.m.

Without getting entirely philosophical about this tragic event that occured in our community I just wanted to say that it does take a village to raise our young ones and we should be deeply concerned when a young person, regardless of color, thinks that to act out his/her anger by ending someone else live is acceptable then we all need to look at ourselves and think of ways of preventing the youth from developing this behaviour from the beginning. Parents teach your children well. Go out of your way to helpout in your community. Volunteer in youth programs. It really is a lot easier than pointing fingers, give it a try.

tracyann

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 11:05 a.m.

One doesn't have to live in a low-income black neighborhood or be "directly affected by it" to see what a tragedy this is. Anyone who has been the victim of or has lost someone they love to violent crime can empathize with the family, black or white.

Jared

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 10:52 a.m.

Chris was good people i chilled with him a few times out in saline in macon he was a good person

InsideTheHall

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 9:58 a.m.

This is sad and tragic regardless of the circumstances. Totally senseless.

Paula Gardner

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 9:27 a.m.

Readers, This story is still developing, as investigators sort out the circumstances. AnnArbor.com staff also is further reporting this story. Comments need to stay focused on this specific story - without speculation. Please avoid making assumptions about the circumstances of this crime out of fairness to the victim and the suspect.

kamie123

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 9:18 a.m.

I agree with Ghost. People in general are not concerned with black on black crime. If it doesn't affect you directly you don't feel it. How many people live in a black low income neighborhood on this site? You don't see it everyday. When it gets posted you comment and you move on.

Cash

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 9:02 a.m.

Keeping it Real, Your posts here today may be the best I've ever read at this site. Cash

djm12652

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.

@keepingitreal...you hit the nail on the head...white liberal journalists, to avoid being controversial will only report the bare minimum on the current Black on Black violence. This is not the way to inform people about another young man with a future lost. This article for example shows exactly what I mean...compared to the C-Section and VBAC article giving statistics and pertinent data. Why doesn't the ann arbor.com staff look into this growning epidemic? They're afraid of being labeled racist? So sad because this issue needs to be at the forefront of everyone's attention, Black, Caucasian, Hispanic, etc! Enough is enough!

tracyann

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 8:52 a.m.

I saw this on the news last night. Very sad indeed. I don't understand why this younger generation of people think the only way to end an altercation is to kill the other person. He's dead. You really showed him. Argument ended, but at what price?

Mumbambu, Esq.

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 8:48 a.m.

Bill Cosby has discussed the issue for years and it would be great if the Sharptons and Jacksons would follow his lead. Regardless, it's all senseless violence. A sad day in our community.

kmz

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 8:20 a.m.

Judge Simpson was reassigned due to another Judge leaving. In fact, Simpson had a reputation for being very strict compared to the others in Washtenaw County. Judicial reassignments occur all of the time, there doesn't necessarily need to be a big horrah. As for Simpson- I have a feeling he'd be one to throw the book at an offender, no matter what the race, compared to the other Judges.

KeepingItReal

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 8:08 a.m.

@racerx: Within the past two weeks, the African American community got all upset about an African American judge that was reassigned from 14A District Court overseeing criminal cases to overseeing civil cases. There was an out pouring of people convened by a local minister who were upset about this reassignment and they were seeking answers from the courts about this change. Now, I don't intent to belittle the judge but it seems to me a human life is more important that someone's job assignment. Almost weekly, there is a news post about black on black violence many of those involving African American youth. Yet, I've not seem one so-called leader take any initiative to bring people together to try and figure what the.... is going on and how we can stop it. That speaks volumes about the priorities of our community.

stunhsif

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 7:38 a.m.

I watched Chris King run track and field at Saline High School, he graduated with my daughter in 2008. He was very talented and and hard working. I agree with other posters here that intra-violence amongst young black males has got to get some attention somewhere and let's not blame everyone but the ones commiting the crimes.

racerx

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 4:53 a.m.

@KeepingitReal-agree 100%, there is never any talk about this within the black community, either from churches, schools or so called Black Leaders (i.e. Sharpton, Jackson). This plague (and it should be treated as a health issue) has been occuring within the black community for several decades. At times black leasers would be the first to decry perceived racism, for example, if a black person were arrested at a mall for no reason, but to speak about issues within its own community, the subject is taboo. This has been occuring for more than 30yrs. Guess if we don't discuss it, the problems would just go away, however, the black community hasn't spoke about this within its own community due to the simple fact that it would be percieved as being a failure of its race in the eyes of others. Shame.

KeepingItReal

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 4:27 a.m.

Two more African American males being removed from society. Two here, three there, pretty soon, the African American community is going to be depleted of males. While we are quick to respond to racism...real or perceived...we are eerily slow to respond to the intra-group violence that is occurring almost daily in the Black community. What will it take to realize what is happening to our people?

warren kennedy

Sun, Jul 25, 2010 : 11:31 p.m.

Please go to departedngone and Let The World Know that we have lost a Good Life. Departed N Gone