It was 29 years ago that I found out that my best friend has been murdered. Part of a quadruple murder. Bryan had been killed along with 3 others: Michael B, Johnny, and Lamar. I did not know these individuals, but I had met Lamar once when we went to the Velvet Underground in the old “The Mall” location for Bryan’s 21st birthday. That doesn’t make their deaths any less sad and all were so unnecessary. Those four families and friends were and probably still are grieving.
Unfortunately, they were not the only victims. Ashley (whom I knew somewhat well. Well enough that I had sold him my Camaro just months before) and his, then, girlfriend Michelle were shot. Ashley was shot in the back of the head at point blank range. By the grace of God, he survived as the bullet would not penetrate his skull but travel between the skull and scalp with the exit wound being in the front of his head. He were to fall down and lay still while they discuss whether or not to shoot him again to make sure he was dead.
Michelle was a small girl. I can’t say how small as I had never met her. She was shot at least 6 times and lived. She had to have many surgeries to repair physical damage of the bullets. She was shot in the stomach, back, arms, and face. She would have to have a full facial reconstruction. They found her in the kitchen of the house. I guess she tried to get away.
There were yet two more victims. Michael S was able to get away and try to get help. He ran up and down the main road (a major road in Huntsville. University Drive) trying to flag somebody down. He ran to nearby businesses eventually found the only thing open at that time of night was a local strip club. He was able to use the pay phone to call 911. Left in the main part of the house was Ashley’s aunt who heard the shooting coming from Ashley’s bedroom located in the garage. She hid in closet scared that those who were shooting didn’t come in the house and find her and shoot her as well.
In case you weren’t counting… that’s 8 victims who were present in the house that night. 4 who were shot dead. 2 who were shot and survived, 2 who were not physically harmed, but victims nonetheless.
Getting back to learning how this happened. I was at home at the time of the shooting. Bryan had called me earlier that day while I was still at work to see if I wanted to hang out that night. Of course I did, but I had to study for an exam in Art Appreciation class. I really hated that class and only studied when I had an upcoming exam. This was one of those times, so I declined. So, I should have been with him. Does that make me a victim? No, but I did suffer from survivor’s guilt as a result. Normally, I would have been with him. I wrestled with two possible scenarios in my head – a) Even though, I had hung out with Bryan and Ashley frequently, I didn’t always like hanging out at Ashley’s house. If had of been with Bryan, would we we even have stayed there? Would I have convinced him to go and thus, he would not have been murdered that night. OR b) He would have convinced me to stay at Ashley’s house and I would have been a victim, myself. Those guys meant business. I don’t think they could have been reasoned with…. and I probably would have been shot, too.
The next morning, I got up to go to work as a normal of a day as it could be. I got to work (I did not turn on the TV before I went to work or else….). I was working doing some price changes on the computer aisle and I saw my mom come in the store. {As I recall, a neighbor friend saw it on the news and called my mom and urged her to tell me in person so I wouldn’t find out about it on the news.] She never comes into this location as it is much further away than the one near our house. Oh, I worked at Office Depot in the Business Machines area and I also worked in receiving. But back to the story, I saw her come in and speak to my manager, Richard, before she came back to see me. I said “hi Mom” and she said she had something to tell me. She then proceeded to tell me that Bryan had been killed. She has spoken to the manager about me going home. I did. I went home and spent hours going from news station to news station hoping, for my sake, that it was a different Bryan Carter. But when I saw the house (I knew that house), the Camaro in the driveway (I definitely knew that car) and then I saw Bryan’s car. Seeing all of that just made me go from hopeful it wasn’t him to DAMN, it was him.
The news stations reported what they knew. Not only did the victims get shot. They were tortured for up to 2 hours before any shots were fired. Humiliation, physical torture, and psychological torture went on for those hours. I still don’t know everything that happened because I didn’t attend the trials (maybe more on that in another post). From what I understand, Bryan was killed first and he had defensive wounds on his hands. Evidence that he was hit in the head with a thick bottle, like a whiskey bottle. Johnny had a pony tail. It was cut off. He was made to undress to show that he was a guy because he had a pony tail like a girl. He was also beaten. That’s the only things I know. Maybe one day I’ll know more.
Because Michael S made it out, he knew who did it. He was able to tell the police who did it. Ashley and Michelle who had survived the shooting knew as well. These weren’t just some random guys. They were acquaintances but definitely not friends. All three were picked up the next day probably while I was getting ready for work. I knew nothing of it at that time.
29 years later, I still miss Bryan. I still think about him. I think about how different life might have been if he were still with us. I have no doubts that we should still be friends… Friends until the end.