$10 and a cell phone
October 20th, 2009
October 19th, 2009
September 16th, 2009
September 15th, 2009
A cell phone and $10.
For that a life has been lost, the life of 16-year-old Napa resident Jesus Tornero.
A family is devastated.
Students at Napa High School are grieving.
A community has had its sense of safety dissolve into the haze of random violence.
A street corner has a wreath to memorialize a soul that was down here with us just a few short hours ago.
All that loss, for $10 and a cell phone.
On Monday night, Tornero died. On Wednesday morning, making quick work of things, Napa police acted on a tip and brought two males in for questioning. One is 16 years old, the other 23.
The two confessed to the crime, according to police.
The criminal court system will mete out justice according to the laws of this land and with due process for the defendants. They remain innocent until proven guilty, and we trust our justice system to work fairly and effectively.
But the deeper question is why any life ends over such meager gain, with such a senseless act.
There is no satisfactory answer.
Here in Napa, we must remember our good fortune. This type of crime is an everyday occurrence in some cities. While families and friends in any community are scarred forever by such a tragedy, residents of bigger, more dangerous cities shrug their shoulders and move on.
For them, there is no other choice.
Here, we rarely see this kind of violence, and for that we are fortunate.
After Monday’s attack, someone who knew what happened told police. We are grateful for that person’s honesty and bravery.
We are grateful the police acted swiftly.
Jesus Tornero is not here to share in our gratitude. His family will take no solace in the relative safety we enjoy in the city of Napa. Our heart goes out to his family members.
Jesus Tornero gone. For $10 and a cell phone.
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merri wrote on Sep 25, 2008 8:47 AM:
Wake up we have had more stabbings, deaths, bodies floating around, drive bys, cult murders and gang activity. Pretty much all this in a year or so. How are we fortunate. I have to lock my car and home. Never had to do that. I have a lock on my gas cap and spot lights on at night. Never had to do that. Installed an alarm system after two breakins on my block. Never had to do that. Get a life and pull your head from the sand. Napa is in trouble. "
G-towner wrote on Sep 25, 2008 10:09 AM:
justnana wrote on Sep 25, 2008 10:36 PM: