Dateline Dayton — A shooting last week at a local Wal-Mart store that left two dead, including the shooter who sparked the tragedy.

The twenty-two year old from Fairfield, near Cincinnati, had to come to Dayton to “shop” at Wal-Mart, although he would have passed many other Wal-Marts on his way.  It is not known why he and his girlfriend, mother of their two children, were at this store.

A Marine in the store with his wife, called 9-1-1, when he saw a man carrying a rifle, tormenting shoppers, including children.  When police arrived, according to their version, which his girlfriend questions, they asked the young man to put down the rifle. When he refused, they shot him.

Another Wal-Mart shopper, a thirty-seven-year-old mother, died while running to get her children out of the store.  She was to be married last Saturday. Instead, it was the day of her funeral.

This rifle-toting young man is being remembered as “a good kid.” Keep in mind that he took an air rifle out of the box, tormented people and wouldn't obey a police order. I become very upset with loved ones going on television, telling us the person was a good individual – except he did not  obey authority and perhaps was committing a crime.

Recently, a store owner here killed a young man trying to rob  his store.  The boy’s mother went on television  and said “he was a good kid.” So why was he committing a robbery? People have different interpretations of good. Or possibly he was good as an infant.

In the Wal-Mart shooting, the police are being criticized for taking aggressive action.  If it would have been a real assault rifle, which it appeared to be, and the started shooting customers, the police would have been blamed for not taking aggressive action.

The police always are in a no-win situation.  I'm not saying they are always right. They are not, as evidenced by videos, one showing an officer putting a chokehold on a man in New York who died, and another of a California woman being beaten.

Seeing Black in the Dark

When race car driver Tony Stewart struck and killed young driver walking on a track last weekend,  reminded me of a problem I often encounter.  The victim was dressed in black on a dimly lighted track, making him very difficult to see.  Many times I see runners streets with little or no lighting, wearing black. They expect us, as drivers, to see them before that last second.  Runners, using the street, should be required to wear very reflective clothing, or use the sidewalk.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net