Go back shortly more than 24 hours, to nearly 3:00 yesterday afternoon, when the news broke that there had been a triple murder.
Shortly afterward, an announcement was made that there had been a quadruple murder in another house on the northeastern slope of Grand Rapids. Within a brief time, the law made us aware of the fact that the same person was a defendant in both events. But where was he? There was a police helicopter in the air, after the proposition that the defendant might be on his way to Detroit.
But it shortly became obvious that he hadn't left Grand Rapids. Within a few hours, he was shooting victims randomly as he drove through the city. He shot four times at a police cruiser without injuring the policeman. He did, however, injure people in two other vehicles. He then took off in a vehicle, tires having been flattened by road spikes, driving on the rims of his wheels at high rates of amphetamine on the freeway. Suddenly, when police began gaining on him, he drove through the medial and took off driving the incorrect way on a heavily-traveled highway. Eventually, he drove his car down through a ravine, and bailed out. He dig his way into the nearest national and took the 3 people therein hostage. At the end of approximately 7-8 very tense hours, the suspect committed suicide.
Fast advancing to this evening, when a candlelight vigil was organised in honour of the seven people who were killed last night. It was being held in a green that overlooks the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Local TV coverage was constant. As they commemorated the lives of those killed last night, suddenly commentators broke in with the intelligence that Betty Ford, widow of President Ford, has died. Thus the second issue that has propelled Grand Rapids onto the national scene, since the Fords made their place in Grand Rapids during their early years together. President Ford practiced law here before being elected to the Home of Representatives.
We're told that her body will be brought back to Grand Rapids to lie in country at the Ford Presidential Museum, before being buried beside her husband, in sight of the real park where the candlelight vigil was held this even for the seven people murdered yesterday afternoon.
As I've been troubled by some of these events, a vocal that has come to mind repeatedly is: "Safe in the weaponry of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast, There by His love o'reshaded, Sweetly my soul doth rest." The safest place for any of us is in the blazon of Christ. I'm thankful I can remain there.
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