Blessings to all of you for your kindesses. So many good thoughts from folks who agree and disagree with me. I have to respond to Meteor Blades' question and also, won't name one of our sisters, but what I meant by "mercy."
My cousin, Michael was shot -- by a cop. My cousin was 65, white Irish looking. He's been a schizophrenic since his early 20s (ok, diagnosed then). He had finished college, married had gorgeous twins but things went south. He had an amazing wife -- a woman devoted to his care even after she divorced him to get on with her life.
Michael threatened people -- with seriously dangerous weapons. Won't get into the list. His father had to file for a restraining order which we all knew was ludicrous because his son would have no idea what that meant.
Fast forward decades of commitments to psychiatric hospitals, half way houses, homelessness, being a tiny example of Republicans' view of America. Michael truly was getting more dangerous.
911 called because he was threatening strangers with a very serious bowie knife. Two officers arrived. Within seconds they asked for EMT and psych backup. By all accounts, one officer talked Michael away from the folks he threatened. He kept talking, calmly, respectfully. He asked about his family. He asked if he would like to go to the hospital. Absolute de-escalation but Michael was hearing in his head what Michael was hearing.
The officer told everyone else to back off, turn off all the flashing lights and kept talking and talking. Then Michael rushed him with the knife blade forward at full speed. The officer shot him.
Our family has reached out to the officer because he is devastated. He is a good man. Did everything right. Sometimes horrible things happen because maybe it became time for horrible things to happen. Could he have used a taser? I don't know -- my cousin is a big guy with a knife. We do not blame the police officer -- we blame our system for not caring enough about the mentally ill.
So, my answer, which won't be popular, but discussed within the family is -- this was a mercy. No other mentally ill person deserves abuse or death but our thoughts were that Michael figured -- it is too much, it is time to finish 40 years of hell. We may be wrong but we only blame the political system which has allowed people like Michael to live in hell most of their lives. To live on the streets while in hell.
And of course, nothing in the media because, boonies, homeless person, etc. No video footage just oral accounts by folks who had no skin in the game of twisting the facts. We're actually glad. We took out our pictures of him from happier times when he was just an adorable kid, a newly wed.
I only am writing this to honor my cousin, respect the police officer and talk about mercy which can happen in the worst kinds of ways.
Peace and blessings to all who suffer unnecessarily.