It was about a week ago when Aaron Markarian, 23, of Warrensburg was featured (below) on the front page of the Kansas City Star sitting in tree playing what was called a dejembe drum.
The temperature was in the 80′s and all was right with the world.
Today a major snowstorm is scheduled to hit the area. And Markarian is dead.
The talented UMKC student was killed during a home invasion robbery at his home Thursday night which he shared with several roommates near the Country Club Plaza. The police are searching for two individuals who killed Markarian and shot three others.
Stalwart Kansas City Star reporters Christine Vendel and Donald Bradley chronicled the talented Markarian’s background and his untimely demise.
On March 16 Markarian was featured in a wonderful photo by Star photographer Keith Myers. Now his parents are making funeral arrangements.
KC STAR COMMENTS
Given that The Star isn’t allowing comments one must assume that the perpetrators are black? (In the same way we were never told that the screwball who got up during the Mayor’s speech was a Democrat and that he hung around with a Muslim extremist who espouses anti-Semitic views.
It would be really nice to have a newspaper that actually gave us the news instead of censoring and sanitizing it to fit their political agenda.
RACIST BILE
Or probably because users enjoy to spew racist bile. The Star is a private company, they don’t have to have an open comments section. There’s plenty of places on the web that welcome your brand of ~free speech~.
PARTISAN POPPYCOCK
Yours is partisan poppycock, Britt.
There are not “brands” of free speech.
THIS ONE HURT…
I didn’t know him, but for some reason this one really hurt. I think it was the story in which his neighbor said that he loaned him his snow shovel and when he got home his driveway had been cleared. He seems like an especially lovable and talented young man, a child really, from where I’m sitting. I hope the survivors will get all the help they need to someday find peace after such a horrifying incident. Thanks for publishing this, Bottom Line Communications.
SO MUCH TALENT
Watched this young man perform last week while visiting Kansas City. So much talent. This was a tragedy. Hope you all can take the animals that did this off your streets. We seem to have a hard time doing it in Florida.
KC STAR COMMENTS
No, John.
Because every crime/human tragedy story posted on kansascity.com turns into a display of the worst humanity has to offer thanks to the comments section. That’s why they do it.
Sort of the way some people twist around what would seem perfectly obvious to some people into yet another diatribe on politics, race and hatred.
It’s a pretty fabulous policy.
Herbert
I would agree with you, except I have a sneaking suspicion that, had the perpetrator(s) been white, there would have been comments allowed. That would be a double-standard.
A BRIGHT LIGHT…
He was a very talented man, even dating back to 6th grade when I met him. We sang in choir together in middle school, and in High School. He was such an inspiration. He got along with everyone, and always knew how to make everyone laugh.
He was a simple person, didn’t need much and found joy just being around people. He was always playful, always acting. He was born for the stage, destined to be known. Such a bright light. It breaks my heart, as well as everyone else’s who has been blessed by his friendship.
KC STAR POLICIES
To Mr, or Ms 11:16. Unfortunately the establishment media has developed all too many of these one-sided “fabulous” policies that cover up more information than they report.
It’s why no one cares if The Star goes out of business, or mourns when they announce yet another round of layoffs. All of those resources and talented reporters to produce a product that looks like it was edited by Baghdad Bob.
It’s pretty sad when The Pitch and Tony’s Kansas City are more informative than you are. By all means, you just keep those arrogant, self-righteous policies. Look how well they’ve worked so far.
RESPECT & COMPASSION CRUCIAL
Please leave your political observations elsewhere. You have every right to your opinions, but have the decency to recognize that a family just lost a son and a brother and many people lost a friend. The withheld details do not change the fact that a young life was lost.
A little respect…and compassion at times like these are crucial.
TRAGIC DEATH
Dear BLC: Thanks for your coverage of this young man’s tragic death. We must not forget those who are murdered in our city. That great master of the dark side of human nature Joseph Stalin had a point when he said: “One human death is a tragedy, a million human deaths are a statistic.” We must not allow our murdered citizens to become anonymous “statistics.” Thanks to the Star for all of their coverage of this case, and those who accuse the Star of a “double standard” for extensively covering a case of a dead white person should note the extensive coverage they recently gave to that murdered black grandmother. All of us must pray for the family and friends of this young man who was taken from us at much too young an age. Sincerely, Respectfully and In Christ, Ernest Evans
INSENSITIVE HEADLINE
Do you have any children? Do you realize how insensitive this headline is to read? Do you have any more creativity than this? Please find another title. Are you just reaching for sensationalism? The article is fine – the title is numbing.
I think the great Scott Parks on KMBZ stated it best when he noted, “Some people simply look for opportunities to be offended.” You seem to fall into that category.
VERY TALENTED
aaron was a very talented very kind young man personally growing up with aaron was a blessing he will truely be missed love and miss you aaron now its time to shine brighter than ever you are my shooting star
AARON’S GRANDMOTHER
Out of the 14 comments here, 10 of them are about the publisher, not the child. Perhaps that is why comment spaces are not always available. People on their own mission, use ANY news piece as a means to motivate their own agenda; having nothing to do with the original news piece.
I had the honor of being Aarons grandmother for a few years, as my daughter was married to his father. When I see these pictures here as well as all over the internet, I see him still at 6 yrs old. He looks exactly the same and from what I have read, he was the same. Godspeed Aaron. You are an inspiration to more people than you could ever have known.
This picture and the title of the piece is perfect, in my opinion. We can all learn from this, just how quick it could happen to you too. No matter what shade of brown you are.
A SAD STORY
Clearly this is a sad story all the way around beginning with the incident itself and ending with the reaction to it.