Teens fight, one killed, Cedar and Warwick

[hauntmeister.livejournal.com]

Yikes, this is scary! As I was reading the story, it kept getting literally closer and closer to home. This happened roughly where the bike path meets Cedar St, at 11:00 PM Thursday.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/07/03/teen_dies_after_fight_on_somerville_street/

Comments

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

Mood echoed.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

And the moral of this story is, if you see a fight happening, go and call 911 - do not try and break it up or get involved.

Is that the moral?

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the moral is more of a reminder to pay exquisite attention to the the micro-details of how we manifest our involvement (safe distance, etc), rather than a warning to to entirely hand off the management of what happens in our neighborhoods to 'the authorities'? Prisoners-in-one's-own-home are still prisoners....

Re: Is that the moral?

[hauntmeister.livejournal.com]

Note that the dead and injured are teens walking down the bike path who joined in the fight. On the other hand, the police seem to have apprehended everybody involved, and the injured got medical attention. I assume this is because someone called 911 while the fight was going on.

You're welcome to "pay exquisite attention to the the micro-details." I, on the other hand, am going to keep my cell phone ready.

The phrases "entirely hand off the management..." and "Prisoners-in-one's-own-home..." seem to be non-sequitors with nothing in particular to do with what I posted.

Particulars...

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

My comment was not directed at you, but to the comment to which I replied; now I will reply specifically to you. I agree that what happened was purely tragic -- bloodshed and death always are. My concern and priority in situations like this is to minimize this from happening, and consequently to take whatever steps support that goal. You know as well as I do that there is often a far longer lead time for Police to arrive then there is for bystanders to offer assistance in some way. It is something of a symptom of our society that we individuals feel ineffective in our abilities and, as a result, don't act in these moments. Last week a friend of mine had his throat slashed in a carjacking attempt, and the only reason he wasn't subsequently run over by his own car as he lay in a pool of blood was because of bystanders stepping in. I wish to suggest that we don't just stop at the dialing of 911, but consider that often a loud voice or other intervention may work wonders. The more we as individuals connect to what happens in our communities, the better our communities become.

Re: Is that the moral?

[being-homeless.livejournal.com]

I assume this is because someone called 911 while the fight was going on.
hmmmm... I don't actually consider the police in Cambridge or Somerville very reliable... the other day in Somerville I was with a group of people who called the police for a fight (long complicated situation which I don't want to discuss) wherein a restraianing order was involved. it took Somerville Cops 35 minutes to show up. yes, it's an ongoing issue thats happened several times and on several occasions the police came and left without doing much...

A similar situation occurred in Cambridge 2 weeks ago. a fight occurred. the guy walked away. the other guy sat there bleeding all over the place. People walked by the bleeding man and didn't bother to stop. I'm talking like LOTS of blood pouring down his face, all over the sidewalk and onto Mass Ave at 5pm on a Friday afternoon. It took the police nearly 20 minutes to come (I called on my cell) and the police station was only a block in one direction and the fire station two blocks in the other.... Last Summer in the exact same spot on Mass Ave a guy I knew got stabbed in a fight. it took one hour before the police came and he got medical attention. he nearly died... Another friend of mine was raped in the middle of the afternoon in Central Square. She screamed and yet no one called 911. people were around. she walked herself to the police station for help when it was over. he hurt her so bad she had to have surgery....

then I wonder, where are the police when everything is going on???

No, I'm not just complaining. I'm trying to so something about it... I've been at Cambridge City Hall several times recently during public meetings when these issues are being brought up... *sigh*

Re: Is that the moral?

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Well, sure, the guy could have simply chosen not to get involved. But I think alerting the cops would be a better option.

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Yikes!! (This is about 2 blocks from me.)