Let me tell you a little bit about one of those 88 souls who died Thursday (Dec. 17). His name was Zaevion Dobson, and he lived in Knoxville, Tenn.
Zaevion was only 15 years-old.
The kid they called ‘Zae’ was killed by some deranged fools who decided it would be a good idea to go on a shooting spree Thursday. It’s a damn shame that events like this are so common place in America, that it is not even a really big deal…..unless the shooter is Muslim.
Police reports say Dobson, a sophomore who played on his high school football team, was sitting on a porch with three friends in Knoxville when three men approached them, and began to open fire.
In an act of courage, Dobson covered his friends, three young ladies, as the men fired shots. He shielded them from taking any hits. Tragically, he was fatally injured in the incident. All three of the young ladies survived the shooting, thanks in large part to Dobson’s heroics.
Police still aren’t sure why the men went on the shooting spree, but they think it may be gang-related.
This is a loss on so many levels. It’s a devastating loss to Dobson’s family, and his friends, classmates and teammates. It’s a loss to our society. Those who knew Zae well said that he was a young man who had dreams and aspirations of doing something special with his life. He was considered a leader at his school, even though he was only a sophomore. Clearly, his character and courage were of the highest degree. In a time of danger, he did not think about himself. He thought others, and literally sacrificed his life so others could live.
Consider, that young Mr. Dobson is just one of 88. There were 87 other stories that day, all with different circumstances, and different reasons, and all tragic in their own way.
It should mean something to know at least one of the 88 was a hero. But then we think, he shouldn’t have to be a hero at that age. He should get to be a kid, and work towards fulfilling his dreams. The death of Zae Dobson is a tragedy. And what adds to that tragedy is it will be played out 88 times today, tomorrow, the next day, the day after that, the next week, the next month and the next year….It won’t stop, until we demand that it stops.
Linked below is more on the shooting and the life of Zae Dobson.
