15-year-old killed while shielding Tennessee girls from bullets

[pinboy3niner]

Zaevion William Dobson

By Jareen Imam, CNN
Updated 3:51 PM ET, Sun December 20, 2015 | Video Source: CNN


(CNN)—There's a saying that the true character of a person shines in a time of crisis.

There's no doubt of Zaevion William Dobson's character, according to the 15-year-old's friends and family, who are mourning his death.

Thursday evening, the football player jumped on top of three girls to shield them from a spray of bullets in Knoxville, Tennessee, according to police and CNN affiliate WATE.

...


Two girls spoke to CNN affiliate WVLT about the shooting. "If it wasn't for Zaevion, if he would have just ran off the porch, we would have probably been shot," Kiara Rucker said.

...


http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/19/us/zaevion-dobson-killed-shielding-girls-from-bullets/

[TIME TO PANIC]

1. K & R !

[stage left]

2. Truly

The good die young. Rest in peace, Zaevion.

[Eleanors38]

3. If there is a hereafter, yours is beautiful.

[bvar22]

4. That just makes me ache.

What have we become?
Rest in Peace, Zaevion.

[Sherman A1]

5. A brave and honorable young man.

[katsy]

6. Kick. A hero indeed.

[pinboy3niner]

7. Another innocent cut down in his youth by guns

And one whose character dictated that he sacrifice himself to protect others.

His loss is our loss.

[TNNurse]

8. I can only imagine the

combination of grief and pride that his family must feel.

I live in the Knoxville area and the local comments and tributes have been impressive. I hope these young girls make the very best of the lives they will live because of him.

[TipTok]

18. It's a debt...

... that they owe him now.

Hopefully it will be repaid.

[sarge43]

9. Peaceful passage, gentle soul

[shenmue]

10. ...

[Dont call me Shirley]

11. Zaevion...

The world's loss

[PBass]

12. I have a minor complaint with this story... the "football player" angle.

It's a tragic story. But why is "football player" such a big part of this story? Photos show him wearing his uniform, and the story mentions him being on the football team prominently in the very beginning, too.

Why can't he just be a brave teenager? The suggestion beneath the surface is that teens who play sports are better, braver, and athletes' lives are worth more when they are lost.

I think it's harmful when society suggests to black kids that "athlete" is one of the (few) paths they can take to general acceptance and respectability. The way this story is written kind of reinforces the problem, IMO.

Sorry if that is focusing on the wrong thing, but it really bothers me.

[pinboy3niner]

13. You may be overthinking this

Do you think it wouldn't be noted if he were a tennis star or a Knowledge Bowl star?

In any case, nitpicking the reporting detracts from the real story here.

[TipTok]

19. In High School sports define a young person...

If I pulled the same thing tomorrow the headlines would read 'Army Veteran'...

A big part of his life at the particular moment...

[LittleBlue]

14. Hero

Should have a statue made in front of the school

[pinboy3niner]

15. Indeed

[Arugula Latte]

16. Damn.

Zaevion

[TipTok]

17. Some run to gunfire and explosions and some run away...

Most folks won't know which one they are until it happens...

Good on him...