Central Avenue in downtown Faribault. In the residential area of Central, blocks from the downtown, a troubling crime recently occurred. Yes, I feel safe in downtown Faribault. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.
I DEBATED WHETHER I should write about this. But my writing roots lie in journalism. And I can’t ignore hard news, especially hard news within my neighborhood.
This is the type of news you never want to read about in your community. Drive-by shootings. Yes, three. In Faribault. In an 11-block area. In six days. One two blocks from my house. All apparently connected, based on evidence collected at the scenes.
No one was struck in the shootings at homes along Willow Street (my street) and in the 900 block of Central Avenue and also at the Kwik Trip East convenience store.
At this point, the Faribault Police Department has formed a task force to address the crimes and Police Chief Andy Bohlen, in a news release, stated that “This type of violent crime is particularly alarming and we need this dangerous person (s) identified and taken into custody as soon as possible.”
I couldn’t agree more. You can read the entire news release by clicking here to reach the Faribault Police Department Facebook page and an August 30 posting.
At this point, I’m surprisingly not as rattled as I thought I would, or maybe should, be. My attitude bothers me. I should be outraged that someone is shooting at houses where children live. I should be worried that one house is only two blocks from mine, right next to the spot where my son once boarded his school bus. I should be concerned that bullets were fired into the convenience store where my family buys gas and the occasional groceries.
What is wrong with me that I feel only troubled and unsettled, but not outraged? Have I become too accustomed to violent crime?
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION about the drive-by shootings should contact the Faribault Police Department at (507) 334-4305 or the tipline at (507) 334-0999.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I “liked” the post but I don’t like it if you know what I mean. I think it is so easy to just kind of let things get distorted in our mind when violence is all around . It is almost as if we have become desensitized to the point of not really understanding the seriousness of what is happening not only in your neighborhood but everywhere. While I do not want to live in fear I do think I should probably take things like what is happening in Faribault a little bit more seriously. My own town certainly is not immune to violence and much of what goes on in Mason City is drug related. Stabbings, shootings, homicides all seem to be creeping into our culture at a rate that is alarming.
I think there is a balance somewhere—-between being paranoid and being aware. Hopefully that is what you have reached . Hope they find the culprit(s) ASAP.
I think you nailed it with your comment, Beth Ann.
I’m not going to speculate on the reasons for the three drive-by shootings in Faribault because I don’t know.
But much of the crime in my community, as in many towns, is, as you say, drug-related. More than a decade ago, for example, a young man was stabbed to death within two blocks of my home in a drug-related homicide. It was rather unnerving to see the SWAT team sweep through my neighborhood searching for the murder weapon. I cite this as an example of how my neighborhood has been affected in the past by violent crime related to drugs.
“Outrage” is for those whose lives are directly in the path of, or immediately impacted by, such activities. I have often wondered “where is the outrage”(?) when and ‘over the top’/malicious incident seems to slide through society’s stream of consciousness. Until an individual’s personal world is the center of the target (hitting too close to home), the reaction is not there and life/the “dailies” go on without much of a ripple. If this sounds very cynical/hardened, I would assert, it is the reality of today. What goes on in Washington or down the block will get minimal reaction until it strikes at the personal level/pocket-book resulting in a fear of “upset in my world”. And such is why major (immoral/amoral) legislation is allowed to become law of the land.
Sorry…….stepping off my soap box now…….
No need to apologize. I do think you’re right. When crime, or whatever, hits one personally, then we become outraged…
Sadly, I agree……..
That is a lot of crime in a small town! I really think the majority of us are just desensitized to crime and maybe even violent crime. Due to my job position I am always on high alert and sometimes that is not a good thing either because I start looking for the bad at times. Glad to hear the police are taking action and catch this person or persons SOON!
It’s interesting that you would term Faribault a “small town” as I don’t consider it “small” given our population of @ 23,000. But, yes, I agree that three drive-by shootings in less than a week is a lot and three too many.
Okay to me it seems small, especially with the population here being about 228,000. No place is immune from crime anymore! I remember not locking doors growing up (house or car).
Categorization is a matter of perspective, I suppose. And, yes, this type of crime can happen anywhere. And, yes, I, too, grew up in a place where houses and vehicle doors were not locked.
Yes, we do become desensitized…and, I believe, we – at least I – almost HAVE to block some of the worry from my mind because otherwise I’d live in a constant state of fear. I am not a paranoid person and I don’t want to be! There is so much ugliness in the world…and, contrary to what many believe, I do not believe the world is getting better. So I duck my head and move on through my day…all in the name of mental self-preservation.
Excellent points. I bet you can even see me ducking my head.
Never a good thing, no matter where you live. It saddens me, hard to believe but I know it’s real. I have no other words…the world is changing it’s scary! I’m glad no one was hurt in these senseless acts….ugh!
Senseless is a good tag to attach to these crimes.
We need to condemn all evil, hatred, violence for it all stems from the common source of every evil. The remedy is ever before us – available to all who will accept it on a personal level: The Way is Truth, Peace, Life. Unfortunately our society seems to have fallen for the lies inherent in seeking truth in falsehood. Does “the Media” define the trend or simply reflect it? I cannot decide. Tonight as most nights I am making a conscious decision to obey Philippians 4:8 and think on things true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praise-worthy. Here endeth my homily.
Marilyn, thank you for those words of wisdom, to direct our thinking on that which is good.
As for the media, having worked as a news reporter decades ago, it was my job to report the news, not make it. People often blame the media for our world’s troubles, but that is misdirected. Don’t kill the messenger, I always say. In my reporting days, I didn’t report bad news because I liked to do so; it was part of my job. That’s my perspective on the media.
I’m so sorry to hear this but sadly, it seems to be becoming more and more common. It’s illegal to have any kind of firearm in this country but that doesn’t stop the drive-by shootings – criminals who want guns will always find a way to have them. Fortunately, we haven’t had any drive-by shootings in our area – they tend to happen in a particular area of Sydney xx
Just last evening in north Minneapolis, a two-month-old baby was shot and hospitalized. A 3-year-old and a 5-year-old have already died after being hit during drive-by shootings in north Minneapolis in the past few years. I couldn’t even tell you how many adults have died as a result of drive-by shootings. It’s scary, and now moving into my community…
I wish I could wipe away the threat and the accompanying fear of domestic violence, drive by, shoplifting, petty theft etc. Herein lies the problem. By the time you see the painted walls scared by spray paint, the gangs are already in the vicinity. Turf wars will erupt. While we may think safety is a basic human right, one does not get that right without strong men standing guard willing to stop those who would perpetuate harm on others. The police are (check out the laws) under no obligation to provided security for any single individual, but somehow, government officials do get it. As citizens, we are responsible for our own safety! Hotlyspiced tells you the truth! Gun Control ONLY WORKS with the honest citizen! Criminals are under no obligation to register their guns! I have two suggestions (1) take a training course in some kind of self -defense course, even if you are disabled! A cane is a serious tool for self-defense. (2) get a CHL / CCW / CCP or whatever the state calls it and get a firearm that works for you. Train with that firearm until you can hit your target from 5 to 15 feet. Learn how to carry it. Learn the laws that govern the carrying, when and where you are permitted to carry, when you can use deadly force and when you can not. If you do not feel comfortable with the idea of carrying a gun, go back to my suggestion (1) and double your training efforts. I for want want you all safe and free of fear, but I can not do that alone. The police, and you are the only ones that can make that happen. Keep notes, pay attention to your inner instincts. Be in Condition Yellow (caution) when leaving, arriving at or away from your home. Write down the plate number of strange vehicles in your neighborhood. If you can’t volunteer for Neighborhood Watch, attend meetings to see what they do, how they collect and process information and who to call and when. If you have the money, get a night-vision camera system and monitor your home, driveway and the street you live on. As a former security guard (you know, the high-school drop-out who couldn’t get a “real job”), people can be really stupid, criminals too, but criminals key on the fact that they are being observed and usually like to leave as soon as they realize this. Be safe my friends!
As I recall, suspects were apprehended and pled guilty/were convicted in these cases. It’s been awhile so I don’t remember details.