Hard news to hear, again and again

Once again, a shooting in Charlottesville overshadows the news of the week, and the struggle to find solutions continues.

Once again, a shooting in Charlottesville overshadows the news of the week, this one in the early morning hours of March 18 on Elliewood Avenue, which claimed the life of 26-year-old Cody Brian Smith. Yesterday, police arrested 21-years old Lakori Brooks for the shooting, but have offered no further details. This one prompted an immediate response from UVA President Jim Ryan.

"This is hard news to hear, especially after the Nov.13 tragedy on Grounds," said Ryan in an email to the UVA community, referring to the shooting that claimed the life of three UVA football players and wounded two others, and noting the shooting was "part of a trend of increased gun violence" in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Indeed, it was hard news to hear that Eldridge “Skeeta” Smith had been shot and killed in January, right across from UVA Hospital. It’s been hard news to hear about each of the 13 people killed and 22 injured by gun violence since last September. It’s been hard news to hear about sho…