19 responses to “Starr’s Mill 10th-grader, 16, killed Thursday night by hit-and-run drunk driver while walking along residential street”

1. 

   Mike LaTella

   February 16, 2022

   In 2008 Georgia changed the “look back” window for DUI’s to 10 years rather than 5. All DUI’s in Georgia are misdemeanors except the 4th DUI (received after 07/01/20080 results in a felony. . If the driver were were only facing the DUI charge, this would be a second one within 10 years and his punishment would probably be 72 hours in jail, 30 days of community service and a fine of around $1000. But the driver here will likely be charged with felony vehicular homicide which carries a max of 15 years in prison.

   The real quagmire however is…Who gets two DUI’s and still drives drunk? That would be an alcoholic. Alcoholics have generally lost the ability to make rational decisions when it comes to booze. A rational thinking person would of course called Uber. But alcoholics (or drug addicts) aren’t rational thinking people when they are in the throes of their disease. I am not suggesting that absolves this guy from responsibility at all. But I am not sure that we can say with any assurance the driver was was throwing caution to the wind and being selfish either.

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   1. 

      Cyclist

      February 17, 2022

      So Mike,

      “A rational thinking person would of course called Uber. But alcoholics (or drug addicts) aren’t rational thinking people when they are in the throes of their disease.”

      Given your background how do we protect the public?

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2. 

   hoopa1958

   February 15, 2022

   I pray you are not justifying this drunk killing this young man. We’ve all had hard aches in our lives. It’s how you deal with them. But certainly not getting behind a car wheel and killing someone child. I pray you never have to experience this type of pain.

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3. 

   John Mrosek

   February 13, 2022

   Once again, Ben, one of your stories has me riveted. The suggestion earlier notwithstanding, let’s assume this one is the guy’s first DUI. He will be in front of Judge Thompson (that’s Mr. Judge Thompson). Will be tough sledding for that guy. Jail time: 24 hours min; one year max. Judge Thompson will keep that dude busy during the maximum probation period. Worst part— he split rather than render aid. Sad, sad, sad story of a good kid lost.

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4. 

   Mom

   February 12, 2022

   Every student and family at Starr’s Mill High School is grieving. We are at a loss for words. ❤️

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5. 

   Stranger Than Fiction

   February 11, 2022

   This is a horrible tragedy – a family’s worst nightmare. It is heartbreaking.

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   1. 

      John Mrosek

      February 13, 2022

      Cyclist—- wow what a bum that guy is. Russell apparently was a rising star and well liked. Walking in his subdivision! SMH. The driver may get a small break because of Georgia’s “not in the last five years” rule. Selfish loser.

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6. 

   Cyclist

   February 11, 2022

   This is so so sad.

   I hope the driver if convicted faces the max sentence allowed.

   BTW, there is a public court record of an induvial with the same name who has pleaded guilty on two DUI charges; Aug 18, 2008 and Jan 9, 2017. ENOUGH!!

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7. 

   Mom

   February 11, 2022

   This is a tragedy of untold proportions. Please exercise caution when commenting.

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8. 

   Lever Up

   February 11, 2022

   This is horrible. Hopefully this thug spends the rest of his days locked up.

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   1. 

      the_wing_t

      February 12, 2022

      Stop with the name calling. This “thug” as you say is someone’s son….maybe someone’s father or husband. You can appear “holier-than-thou” by calling names and I hope it makes you feel better about yourself. But it’s not helpful. Put yourself in his shoes…..maybe he’s had brokenness in his life…a series of bad decisions….maybe he doesn’t know how to cope with trauma in his life. You don’t know his story. Neither do I. But calling names makes you part of the problem.

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      1. 

         Mom

         February 12, 2022

         ❤️

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      2. 

         John Mrosek

         February 13, 2022

         Yes, but you have to ask yourself how in the world can anyone be so selfish to get a DUI when you have Uber and Lyft available.

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      3. 

         Lever Up

         February 14, 2022

         You making excuses for a 60 year old man with 3 DUI’s who left a child to die alone on the side of the road when he could have helped him and maybe saved his life is sick. Sorry, I’ll mourn for the child who lost his life – you can have fun supporting the person who stole his future from him.

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         1. 

            Dawn Haddocks

            February 14, 2022

            No one is supporting the impaired driver. I highly doubt he is happy or excited that he took a life. Alcohol and other vices take a hold of people that have addictive personalities and it’s extremely hard for them to shake it. Of course this event is tragic. Most likely the man will spend his remaining days in jail – as he should.

            the_wing_t is correct – there’s no need to call this person names. This is a regular occurrence in these comments, usually from those that feel they are far superior to those that commit tragic mistakes. Heck, I’ve probably done some name calling too, from time to time, and you know what? It isn’t right.

            If one has been around long enough, we have skeletons in our own closet – some worse than others. I don’t think you’d care for others to further disparage your name if your skeletons were brought to light.

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            1. 

               Lever Up

               February 14, 2022

               Maybe you have skeletons in your closet like this, but I don’t. People here will rail about someone breaking into a shoe store or open car door, but an old white guy leaves someone for dead on the side of the road and calling him a “thug” is an issue. Its nonsense, and I don’t really care about how his family feels as they’re probably somewhat culpable for letting a pattern of behavior like this go on for so long.

            2. 

               brewster

               February 14, 2022

               It’s a test to see if the word “thug” has any ethnicity to it. Depending on the photo, who is readily accepted being called a thug versus others.

            3. 

               Hometown600

               February 14, 2022

               Dawn if you truly believe what you say then why don’t you change your “name” and quit mocking a past mayor?

               (Unless by strange coincidence this is your true name)

         2. 

            the_wing_t

            February 14, 2022

            I made zero excuses for what the man did. My point is you lashing out and name-calling doesn’t help anything. It doesn’t bring back the 16-year old and it doesn’t help heal any wounds. It makes you feel better about yourself, calling someone a thug and therefore putting them beneath you. I’m saying this man has a story too…..and if your heart is broken over the 16-year old’s passing then it might also be broken for this man’s family as well. There are no winners in this case. But you’re choosing to just be part of the problem by name calling. Instead you could be part of the solution…..donate to the GoFundMe for this kid…..pray for this man’s family…..but standing by and calling names? There’s nothing good that comes out of that. And I’m glad to hear you have your house in perfect order. Because something I’ve heard said is so very true for all of us – “we’re all either in the midst of a hard time (or crisis, if you like that word better), coming out of a hard time, or about to enter into a hard time.” Sounds like you might be the exception to that rule…….good for you.

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