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I don't know if I want to write this or not but I'll try.

Today at work I was engrossed in the usual none mental task (physical labor tends to do that) It's a job with a paycheck anyway. But in the process I hear around six gunshots ring out. These didn't sound like fireworks either. About three minutes later all hell breaks loose. Cop cars racing up the street sirens blaring. One after another petal to the metal. Then a parade of helicopters in the air. Police choppers and news crews hovering over head. My first though was that it must be a bank being robbed which is usually the case from what the locals told me. But no at that particular moment somewhere between the first and sixth shot a young man lost his life. He had just hit his 22nd birthday. A troubled past and problems with alcohol lead to the young mans' demise. But in todays' environment it's even harder to make a comeback. The deck seemed stacked against him from the start. Try getting a job now with even a hint of criminal record and see your job application land in the circular file.

Desperation is a funny thing. It can make you do something very stupid like the young man or give an air of confidence as in "I don't have anything left to lose so why not try the impossible". It's gained me a job or two over the years in tough times.

But for the young man the choice was made. For him it was suicide by cop. There was no turning back once he met them in the front yard with a knife and shotgun in hand. And it's truly sad what might have been if only a different choice was made.