… and I saw the crime scene seconds after the automatic gunfire stopped. It sounded like firecrackers. I was too scared to move until it stopped.
It was 9:36 PM when I finally looked out the window. The street was eerily silent. I saw two stopped cars at the intersection on my corner. A man staggered out of the first car. In less than 5 minutes a cop car pulled up and I heard the staggering man say, “I’ve been shot.” Ten more minutes and there were eight cop cars, two fire trucks and an ambulance.
A police officer taped my building into the crime scene. One was dead, two wounded in East Oakland shooting at the corner of 12th St. and 47th Ave… my corner. I’m sorry that I didn’t have the courage to look while the shooting was happening. I wish I had some helpful information for the police.
This is the second killing on my street in the year and a half that I’ve lived here.
The crime scene investigation was still going strong at midnight on Wednesday when I went to bed, but everything was cleared away by 6AM Thursday when I woke up. Later that morning I walked to the two piles of shattered auto glass left behind. I saw the blood stain on the street of the murdered man from the first car, and the blood trail of the staggering, innocent victim of the second car on the sidewalk. There was also the entrails of a dead rat at the scene and a red seven-day candle. It’s flame snuffed out by the drizzling rain.
This morning a city truck came by and cleaned up the blood and glass. Heavy sigh… I don’t know what else to say. It’s upsetting and scary. Life and death goes on.
I was quietly knitting the sleeves of a green sweater when the slaying went down.
Dear Sherri!
Recieve our prayers from Brazil! I can imagine what you are feeling because, unfortunatelly, in my country this situation is very common! Sometimes in the morning news on the TV, we heard more than 5 tragic histories and sometimes I have so much fear that I think that I and my family shouldn’t go out from my home because we don’t know what can happen out there! But then I think in God and ask Him for safety and then I go to my work (I’m a physician)! God Bless all of us and that He protect all of us, too! And that He fill with love and comfort the hearts of the people who lost their family in every tragedy in the world!!
Your comment touches my heart. I’ve been feeling some self pity about why I don’t have the resources to live in a ‘nicer’ neighborhood. It’s easy to forget that there are so many people in the world who have no choice but to live with violence on a daily basis. It saddens me to realize this but it also moves me out of my self pity into a more compassionate feeling of connection to you and all of the people in my neighborhood and across the world who have no choice but to continue to live the best they can in the midst of violence and war.
Silvana, take good care of yourself and others. I will keep the safety of you and your family in my prayers as well.
Dear Sherri!
Thank you so much for writing to me!
Is comforting to know that there are people who are solidary, this minimizes somewhat our sense of fear.
Even that we are so far away, our feelings are connected! God Bless all of us and the whole world!
I have this crazy picture in my head of you knitting peacefully while that chaos was happening out on the street. Doing that rather than look out the window strikes me as being the most positive, life-affirming action at that moment. You may have seen something relevant, maybe not, and you may have put yourself in danger, if you had gone to the window. I don’t mean put your head in the sand, but bravery takes many forms. Your caring, compassionate energy resonates beyond your street corner. Thank you for sharing your story, and keep knitting.
Things were a bit calmer in your old Carrboro neighborhood, I think!
scary. stay safe.
For a while, I lived not far from that intersection in a converted carriage house behind a big victorian. I heard stories of past violence, but was never so close to such violence and realized this afternoon, after reading your post, just how lucky I was while living there.
Sherri,
I’m sure you’re processing all this in your own way as we all must do when we find ourselves suddenly interconnected to something we hadn’t expected. Perhaps such events just reveal the interconnectedness we mostly ignore. And yes, I think you lean toward sensing such connections–evidenced by your previous post about your ‘hood, and your many years of work seeking, highlighting, and sharing such bonds through your art. For whatever reasons, fate has integrated your consciousness into this tragedy, and through your writing, ours as well. I wondered if maybe something you have made might assist the healing of the “innocent victim” you mention (i think we all are victims in such events)…I know this quickly becomes a delicate decision of your involvement, their possible indifference or offense, and even determining who is most in need, as well as your time all around. Just seems they might benefit from a scarf or even a pair of socks filled with your very sincere good energy and Grace. Since you have chosen to share this with your “blog community,” as a member, I’d be willing to contribute a few $$ to compensate for your creative time & labor should you feel called to offer such a “gift.”
Be well my kind friend,
J
That’s kind of you John but I’m really okay.
And to everyone else who has written with their best wishes of support. It’s upsetting of course to be a witness to violence but I’m not feeling too down or out about it. It is just a fact. Sharing the story of what happened is the best way for me to process and heal.
I think prayers and continuing to be a benevolent presence in the neighborhood is the best gift I have to offer.
What a terrible experience and you had just posted about being inspired by the environment.
Violence always frightens me and there is no way I can justify it.
For some times in our lives there are no words…….may you find comfort in your handwork. Praying for your peace and protection!
Sherri–so sad that you had to go through this; it is scarey –I cannot imagine being that close to such an awful event. What a difficult time for you…my thoughts are with you as I stitch on my hexagons–each stitch a little prayer for your well being….Julierose
Sorry that you are having to work through this- I do not know what to say- but wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and hoping for a better tomorrow for your neighborhood. Thankful prayers that you were kept safe.
Thoughts are with you. You know how quietly doing knit, stitch, crochet – all these are calming, meditative. Hope you can find peace in the rhythms of your practice.
That is so hard to experience. I’m sorry. And to be so close and within viewing distance makes it even more surreal. I’ve lived in an area with shootings – never witnessed a homicide, but have watched attempts. It rattles you. So sorry.
Oh, I’m so sorry! I can’t even imagine how upset you must be! Prayers for all of the victims, including secondary ones like yourself, who are also traumatized to a different extent. Sending you cyberhugs….. xo
I’m so sorry to hear of this violence so close to you. Stay safe.
diane
Oh Sherri!
So hard to know what to write. Even from thousands of miles away it’s disturbing. Can’t imagine being within hearing of it all. I send you calming thoughts and wishes for those now in pain.