Where does one begin when trying to make sense of the events that started Saturday evening at University Heights and ended Tuesday at the Auburn Police Department?
There was a fight that turned into a murder scene. That turned into a flood of skepticism of what happened and who was injured. Followed was a wild goose chase that led authorities across central Alabama. Then authorities chased ghosts and rodents around a Southeast Montgomery attic, leaving everyone from Bama fans to Auburn loyalists sitting at the edge of their seats waiting for answers. A slew of empty responses that held no weight came that next morning.
Less than twelve hours later justice was served.
"I know you young men won't be coming home tonight, but I hope this arrest brings you some closure," said Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson at Tuesday's press conference announcing Desmonte Leonard's arrest.
For the Auburn students and residents I can confidentially say that it does.
But his first statement resonates, three young men won't be going home to their mothers tonight. They won't be returning home to their girlfriends, children, teammates and friends.
The question that keeps repeating itself is, why? Why did Desmonte Leonard feel as if the barrel of a smoking gun was the answer to a quarrel?
It is a question that will most likely never be answered, but will continually repeat itself throughout time in many situations that end up in similar fashion.
So our only move here is to mourn and remember the lives lost in that tragic and unnecessary shooting. Ladarious Phillips, Ed Christian and Damario Pitts lost their lives before their time to go.
This is a learning experience for students and young people alike. Auburn is a safe place, but that doesn't mean that it is lacking unsafe situations. At parties and gatherings everywhere there is at least one wild card that will not hesitate to cross the line and make an unforgivable mistake.
If I may, I would like to get on my soapbox now and say a few words to the supporters of "Woosie Woo" throughout Sunday's reaction and Monday's standoff.
Stop.
For some reason the underlying message and conclusion to Leonard's actions went straight over the heads of some people as the most hurtful, ignorant and insensitive remarks were said on Twitter and Facebook. Apparently @desleonard chimed in on the debate from the attic of a Montgomery house where he was allegedly holed up.
Three, possibly four lives have been lost in Leonard's fit of rage. For some reason there were hoards of friends and family praying for his safe escape. They condemned the police, they took shots at those looking for justice and even spared no time voicing their opinion of "dem white people."
There is no room in society for people like Desmonte Leonard and his band of thieves that had his back till the end.
Moving to the other end of the spectrum let's give it up for the students, student athletes and family that yearned for justice into the wee hours of Atticgate. This is the Auburn Family that is so often mentioned around this fine institution.
Looking at the graphic above tells a story that never should have been told, but in the darkest of times these people came together and created a support system that pierced the heart deeper than the bullets that were fired on Saturday night.
Head coach Gene Chizik said it best when he was asked about how the incident would affect the upcoming football season.
"I am not worried about football," Chizik said. "I don't care about football. This is not about football season. This meeting is about young guys trying to get past a very tragic thing."
That may hurt a lot of fans itching for August to come around, but he could not have said it better. This is about life. This is about death. This is about a community coming together in a time when it is needed most.
Sleep well tonight knowing that a dangerous man is behind bars. But never let your guard down and always think before you or others make a mistake that cannot be reversed, because in the end it is the decisions we make that define us as human beings.
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