This is a local news story that only brings sadness and pain to the reader, until one reads the part of the victim’s mother who doesn’t blame the accused, and suggests her daughter death is not ‘in vain’; rather, a loss that will promote awareness of teenage mental health issues. Now, regardless of what you may think of the accused’s actions, you can’t help but agree with the victim’s mother in promoting a higher understanding of an otherwise desparate and unpardonable act.

Kids kill kids by accident and, yes, on purpose. Some seem to understand the concept of death, and others can’t grasp it’s finality and unnecessary tragedy. We are reminded by this case of another occurring in 2011 with a then 12 year old in Fort Lauderdale, Florida who killed a 6 year old, asserting it accidentally happened while imitating pro wrestling moves. Another in the UK by a couple of older children who beat to death a toddler in Liverpool, and later released by law enforcement in giving them ‘new identities’. Whatever the circumstance, society bears the responsibility of both protecting itself from the outside-in while it looks at ways to make itself safer from the inside-out; meaning, providing treatment to it’s citizens in need.

In my assessment of this young man in Santa Cruz, I wonder how many others like him are out there needing help from those adults who can direct them to resources. I am happy to say that I have helped a number of pre-criminal and criminal teenage and child offenders find the treatment programs that work successfully with kids fitting this profile. There are a number of us ‘professionals’ out there willing to listen and direct families to resources that can help. If you are a parent, a teacher, a caregiver, a law enforcer, don’t hesitate in helping a teen get treatment. It starts with a call.