A man’s fued with his grandmother turned into a deadly confrontation that escalated into a hostage situation and the murder of a supermarket worker. Yet, one gay man’s retelling of the situation, and the video going viral on twitter, somehow found humor in it all.
28-year-old Gene Evin Atkins was booked yesterday (Sunday, July 23) for being the suspect of two murders and a hostage situation that happened the day before.
Atkins allegedly shot 27-year-old employee Melyada Corado at a Trader Joe’s market in Los Angeles during a gunfight, according to Time Magazine.
Albert Corado, Melyada’s brother, confirmed her death through Twitter.
“I’m sad to say she didn’t make it. My baby sister. My world,” Albert posted online.
Melyada’s death was apparently the aftereffect of a family fued between Atkins and his 76-year-old grandmother Mary Elizabeth Madison who was recovering from surgery at their South L.A. home.
Madison allegedly complained about there being too many tv sets on, and that fight escalated to arguing about Atkin’s live-in girlfriend.
Eventually Atkins shot his grandmother and fled the scene. Relatives quickly called 911, and the incident became a car chase.
Atkins eventually ran into a pole outside a Trader Joe’s and a shootout followed, which led to the death of Corado. Atkins then entered the building.
While many customers and employees hid for safety, Atkins eventually handcuffed himself and turned himself in three hours later.
As scary and violent as all of that is, the internet insensitively found a way to make a joke out of it.
During the television coverage of the incident, one gay man named Miguel Trujillo gave a candid, many would say too honest, description of the shooter.
“He was a buff, sexy black guy with dreads," Trujillo told CNN. "He’s maybe 6…, if not 5’11, he’s around 6 feet."
"He’s really buff – that’s it."
That video later went viral on the internet with many people laughing at the description and others chastising the rest.
Back to the incident, Corado and Madison were the only casualties to the situation. Though, some customers/employees received minor injuries.
In addition, Atkins is currently being held on bail for $2 million dollars.
Our thoughts go out to the families of the fallen.
Its feud, not fued.
Its feud, not fued.
I will admit, I googled him,
I will admit, I googled him, and can confirm that he is 100% unsexy.
Not funny. I ask people who
Not funny. I ask people who make such thoughtless comments "Would you be making the same joke if the innocent victim was YOUR sister?"
There is no humor in this
There is no humor in this situation and suggesting Mr. Trujillo’s comments were funny is out of line. I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he misspoke, but to retell the story as an example of something funny in a tragic situation is beyond insensitive.