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Aug. 25, 2005 On Monday, 23-year-old Timothy Johnson was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Brett Harman, a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and first-degree murder in the death of Harman’s childhood friend, Kevin McCann, an insurance broker who lived in Chicago. Harman and McCann were shot in a parking lot outside Carter-Finley Stadium, where the NC State Wolfpack was hosting the Richmond Spiders, some time after tangling with Tony Johnson, Timothy’s 21-year-old brother, who was driving recklessly, while intoxicated, among tailgaters in the parking lot. Despite the pleas of Wake County prosecutors, who won a home-invasion case against Timothy Johnson earlier this year and were seeking the death penalty in this case, the jury recommended life in prison. Tony Johnson is scheduled to be tried in October for his part in the murders. The deaths of Brett Harman and Kevin McCann are a sobering reminder of just how big a factor alcohol can be, behind the wheel or with a gun in hand. Their deaths should also serve as a wakeup call that we are promised nothing beyond today, and that we need to make the most of each day we have. Brett Harman should be leading troops in Iraq right now. He was only 23 when his life was taken. Kevin McCann should be brokering insurance right now. He, too, was only 23. They accomplished a lot in their short lives, but we’ll never know how much more they could have done. The same can also be said for Timothy and Tony Johnson. Their lives as free men are over. They have lost their opportunity to be productive members of society. Justice, then, has been served, without the additional loss of human life. College football season will be starting soon. That means tailgating and post-game festivities all over the country. Enjoy the fellowship of friends, enjoy the excitement of the games, and above all, for those who choose to enjoy alcoholic beverages, please do so responsibly. Three families have already suffered greatly because that responsibility was not met. ------------ About the author: Claxton Graham has written a number of articles for Useless Knowledge. He works as a business systems analyst. Email: scifiwriter8502@email.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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