What has happened to our world when life is no longer sacred; when defenseless creatures are gunned down in cold blood; when our children are killing—just to kill time? What—or who—could be next? What is a fair retribution? How can the community come together do to ensure this doesn’t happen again?
I rode my horse on this still, crisp, winter afternoon. The only sounds were that of hoof prints crunching through the snow and the thoughts so loud that replayed in my mind. I reflected on this morning’s gathering held on behalf of the community and victims who recently lost four horses and a cow in Isanti County.
Earlier this Saturday morning, February 11, 2006, seventy caring people from the community stopped their busy lives to come together at Living Hope Ministry Center in St. Francis. It’s located across the street from the St. Francis High School where two teens skipped school February 3 and shot five horses and a cow to escape “boredom.”
The shots they fired did not produce painless deaths, rather slow, agonizing ones filled with panic and confusion. The .223 firepower was not strong enough to kill large animals instantly. Why would anyone do such a cruel thing? Sara Hill drove by that morning and noticed her neighbor’s horse laying in the pasture bleeding. She stopped to console the horse with another neighbor, Deb Hari, until the vet, Dr. Rick Marion from Anoka Equine arrived to put the horse out of its misery. Another horse was shot but not fatally.
Horse community solidarity
Two days after this happened, three horse-loving community members, Judy Conger, Chris Hill and Jennifer Klitzke were talking about this tragedy. Then they had an idea, “What if we gather together as a community with those who are suffering just to talk?”
Living Hope Ministry Center opened their facility for this gathering. The gathering was intended to provide a place where the community can talk about the pain, fear, and outrage, and come around the families who lost their defenseless animals to these violent crimes the morning two teens were “bored.” There was no agenda. People were drawn to this gathering as if summoned by God to talk that day.
Pastor Dawson Grover, of Living Hope EFC was one of them. He began the gathering with a prayer asking God to bring comfort to all who mourn and forgiveness to the teens that caused this pain. He read “The Lord’s Prayer” from the Bible and challenged all of us to make the choice to forgive so that we as a community can begin the healing process.
Moments later, without any prompting, the family of John Green, one of the teens charged with this crime, courageously came forward with a sincere, heartfelt public apology for their son’s actions. Tears filled the room as Pastor Dawson spontaneously prayed for this family.
They suffer as well. Not only do they feel the heavy weight of their son’s actions and the agony he has caused the community, but they wonder how this could have happened when they have done everything in their power to raise him right. If this can happen to a solid, tight-knit family, it could happen to anyone.
Another gentleman spoke up and said, “Please don’t blame the parents. It’s only for the grace of God that it wasn’t my child or yours.” He knows first hand. Years ago, his son committed crimes that sent him to jail and the family wondered how this could happen when they did everything they knew to raise him right. His story brings hope. After serving jail time, his son turned his life around and is now a responsible business owner, loving husband and father.
Another man testified to being a friend of the perpetrators’ families for over fifteen years. He said, “Both families are agonizing over the actions of their sons. Many tears have been shed this last week.”
Another woman said, “Remember, these families are grieving, too. They feel like they have lost their sons.”
The room was filled with quiet nods of agreement.
Another God-send was Isanti County Sheriff, Mike Ammend. He came because he had received several calls that there could be trouble which stemmed from poor reporting about the intent of this gathering. Sheriff Ammend stepped forward to present facts about the case, educated us on the legal process, juvenile crimes, and answered questions. His presence brought support and assurance.
Facts reported
The teens are charged with several felonies in Isanti County: cruelty to animals with use of a fire arm and property crime.
The teens do not have a criminal history with the legal system.
The teens will be detained as long as there is reason to believe they are a danger to society or are in danger themselves.
It will be decided whether or not the teens will be charged as adults.
A member of the community asked: How is justice served when the law defines murder against animals as a “property” crime? To a horse owner, a horse is a family member, not a piece of property. Their inherent value is priceless and irreplaceable. These horse owners have been robbed of the pets they loved. All of the thousands of dollars and countless hours spent to raise and train the horses were swept away the morning two teens were “bored.” How can we keep these teens from touching guns again?
The community also expressed fears of escalation and retaliation.Studies show that there is a pattern: arson and killing animals often escalates to killing people. These teens need more than punishment – they need long-term help and they need our prayers. How can we make sure these teens get more than a slap on the wrist and the help they need to turn their lives around?
Making time to care
One of the heroes in all this was Rick Hari who was not present at this gathering. Everyone applauded on his behalf. He is the neighbor who heard a gun shot and observed a suspicious car at 10 a.m. on February 3. He stopped his busy life and called 9-1-1. As a result, the police arrived immediately and caught the teens. Only God knows how many more horses, cows and other living creatures could have been murdered that day.
Rick’s wife, Deb Hari, is a Youth Counselor at Bar None Ranch and has been working closely with Brenda Skogman, Isanti Victims Service Coordinator. Deb and Judy Conger are horse lovers and caring neighbors of the victims who lost four horses and a cow. Their concern for our community has turned their lives upside down. Hundreds of letters from all over the nation and Canada have flooded their email boxes. Judy said, “The whole nation is affected by this.” Deb and Judy have been forwarding letters to Judge James E. Dehn and Brenda Skogman.
The good that has come from this tragedy is that our community is pulling together. It will be the first gathering of others to come. The victims that attended the gathering felt supported. A table was set with six yellow roses representing the five horses and a cow that were shot. Only one horse escaped death. Pictures of two horses that died were placed next to a poem of comfort. A petition was signed on behalf of the victims and will be given to Judge Dehn. Even though the horses that were killed can never be replaced, several members of our community have offered to donate horses to the victims.
As residents, we are deeply concerned with the safety of our community, what led up to these senseless acts that have left our community fearful of what could be next, and outraged that such merciless acts could be committed against defenseless creatures. We need more “heroes” like Rick Hari in our community that are willing to stop the busyness of our lives to notice what is amiss and take a stand for what is right on behalf of others – our neighbors and community.
Ways you can help
- Make it a priority to get involved with the community; if the community doesn’t offer a way to get together, create one.
- Find ways to communicate and support the community through your every day life (school, workplace, profession, hobbies, the people you know).
- Support youth by providing a place where they can talk about what’s going on.
- Report suspect behavior to the police to begin an ICR report.
- Write letters to the local newspapers.
- Attend Open Hearings: Judges are publicly elected officials and public attendance makes a strong statement.
- Keep guns locked up and teach children a healthy respect for firearms.
Written by Jennifer Klitzke
Published in the March 2006 Horse & Family magazine, February 2006 Courier newspaper and February 15, 2006 Star newspaper.
