Senseless, Sad
 

The picture circulating on local news outlets shows a bedraggled, roadworn young man; still handsome and a bit boyish, but one who has seen better days. The picture is clearly a mug shot, testifying to the apparent downward spiral his life had taken since last we talked.

When he worked installing fireplaces for my employer, he was on a rebound...largely sober, reconciling with the mother of his young child, reliable and capable at the job he held. He always had a winning way, a certain charm that oozed through even the occasional hangover. He had worked for us in the past, before I came on board, but left to pursue another line of work. When it didn't pan out, he landed back with us, doing what he'd always done well, and making good money at it. His run with us came to an end one day when, while driving through Knobtown, a KCMO police officer pulled him over in our company truck because he had a flat rear dually...something one might not even notice if they were driving the box trucks we run.

That would have been no problem except that, when the officer asked him to step out of the truck, a cascade of beer cans rained out behind him. It was especially inconvenient for us when he was hauled off to jail, because we had to recover the truck on short notice before the police towed it. The friend that was riding with him had to find his own way home for himself, and for Todd's daughter, who, inexplicably, was also along for the repair run he was doing for us.

That didn't leave us much alternative but to let him go, but we still hired him as an independent contractor to service the last of our fireplace warranties as we got out of that part of the business. Every now and again, he'd come nosing around to see if there was any other opportunity for him on our staff. My boss liked him...everyone liked him. He just had that way about him.

We hadn't heard much from him for a while. You just assume that people have found some other way, and you hope for the best for them. What you don't expect to hear is that something catastrophic, shocking and painful has happened to them.

Early this morning, Todd Weber's difficult life came to an end when, following a low speed chase by police, he bailed out of his disabled vehicle, and fired a weapon at police officers. Four officers returned fire, and Todd died in the vicinty of 435 and Front St.

I pray he finds peace, and I am thankful that no one else was injured in his passing.

http://www.kmbc.com/news/kansas-city...z/-/index.html

My deepest sympathies to you and to your friend, Els.

How very sad, indeed.

I don't know what else to say-----I'm just so sorry this happened.

That is a very sad story Els. I wish I'd not read it to be honest. His poor daughter. :(

I'm sorry, Els.

People choose to do some stupid shit and they have no idea the mess they leave behind. I am so sorry Els :(

You all know by now that I deal with my internal feelings about such things by externalizing them in words. I wasn't terribly close to Todd, but I did like him very much as a person. I felt badly when he had troubles - self inflicted or not - and I always wished that I could have helped him somehow. Thanks, as always, for allowing me to vent.

I'm sorry, Els.

That sucks Elspode. Sorry man.

Damn. Sorry bud.

sorry you are hurting. don't really know what to say

Vent away, good man.
You are one of the best people I know. I can't live up to your standards, but if there was a WWED band I would wear it.

Obviously he had a problem larger than alcohol. So many people fall though the cracks.
Taking a shot at the cops is suicide. Maybe that's what he intended. :(

It sounds like it. Chilling. Very sad. Sorry, Els.

I ran his court records today. I expected a whole string of bad stuff, but honestly, it wasn't something that I would have expected to make a guy desperate enough to shoot at a cop. A couple of financial judgements, a DUI 13 years ago, and a DUI/Misdemeanor possession of pot last June that was still apparently being adjudicated.

News reports said that the chase never exceeded 35 mph, even on the freeways. He was towing a utility trailer behind his truck. All I can figure is he was fucked up and finally said "screw it all" when the cop tried to pull him over. I mean, he had a gun, maybe he was holding (reports don't say) and he was almost certainly drunk and or stoned on something or other. I think Suicide by Cop pretty much nails it. That's *two* friends of mine in the same decade who took that route. At least this one didn't take anyone else with him like the other guy did.

a LOT of suicides (even by cop) are the result of being drunk/high.

i know you know this; but he probably WAS drunk or high so not in his right mind at all.