OT: Former Rutgers FB Player from Michigan Charged with Murder

Submitted by FauxMo on
Not sure if this has been brought up here, but a former Rutgers player from Grand Blanc has been charged with murder (here in Michigan) in what looks like a drug-related revenge killing. I'm FB "friends" with a few former UM players that know him and they're pretty broken up about it. Sounds like a classic case of "good kid making horrible decisions". https://articles.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2017/08/former_star_foo…

FauxMo

August 8th, 2017 at 11:47 AM ^

In no way am I defending this guy; I don't know him at all. But what I can see from the social media environment, this is a case where just about everyone is saying, "Oh my God, I cannot believe this. Such a good guy. Could this be a mistake?" That kind of thing... So just to be clear, if he's tried and convicted and found guilty, he desires life in prison (if it was truly premeditated, etc.). It just sounds like it may have been a decent kid who somehow fell off the straight and narrow very quickly. 

youn2948

August 8th, 2017 at 10:33 AM ^

Torn, should have finished his education, he did try to support his son but sounds like in the worst way possible.

 

Baby momma drama, don't get anyone pregnant until you can provide for them, or college is over.

Michigan Zag

August 8th, 2017 at 10:51 AM ^

Went to high school with the young man, even had a class with him. Everyone from the community is in shock, he really did seem like a nice, hard working guy growing up. Just another example a few bad choices and decisions ruining lives. 

Dayday

August 8th, 2017 at 10:52 AM ^

I've always had a hard time feeling bad for people who make bad decisions. I think, "You did it to yourself." Murder is something serious. I hope he atones for it. I hope the family of the victim can find forgiveness. I hope the victim rests on peace. His earthly life is ruined. Society never forgives murder.

Vengeful Barbarian

August 8th, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^

just what exactly is a good person though? Everyone can be good sometimes and bad other times, which is why people always say things like "so and so was a good kid". I don't believe anyone is absolutely good or absolutely bad, and it doesn't help to think in absolute terms. That said though, ending someones life is the worst thing you can do. 

Aged Wolverine 68

August 8th, 2017 at 11:15 AM ^

With Sr. He was a good guy. Served in military. We are friended on FB, but havent spoke in yrs. As a parent, I could only imagine the horror of it all.

 

Doesnt matter what the dad is like. If a child kills, they have to pay the penalty for taking a life. Wish it hadnt happened. Best wishes to those who have had family members killed(said pay back murder).

URNotGuilty

August 8th, 2017 at 8:43 PM ^

Went to Flint SW with his Father, Class of 1986. His Dad is a Friend, and Former Teammate. I ran into L n LJ shortly before Rutgers, Dad was so happy and proud. When I first learned of shooting, and that a former Rutgers player was purportedly implicated, I cringed, I knew who it was. Another senseless death, more wasted lives, another chapter in Flints notorious history. This makes me very upset sad for all involved.

Aged Wolverine 68

August 9th, 2017 at 8:29 AM ^

We sure did have some great people around us back at SW. Of all the teachers, I would give the nod to Mrs Berent as best in the school. 

 

Races got along pretty well. The kids had parents that benefitted from GM, even if not directly, money flowed in the city.

 

Fast forward to what is going on in Flint today, and it makes me sick to think of. So many schools shut down, or in Codys case, tore down. A guy I grew up with now teaches military kids at Gitmo for DOD...kept getting layed off yearly working for Flint schools, and couldnt get his time in.

 

Unsure if you are handling Jrs defense, but for Srs sake, I hope the police got the wrong guy in this instance.

 

Evan

Njia

August 8th, 2017 at 12:21 PM ^

But "a good kid who made 'bad decisions'" has to be one of the stupidest phrases in the English language. 

Starting a food fight in the school cafeteria is a "bad decision." Deciding to double-up on smoking if you're pregnant, have heart disease, or lung cancer is a "bad decision."

Murdering someone in a revenge killing is a decision that gets you the death penalty in some states.

Perkis-Size Me

August 8th, 2017 at 12:48 PM ^

He explains in another article attached to the link how he wants to give his son the world and how his son should never have to want for anything. That'll be tough to accomplish for your son when you're doing 25 to life behind bars. 

I don't think this is a "good kid making horrible decisions." A good kid making horrible decisions would be vandalizing cars, skipping classes, TP'ing houses, etc. Murdering a man in cold blood goes well beyond that.

I hope he finds a way to atone, as he'll have a lot of time to think about how he can do that when he's sitting inside a jail cell. But not only has he ruined his life, but he's the victim's life and that victim's family. He's ruined his son's life, who will now have to grow up without a father (presumably without a mother too since Liston had full custody). He's ruined his whole family's life. 

What a waste.....

Year of Revenge II

August 8th, 2017 at 1:30 PM ^

Don't know enough about the case yet, but your description of "good kid making horrible decisions" is somewhat generous to him if he is guilty and eventually convicted of murder.  

Revenge killing is not exactly the calling card of good character.

Don

August 8th, 2017 at 2:39 PM ^

"Liston was in the doghouse repeatedly during his sophomore season. He was held out of the first two practices of training camp last summer because he failed the preseason conditioning test. Then, he was suspended for the fourth game of the season for failing to meet the team's study hall requirements. And Liston clashed with linebackers coach Bob Fraser numerous times last season, according to a person with knowledge of the situation."

Not buying the "good kid" description to begin with. To borrow a phrase from Don Brown, Liston's arrow has been pointing downward for quite a while.

Honk if Ufer M…

August 8th, 2017 at 2:58 PM ^

I don't know or care anything about the details or truth of this case or this person, but using your kind of "evidence" of character you'd describe Serpico as the bad guy!

Just because people clash with or have trouble with others doesn't automatically mean they're the bad guy.

If you try to be honest, to make sense, to care about justice, to speak out or stand up to or against bad rules or laws, unfair enforcement or treatment, or bullies, racists, exploiters, demagogues, fascists etc. you will have all kinds of trouble with all kinds of assholes and be accused of all kinds of bullshit.

Not that any of that applies in this case, I have no idea and I doubt it, but your reasoning is horrible.

UM Griff

August 8th, 2017 at 6:35 PM ^

To make good decisions, and he threw them away. He has now made the worst decision of all, that of taking another person's life. There is no way to atone for this.

Hard-Baughlls

August 8th, 2017 at 8:52 PM ^

partnership is coming to fruition.  Meyer seems to just bring out that killer instinct in players.