You won't here much about this story in the popular media. Nevertheless, I think it's an important story for not only gun owners, but all of us. On April 19, just 9 days ago, a 8-yr old white boy was playing in his front yard in Alexandria, Virginia, when he was ambushed by a black man wielding a knife. The attacker slashed the little boy's throat and stabbed him several times. This attack, entirely unprovoked, was witnessed by a workman across the street. He said it was very subtle. The man simply walked up behind the boy, innocently playing in his yard, and did his thing for about 6 seconds. Then casually, the man walked off so he wouldn't be noticed. Check it out. The story was reported in the Washington Post on April 20. The boy's name is Kevin Shifflett of Alexandria, Virginia.
Here is the extract of the April 20 article, Washington Post, April 20. It's always hard to get articles that were printed 1 day only. The article started with the boy's photo from his second grade yearbook.
'Alexandria police this morning stepped up their search for the man who fatally stabbed and slashed an 8-year-old boy who was playing yesterday afternoon in his great grandparents' front yard.
Police described the attack as unprovoked and said the suspect was a stranger to the boy and his family. Kevin Shifflett, a boy described by neighbors and family as polite and courteous, died at the scene. His great-grandmother and a good Samaritan were injured by the attacker as they came to the boy's aid.
Alexandria Police Lt. Ray Hazel, who was leading about two dozen officers going door to door and yard to yard early today, said police had received several tips and were following up on each one.
'A lot hinges on the re-canvass or people hearing about it from the media," Hazel said. Officers handed out "Crime Alerts" in the neighborhood, describing the crime and offering this description of the suspect: A black male, 5-7 to 5-10, medium build, 150-170 pounds, wearing....
Even veteran police officers who worked the search in the Del Ray neighborhood this morning were stunned at the slaying.
"The incident speaks for itself, Hazel said. "It was, as far as we know, a random attack."
Police said the attacker was so casual after he stabbed the boy that he simply walked away from the crime. In fact, the man was so nonchalant that a woman who ran to help the victims didn't even notice him, police said.
As police searched the tidy neighborhood of historic bungalows and newer town homes, neighbors and strangers began to create a makeshift shrine at the site of the stabbing. Azaleas, lilies, stuffed Easter bunnies and lit candles lined the driveway and yard.
Julie Willett, 35, picked some azaleas from her yard to bring to the shrine. "I just wanted to bring something," she said this morning. "I just think it's sad."
Police knew little about the attacker. "He may be here all the time and don't know about him yet," Hazel said.
"Why did he attack him? Why this child? In this neighborhood? On this particular day? We don't know," said Alexandria police Lt. John Crawford. "We do know he's armed and dangerous."
Kevin Shifflett was playing in front of his great-grandmother's house in the 100 block of East Custis Avenue at 3:42 pm yesterday when the man walked up and stabbed the second grader, Crawford said.
Authorities said that the boy's throat was slashed and that he was stabbed several times.... (extract)
The boy's great-grandmother, who was stabbed in the hand when she came out of her house to help Kevin, was taken to Inova Alexandria Hospital.
The good Samaritan was severely injured (extract).....
Kevin, who was visiting his great-grandparents in the neighborhood where he used to live, was described as a courteous child by neighbors there and in Hybla Valley, in southern Fairfax County, where he had moved.
"He comes to the house all the time," said Dallas Hall Sr, who lives near the Shiffletts in Hybla Valley. "He's very well-mannered."
Hall said, and I quote,..
"WHEN HIS FAMILY SERVES COOKIES OR LEMONADE, KEVIN WON'T EAT IT UNTIL HE GOES HOME AND ASKS HIS PARENTS'PERMISSION."
Children played in a cul-de-sac at the end of Kevin's street last night only because the Shiffletts weren't home, Hall said. "Normally, the whole neighborhood congregates at his house every day,"he said.
End
Very sad story. Nevertheless, I just thought you might want to know about it.
Thank You for your time
CleanCut
Here is the extract of the April 20 article, Washington Post, April 20. It's always hard to get articles that were printed 1 day only. The article started with the boy's photo from his second grade yearbook.
'Alexandria police this morning stepped up their search for the man who fatally stabbed and slashed an 8-year-old boy who was playing yesterday afternoon in his great grandparents' front yard.
Police described the attack as unprovoked and said the suspect was a stranger to the boy and his family. Kevin Shifflett, a boy described by neighbors and family as polite and courteous, died at the scene. His great-grandmother and a good Samaritan were injured by the attacker as they came to the boy's aid.
Alexandria Police Lt. Ray Hazel, who was leading about two dozen officers going door to door and yard to yard early today, said police had received several tips and were following up on each one.
'A lot hinges on the re-canvass or people hearing about it from the media," Hazel said. Officers handed out "Crime Alerts" in the neighborhood, describing the crime and offering this description of the suspect: A black male, 5-7 to 5-10, medium build, 150-170 pounds, wearing....
Even veteran police officers who worked the search in the Del Ray neighborhood this morning were stunned at the slaying.
"The incident speaks for itself, Hazel said. "It was, as far as we know, a random attack."
Police said the attacker was so casual after he stabbed the boy that he simply walked away from the crime. In fact, the man was so nonchalant that a woman who ran to help the victims didn't even notice him, police said.
As police searched the tidy neighborhood of historic bungalows and newer town homes, neighbors and strangers began to create a makeshift shrine at the site of the stabbing. Azaleas, lilies, stuffed Easter bunnies and lit candles lined the driveway and yard.
Julie Willett, 35, picked some azaleas from her yard to bring to the shrine. "I just wanted to bring something," she said this morning. "I just think it's sad."
Police knew little about the attacker. "He may be here all the time and don't know about him yet," Hazel said.
"Why did he attack him? Why this child? In this neighborhood? On this particular day? We don't know," said Alexandria police Lt. John Crawford. "We do know he's armed and dangerous."
Kevin Shifflett was playing in front of his great-grandmother's house in the 100 block of East Custis Avenue at 3:42 pm yesterday when the man walked up and stabbed the second grader, Crawford said.
Authorities said that the boy's throat was slashed and that he was stabbed several times.... (extract)
The boy's great-grandmother, who was stabbed in the hand when she came out of her house to help Kevin, was taken to Inova Alexandria Hospital.
The good Samaritan was severely injured (extract).....
Kevin, who was visiting his great-grandparents in the neighborhood where he used to live, was described as a courteous child by neighbors there and in Hybla Valley, in southern Fairfax County, where he had moved.
"He comes to the house all the time," said Dallas Hall Sr, who lives near the Shiffletts in Hybla Valley. "He's very well-mannered."
Hall said, and I quote,..
"WHEN HIS FAMILY SERVES COOKIES OR LEMONADE, KEVIN WON'T EAT IT UNTIL HE GOES HOME AND ASKS HIS PARENTS'PERMISSION."
Children played in a cul-de-sac at the end of Kevin's street last night only because the Shiffletts weren't home, Hall said. "Normally, the whole neighborhood congregates at his house every day,"he said.
End
Very sad story. Nevertheless, I just thought you might want to know about it.
Thank You for your time
CleanCut