Brent_Campbell's Blog

"The most tragic case I have seen in many, many years."  Those are the words I heard an attorney representing 21 year old Dakota Doster say as he wrapped up his case in court today.  I have to agree. As the family of 14 year old Terion Frazier wailed in sorrow, it was emotionally draining to listen to the court proceedings.  The man pleading guilty to shooting someone he called a friend was soft spoken and obviously frightened for his future.  Doster's attorney told the court,  Terion and he liked to play videogames often. As I listened it was hard not to see the scene in my mind, two "buddies" playing a game talking trash as one begins to edge the other one out.  It's a scene I am sure many have lived time and time again. But what I couldn't grasp, is before that game, finding a gun and carrying into a friends house and suddenly puling the trigger.  Why?  Did Dakota not realize it was loaded? Did he think it wouldn't really fire?  Did he think it was a toy? Did he understand what having a gun with him and pulling the trigger really meant?  Did he know the gun's power? Those are questions the court did not answer today.  Ones I would never attempt to answer. Questions I am sure Terion's mother will ask many times over. Answers that only Dakota has and will continue to ponder as he spends the next 14 to 18 years behind bars.

   As I wrap up coverage on this story I walk away pondering those questions too.  Seeing two families, two friends, and dozens of lives torn apart by one moment is not easy to witness.  What was great to see was a hurting mother, who now is making a plea to other teens.  Using her pain, to share some advice. Messages many teens should likely hear so their mother isn't put through such a nightmare. In tears,  Lakenya Frazier asked teens to put down the guns.  She says, If you find one  give it to an adult.  Respect its power and never think its a toy.  Understand a gun's power  because in one split second misused and misunderstood, a gun can change and end lives forever. I think many would argue, that's solid advice in a world where it seems senseless deaths and robberies at the mercy of a gun lead our newscasts everyday.  

"The most tragic case I have ever seen." A young man pleading guilty, accepting the blame and the punishment for an afternoon with his friend. An afternoon that may not have happened had a gun never been found.  Two buddies who probably could have never guessed their videogame that March afternoon, would end one year later with one buried and one going to jail for several years to come.