So today I found out that someone I went to high school with was shot and killed by police. This fact left me reeling, since Jake was one of the most laid-back and friendly people in my graduating class. This is someone I have gone to school with since I was five years old (and since our class only had 141 people in it, you can probably gather the degree of closeness we all shared after thirteen years together). Now, it’s no secret that Metuchen has its drug problems. And I was always reasonably sure in high school that Jake dallied in these practices, although I would not have thought him to be into anything hardcore (such as the heroin or coke that pervade so many of our tragedies in M-town). I’d also like to point out that this kid never even got in a fistfight at school all the years I knew him.

Granted, it’s been almost six years since we graduated. Probably about four or five since I last saw/talked to Jake. A lot could have happened in that time. According to local news reports, Jake got involved in a car chase, rammed his Jeep into a police cruiser repeatedly, and then brandished a knife at the two officers before being shot several times.

This does not make sense to me. That is not the behavior of the Jake Olson I know.

Another member of our graduating class was the E.M.T. who arrived at the scene and had to attempt to save Jake’s life.

But you know what makes less sense to me? The fact that the news article is attached to an endless stream of comments by ignorant troglodytes who have nothing better to do than make fucking cops-eat-donut jokes and say things like, “GOOD JOB OFFICERS! ANOTHER PIECE OF DIRT BITES THE DUST! I WOULDVE PUT ONE BETWEEN HIS EYES”

What the fuck.

First of all, what the hell sort of self-respecting news source has an open comment forum on the same goddamn page as a story like this? Family members and friends looking for more information on these tragic events get led to this site and can’t avoid seeing this rally of unrestrained cruelty. Seriously, the first two comments are right there: you don’t even have to scroll down to see them. You finish reading the article, and there they are. This couldn’t be hidden behind a link, reading optional?

Furthermore, what in God’s name is wrong with you people? You honestly have absolutely nothing better to do with your life than sit around and spew venomous insults at someone who died violently?! Get the fuck out of your mom’s basement, stop playing Madden ‘97 and go talk to some other human beings. Oh, right, I realize now that this is probably impossible for you, since most people’s intelligence quotients are high enough that they don’t want to deal with an ignoramus such as yourself. My mistake.

Now I do understand that for people outside of the personal frame of reference, this may seem like some two-bit criminal with a death-wish lashed out at several civil servicemen and got what he deserved. Even if that is the case (and information such as autopsy results, etc. are still pending), that criminal was a human being. With a mother, father, older sister, and friends. Those people are still alive. They’ve committed no wrongs against you. Consider the magnitude of their trauma and their grief before you go ranting and raving about how putting a boot in yer ass is the American way.

Finally, I don’t appreciate being stigmatized as a “bleeding heart liberal” for asking for a little common courtesy for someone I cared about while he was alive. Even though the few forum comments I was unfortunate enough to read were not directed at me specifically (since I don’t post on that forum), I take offense nonetheless. Some people are really disgusting.

::endrant::