Today I witnessed my first homicide...

The call from the dispatcher was shots fired. When my partner (FTO) and I arrived to the scene there was a gunshot victim laying on his back in the middle of the street. You could see the victim breathing, but barely. Everything seem to be moving at an accelerated pace. Superior Officers shouting, family and friends screaming, and at the center of it all the victim slowing fading out. By the time EMTs arrived at the scene there wasn't much they could do.

The mother arrived at the scene 30 minutes after the shooting from work. She had no idea that the entire block had been closed off because one of her offspring was shot and killed. Watching my superior officers notify her of the homicide was devastating. As to no surprise her emotions were uncontrollable.

There's something about watching a person die right before you eyes that reminds you how fragile life is. The entire time you're watching this person gasp for air, you ponder as to what that person is actually thinking about at the moment. Is their entire life flashing before their eyes? Is there one last dying declaration? Perhaps the pain is so unbearable they prefer to just end it all. All these thoughts and questions were going through my mind as I stood and watched the victim relinquish life.

Because I was one of the 1st preliminary investigations on the scene, I worked with the Detectives for hours gathering statements and information from possible witnesses. I even got a chance to ride with one of the lead Detectives to residences where the suspect might be hiding out at. At one point I was nearly 5 blocks away from my home....talk about uncomfortable.

....Regardless, I love this job - not because of the craziness that comes along with it, but because nothing is routine. No 2 days will ever be alike.

Updated 10:00AM: I got a text from Angelo this morning. He says that he alongside his partner (FTO) arrested the homicide suspect last night during the midnight shift after an unmarked car spotted the suspect's car and called for assistance. Good job officers!

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Phil's (Freaky!) back from the Navy. For good this time. Below are a couple of the videos I've shot since he's been back. This is gonna be one hell of a summer. Feels like the summer of 2004 all over again (pun intended)

Phil's first day back home, it's time to hit the streets.

They wonder why Matt's nick name is LL (The Lady Lover), well this is why.

Final Thought: My friend's and I have all matured collectively. Our personalities are very different from each other, but I think that's what makes us so close. Neither one of us is trying to impress the next guy, each of us have our own vision, each of us know each other inside and out, the only common goal we have is.......success.