INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indianapolis metropolitan police said a man died after a shooting in downtown Indianapolis early Thursday morning, marking the city's 100th murder of 2017.
Police found the victim with gunshot wounds on the sidewalk beneath the underpass at South Meridian Street just north of South Street. He was identified as Johnny Woods, 34.
Who just shoots somebody? Why are these young men so scared they need to arm themselves? And most of us ask: How can they bring themselves to kill another human being?As intricate and individual as each person's life story may be, distinct patterns come to light when psychologists study those who commit violent acts—a couple of those are:
1. People that are abused, neglected or witness violent acts as children can become self protective to the point of lacking empathy for others. They may be very afraid of being hurt themselves, but don't feel anything about hurting someone else.
That's a psychopath. According to researchers, the rate of psychopathy is 23% higher in a prison population than in the general public.
2. Violent television programing (actually aimed at children) and violent video games do much more damage than most people want to admit. These vicious games make kids less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, more fearful of the world around them and, more likely to behave aggressively.
Fifteen years of research bears that out and police reports indicate that violent video games are repeatedly found in the homes of those arrested for murderous attacks. Get it? It's a game to kill a person and you get points for doing it.
Johnny Woods' murder is the 100th of the year. By this time last year, IMPD had investigated 110 murders, so I guess that means we're doing a little better than last year.
But what about the neglected child at home right now with an abusive father, or drug-addicted mother? What about the kid whose parents pay no attention to him, the kind of television he watches or the games he plays? Will he be fodder for someone's bullet next year? Or perhaps the shooter?
What about the child who is unwanted? Will mom choose to find a home that can train and sustain that child? Sometimes people give more thought to whether or not they should get a dog than if they should have children. These miracles of God must be valued more highly.
Children are the treasures of our future. They should be nurtured and guided in wisdom, mentored and corrected with love. To be an adult in a child's life is the opportunity to bring about greatness. It is the one job we have that can truly touch eternity.
Throughout Indianapolis, good people are engaged in helping at-risk youth. If you know a child who needs intervention or a parent who needs support, contact your church or one of the links to agencies below. You might just save a life.
Peace,
Nancy
