commentary by Patrick H. Moore
The Elliott Rodger massacre in Isla Vista, California is a shocking example of what can happen when an angry young man who conspicuously lacks the milk of human kindness runs amuck with a gun. The coastal California college town will never be the same and we – as a society – are floored by the fact that due to cutbacks, regulations, inertia and just plain bad luck, these disturbing incidents keep happening with numbing regularity.
The Rodger massacre was on Friday night. Two nights later and a continent away in Little Haiti, FLA, near Miami, two young high-spirited boys lie dead of gunshot wounds, not from any thorough-going malevolence on the part of the shooter, 14-year-old Stephen Odeus, but rather because the lad, in an act of wanton immaturity, pulled out a gun and shot his beloved brother, 16-year-old Stanley Blanc, because Stanley was adamant about wanting to borrow some of Stephen’s clothes for a dress-up event.
Immediately after shooting his brother, Stephen appeared to grasp the enormity of his mistake. In any event, he reportedly ran across the parking lot and shot himself, following his brother to wherever dead folks go.
Stephen and Stanley’s older brother, Mark Blanc, witnessed the double-barreled tragedy; in fact, in an attempt at peace-making, he initially broke up the fight but then it flared up again.
Lydia Warren of the Daily Mail writes:
He (Mark Blanc) then watched in horror as Stephen pulled out a gun and shot his brother once as they stood in the hallway…
Right before my eyes my brother just shot my other brother,’ Mark told CBS4.
‘You think it’s just going to be a regular fight,’ he added to WSVN. ‘Just the usual fight, you know, it’s about something small, and then it escalates into a death. It’s the world we live in.’
As is so often the case with gunshot wounds, the boys were rushed to a hospital but nothing could be done and they were pronounced dead.
Gaby Fleischman of CBS Miami writes that officials have stated that the shooting occurred just after 11 p.m. near NE 71st Street and 2nd Avenue in Little Haiti.
“It started off as a small petty argument over clothes that escalated into a fight,” said Marc Blanc, the victims’ brother.
“Stanley wanted to wear Steven’s clothes, Steven didn’t want him to,” said Kedner Louis, a family friend.
“Right before my eyes my brother just shot my other brother. I heard my second brother die because he shot himself.”
‘You never expect it to get to that point.”
Mark said that he had never seen his brother with a gun before and thinks he got it from a neighbor. He also said his mother has not stopped crying since the shootings.
Stephen Odeus was scheduled to graduate from Horace Mann Middle School in El Portal on Tuesday. No middle-schooler should die of a gunshot wound, even if it is self-inflicted.
Neighbors were shocked at the passing of the boys, whom they termed “inseparable”. The neighbors also pointed out that the boys had always been respectful young people and good neighbors.
On Monday evening, the community came together for a candle light vigil to remember the teenage brothers.
Two memorials with teddy bears and balloons were set up at the spots where the boy lives’ ended, and dozens of family members, friends and neighbors voiced their prayers.
“I feel like a part of me is missing.. they were like little brothers to me,” said Tyquane Williams, a friend of both boys. “I love Y’all, you will always be in my heart and I will never forget y’all.”
Marc Blanc said he feels grief and guilt and wishes he could have done more to help his brothers.
“I’ve been crying a lot. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and I want people to know, love your kids, love one another, don’t sweat the small stuff.”
* * * * *
Based on what is currently being reported, Stephen Odeus was far from a cruel or heartless child. He and his deceased brother Stanley Blanc appear to have been dedicated followers of fashion, which is normally probably better than obsessing on drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, they got into what was apparently a very heated argument on Sunday evening over who was going to wear what.
If Stephen Odeus had not obtained the handgun from an unidentified source, both brothers would almost undoubtedly still be alive. Without the gun, Stephen’s hot-headed moment would have probably blown over. But he had the gun and as a result, both brothers are dead, and a mother’s heart is broken.