Mom, Jean Smith, along with her son Jim, 19, were murdered,Friday afternoon, in their home in Dale City. The surviving children and father must be reeling from this senseless tragedy. My heart goes out to the family. According the article in the Potomac News, Jean was very active in her childrens’ lives.
By JONATHAN HUNLEY
Published: December 19, 2008A mother and son described as the “kind of people you aspire to be” were found dead in their Dale City home Friday afternoon, Prince William County police said.
Jean Claire Smith, 39, and James Marshall Smith, 19, were discovered by a younger son of Jean Smith at about 3 p.m., Maj. Ray Colgan said.
Mother and son were found in different rooms of their house in the 13600 block of Langford Court, Colgan said.
“It appears to be a double-murder,” he said.
How the Smiths were killed was unclear Friday night, and Colgan said police hadn’t developed a motive for why anyone would harm them.
“They would be called ‘low-risk victims,’” he said.
The family was active at Holy Family Catholic Church, Colgan said, and in activities at C.D. Hylton High School. They seemed to get along with their neighbors.
“This is a fairly quiet neighborhood,” he said as he stood a few feet in front of the Smith home.
Update: There’s another article in the Washington Post at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/19/AR2008121904030.html.
Note to Greg Clones: Since we don’t know the ethnicity of the killers, I say we hold of on demonizing an entire race of people based on this one tragic occurrence. Once we know who did it, then let’s go ahead and demonize.
… unless the killers were Caucasian, in which case you can’t judge the whole race by the actions of a few.
Thanks ShellyB,
I hope either way, the focus is on the pain this family must be experiencing ,and NOT an opportunity for some to use it as a hate tool.
My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the Smith’s
what a horrible thing to happen to any family.
There just seems to be no rhyme nor reason to tragedies like this one.
Dumbfounding, positively dumbfounding. Hopefully the police will quickly identify the person or persons responsible for this heinous act.
Right now, at this instant, across the county, Latinos who have heard about this crime are praying that it is not a Latino who committed the crime. They worry about the consequences for their safety and for those they love.
Now, name one white person who worries about dangerous consequences for themselves, should the killers turn out to be white.
Thus is the reality of white privilege brought to light. This is why, if you really want to talk about racism in the USA, you have to talk about what’s wrong with white people. This is why it’s not racist to talk about what’s wrong with white people because they are the dominant group and wield all the power in our society. And when they act on their bigotry, whole communities are exiled en masse.
Mackie,
I have a movie recommendation for you and everyone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEQ_ftkpb18
“Now, name one white person who worries about dangerous consequences for themselves, should the killers turn out to be white.”
I hate to say it, but me? The reason why I say so, is because you want to highlight what is wrong with white people in a generalizing way and that negative only fuels more negative. White people commit crimes and also are accused of crimes they did not commit, everyday. Mack, I have luv 4 u but if you were to turn that around, you would see you are doing the same thing and don’t you consider that racial profiling or even racist?
Just like a person with money is often looked at in a different light. There are people that would have less sympathy for anything that can go wrong in their lives as they have preconceived idea that they live the easy life or money to fix it. There are plenty examples in how people judge each other.
Like Michael pointed out on another thread, I will not apologize for what I did not do. I can sympathize, but everyone of us are responsible for our own actions.
“You cannot control people, places or things” 🙂
I can relate to this waiting game, Mackie. It is true that minorities over time will internalize the fear that you are talking about. It starts in grammar school, when you find yourself hoping that the next really famously stupid movie character won’t look anything like you.
The idea that Black people are natural born criminals has been so firmly etched in the American psyche over the centuries that we all get used to it and adjust our stride accordingly. But we all remember the snipers turned out to be Black and the media took it in stride (if anything the hate/hysteria at that time was toward Muslims regardless of race).
I never thought I’d see what we are seeing these days on the news and with politicians targeting Latinos. I can hardly imagine what it must be like for the kids.
Another comparison: when the Virginia Tech slayings happened, Asians feared the same backlash. But the media was responsible rather than opportunistic, even though whats-his-name was an immigrant. It just goes to show how much the public depends on media, and its leaders to know how to respond.
Frankly, we wouldn’t tolerate a diatribe against blacks or hispanics (or any other ethnicity) here at Anti. It makes me wonder why it is ok to continually take a jab at white people. It’s getting old and I am ignoring it.
It’s not okay and people who do it get a lot of flak, including from me, M-H.
Mackie, you sound irrational when you blame only whites for things we are all guilty of. We all stereotype. Rather than go after an entire race of people, it is more rational and more effective to point out when particular politicians, governments, or media outlets stereotype.
I’m not saying people should not be judged as individuals. And I’m not saying anyone has to apologize for anything, feel obligated to do anything, or feel guilty. I’m only illuminating the landscape as I see it. What people make of it, is their choice. What they choose to do or not to do, is up to them. But whether they actively support a bigoted resolution or they live in denial by supporting 287(g), if I see something wrong I will call attention to it at the expense of being polite.
You cannot remove the debate from the paradigm of the distribution of power in our society. White people have the power to ruin the lives of people of color en masse as they’ve done with the ‘war on drugs’, this resolution, racist legal institutions, etc. The reverse is simply not true.
Mackie,
Just like I refuse to allow a few bad elements to be used to represent an entire ethnic community, it is just as unfair to lump all “white” people together. If I reverse your logic, than when people on the dark screen generalize about all hispanics due to bad examples, they would be as right as you believe you are about white people. I am white and I know lots of other white people who have joined together in this fight against hatred towards Latino’s. Your words risk alienating the very people that you need in order to win this struggle. I think they call that cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I knew Jim and momma Smith…they were a big part of our school and also our wrestling team, I’ve known him ever since I started high school and even after, and they never deserved any of this.
NGL,
I don’t care if you stereotype or not. That’s not the point.
I care if you stereotype AND you have the power to ruin my life. It’s that last clause that makes all the difference.
I don’t need your friendship. I don’t need your good will. I don’t need Latino history month. I need you to stop supporting systematic bigotry. I need you to stop supporting 287(g), the war on drugs, denial of voting rights for felons in a racist legal system built to make felons out of people of color, etc.
Politicians and the media are not the problem. They take their cue from somewhere else.
Hi Mohammad,
maybe you could share a good story for us of Jean and her son Jim. It sounds like they were really wonderful people.
And because one person writes that only Whites are racist and just because you say that people of color cannot ruin the lives of Whites makes it true? One twisted opinion that’s as racist and small minded as anything written here or on the other side has hijacked any concept of fairness.
You’re the one who berates others for seeing all Latinos as “illegals” and profiling. Yet your disgusting diatribe sees all Whites as racist or potential racist. You’re just too angry at everything in society that you don’t control to see the irony.
I see you as too immature and angry at the world to see straight, and you prove it more and more every time you type something new.
Elena,
I don’t care if I alienate ‘the very people I need to win this struggle’. Those trivialities fade into insignificance next to the shattered lives left behind by the ‘war on drugs’, racist legal system, gang enhancements to prison sentences, etc.
In that context, refraining from alienating the ‘very people I need’ is a manifestation of moral cowardice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otmpYxJ9HYo&feature=related
Mackie,
It is clear that you don’t care, you have made that quite evident. There is no question that there are many societal inequities, but your approach will solve none of them. If you just want to hear yourself preach hate and division, well then, continue on. But if your desire is to create change, this approach does not seem to be working.
I frankly found both Mackie and Shelly’s post to be offensive–but nobody seems bothered by Shelly’s. Did I read it incorrectly?
Two beautiful people have died, folks, can we just drop the spitting for a little bit?
I’m guessing Shelly was being sarcastic.
I agree PW County Resident,
I felt the need to respond to Mackie specifically, but you are correct, this thread was suppose to be about this devastated family. I hope Mohammad comes back and shares a story about how he remembers the Jean and Jim Smith.
When I posted this story, my fear was that someone would comment ,bringing the thread back to illegal immigrants, I almost said in my post, please don’t turn this into a weapon against immigrants/Latino’s. I just should have redirected the comments back to this tragedy.
I knew Jean and she will be hugely missed by so many people. She was warm and welcoming, bright, cheery, smart, had a great sense of humor and said what she thought, no games.
I hear police said it was likely a random crime, very frightening and a reminder that life is never certain. This is such a terrible thing and what a shock, it’s taking awhile to process.
To me, the important thing is that Jean is senselessly lost to random gunfire, not the color of her murderer’s skin. It seems like a lot of depressed, angry people of all colors have guns and they are randomly killing people. Even our schools are not really safe anymore.
And sometimes that is the problem, I am sorry to say. Neither person should have gotten a pass, should they?
Please remember that we are talking about the murder of real people who are loved by this community. The story here is not about who did what and what color they are. People, family, friends will google their loved ones names and come across this conversation which should be held on a different post. Not every event in this county is about immigration.
Jean was my best friend. My husband has been close to Jean for 23 years and held Jim in his arms when he was a week old. I loved her and Jim as I love my own family. Please be respectful that this is not a political event, this is people’s lives. Please think about the Smith family, who might read this, before you type.
APWCR,
Could you please drop the spitting?
Thank you ,Kris. We are so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine losing my best friend in such a horrible way.
There are other threads here. We are reserving this one to remember Jean and Jim Smith. On behalf of Alanna, Elena and me, we are requesting that all other topics move to other threads. Thank you.
Thank you MH.
What’s happaening? Why are my comments in moderation awaiting moderation M-H?
I’m really sorry. My apologies to the Smith family, to Chris Nohe, and everyone else on the blog. I didn’t think about the family when I posted the first remark that set off the tangential discussion.
It was a real wake up call to realize that the families of the victims might read a blog where a tragic event is discussed for its political ramifications. Feel free to put me in moderation too.
Kris,
Thank you for trying to get this thread back on track.
I’m so glad you said everything in this county is NOT about immigration. This is very true unfortunately some in the county have a “one track” mind.
This is a loss for OUR entire community. I saw several children interviewed they all said they called Jean “mom”. This is really says something about the woman she was. The Smith’s were active in the community on many fronts. Loosing a friend as young teenager is one of the most difficult things a child can face. My heart goes to all that have been touched by the Smith’s.
I’m sorry for your loss, and Marty’s too.
Lafayette
Kris,
Is there anything people can do, even those of us who did not know the Jean and Jim? Please keep us abreast of any help we can offer.
I am so sorry for your loss of Jean, this must seem so unreal for everyone who was a part of their lives.
I knew Jeana nd her son..as well as her family..this is truly a loss to many. She was the kind of person who would do whatever to help others.
Jim, was someone with a great personality..and goal oriented.
My heart breaks for all of they family and friends
Jean had the biggest heart of anyone you could possible know. She didn’t idiolize things like a big fancy house with all the trimmings or a BMW or any of the other material things most people choose. She choose kids. My kids used to walk home for school and stay at her house until I got home from work. We used to kid around that she and her household were like a second family to us. The Smith household was a second family to so many kids within this community from elementary school through to college. She served for years as the Enterprise and Benton PTO president. She was actively involved in the High Schools and School board within her church at Holy Family. I can’t fathom what she might have done to cause someone to pull the trigger.
None of the Smith household is prejudice and I am quite offended by remarks made by Mackie. Prejudice has no bearing in this blog. If you feel threatend for what ever reason by being a hispanic, then maybe you should move back home. Your comments and negative demeaner do not belong here.
My heart aches for the loss, but I am so concerned for the Middle son to have come home to find his brother having been murdered. That is a vision you cannot erase from your mind. Rick will need the entire communities support, he lost a wife and a son, and his children lost a brother and a mother. Lets not forget what this blog was intended to be about.
Mackie,
Please stop typing, I am asking you politely to move your comments to another thread. This topic was not the place to rail about white racism, it really wasn’t. You have been known to make valid points, but you are losing all credibilty by continuing on this thread. Sometimes, it is best to just say nothing.
Mackie,
You simple do NOT get it! Do you? Give up, and move on. Go visit the dark screen or something.
There’s been a horrible crime committed in our community and that IS ALL that matters, and nothing else. There are many kids and adults grieving today for their mother, wife, daughter, brother, son, and friend. There have been some wonderful things written here, and you should look at the good in a person. A community has suffered a huge blow, and healing and kindness must now prevail.
Old Neighbor,
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. My heart breaks for all that knew the Smith’s, but especially for the many young people that had seen the kindness first hand.
BTW-Mackie is best IGNORED!!
Are you serious?
Two extremely wonderful people from our hylton high school family were just brutally killed and all people can argue about is the race of the killer. Im so disgusted right now.
Momma smith i will love you forever. You were such a sweetheart to me in a time when i needed all the love you gave and i will never forget you for that.
RIP Momma and Jim
A not so gentle reminder from Alanna, Elena, and Moon-howler that this thread is to remember the Smiths. Remarks of condolence and memories are for this thread. All other remarks will be removed.
Thank you for honoring our wishes and for honoring the wishes of those close to the Smith family during this time of tragic loss.
Thank you for sharing Michelle. Why horrible events happen are simply unknown, but it is clear that this family, especially Jean, touched the lives of so many people in a positive way. We should all strive to impact our community in such a way.
I also apologize for going off topic and offer my sincere condolences to the Smiths, their friends, and extended family.
NotGL,
I’m glad to see you “did the right thing” by apologizing. I hope others follow your lead.
Thank you.
I also apologize if I unnecessarily offended some people. Every life lost in a crime is a tragedy and I was not trying to make light of it. If there are boundaries to the discussion, please add an editor’s note at the top to include that information.
Mackie,
Thank you too for apologizing too. I think this is a one of kind thread, and ONLY respect has a place here.
Thank you Mackie 🙂
I agree with Chris, let’s all pray this is a “one of a kind thread”, never to be replicated in the future.
my daughter’s away message on AIM says the following:”I don’t understand why people my age are killed, hell, people of any age are killed. why do we kill?”
She graduated with Jim Smith from Hylton. I really don’t have an answer for her and it hurts not to.
A PW Resident, I don’t think there are answers to that question. As we age, the answer becomes no clearer.
A PW Resident,
As parents we want to be able to have all the answers for our children, answers that lessen pain, but the reality is, we often don’t have the words to assuage the fear or pain they are experiencing. All we can do sometimes is just tell our kids we love them and give them hugs and kisses.
I think it is bs that people are arguing over a race of the murderer. Jim was a friend of mine and i dont think its cool at all for people to just be worried about that because of what race you may be. Have a heart and dont be worried about yourself, think of their family and the loss theyre experiencing. Clearly the killer/killers are going to be of any race, it is unfortunate we do not know who they are but they chose to do this, not their race. Race has absolutely nothing to do with this at all. It is their personal problem, not their races. I feel like everyone worried about race in this situation is being extremely selfish.