How Come Some People Shoot Other People?

Yesterday, a 34-year-old man was sentenced to 12–15 years in state prison for shooting a state trooper in Springfield, MA, which is where I happen to live. The trooper survived his wound because he was hit by a stray shot in the leg when he responded to a report about two guys fighting in the street and one of the combatants pulled out and shot a gun at the other guy.

The shooter, a black guy named Chris Gardner, was convicted of the following crimes: armed assault to murder (2 counts), assault and battery on a police officer, assault with a dangerous weapon (2 counts), carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.

Seven felony charges and the guy’s going away for 12–15 years. Maybe he’ll only be locked away for 9 years if he behaves himself in stir.

Actually, he may only be off the streets for 6 years because he’s been in jail since the shooting occurred, which was — ready? — December 31, 2020!

I don’t know whether Gardner had committed other crimes prior to how he was celebrating the New Year by trying to kill someone else three years ago, but I suspect this particular incident wasn’t the first time his behavior had come to the attention of the police.