On The Murder In Moore Square

This past Sunday morning, we were in Moore Square, just like we always are. We had hot coffee and sausage and biscuits, and folks were lining up to get theirs, just like they always do.

For almost four years, we have done this – bringing food and coffee to share with our friends who live outside, and to meet new people who we hope to one day call our friends. There is usually much laughter, hugging and joking. Over the years, people have learned that it is a safe place, a place where you receive love and food, both with no agenda.

But this Sunday, a man used our corner of the sidewalk as a place to perform violence. Eric was in our line, waiting to get food when another man stabbed him. Our homeless friends wrestled a man to the ground, who was later arrested by the police. Our volunteers applied pressure to the victim’s wounds. Other homeless people called 9-1-1.

Eric was taken to the hospital, things settled down, the police were everywhere asking questions and all hope of other conversation was shot for the morning. Later that morning, we found out Eric had died on the way to the hospital.

The emotions we felt pretty much have ran the gamut, from a sense of violation that it happened in our “safe space” to sorrow for Eric and, quite frankly, some anger at the man who did this.

A few things I want to emphasize:

1. This was not random crime. The two people knew each other, they had had numerous other arguments and fights, including one earlier that day. This had nothing to do with it happening in Moore Square or near us.
2. Statistically speaking, Moore Square is as safe as can be. There were less than a handful of incidents of any kind at Moore Square last year.
3. We are going to keep loving people indiscriminately and without agenda. We will be back on our part of the sidewalk this Saturday and Sunday, just like we have for years.
4. We are asking you to pray for the family of Eric. We are trying to find out the arrangements, if any and reach out to the next of kin, if any. If we find out more information regarding arrangements, we will post them to our blog. Eric had family in Ohio, who claimed his body. The funeral is today (Friday) – here is the information from the funeral home.
5. The man who was arrested for the killing of Eric needs our prayers as well. In the near future, I will attempt to get into the Wake County Jail to talk to him. Please pray for him, and for me as I seek to talk to him.

I am thankful for all your love and support the last few days. That such a thing could happen in our presence means that we are ministering in the hard places. That such a thing could happen in front of us means that we are accepted and are seen as no threat. In other words, that such a thing could happen in front of us is a sign of our success at being an accepted presence in their world.

The hard work of helping people talk about their grief, helping them process their pain and their fear, praying with them and for them – all of that has to happen now. Thanks to people like you and others that support us financially, we will be here to do it.

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