Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Opinion

If no one knew who you really were, you could say whatever you wanted. And you would get away with it.

I'll admit that when I read the headline, "Police: Man shot prostitute in the back because she got tired," I chuckled for a moment.

Send hate mail, or keep reading. Because I'm not alone.

The Bakersfield Californian reported that 20-year-old Ryan Graham shot a prostitute in the back after she tried to exit his vehicle following 10 minutes of sexual activity.

The prostitute, whose name has been withheld as a measure of caution, reportedly became too tired to continue and opened the door to leave the vehicle, which was parked in an alley in the Downtown Bakersfield area - a less-than-classy segment of the town in which I spent the first 18 years of my life. Graham, who apparently wasn't tired as his new acquaintance, shot her in back.

She was taken to Kern Medical Center with a collapsed lung and was listed in critical condition.

I laughed because the situation sounded so absurd, so devoid of humanity, that I had to giggle some before realizing why I thought it was even remotely funny before acknowledging it was completely sad.

My real name is attached to this article, though, so I assume it's a smart move on my part to inform readers of my true feelings: Even after laughing at the absurdity of the event, I thought it was a terrible occurrence, and I hoped that the woman recovers.

But when no one knows our names, we can spout off. We can confide in anonymity.

"Dude, what do you expect for $20?" wrote "dagamer667" on a San Jose Mercury News online forum.

Inappropriate? Yes. Funny? Yeah, kind of, though I can't say I would be laughing if "dagamer667" sat next to me in class (though he or she might).

Another prostitute gave responding police officers a description of the vehicle, and officers visited Graham's residence.

Apparently Graham had seen a crime drama or two in his day, because after speaking to police, he sprinted through the back door of his home, only to be caught after a brief pursuit. Just like in the movies.

"The lowest price isn't always the best deal," wrote "onecheeksneak" on the online forum. "This is a classic 'buyer beware' situation."

Offensive? I'd say. Comedic? I think so, though I doubt "onecheeksneak" is someone close to either Graham or the victim (though you never know).

And if the situation wasn't already dramatic enough, Graham was then taken to the medical center so that the injured prostitute would have an opportunity to identify him.

Continued...

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