Her son died robbing a Pizza Hut. Now she wants the employee who shot him to be charged with a crime

[NaturalHigh]

Temia Hairston’s last conversation with her son was not an easy one. Michael Grace Jr. had been fired from a series of low-paying, unskilled jobs. He had a 4-year-old child and a pregnant girlfriend. Essentially homeless, the 28-year-old was not in a position to take care of anyone, even himself.

His mother didn’t know what he needed more — a motivational speech or tough love.

“He had lost everything. He lost his Pizza Hut job. He lost his primary job. And because he lost his jobs, he lost his car also,” Hairston, of Charlotte, told The Washington Post. “We were talking about baby Michael and I was like, ‘you got to get it together because [the child’s mother] is having to take care of him by herself because you’re not working. I need you to get yourself together and get back on your grind.’ ”

Hairston said she wasn’t sure if her words sunk in. “He was nodding,” she said of the Oct. 29 conversation, “but he had a look on his face like he had nothing left to lose.”

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/her-son-died-robbing-a-pizza-hut-now-she-wants-the-employee-who-shot-him-to-be-charged-with-a-crime/ar-AAk10b5

[CBGLuthier]

2. I remember when i was young and woke up to read about six people who had been killed

by a couple of guys robbing a restaurant. Sorry,for her loss, but fuck her son. He shoved a gun into people's faces and made them fear for their lives. Fuck him.

[Warpy]

27. When I got to the part about his pulling a gun

I knew his mother would be totally out of luck on this one, no matter how tragic her son's story was.

That restaurant in OK wasn't the only robbery/massacre. Here it was a video rental store, 5 people dead.

[leftynyc]

31. My mother had

a gun pointed at her head during a bank robbery. I wish someone had been there to shoot the cretin that did that to her. She's never forgotten how she felt thinking she was going to die with two young children at home.

[Heeeeers Johnny]

42. 22 year old Papa John's employee shot and killed afer complying

For the life of me, I can't understand the mentality of these maggots that they would murder someone
in cold blood for the sake of a couple of hundred dollars or less.

[Eleanors38]

88. Little money. Security cams. The intent was not robbery, but murder for...

street cred, juice. Beware of being herded into walk-ins and backrooms!

[Shrike47]

3. Mothers love their children, even the flawed ones. Sad all around.

[TheDebbieDee]

6. Grief can make a person temporarily insane...

[Jason1961]

7. My heart sank reading her words

While what he did was wrong I think it's obvious he was desperate and desperate people are dangerous people.

I'd like to know more, why did an employee even have a gun with them if the company policy prohibits it?

[Demonaut]

12. because irresponsible idiots ocassionally rob them

fuck that guy.

It happened at a Chuck E Cheese in my neighborhood too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Aurora_shooting


On December 13, 1993, four employees were shot and killed and a fifth employee was seriously injured at a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant in Aurora, Colorado. The perpetrator, 19-year-old Nathan Dunlap, a former employee of the restaurant, was frustrated about being fired from working at the restaurant five months prior to the shooting and sought revenge by committing the attack. He had also fled the scene of the shooting with stolen cash and restaurant items.

[Yo_Mama]

55. Probably because the employee was scared of being killed in a robbery.

It's one of the tragedies of our common life that people risk their lives in low-wage jobs knowing that they may become the victims of violence.

[closeupready]

58. Agreed. Thank you for making that point.

I'd forgotten how that fact sort of steered my life in a different direction.

[deathrind]

11. What...

Has happened to journalism? Why was this even in the article.

"Fast-food workers who have killed robbers in North Carolina have been charged in the past.

In 2007, Donte McFadden walked into a west Charlotte McDonald’s, tapped a gun on the counter and demanded cash, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer. Police say it was part of a scheme he concocted with his cousin — the restaurant’s manager.

McFadden was shot and killed by a McDonald’s worker, Tiemeyer Neshawn Sanders, who was a felon. Sanders was making burgers in the back when the robber walked into the location. He pulled out his own gun and fatally shot McFadden. Later, police charged him with possession of a firearm by a felon."

[closeupready]

13. It's not journalism, or well I guess it's tabloid-style scandal-mongering.

It's actually a very profitable way of generating revenue, but you have to sell your soul to make it work. Some people are willing to do that.

[Warpy]

28. Possession of a gun by a felon

but not murder or even manslaughter.

If the shooter in the OP was a felon with a firearm, he'll get charged also, but not with the death of the armed robber.

[deathrind]

29. Right.

That was my point. Using it as an example showing a precedent resulting in a charge for self defense when the charge has nothing to do with self defense lacks integrity and is shoddy journalism.

[procon]

14. Grief can become toxic when people can't work through the pain

of losing a loved one, and then they lash out at others. They are vulnerable and their precarious mental state leaves them open to exploitation. Look at that poor woman who lost her son at Benghazi and is now being used by Trump to blame Hillary for his death.

[closeupready]

16. And people think I'm harsh. I have nothing on people who look at him

and say figuratively, 'ha! I'm glad you're dead!'

He may have been a good son gone bad, and if so, that's why he ended up this way. I'm sad for her, but it's just how it goes, IMO, but I don't relish that fact.

[hollowdweller]

19. He should have just sold his gun. Probably would have got more than robbing Pizza hut.

[snooper2]

33. and not buy shit like Air Jordans

but we gotta look cool first right!

[Marr]

23. So she'd like to ruin the life of the person her criminal son finally crashed into?

Maybe they should sue her for such bad parenting.

Seriously, any parent who comes into a scene like this after the fact to blame everyone but their precious child is showing you exactly how that kid ended up that way.

[Travis_0004]

26. Hopefully the judge will throw out the lawsuit and charge her for court cost.

[ileus]

30. Life is worth defending....everywhere.

[Upin]

38. It was when he was killed while threatening another life...

[Mr Dixon]

34. SMH

I have no words, this entire situation could have been avoided with a little common sense it is not a good idea to rob anyone or and franchise, yes I understand grief but this was his own fault.

[Takket]

35. Can't blame this woman for being emotional and upset her son died

But wanting charges against the person that defending himself when his life was threatened is victim blaming pure and simple.

I think the mom will accept that eventually.

[hollowdweller]

36. Well in one way if you rob something you shouldn't have the death penalty.

However in my opinion you take something armed or by threat of violence you will deserve whatever you get.

[Heeeeers Johnny]

40. His two accomplices shold be charged with felony murder

[beachbum bob]

51. she should have done a better job...just saying...a robber gets what ever comes their way. period

[Yo_Mama]

52. When you commit armed robbery, you are threatening to kill the victims to make them comply.

Sadly, in all too many cases victims who comply are still killed.

Grief has driven this woman crazy, but the rest of us are not doing her any favor if we do not give her a strong "No".

No one has the right to threaten another human being with death or injury and be protected by the law when the victim of that threat responds with deadly force. That includes her son.

When you commit an armed robbery, the police are perfectly justified in shooting you during the commission of it, and so is anyone else. Her thinking may be part of the reason that her son did this stupid and fatal thing. There is no kindness in even being silent in the face of her irrationality.

It is understandable that she would be in agony, and we can sympathize with her grief, but not to the point of seeming to let this pass.

[Dawson Leery]

53. The employee had the right to defend himself.

[geek tragedy]

56. grief does terrible things to the mind nt

[Blue_Tires]

67. Not all that shocking to see a mother defend her kid

I've seen much, much worse examples of this...

[Tarc]

80. Sorry that anyone had to lose their life here

but, you pull a gun on someone while commiting a crime, that's the way it goes...

[aikoaiko]

83. This is why Stand Your Ground laws are important.

Unless there is evidence of some wrongdoing outside of the action of shooting the robber with a gun, this case should be dismissed immediately and the plaintiff charged the defendant's defense and court costs.