(Column) This time it hits home.
Jarrian King was one of my favorite athletes I have covered since I came to Greenville in 2018.
Jarrian played football and basketball for the St. Joseph Catholic School Fighting Irish. He was shot and found dead last Friday night in a neighborhood near North Saint Mary Circle. Ironically, it happened just as the Friday night lights of high school football were being turned off.
When police arrived, they found Jarrian lying on the street with multiple wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene. He was only 19.
Details of the incident are still sketchy. Perhaps we will know more in the days, the weeks and the months ahead. Or, perhaps we won’t once another terrible shooting in Greenville happens for us to focus on.
My thoughts, condolences and prayers go out to those who knew and loved Jarrian.
I didn’t know him well but Jarrian made quite an impression on me, and not just because of how outstanding of a football and basketball player he was. On the gridiron, Jarrian shined the brightest and was named our newspaper’s Player of the Week on a number of occasions. He was a big part in the three state championships that St. Joseph won. His talent helped carry the torch for the Fighting Irish after his teammates Dillon Johnson and Trey Benson went on to become national stars in college football.
But, what I will remember most about Jarrian was his winning smile. He always called me Mr. David, and seemed to appreciate all of the times I put him in the newspaper. I could tell he had a love and passion for sports. He was always respectful and addressed me as sir.
Like most of the young football players I covered, Jarrian told me that he wanted to grow up and be a player in the National Football League. Unlike most young football players I covered, Jarrian’s talent made me believe this was possible.
But, now Jarrian is just another tragedy in a long line of tragedies in our city, our state and our country.
I know good people in our city, from concerned citizens to public officials, will meet this week about what we can do to end this senseless violence that took another young life.
This cynical old reporter usually rolls his eyes when these meeting are called, skeptical if anything will change.
Now, this cynical old reporter is shedding a tear.
David W. Healy is the sports editor of the Delta Democrat-Times. He can be reached at dhealy@ddtonline.com.
