Local: Murder is murder, this year or last (CORRECTION)
Peoria’s first murder victim of the year is Mario McGee, a Woodruff High School graduate. And that’s a big deal for the media, it being a milestone of sorts. Had this same man died inexactly the same way on two months ago, would it be less or more worthy of note?
I found his MySpace page, if anyone wants to take a look at it. Lots of rough language and pics.
UPDATE: Gang signs all over his MySpace page, and now the Journal Star is reporting that somone shot at a car he was in at least three different times. Oh, and someone beat him up too.
UPDATE 2: I am being told that:
1. Those weren’t gang signs at all.
2. That Mario was hated by gang members because he wasn’t one of them.
What I saw on the site was a lot of teen who dressed like the part (yes, I know it’s considered a style), flashed a lot of hand gestures, and copious use of the “N” word.
I might have jumped to conclusions, but the content of the Web site itself has a lot to blame for that.
Due to lack evidence (and many statements to the contrary) , I’ll apologize for implying he was a gang member. And I’ll let Emerge Peoria have the last word.
Mario’s messages on his MySpace page are riddled with the “n” word. Now, the average Peoria Pundit reader may not appreciate the way Mario communicated his thoughts, that’s their prerogative. However, Mario’s words to his friends, who he endearingly called “my n****a” are words of encouragement. There were reports of gang signs on his MySpace page. I must not know what a gang sign is – because I didn’t see one.
February 8th, 2009 at 1:53 am
Too sad for words…..
February 8th, 2009 at 6:51 am
I’m in my mid 40s and, of course, have been out of the loop with the youth of Peoria for quite some time. Please, please, please tell me the way this young man talks about his friends and the indiscriminate use of the “n-word” is in the minority and not the majority.
February 8th, 2009 at 7:53 am
That MySpace page has red flags all over it.
February 8th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Wow, no kidding. Pictures with friends while showing gang symbols. He must have mad someone in the hood mad as they would kick in his front door and shot him point blank and yet, the mother in the paper (or was it the grandfather) at any rate, some family member said he was a good clean young man with no known gang activities. Maybe they need to look at his facebook page?? mahkno is right, red flags all over it.
February 8th, 2009 at 9:31 am
And check out the obit comments on the MySpace page too.
February 8th, 2009 at 9:42 am
That’s a VERY tame MySpace page compared to many others of kids the same age. I know several students who make gestures in their pictures who are no more part of a gang than I am. I’m sure we’d be very surprised to see the MySpace pages of some of the stellar students a local high schools. He may have not been an exemplary young man but making any assumptions based on his MySpace is inappropriate.
February 8th, 2009 at 10:04 am
AND no gang member will show his face and throw gang signs up all over a public MySpace page.
February 8th, 2009 at 10:58 am
First of all, if flipping the bird with both fingers is a gang sign, we all must be guilty of gang affiliation. Indeed, I find it in very poor taste that you post a link to a homicide victim’s MySpace page, trash it for a lifestyle you have no clue about (I agree with Rix here, a VERY tame page from many I have seen) and turn the VICTIM of a MURDER, a cold blooded and heartless one at that, into some sort of deserving gangbanger. Oh I forgot…citizen journalism…everyone is guilty even before a trial, even the dead. Sad. Just. Sad. *shakes head in disgust*
February 8th, 2009 at 11:25 am
My sympathy and prayers go out to his family and friends.
It seemed like he was well liked by lots of his friends on his page.
The high school age experience looks so different from mine in a lot of ways and much more slang and gangster mannerisms. It’s a sad and disturbing lens into my neighboring community youth as Woodruff is about a 60 second drive from my house in my ‘72 Gran Torino(Clint Eastwood edition.)
I suppose, maybe alot of hand signs are just for show and style like Rixie points out.
Isn’t Woodruff one of the best schools academically? I heard they have a lot of good students and faculty.
-Scott
February 8th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
On the other hand if you study victims on-line networking pages with the benefit of hindsight, insights may be gleaned that could help prevent or reduce similar tragedies.
February 8th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
How about those of us who don’t know what we’re talking about just stay out of it? Huh? Take the page down. Let this family grieve.
February 8th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
[...] http://pundit.blogpeoria.com/2009/02/08/local-murder-is-murder-this-year-or-last-updated/ [...]
February 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
So, the younger commenters here say that there is nothing out of the ordinary on his MySpace page. that says much about them, and what they accept as ‘normal’ today.
February 8th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Younger? Thanks for the compliment, but I doubt it. No, I actually have some insights here.
Try this:
http://emergepeoria.blogspot.com/2009/02/definition-of-gang-banger.html
I would venture a guess the Emerge has far more knowledge of the situation that anyone here.
February 8th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I didn’t realize 47 was young, but thanks!
February 8th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Ok I agree with Diane on this. A lot of insights there? I really feel for the family and the loss of their son but, and this is a big but, people just don’t storm in a house, leave the others alive and shot one person unless something was up. As for the hand signals or gang signals or whatever, well, anyway you look at it the gang lifestyle, no matter how cute some of you paint it, can’t be constructive for anything but thugs. As a parent, if my kid had a web page like that, there would be a lot of ass kicking going on around here no matter how harmless some of you see it.
February 8th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Damn kids…
February 8th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
True dat.
February 8th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Folks, the only people who are responsible for Mario McGee’s murder are the people who murdered him.
That being said, I’ve done too much police reporting to understand that most murder victims are people people who are involved in activities that are unsafe and illegal.
The content of young Mario’s Website — whole NOT proof of gang involvement certainly indicates he was enamored of the some aspects of that lifestyle. Whether is played a part in his murder isn’t known now.
February 8th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I agree with Billy–all the threats on this young man’s life in the last few days probably indicates some level of involvement with gangs or, at least, dangerous people. I’m not sure parents really believe what they say (no gang involvement). It’s a way of saving face. I never quite understand asking the parents these questions–although they frequently offer comments on their own. Do we really expect parents (or even fault them) to disparage their child when they are dealing with his/her death? For those who don’t understand this world that so many kids live in, it’s easy to discount or mitigate parental grief. I somewhat disagree with the comment that kids won’t reveal their gang involvement on MySpace, etc. These are teenagers; their involvement with a particular gang is often a source of pride, etc. Parents who really want to know about their children’s activities, etc., would certainly do well to become familiar with sites such as MySpace. Strangely enough, kids and some adults seem to feel safe revealing themselves on MySpace. Personally, I have a fear of even clicking on the site–I just don’t want to face the reality that I already know is out there.
February 8th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Ok Got to agree with Sharon Crews on this: “I somewhat disagree with the comment that kids won’t reveal their gang involvement on MySpace, etc.”
I think some here are giving gangbangers way to many smarts. The one picture with the young man holding up three fingers sideways, that is a gang sign. Need to see it? Lunchtime at PHS or at Woodruff.
February 8th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
I know Mario PERSONALLY and I am EXTREMELY disgusted by this webpage. How dare you make a judgement on someone you don’t know because of a My Space page. People harm good and innocent people all the time for no reason. Mario’s MURDER was one most likely done out of jealosy if anything. He worked AND went to school both full time!!!! For you people to go so far as to show people his My Space only to criticize him is REDICULOUS!!!!!! You would not appreciate if someone did this to one of your family members or friends so why would you do it to someone else??? All of you who are making it out to seem like Mario deserves this or what you saw on a My Space is reason enough for someone to kick in his door and shoot him once in the face and once in his head,as well as have him watch his mother get beat in his final moments really need to re-evaluate your actions and what you say. Those of you who wrote negatively in rememberance of my friend disgust me!!!! And further more, YES his mother is still alive, BUT she was beat until she slipped into an unconscious state and is still not doing well!!!!!! Those of you who wrote in honor of my friend’s memory are really appreciated. Mario was a wonderful person and whoever did this to him not only did an injustice to his family and friends, but to the world as well…………………………
…………………………………{{{I love and miss you already Mario!!!! May you FINALLY rest in peace!!! You were a great and wonderful person who deserved to be treated as such!!! We are all hurting over your death but trying to think of you as being in a better place. It breaks my heart to think about what exactly your last moments were…Heaven was truly missing an angel without you!!! You’re gone but never will you EVER be forgotten!!! R.I.P. Mario “Rio” McGee!!!! xoxo}}}……………………………….
February 8th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Perhaps, Mr. Young, you could have someone from Mr. McGee’s family personally contact Bill Dennis and request that the link to your friend’s MySpace page be removed. Or, even better, set Mr. McGee’s MySpace page to private.
February 8th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Mr. Young, perhaps you can ask someone from Mr. McGee’s family to contact Bill Dennis personally and request that the link to his MySpace page be removed. I’m sorry your loss and hope that Mario’s mother recovers.
February 8th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
It is Ms. Young and thank you for the advice! I really did not want to bring it to their attention that someone has been this ignorant as to have a link to his MySpace and portray him in such a negative light, especially at a time such as this. He’s a friend of my family, and these comments tore me apart so I don’t even want to imagine what they would do to his family !!! But if it means he will take this off the Internet then I will. It would be greatly appreciated if he did, but will he HAVE to take it off? Thank you for your condolences!!!
February 8th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Whether it is a direct view of the person or a totally fictitious persona he presents, it does reveal something true about the person because each person’s MySpace page, Facebook page, personal blog or whatever presence he maintains online is exactly what he chooses it to be.
February 8th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
wHOEVER YOU ARE YOU ARE A STUPID BASTARD THIS WEBSITE IS SO RUDE IDK WHAT EVEN POSSESSED YOU TO DO SUCH A HEINOUS THING AS SUCH. I KNEW MARIO AS WELL AND HE WORKED FOR EVERYTHING HE HAD AND HE WASN’T A GANGBANGER WHO CARES WHAT HIS MYSPACE INPLIRS WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYBODY TAKING HIS LIFE? RIGHT! YOU A GAG AND YOU GOT TO BE ONE IGNORANT BORED INDIVIDUAL IT’S SAD HOW PEOPLE STILL NO MATTER WHAT TRY TO LOOK DOWN ON AFRICAN AMERICANS IN SOME KIND OF WAY. THIS BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES.
February 8th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
AND WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR DEFINITION OF A FUCKING GANGBANGER? THROWING UP SIGNS WOW, C’MON NOW PEOPLE STILL DRIVE AROUND WITH CONFEDERATE FLAGS IN THEY BACK WINDOW AND WEAR SHIRTS TOO DOES THAT MEAN THEY PREJUDICE? C’MON NOW TAKE THIS OFF? THIS IS VERY FUCKING RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL!!!!!!!!!!!
February 8th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Some might think it’s rude when you leave two profanity-laden comments on a blog whole using a fake name, fake email and a fake personal Web site address.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:03 am
I take back the dumbass Clint Eastwood remark.
It was unthinking to make such a reference.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:40 am
I hope all murder victims get the same treatment this year. The white murder victims with the pictures of reckless drinking at nightclubs and the bad music, along with the black murder victims with the questionable attire and the bad music.
I just love how so many folks jump on the bandwagon and have already insinuated that this boy’s murder is not a big loss because “most all murdered folks are into something bad already” and “he’s in a gang, look at the hand gestures” and such.
Some of the comments here, and inevitably in the JS web page, and other blogs around here, are just embarrassing. Instead of writing about how this is just black-on-black crime and it is justified because this KID has a racy myspace page, go out and sit on your porch, shake your fist, and rest your shotgun on your lap. Don’t go near a computer, because it is that kind of out-and-out racial profiling and PREJUDICE that keeps any sort of equality from happening.
SHORT VERSION: Even the dead have the right to be considered innocent before being proven guilty.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Noone deserves to be murder. There should not be that much anger in the world to go kill somebody. It make no difference how the person looks, what they say how they carry themselves, Noone deserves to die!
What we all need to do, is to start praying and ask God to save our children. Save us. All of us got to meet the Lord one day. There is a heaven and hell. One of them is where we going when we die.
If we start praying and go back to the old time way … we would not have all this crime.
Let pray that God will give Ms. McGee strength. She does not need to hear what is on myspace. She saw her son died. Everyone got some skeltons in their closets. Stop talking about what that young man had on myspace and think about what we can do help our people.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:27 am
@ least there are some people that do have enough heart and sympathy to respect his family. yeah you right my email and etc is fake because my idenity does not matter i was just voicing my opinion as you rudely did cause he was my friend and i feel i have the right to take up for him you need to just take this off!
February 9th, 2009 at 1:33 am
And FYI there are two different shay’s on this blog I am the one who is disagreeing with the stupid fuck who made this blog page not the one making clint eastwood jokes. i would hate to see something like this happen to the rude people who made foul comments about somebody they didn’t even know.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:47 am
Plain and simple, Mario wasn’t a gang banger or a bad person. How do i know this? I knew him personally, yet briefly. I’m a plain, white man, not from Peoria, that has an unbiased opinion. I have had long personal talks with him in a one on one situation. I understand the type of person he tried to make himself perceived to be. I know the person he really was. I completely understand how someone, that didn’t know him or the “type” of guy he was, could believe that he was up to no good or involved in activities that could bring on this situation. I’m not 100% sure of that he was innocent, but i can tell you that as a judge of character, Mario wasn’t in a gang. He had his friends, his “click”, just like every adolescent kid ages 12-20 in the urban setting Nation wide. Its an urban culture thing. It symbolizes his brotherhood to his “Nigga’s” or “buddies” for you corn bred white folk. His “signs” that he’s flashing are just like a patrol flag in the boy scouts or the insignia on an army soldiers uniform. His clothes are urban style, just like rockers, skaters, goths, mods, preps, hippies, business man, whatever. I personally think that making a very statement that someone is a gang banger or involved in gang related activities just for having a group of friends, wearing a certain style, or saying “offensive” words is rather RACIST and STEREOTYPING. That’s no different than calling him a Nigger for being black.
Just because a person wants to be viewed as that “tough guy” or a “baller” or many other slang terms, it doesn’t make him what your white community tells you to think he is. Just because you don’t understand it, it doesn’t mean its wrong. He had a job, was going to school, had a dream to be a better person and get out of the “hood” environment. Sounds like a responsible person. He wanted to be rich and be respected just like every other kid in the Hood. Why? Because its better that being called a gang banger, just for wanting to fit in a little. Instead, some irresponsible white “journalist” is talking shit about him after he was murdered. Instead of casting judgment upon somebody for looking a certain way, talking in a manner that you don’t like, or just being a jerk about in the first place, why don’t you write about something that is actually going to better the situation or better the community all together?
He was a good dude. RIP Mario ..M&M..
February 9th, 2009 at 5:11 am
Ya know Billy, I wonder why you took my comment down? I didn’t even swear and in fact of a rare moment, I agreed with Sharon Crews? What happened to it?
February 9th, 2009 at 6:53 am
My sympathies to the friends and families of this young man.
No one on here is saying Mario deserved to die. This situation is every parents worst nightmare. Every time our kids walk out the door there is a fear in the back of our minds that that may be the last time we see them. When a parent hears a siren and your kids aren’t under your nose you worry they may be in a burning building, or in a car wreck.
Anyone can lose a child for any reason. The late teens are such impressionable years, and all kids, black, white and in between are so vulnerable to peer pressure. I come from a large multi-racial family of both bio children and adopted children. All of my brothers and sisters gave my parents fits… no one was exempt. Some of them still are. My parents never laid there heads down on their pillows until the last kid was back in the house.
No one here is doing any racial profiling. White kids can be in gangs too. White kids can have disturbing myspace pages too. They are all kids. No one wants their kids or anyone elses to die. If it happens, we want to know why. We want to make sure it doesn’t happen to another kid, or maybe another of our own.
So sorry for your loss.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
SHAY,
If you are really standing up for your friend, maybe you should not post in such a way as to make a complete ass out of yourself. Use your words to convey the feelings you had for Mario and the impact he had on you and others he associated with. Swearing at Billy and other bloggers that have posted their comments just justifies what they were saying.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Billy apologized for his assumptions that Mario was a gang member. Perhaps you should all thank him for this opportunity to air your feelings, to set the facts straight, and to honor Mario. There are some honest emotions being expressed here–some a bit rougher than others–but still honest. As a teacher I watched as a significant number of my students (students that I cared for) ended up in gangs and some ended up dead. Others, perhaps like Mario, were caught in some other kinds of crossfire. John, as a white teacher, the young people whom I taught helped me to understand much of what you are saying–that even if they got involved in gangs, it was their sincere wish to get away and start a different kind of life. Also, I learned to separate their “gang” persona from the people they were inside. I didn’t know Mario–having taught for 43 years I wouldn’t doubt that someone in his family might know me (and vice versa). If so (and even if not), I extend my most sincere sympathy.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Mr. McGee’s MySpace has become a place for his friends to honor his memory and express their sadness. It’s not a “discussion starter.” Anyone reading Mr. Pundit’s ‘apology’ know exactly what he’s inferring. Were he truly remorseful he’d remove the link so that those who knew this kid could express their sympathy without worrying about a bunch of judgmental white guys casting aspersions in their direction. Oh, and the whole purpose of the post was to ask whether this murder would be news 2 months ago or is it news because it was the first of this year. This whole “dialog” has nothing to do with the purported intent of his post.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Oh stow it missy.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Jill,
Why in the world do you have to stereotype and espouse discriminatory remarks. How do you know which posters are white, black, green, pink etc… And why does that matter to begin with.
It takes a bigger person to admit their mistakes and “air their dirty laundry (insert mental picture of Billy’s tighy whities here)” then to erase the post and act like it never happened.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Don’t erase the post, remove the link and any inflammatory comments.
And, Mr. Bravo11, you and I and every other person who regularly follows the blogs is well aware of the race color and creed of regular commentors and bloggers.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Jill:
1. I am operating under the assumption that there’s nothing in the MySpace page indicated that young Mr. McGee is a gang member, and indeed indicates the opposite.
2. I believe in transparency. My Web site id dedicated to it. I have nothing to hide here, nor do I want to. I screwed up, everyone knows it. Why hide it?
February 9th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I love the “corn bred white folk” comment……………long live Richard Pryor!
February 9th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Oh and I do think the link to his My Space is in poor taste…….thats why I CHOOSE not to view it even tho it is out there for the public to see. Those type of sites are a way to express ones self…so be aware….anyway one chooses to portray themselves, it will be judged.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Linking to his MySpace is voyeuristic and has nothing to do with the original intent of, or the title of this post.
My guess is that if Mr. McGee’s family knew his MySpace password, they would have rendered his account “private”. I would further venture a guess that they have contacted MySpace, informed them of Mr. McGee’s passing and asked that any public access be prohibited.
I’ll take it one step further and suggest that were we talking about a victim who lived in Dunlap and was a graduate of Peoria Chirstian, you’d have removed the link 2 days ago.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
No doubt Richard Pryor would have sent me out to the back yard to get a switch to beat my OWN ass with.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Rock on, Peoria Pundit. Pay your bills. I personally think that the McGee family has a nice slander case building here. The old non-apology apology.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Jill: You presume much, yet know little. I find your attempt to hijack this post to make a point about ME to be in poor taste, considering the underlying tragedy. All I did was attempt to explain a tragedy. You are exploiting it to score points against someone (me) for reasons I have yet to fathom.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Billy: I think you are exploiting this young man’s tragic death without thought or consideration to the impact your words have on his family or friends. I can only assume that you continue to link to his MySpace page as a means of driving traffic to your sight. I do not know you. You do not know me. The title of your post: “Murder is Murder: This Year or Last” has absolutely NOTHING to do with the insinuations that have been made about his character.
How about this? Use your “journalistic” contacts and check out Mr. McGee’s criminal background? What crimes has he committed? Surely, if your intentions were to accurately portray this man’s life, you’d include all the details.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
The words have already been written and read. They cannot be unsaid and unwritten. To take them down would be to perpetuate a lie, namely that I never really said them. It would be easy for me to take the post down or remove the link.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
You put the link up recklessly. You’re inviting anyone who reads this to make the same assumptions you made.
Again, take a peek into his criminal record. Tell us what you find.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Jill,
For someone who openly admits that they don’t know someone you sure seem to have formed a lot of opinions about said person. And open a dictionary so that you know what slander is before you use it incorrectly next time. Its clear that Jill is very closed-minded and likes to stereotype large groups of people.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
err…how’s that go?
Stow it, Mr.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
That’s it. This post has been hijacked. Comments are now closed.