Brandon's Cousin
Feb. 4th, 2014 11:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
autumnluv143Brandon's family are the best and worst cases of the hood. He's got some cousins/Uncles/etc who are into drugs and have been to jail and then those who have never been in a lick of trouble in their lives. Well yesterday changed for one of his cousins who was trying to do good for himself.
Brandon's cousin, Arthur, was involved in an accident yesterday. From what I understand about the situation, Arthur was coming down a two lane street in New Orleans, didn't see one car stop, but swerved to avoid it and ran over a 6-year old boy and his sister. The little boy was crossing the street from corner to corner (rather than from side to side) while his mom watched from the porch. He was on his way to the bus stop. Arthur stopped a ways up and just sat there in shock. He didn't know what to do. He got out of the car, looked back at someone picking the boy up out of the street, panicked and got back in his car and took off. He didn't know what to do or where to go so he went home in shock and terror over what had just happened. The police found his car, him and arrested him on Manslaughter, attempted manslaughter, careless operation of a vehicle and hit and run. He has been crying since it happened and can't seem to stop.
Even without the looming trial and jail time, I can't imagine that he would ever be the same person again. Just sitting with the knowledge of what he did is enough to change anyone. He was always smiling, laughing and was over all a really good guy. He's never been in trouble with the law and never done a mean thing to anyone. He's a good kid. And that's just it, he may be 22 years old but he is that.... a kid. And his entire life has been ruined over one mistake. He should have been paying more attention to the road. He shouldn't have run away. He shouldn't have or should have done a lot of things. But simply, he panicked. Panic isn't an emotion that does anyone any good. His whole family is so upset. They are going to raise money to get him a lawyer because none of us want to see this good kid end up in jail for the rest of his life over something that was, essentially, an accident. He has never meant harm. His life is going to change anyway and no punishment the law can hand down is going to do anything but add to the punishment he will give himself knowing that he killed that baby. His life will only be made worse by a lengthy prison sentence. I wish there was something I could do...but what can you say to someone?
Brandon's cousin, Arthur, was involved in an accident yesterday. From what I understand about the situation, Arthur was coming down a two lane street in New Orleans, didn't see one car stop, but swerved to avoid it and ran over a 6-year old boy and his sister. The little boy was crossing the street from corner to corner (rather than from side to side) while his mom watched from the porch. He was on his way to the bus stop. Arthur stopped a ways up and just sat there in shock. He didn't know what to do. He got out of the car, looked back at someone picking the boy up out of the street, panicked and got back in his car and took off. He didn't know what to do or where to go so he went home in shock and terror over what had just happened. The police found his car, him and arrested him on Manslaughter, attempted manslaughter, careless operation of a vehicle and hit and run. He has been crying since it happened and can't seem to stop.
Even without the looming trial and jail time, I can't imagine that he would ever be the same person again. Just sitting with the knowledge of what he did is enough to change anyone. He was always smiling, laughing and was over all a really good guy. He's never been in trouble with the law and never done a mean thing to anyone. He's a good kid. And that's just it, he may be 22 years old but he is that.... a kid. And his entire life has been ruined over one mistake. He should have been paying more attention to the road. He shouldn't have run away. He shouldn't have or should have done a lot of things. But simply, he panicked. Panic isn't an emotion that does anyone any good. His whole family is so upset. They are going to raise money to get him a lawyer because none of us want to see this good kid end up in jail for the rest of his life over something that was, essentially, an accident. He has never meant harm. His life is going to change anyway and no punishment the law can hand down is going to do anything but add to the punishment he will give himself knowing that he killed that baby. His life will only be made worse by a lengthy prison sentence. I wish there was something I could do...but what can you say to someone?
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no subject
Date: 2014-02-05 05:45 am (UTC)There are some people that have survived some heinous times in their lives- accidental, self-inflicted, and sometimes intentional.
I mourn for all involved in this. Sending you strength and caring.
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Date: 2014-02-05 08:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-07 02:54 am (UTC)I'm here if you need anything. Thanks for having the courage to post this. Not everyone would. You're strong and brave and such a gift to the people in your life.