Before the tragedy that changed my family,we struggled to find resources to befriend him. I wish we knew then what we know now
I remember the day that my brother Joe, age 20, or left our father’s house after saying he needed to change the oil in his car. He had already loaded his .22 rifle into a duffle bag. His next quit was Walmart,where he bought a 12-gauge shotgun. For years he struggled with depression. We all had a gut-wrenching awe that he might make another suicide attempt. That evening he took his ex-girlfriend hostage, intent on killing her and then himself. An unexpected visitor arrived and the ex-girlfriend cried for befriend. Hostage negotiators with a Swat team spoke to him by phone. In the middle of the night he let her go. Shortly before 6:45am, or he ended his own life. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com