GreenEggsandHam

Tue, Aug 3, 2010 : 12:05 p.m.

No excuse for murder! Something has been lost in the way children are raised today. If you want something, rob, kill-take. Sad world we live in.

Monica R-W

Mon, Aug 2, 2010 : 3:59 a.m.

This is so sad. God Bless Chris Mother, Father and Family, during difficult time. Chris was at the prime of his life. A lot of young men, his age struggle with direction but, with time, they find their path. He was only 20...20 years old. That is much too soon to leave this Earth, when he should have had much more time to shine. I have a 20 year old son and I cannot imagine what his family is going though, right now. You, as a parent, are suppose to leave first....not your children. Senseless crime! A young man has left this Earth. Brothers are charged, now along with their Mother. Five people, one now deceased, over what? Life is...oh so precious. You cannot come back. The gun violence, needs to stop. Too much pain....too little forethought....it is not worth it. RIP Chris King...may God wrap his mighty arms around you. God Bless the King family, during this difficult time.

just a voice

Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 7:02 p.m.

word on the street is that it was over an 8-ball

stevek

Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 7:39 a.m.

@mac blvd-- I don't know whether to agree with you or disagree with you, I have no idea what you are trying to say.

needed perspective

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 11:07 p.m.

thanks 'Ann Arbor Resident'! Finally a comment from someone that knew Chris, instead of someone with "an agenda"! I have read so much crap the last few days...so many divisive remarks! Every life is sacred...

needed perspective

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 11:07 p.m.

thanks 'Ann Arbor Resident'! Finally a comment from someone that knew Chris, instead of someone with "an agenda"! I have read so much crap the last few days...so many divisive remarks! Every life is sacred...

Ann Arbor Resident

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:34 p.m.

@YpsilantiResident: I completely agree that more focus needs to be on the young victim, Chris King. I had the pleasure of having Chris as a student in middle school. Even though it was several years ago, I remember him well. He was a charasmatic(sp?) young man with a terrific smile. At that point in his life, he was already struggling with which path he would travel down. He had great potential, and I was always pulling for him. His death upsets me greatly, and I pray for a peaceful transition for him, and his family, as they grieve.

M.

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:24 p.m.

I'm disturbed by the comments that imply the working poor should be forced into "high crime" areas by way of increased rent to keep the area "low crime". Those darn poor people and their crime. Let's just assume since he's black he's poor, right? That's not a bit racist. I know a number of students who enjoy the relatively cheap rent afforded in this area. The majority of "low income" people are NOT criminals, even if the majority of criminals are "low income". If you want to keep poor people from raising their standard of living by being able to live in areas they can be proud to live in then you're endorsing class segregation.

anti-thug

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 6:54 p.m.

Kent2525@ I'm worried I live on the southside of ann arbor near where a gas stations clerk was shot and killed in 2004 AND I'm now afraid the southside of ann arbor may get hit really badly considering this is so close to home and you have by home fairly cheap here.

Ricebrnr

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 5:29 p.m.

What???? Can someone translate? If you're asking a legal question, might I suggest you consult a lawyer rather than random people on a blog?

Mac

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 4:48 p.m.

I just want to say, that this is a case where a a group of man was rob by another group of men&and was held at gun point in his own home with the fact of someone being pistol whipp,and in reaction to this,this terrible inncident happen.Would this case be self-defense case???

Kent2525

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 3:18 p.m.

@Jay Thomas You might want to read this. American Murder Mystery www theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/american-murder-mystery/6872/ If you do read this post, you will find that the Feds are giving extra money to have low income/section8 leave the ghettos and move into normal low crime neighborhoods. Than thay can close or demolish the bad areas. The problem is that the low income/section 8 people coming from the bad areas are taking the crime with them to the low crime areas. This then starts the building process of destroying a totally new area that before was crime netural or low crime. All the sudden crime goes crazy in tons of spots insted of in one localized area.

Jay Thomas

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 1:44 p.m.

This sounds like MacArthur blvd moved to the Kmart. Kent2525 is right. That area has gone downhill. My friend who lived on golfside said that lots of people who get out of the halfway house end up at those apartments now. Rapists, all kinds of people. And thank you AnnArbor.com for protecting the rights of the accused in removing any comments that assume his guilt. We wouldn't want to convict someone on the internet... keep a sharp eye out. :|

YPboyWRheart

Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 5:50 a.m.

I will miss your smile and hugs and how you loved my family. Chris,RIP.

katie

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 8:16 p.m.

It's too bad, but some of those businesses, like K-Mart in that area need to hire security. Just down the road I always got bothered by people begging money, but in an aggressive way. I drive a very old model car, so I don't know why they were doing this to me. I don't go there anymore. If these men are hanging around these shopping areas and starting fights and carrying guns, they need to have a security detail to call the police and clean up the area. It seems like they got tougher at Walmart and it now feels better to go there. They need to understand that these incidents will drive people away, so if they want customers, they need to take action. It's not the only thing that needs to happen, but it's one thing they should be doing. If they don't already have them, they need a lot of security cameras in those parking lots and they should have them monitored to keep away the aggressive folks that hang around there. Not all of them are robbers and murderers, but when these places become hangouts, the worse folks move in, like drug dealers.

stevek

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 7:38 p.m.

@huh7891--I agree, what kind of thinking is the Aunt doing? I didn't know that you need a father figure or a male role model in your life to teach you that intending to rob someone and then killing them is the wrong thing to do. Is she saying that the mother can't teach her children right from wrong?

GettingBluer

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 7:10 p.m.

"@Ricebrnr Some people handle the stress of not having a father figure diffently, didn't Obama try/do drugs? maybe just as Obama had a struggle in his life, this young man had a struggle in his life, now I did not read Obama's Bio but I would think not having a father figure in his life led him to do somethings, like the drugs, maybe this young man had a struggle and was now turning around his life as Obama did. " Never heard that about Obama though there was a persistent rumor about Bush and cocaine. I guess I am lucky without a father figure in my life...no drugs, no killings, UofM grad.

huh7891

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 7:08 p.m.

Crockett's aunt, DeNise Crockett, said this morning that her nephew has an attorney, and she expects he will fight the charges. Her nephew is in his third semester at Washtenaw Community College, she said. "He just got his own place and he's trying to get himself together," she said. "He grew up without his dad and had no male mentor in his life." I guess "auntie" thinks just because he goes to WCC and was beginning to get his life together and he had no male mentor in life is an excuse for what he did. Disturbed line of thinking to say the least.

Kent2525

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 6:25 p.m.

@Jimmy Olsen "I never would suggest taking the law into your own hands - I merely alluded to things like neighborhood watch groups. Is there a need for a mentor program? How about the churches in the area? My point was an already stretched police department can only do so much. Sometimes we depend too greatly on others, when some simple things we can do ourselves will help the situation." Jimmy Olsen: Good luck getting low income/section 8 renters in low cost rentals to setup a neighborhood watch group. Renters dont have a dog in the race to go that far. Their are no churchs in the area. The only thing that could be done is by the owners of the apartments raising the rent and by having strict renter guidlines that will allow for removal of unwanted renters. I myself am involved in nieghborhood watch in my area. But I own and not rent, and only the owners of houses attend the meetings not the renters in my neighborhood.

Jimmy Olsen

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 4:25 p.m.

@malorie I never would suggest taking the law into your own hands - I merely alluded to things like neighborhood watch groups. Is there a need for a mentor program? How about the churches in the area? My point was an already stretched police department can only do so much. Sometimes we depend too greatly on others, when some simple things we can do ourselves will help the situation.

YpsilantiResident

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 4:07 p.m.

@JGS, I agree... why are we making the suspected shooter out to be the victim here? Rather than making a mention about how the (suspected) shooters "auntie" is grieving.. I bet the family of the dead man is grieving quite a bit more than a family who has to "say goodbye" to their nephew who is going to jail. They can visit him in jail. However, our victims family cannot ever visit him anymore because of these cowardly acts. How about a few comments or words about our victim here? Remember the kid that died in this story? I don't feel too sorry for our suspected shooter for not having a father, and I'm not proud of him that he is in his third semester at WCC... What I want to do is take a few minutes to remember and recognize and show respect to the dead man here. What college did he attend? I know that he was a great football player in high school in Saline. He was also the baby of the family, the youngest of several siblings (from what I remember hearing on the News) So again, why are we being sympathetic to the alleged shooter? This is ridiculous.

rob

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 4:05 p.m.

now because of this my friends dead he tried robbin king for what reason?????

M.

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 3:34 p.m.

Jimmy Olsen, I think asking for help from law enforcement is what we citizens are encouraged to do. In fact, we are discouraged from taking the law into our own hands. We are asking for stricter enforcement and more patrolling of this area which has seen a lot of illegal and violent activity recently. This is what police are for - making communities safer.

Jimmy Olsen

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 2:18 p.m.

@lorie, etc all So what are you as residents in co-operation with local authorities doing to improve the situation? Don't put it all on the atuhorities....it begins at home....whatever that home life is...successful people all over grow up without one or both parents. It is a matter of wrong versus right and no matter who you grow up with - shooting someone is always wrong.

JGS

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 2:01 p.m.

Please tell me that people are not trying to make the suspected murderer a "victim" in this crime... Please...

Kent2525

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 1:55 p.m.

You might want to read this. American Murder Mystery www theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/american-murder-mystery/6872/

Kent2525

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 1:50 p.m.

"What I want to know is what exactly are Ypsilanti Township, Pittsfield Township and the Sheriff doing about the crime in the apartments in that area (Spicetree, International/Aspen Chase,etc). Golfside marking the border." "So do tell, what is happening there for the future" Lorie hit the nail on the head. Washtenaw and Golfside and the apartments in the area are going south fast. I live near this area and have been watching that area going downhill. Thugs and people loitering all over the place. This area is getting very tough, with bad people hanging all over the place. I think this is going to be the next MacArthur Blvd.

Ricebrnr

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 1:39 p.m.

@ Allison, In case I have been too obtuse, the answer to the logical follow up question is the same answer to where the handy mug shot came from. The grieving Aunt was referencing his life turning around from whatever caused that picture to be taken. Hope that helps.

pseudo

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 12:26 p.m.

What I want to know is what exactly are Ypsilanti Township, Pittsfield Township and the Sheriff doing about the crime in the apartments in that area (Spicetree, International/Aspen Chase,etc). Golfside marking the border. So do tell, what is happening there for the future?

snapshot

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 12:23 p.m.

salinone, you are not making excuses for what he did, you are making excuses as to why he did it when it really doesn't matter in this case. I'm sure someone who is nurtured, loved, and provided with moral guidance has a better chance of not killing someone who was not provided such an environment, but we know that isn't always the case. I personally don't care about anything in the past of someone who is willing to take another human beings life without just cause. You tell me what difference all the speculation will make in this case? You are making excuses for him in my opinion. There is no excuse for his actions.

Macabre Sunset

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 12:20 p.m.

Well, Allison, if it's any consolation, I think he found his vocation and will hopefully have the opportunity to spend the rest of his life reaping that reward. It's too bad that learning experience had to come at the expense of another man's life. He had a mother, too.

fudd44

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 12:19 p.m.

IF this perp was trying to get his "LIFE" to-gether what was he carrying a gun for huh grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

salineone

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 12:06 p.m.

I don't think anyone is saying that we are excusing what he did or that he should not be punished. But as a father, or parent, we look for warning signs. Why do some kids turn out great and others turn into murderers. Is nature or nurture. I think it is nurture. There are no gaurantees but I think that a stable home with a mother and father modeling behavior, going to church, going to work, being involved, being self-sufficient, not looking for the nanny state to raise your kids goes a long way to give kids a step up on life

CountyKate

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : noon

As Ricebrnr pointed out, President Obama also did not have a father, but he turned out all right. So have many other kids, my son included. And it's possible the family has told this kid that it's okay for him to act out for that reason (an assumption based on the aunt's statement), but that doesn't mean it's true. There are kids without fathers all over the place, for many different reasons, and they aren't all African American. We have kids with no father because of the war, divorce, a job situation that sends dad from home most of the time and a myriad of other reasons. The vast majority of them will grow up to be fine upstanding citizens, regardless of that circumstance. I'm not going to give this kid a pass because he's without a dad. Because of him, there is now a family without their son.

snapshot

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 11:55 a.m.

They caught the guy who shot someone in the back, and killed him. How does the fact he grew up without a father, that he had a tough time in life, or anything else excuse him from feeling he had a right and a need to shoot someone? Making excuses for his behaviour does not make him any less a threat to others. He did it once, he'd do it again, and he'll continue to do it until he's put someplace where he can't do it, prison.

mom2boys

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 11:54 a.m.

I know the auntie is grieving and in shock. Bless her. I (and unfortunately millions of others) grew up without father in the home. Parents, get counseling for your children to learn to deal with the anger at the missing parent. Otherwise, the consequences are never good. That internalized rage will someday explode. Anyone who goes to school can talk with a free guidance counselor who can refer from there. There is help, no matter your financial situation.

Lovaduck

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 11:45 a.m.

I get so sick of the "he's depraved, on account he's deprived" argument which is always trotted out in these cases. What about the many without father figures who turn out to be decent citizens. Boo, friggin' hoo!" is all I can say to this stale old argument. He took another's life in a robbery/fight for pity's sake!

Allison

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 11:43 a.m.

@Ricebrnr Some people handle the stress of not having a father figure diffently, didn't Obama try/do drugs? maybe just as Obama had a struggle in his life, this young man had a struggle in his life, now I did not read Obama's Bio but I would think not having a father figure in his life led him to do somethings, like the drugs, maybe this young man had a struggle and was now turning around his life as Obama did.

salineone

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 11:41 a.m.

If the bullet hit his heart or any major blood vessel, it does not matter how close to a hospital you are. You are dead. As to why does this happen? I think the story tells it all. He grew up without a father and no male mentor. This problem has been well documented that is all too common, in the African-American culture. When we have professional football and basketball players caring guns and fathering multiple children and thinking that paying child support is a substitute for a father. Obviously it takes more than a village to raise a child. We have far to long dealt with these problems by throwing more money at it, treating the symptoms rather than the real cause. Kids need role models and stability in their lives. We have said we don't need God either. He's not allowed in our schools but I'll bet both of these families will seek solice in their church and their God.

Ricebrnr

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 11:35 a.m.

@ Allison Camara The second sentence was not conveniently forgotten as it is not the answer to the question. If it was we wouldn't have President Obama would we?

Allison

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 11:28 a.m.

@Ricebrnr Here's the rest of the quote you forgot to mention that answers your question, "He grew up without his dad and had no male mentor in his life." He had a hard life no dad no mentor, he was figuring life out for himself with no help from a father figure and yes that is a hard thing to do for any young man.

Allison

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 11:25 a.m.

I think what we should be focused on is why did this happen and how can we stop it from happening again. I think maybe the Sherif ment to say a gunshot wound to the back that lodged in his chest. But like I said we should be looking at what is so wrong in our community that in daylight hours a young man could be shot to death and it is less then a 4 min drive to St. Joes. that should be a safe area, 10 min walk to WCC 10 min walk to St. Joes makes me wonder how long it took for help to get there.

Ricebrnr

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 11:22 a.m.

"He just got his own place and he's trying to get himself together," she said. Please let us know the answer to the logical follow up question. What was he trying to get himself together FROM? In depth reporting at its finest.

Carl Duncan

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.

This is obviously another case of some one who was getting their life together only to become victimized--again! Wow if it isn't one thing, it is another.

mommaof2

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 10:56 a.m.

We are all missing the point of this story.. It is said story when our young men are killing each other over fighting. He died from a gun shot wound, unless you are on the jury (which I have been in similar cases) it really doesn't matter.

salineone

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.

I agree with ypsidog. If he had been shot in the buttocks or head and the bullet lodged in his heart, which IS possible, would it still be called a shot to the chest. I doubt it. The point of entry is the point of reference, not the ultimate endpoint of the bullet. It is very relevant because this young man was shot in the back. This does not change the fact that a young life is wasted; but it says a lot about the shooter.

ypsidog

Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 10:31 a.m.

He died from a single shot to the chest that entered from the right side of his back??? More lousy reporting fron A2.com.