Monday, December 7, 2009

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Deaf victim's family says murder was 'senseless' By KRYSTEL ROLLE ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com: The family of Rauol Bullard, the 23-year-old deaf man who was stabbed to death on Friday just yards away from his home on Peach Street off Montrose Avenue, yesterday characterized the murder as a senseless killing and a tragic loss. "He was innocent and he was stabbed," said the victim's grieving father Charles Bullard. Moments before the violent attack Rauol, who made his living by washing cars, walked to the neighborhood store to change some money, his father said. "When he was on his way back, I understand that there was a gang fight between some students and they brought some adults with them from Union Village - and one of them just walked up behind my son and stabbed him to the neck and back," he said. "He's walking and can't hear, so if someone is coming behind him, he can't hear them," Bullard stressed, adding that it was unlikely that his son knew what was transpiring. According to police press liaison officer Sergeant Chrislyn Skippings, sometime around 3:30 p.m. that day, police received information about a stabbing in the Peach Street area. Skippings said when police responded, they spoke with the victim's mother who informed them that a group of men were in front of her house fighting. During the altercation, the woman told the boys to behave themselves, Skippings said. "A short time after they moved out of the area, and she asked the deceased to go to the shop and he got less than 100 yards from his residence when he was attacked by the same group of young men," Skippings said. She added that he was able to return home, where he collapsed and was taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital and shortly after, he succumbed to injuries. Skippings said three teenagers are assisting with the investigation. Meanwhile, Bullard said his family is struggling to come to grips with the loss. "Everyone is trying to cope with it. My wife wakes up hollering sometimes, she goes to his room, holds his pillow and starts hollering and I have to comfort her. I'm taking it hard, but I'm fighting it," he added. Recalling the day his son died, Bullard said when he arrived home after getting the call that his son had been stabbed, he met him lying down on the ground in a pool of blood barely alive. "I spoke with him and I talked to him and I asked him to ask God to please forgive him for all of his sins. I told him to tell God that he is sorry, and he said to me, 'yes sir daddy'. And he lied there and prayed," Bullard said. The murder brings the national count up to 78 for the year, which matches the number recorded in 2007, currently the highest ever recorded. Monday, November 30, 2009