a kid I know got shot yesterday

flavio

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,823
1
76
This happened 3 blocks from where I live. He's been to my house and I played Rayman with him. It's really sad. Only 10 and might be paralyzed for life now.

Here's the story.

As 10-year-old Christopher Rodriguez sat down at a piano for his lesson at a North Oakland music school, he had no reason to foresee the horror that would soon befall him and leave him partially paralyzed, most likely for the rest of his life.

Christopher was on a piano bench at the Harmony Road Music School along bustling Piedmont Avenue about 4:30 p.m. Thursday when Jared Adams, 24 - who once complained in a court case that young urban dwellers such as himself got few opportunities in life - was robbing the Chevron gas station across the street, according to police.

Adams, who has previous felony convictions and a history of fleeing from police and carrying concealed weapons, fired three shots at an employee calling 911 before fleeing with his girlfriend in a stolen Ford Mustang, authorities said.

The shots missed the worker, but one of them tore through the music school's wall and ripped through Christopher's spleen, kidney and spine - missing his aorta by millimeters - before lodging in his side, where the round still remained Friday night, said Dr. James Betts, chief of surgery at Children's Hospital Oakland.

Two other bullets struck his mother's sport utility vehicle parked outside, narrowly missing Jennifer Rodriguez as she was talking to her husband on the phone.

Christopher, a fifth-grader at Crocker Highlands Elementary School in Oakland, is likely to be permanently paralyzed below the waist, Betts said.

At a news conference at the hospital Friday night, Richard Rodriguez said, "This is probably the worst thing that's ever happened to me in my life. I love my son greatly. I feel like half his life was taken from him, his inability, probably, to walk - ever."

He said his son, who is on the school's basketball team and just took up skateboarding, is "not fully aware that he might never use his legs again. This is just going to be a shock to him, I think."

Jennifer Rodriguez expressed gratitude for the public's support and lamented how "the energy of our planet is revved up to this degree where the combination of availability of firearms and lack of understanding of the consequences of using them is what we're seeing, and we're seeing more and more of it."

George Dewey, 41, of Oakland, was at the school taking his first piano lesson when he heard the gunfire.

Christopher "was saying that he was in pain, he was saying he wasn't able to feel his legs at that time, so I started to ask him to grip my hand to see if he had good pressure in his hands," Dewey said. "I then started to rub his legs, asked him if he felt me touching his legs. He said no."

As Dewey and others tended to the boy, police chased the Mustang to 51st Street and Telegraph Avenue, where Adams rammed a car carrying a woman and her twins before crashing into a parked car, police said. The woman and her children escaped major injury, police said.

Witnesses positively identified Adams, police said. Officers said they recovered a loaded handgun, a ski mask and cash at the scene of the crash.

Adams was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a firearm, armed robbery, evading police, hit-and-run, auto theft and carrying a concealed firearm. His girlfriend, Maeve Clifford, 19, who was in the car with him, was arrested on suspicion of robbery. She allegedly stole shampoo and conditioner from a Berkeley store earlier this year, court records show.

North Oakland has largely avoided the wave of violence afflicting other parts of the city, but residents have expressed concern about a recent surge of crime. On Dec. 29, state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata of Oakland was the victim of a carjacking one block from where the police chase of Adams ended Thursday.

Holly Lloyd, 39, of Piedmont, whose 8-year-old daughter would have had her piano lesson later Thursday afternoon at the music school, said Friday that she was experiencing a "feeling of powerlessness and wondering who to go to look for help."

In a statement Friday, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums extended his condolences to the boy and his family. "I am deeply troubled when anyone in this city is harmed by violence, but this shooting is especially tragic," he said. "This is yet another reminder why public safety is on the hearts and minds of all Oakland residents and why it is the top priority for my office."

Adams' mother, who didn't want her name used, said Friday, "Yeah, he's a nice son, but I don't want to make any comments at this point."

In an undated essay included in an Alameda County court file for a marijuana-possession case, Adams wrote, "The truth is black males, especially young ones, have a harder time finding good working situations. We need to find ways to motivate young black males to face the challenges and obstacles in their way. The situation can only get worse if something is not done. Not everybody can be Michael Jordan."

Adams is no stranger to the criminal justice system. He has prior convictions for gun possession and for driving under the influence. After he pleaded no contest to felony evading arrest in 2006 for fleeing from an Emeryville police officer, Superior Court Judge Leo Dorado noted that he had also run from or physically resisted a California Highway Patrol officer in San Leandro and police in Albany and Berkeley.

"If you get in trouble, if you do something wrong, you're just going to have to take it, accept it. Don't run," the judge warned as he sentenced Adams to six months in jail and three years' probation. "People get killed doing this, and we're not going to - I'm not going to - let you endanger anybody else."

Text
 

marvdmartian

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2002
5,439
23
81
Sad to hear about such a tragedy. Hopefully the boy will recover some or all of his feeling in his legs, and be able to live a more normal life.

I was stationed in that area, back in the 80's, and can say that passing through there was always a matter of "don't look like a victim, don't look like a victim" (chanted in my head). Not that Oakland or Richmond was full of bad people, but they did lead the county in crime, it seemed.

Really, what this story says to me is that the system was much too lenient on the person who did the crime, probably over and over again throughout his lifetime. I wonder, sometimes, whether places like Singapore, who not only have corporal punishment but who also make do it publicly (where other people who might have been considering that same sort of crime can see what they'll face if caught), don't have it right after all. We seem to have a generation of young adults who have been coddled their whole lives, whether they did right or wrong, and are now having to face the reality that life sucks, and you can't always go home and cry to momma for forgiveness, and expect it ends there.

Sadly now, what's most likely to happen, is the person who shot the gun will be sentenced to too short a time in prison, where he'll just learn more ways to be bad, and be released too early due to overcrowding (and then go out and do more crime), while this innocent kid will spend the remainder of his life in a wheelchair. I wonder if it's too late to bring back forced indentured servants??
 

I4AT

Platinum Member
Oct 28, 2006
2,631
3
81
He fired 3 shots at the employee for dialing 911, do people still think they can get away scot-free by killing the victim? It's not the 1920s anymore, everybody and their mother carries a cell phone, and most convenience stores have 24/7 video surveillance. In some cities there are thousands of police officers patrolling the street at any given time.

Idiot robbed a fucking Chevron, he probably scored a few hundred dollars, maybe a grand tops, and he fled in a Mustang with his 19 year old girlfriend that's stealing shampoo and conditioner. Their quality of life is good enough that they own a vehicle, and shelter where they can shower everyday, he obviously wasn't starving on the streets. So what could possibly motivate a person to take somebody's life over such a small amount of money.
 

TehMac

Diamond Member
Aug 18, 2006
9,976
3
71
It's Oakland. But still man, that really sucks, I'm sorry about all that, it's such a waste. That trash that like get away with it fucking pisses me off.
 

WingZero94

Golden Member
Mar 20, 2002
1,130
0
0
Originally posted by: wwswimming
3/4" plywood on the walls and 1" plex on the windows.

It is sad that we even have to think about doing this kind of thing to our homes. I already own a house, but when I build one I will consider windows that aren't easily broken out and a brick facade. Ridiculous story - I feel for that kid.
 

CraKaJaX

Lifer
Dec 26, 2004
11,905
148
101
Originally posted by: I4AT
He fired 3 shots at the employee for dialing 911, do people still think they can get away scot-free by killing the victim? It's not the 1920s anymore, everybody and their mother carries a cell phone, and most convenience stores have 24/7 video surveillance. In some cities there are thousands of police officers patrolling the street at any given time.

Idiot robbed a fucking Chevron, he probably scored a few hundred dollars, maybe a grand tops, and he fled in a Mustang with his 19 year old girlfriend that's stealing shampoo and conditioner. Their quality of life is good enough that they own a vehicle, and shelter where they can shower everyday, he obviously wasn't starving on the streets. So what could possibly motivate a person to take somebody's life over such a small amount of money.

People are scumbags. People are stupid. There are a lot of them.

It's just terrible that a stray bullet hit the poor kid and that he might be paralyzed for life. The scumbag should be shot in a way that he gets paralyzed, then thrown in the slammer.
 

CraKaJaX

Lifer
Dec 26, 2004
11,905
148
101
Originally posted by: WingZero94
Originally posted by: wwswimming
3/4" plywood on the walls and 1" plex on the windows.

It is sad that we even have to think about doing this kind of thing to our homes. I already own a house, but when I build one I will consider windows that aren't easily broken out and a brick facade. Ridiculous story - I feel for that kid.

The other day there was a show that was talking about exactly that. I don't remember the name, but they were hitting the windows with sludge hammers and it wasn't breaking -- it was just cracking a little at a time. Was actually pretty damn strong :Q
 
Oct 4, 2004
10,515
6
81
Originally posted by: I4AT
Their quality of life is good enough that they own a vehicle

It was a stolen vehicle.

In an undated essay included in an Alameda County court file for a marijuana-possession case, Adams wrote, "The truth is black males, especially young ones, have a harder time finding good working situations. We need to find ways to motivate young black males to face the challenges and obstacles in their way. The situation can only get worse if something is not done. Not everybody can be Michael Jordan."

Most excellent of him to play the race card in his previous hearing. Clearly, firing handguns at gas station workers (and missing and hitting 10-year-olds) is the only option left. What kept this guy from getting a job at Home Depot or Wal-Mart?
 

Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
In an undated essay included in an Alameda County court file for a marijuana-possession case, Adams wrote, "The truth is black males, especially young ones, have a harder time finding good working situations. We need to find ways to motivate young black males to face the challenges and obstacles in their way. The situation can only get worse if something is not done. Not everybody can be Michael Jordan."

Most excellent of him to play the race card in his previous hearing. Clearly, firing handguns at gas station workers (and missing and hitting 10-year-olds) is the only option left. What kept this guy from getting a job at Home Depot or Wal-Mart?

Truth is, it's young black males that need to do something about the situation now.
 

SarcasticDwarf

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2001
9,574
2
76
Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Most excellent of him to play the race card in his previous hearing. Clearly, firing handguns at gas station workers (and missing and hitting 10-year-olds) is the only option left. What kept this guy from getting a job at Home Depot or Wal-Mart?

Actually it is something of a valid point. A number of barriers exist:

1) Lack of drivers license
2) Lack of reliable public transportation to/from the workplaces
2a) There are very few jobs in the inner cities that provide a livable wage. For that you need transportation to the suburbs.
3) Corrections history (Approximately 40% of black males ages 19-26 living in the city of Milwaukee have been in the corrections system, barring them from most employment).
4) Lack of the basic skills necessary to hold a job
5) Lack of even a HS diploma/GED (something like 30% of black males in Milwaukee drop out of HS)
 

Dirigible

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2006
5,961
32
91
OP - That really sucks. I'm pulling for the guy to recover.

Originally posted by: marvdmartian

I was stationed in that area, back in the 80's, and can say that passing through there was always a matter of "don't look like a victim, don't look like a victim" (chanted in my head). Not that Oakland or Richmond was full of bad people, but they did lead the county in crime, it seemed.

Actually, that area of Oakland is fairly affluent and safe. I've been drunk while walking alone from the King's X late at night past that very gas station (walking by it on they way home, not getting gas, so don't rant at me about drunk driving - I don't do it) multiple times and never had any fear. Hearing about a shooting there surprised me. However, there has been a recent uptick in violent crimes in that and some other areas (including where I live). There are many nice areas of Oakland, they just don't get the news.
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
18,927
0
76
Originally posted by: CraKaJaX
Originally posted by: I4AT
He fired 3 shots at the employee for dialing 911, do people still think they can get away scot-free by killing the victim? It's not the 1920s anymore, everybody and their mother carries a cell phone, and most convenience stores have 24/7 video surveillance. In some cities there are thousands of police officers patrolling the street at any given time.

Idiot robbed a fucking Chevron, he probably scored a few hundred dollars, maybe a grand tops, and he fled in a Mustang with his 19 year old girlfriend that's stealing shampoo and conditioner. Their quality of life is good enough that they own a vehicle, and shelter where they can shower everyday, he obviously wasn't starving on the streets. So what could possibly motivate a person to take somebody's life over such a small amount of money.

People are scumbags. People are stupid. There are a lot of them.

It's just terrible that a stray bullet hit the poor kid and that he might be paralyzed for life. The scumbag should be shot in a way that he gets paralyzed, then thrown in the slammer.

I agree. This guy should be shot in the back and left paralyzed from the waist down to show him what it feels like. To show him how it feels to put someone into a helpless position like he did. This needs to happen. Slaps on the wrists is a freaking joke. This world.... this world.... I don't know man. This world is just fucked!
 

Nitemare

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
35,461
4
81
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Most excellent of him to play the race card in his previous hearing. Clearly, firing handguns at gas station workers (and missing and hitting 10-year-olds) is the only option left. What kept this guy from getting a job at Home Depot or Wal-Mart?

Actually it is something of a valid point. A number of barriers exist:

1) Lack of drivers license
2) Lack of reliable public transportation to/from the workplaces
2a) There are very few jobs in the inner cities that provide a livable wage. For that you need transportation to the suburbs.
3) Corrections history (Approximately 40% of black males ages 19-26 living in the city of Milwaukee have been in the corrections system, barring them from most employment).
4) Lack of the basic skills necessary to hold a job
5) Lack of even a HS diploma/GED (something like 30% of black males in Milwaukee drop out of HS)

1) they can get an ID for like 10 bucks
2) walk to the bus stop
2a) get a room mate
3) Stop being a douche bag and respect other people's properties/persons
4) Read a book, Read a book (How the hell hard is it to learn how to do a shitty entry level job?)
5) Mental retards, stay in school. Be like Mike, not Mikey the pimp and drug dealer
6) Stop blaming everyone else for your self-made plight

I've been to Milwaukee and yes, most of the area I saw was a shithole. I stopped two places to ask for directions. At the convenience store I was propositioned my a mid 40's crackhead with no teeth that would suck me off for 5 dollars because she hadn't ever had a white boy recently. The second was what I believe to be a small chop shop. They were actually cool and all and probably could not believe that I stopped there to get directions, but I sure as heck wasn't going to ask the dudes standing on the corners.

Feel sorry for the kid.
 

StormRider

Diamond Member
Mar 12, 2000
8,324
2
0
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Most excellent of him to play the race card in his previous hearing. Clearly, firing handguns at gas station workers (and missing and hitting 10-year-olds) is the only option left. What kept this guy from getting a job at Home Depot or Wal-Mart?

Actually it is something of a valid point. A number of barriers exist:

1) Lack of drivers license
2) Lack of reliable public transportation to/from the workplaces
2a) There are very few jobs in the inner cities that provide a livable wage. For that you need transportation to the suburbs.
3) Corrections history (Approximately 40% of black males ages 19-26 living in the city of Milwaukee have been in the corrections system, barring them from most employment).
4) Lack of the basic skills necessary to hold a job
5) Lack of even a HS diploma/GED (something like 30% of black males in Milwaukee drop out of HS)

I think it's more of a problem with the culture they grew up in (and perhaps lack of a father figure in their lives). I think the opportunities are there but their culture prevents them from taking advantage of it.
 

SarcasticDwarf

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2001
9,574
2
76
Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Most excellent of him to play the race card in his previous hearing. Clearly, firing handguns at gas station workers (and missing and hitting 10-year-olds) is the only option left. What kept this guy from getting a job at Home Depot or Wal-Mart?

Actually it is something of a valid point. A number of barriers exist:

1) Lack of drivers license
2) Lack of reliable public transportation to/from the workplaces
2a) There are very few jobs in the inner cities that provide a livable wage. For that you need transportation to the suburbs.
3) Corrections history (Approximately 40% of black males ages 19-26 living in the city of Milwaukee have been in the corrections system, barring them from most employment).
4) Lack of the basic skills necessary to hold a job
5) Lack of even a HS diploma/GED (something like 30% of black males in Milwaukee drop out of HS)

1) they can get an ID for like 10 bucks
2) walk to the bus stop
2a) get a room mate
3) Stop being a douche bag and respect other people's properties/persons
4) Read a book, Read a book (How the hell hard is it to learn how to do a shitty entry level job?)
5) Mental retards, stay in school. Be like Mike, not Mikey the pimp and drug dealer
6) Stop blaming everyone else for your self-made plight

I've been to Milwaukee and yes, most of the area I saw was a shithole. I stopped two places to ask for directions. At the convenience store I was propositioned my a mid 40's crackhead with no teeth that would suck me off for 5 dollars because she hadn't ever had a white boy recently. The second was what I believe to be a small chop shop. They were actually cool and all and probably could not believe that I stopped there to get directions, but I sure as heck wasn't going to ask the dudes standing on the corners.

Feel sorry for the kid.

I am not saying it is an excuse, I am just pointing out that there are legitimate reasons for the situation to be as it is.

1) ID != Drivers License (and reliable vehicle)
2) It is not only the presence of the bus stop, but the routes necessary. For example, I live 10 miles North of downtown Milwaukee where I work. I am lucky in that the the one bus line right in front of my apartment just happens to stop 10 miles away directly in front of my office. Most are not so lucky. It is common to have to change buses 2-3 times, taking over an hour each way to/from your destination. That kind of travel time is not always feasible.
2a) Same applies to roommate
3) Fair enough, but what do you do with the large percentage of the population that has been incarcerated after they are released? The problem does not just go away.
4) Common skills needed that these people don't have are: How to fill out and understand a job application (both print and electronic), teamwork skills, etc. While these are all basic to every one of us they are NOT present in the entire population.