Murder

Earlier today, I stood on a spot near where I live.

The sun shown bright in a clear, blue sky as a 

strong wind blew snow across the landscape,

very much like sand across barren desert dunes.

Last winter, an entire section of townhomes was burned 

to the ground due to the carelessness of a tenant.

The remains were recently torn down, leaving

an empty scar in this poor neighborhood.

I've walked that stretch of the neighborhood 

too many times to count over the years and, 

seeing the chain link fence surrounding 

the site is disappointing, to say the least.

Most disheartening, though, was to know that 

on Wednesday night, a sixteen-year-old boy had been 

shot twice in the chest, and left to die in the dirty, 

frozen slush in the gutter across the street 

from the barren lot. Sayyid Abdul-Haqq was a

sophomore at Speedway High School. He took his 

schoolwork seriously and, when not in the

SHS library, could most often be found at the

town's library. His young nephew looked up to him,

saying he wanted to be like his uncle, to go to

school. Here was a boy with a goal, 

who inspired his family, but who met 

his death alone in the cold gutter.

He was on his way home from the store.

Given the weather, he was probably returning from 

the convenience store a couple blocks away.

This is a poor neighborhood, where people often 

have to juggle between which bills will be

paid - heat? Phone? Electric? Will there be money

for food? Gas for the car? If he went to the store

for milk, did the person who shot him see

he got change from a $10 bill?

Indeed, did he even have that much?

This is not a neighborhood of people who have

money, but one where a bit of small change

can seem like a windfall.

Nor is this a unique story, but it sure as hell

is new to Sayyid's family, whose hearts are broken.

The temperatures are dropping and it will be very cold

during the coming week, but right now

 the only colder place on Earth is the heart 

of whoever pulled the trigger.

***
Anyone with information related
to the murder of Sayyid Abdul-Haqq
can contact Crime Stoppers at 262-TIPS, 
or text INDYCS with their tip. 
You may also contact the 
Speedway Police Department 
directly at 246-4300. 
All information will remain anonymous.