The Williams case
Thanks for your thoughtful comments about the progress of the Darrent Williams case (“Slow but steady progress on gang murders,” Aug. 14). Although No. 27 was not a “patient person,” being rather one of the “feistiest” football players in Denver Broncos history, I think Williams would appreciate the steady ongoing efforts to use his tragic death to solve 11 murders and more.
Without a doubt, the Williams murder brought Denver gang activity to the attention of many people who previously had been inattentive. Most of us looked the other way so long as gang members were perceived as victimizing one another. Thanks for the perspective.
Steve Schweitzberger, Littleton
It's not a matter of "looking the other way." It's a matter of that world not being a part of my world by my conscious decisions. Why would I go anywhere as dangerous as that? Yes, it's a tragedy what happened, but it was totally avoidable, and no one seems to mention that. If you are going to enter the gang world (and that's what they did that night--they went to a club and they got into a verbal spat with gang members) then you very well may pay the price. Personally, I wouldn't go near a club that might have gang members in it, and I certainly wouldn't feel the need to prove my manliness by arguing with them.
The murder was senseless and stupid, but not surprising. At least not any more--gang members have shown how little they value human life so often, you cannot plead ignorance anymore. If you are going to hang out with them, argue with them, or do anything else to put yourself in their world, then you'd better know the stakes.
The only thing worse than living by the sword and dying by the sword, is dying by the sword when all along you've just been pretending to live by the sword.
One last thing, for all their preaching about family, how many Broncos players or staff took a moment to visit DW's grave while the team was staying nearby in Texas? According to the RMN story last weekend, the answer is none. Zero. But, hey, enjoy the season, bronco fans.
Posted by shaupeen on August 23, 2007 12:31 PM