Posted by Observor, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jul 21, 2008 at 12:04 pm

Man gets shot and killed in downtown Palo Alto, hundreds of people flood the blogs with commentary.

Man gets shot and killed in East Palo Alto, and this is the first post, several days after it took place. Sad what becomes news. Even sadder what we've become.

Posted by Lives in EPA, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jul 21, 2008 at 3:19 pm

Because there aren't that many who're killed in EPA who're innocents - they're mostly gang or drug related murders. While they're tragic in their own way, it's difficult to work up too much upset over it. But this is my reaction - I'm not sure what the reactions are of others - because most of the victims aren't white?

Posted by pt, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jul 21, 2008 at 4:13 pm

When some is killed in Palo Alto it residents are obviously concerned because it is local and potentially effects them, that natural.

When someone is killed in EPA you would expect EPA residents to express concern, that does not seem to be happening here, maybe they have another forum, maybe they do not care.

Posted by Maybe We Knew He Wasn't Innocent, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jul 22, 2008 at 12:23 pm

I've lived in EPA for 13 yrs & have come to learn few of the murders are truly innocent of wrong-doing. Most are gang & drug related. Other serious, violent crimes do happen to innocents in EPA - especially crimes against children & rape. Lesser crimes, such as burglaries, harassment, and property crimes happen to innocent people as well, but don't get much press.

Posted by epa, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jul 22, 2008 at 2:46 pm

well this is still someones child and I'm sure the family is hurting. I do realize however the pain has been brought on by the individual. He was a victim of his community. My prayers go out to his family and loved ones and also to all the EPA residents that may God bless you all with peace. May he bring upon a light to show that your life, my life and my childrens lives are important and lets just pray that revenge isnt in the works. Who knows who could fall if they were to attempt that hopefully not someone who is innocent someones baby or mother.

Posted by UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jul 23, 2008 at 2:40 am

amen! REST IN LOVE, PEACE AND HARMONY "JOHN LEONARD" gone from earth but you remain in our hearts TILL WE MEET AGAIN. *tearz*

Posted by PYT, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jul 24, 2008 at 12:59 am

THIS WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS REAL AND THAT JUS MADE HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY LOVE HIM UNCONDITIONALLY! ITS SAD THAT HE IS GONE BUT EVEN SADDER THAT HIS NEWBORN SON HAS TO GROW UP NOT KNOWIN NOTHIN BUT MEMORIES OF HIS FATHER....ALSO ITS REALLY ASHAME HOW THE EPA POLICE PORTRAYED HIS MURDER AS GANG RELATED...WHEN THEY SO CALLED DIDNT HAVE ANY EVIDENCE.....HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMEMBERD FOR ALL THE GOOD IN HIM...AND NOT HIS FLAWS......BUT DONT WORRY JOHN YO REAL NIGGAS KNEW YOU WERE A GOOD PERSON AT HEART! WE ALL LOVE AND MISS YOU! SHYNE DOWN ON US!

Posted by To Those in Denial, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jul 24, 2008 at 1:42 pm

L eonard wasn't a victim of his community - he was a victim of his own choices & it caught up w/him.

Posted by POPPIN ASS TATI, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jul 26, 2008 at 6:41 pm

FOR PPL WHO WANNA B ON HERE DOWN TALKIN MY CUZIN N SAYN HE WAZ N A GANG YALL STUPID ASS MUTHA FUCKAS DDNT NO HIM, MY CUZIN WAZNT N NOBODIES GANG!! BUT WATZ YALL NUMBERS CUZ IT AINT NEVA BEEN A PROBLEM DOE, SHIT WAZ UP..!! JOHN WAZ TRIN 2 BETTA HIS LYFE, HE WAZ GOIN 2 SKOO & TAKIN CARE OF HIS SON. SO B4 U WANNA B ON HERE RUNNIN YO FUCKIN MOUTH BOUT MY CUZIN NO WAT THA FUCK U TALKIN BOUT. I WISH THA NEWS PAPER WULD STOP WRITIN DUMB SHIT BOUT MY CUZIN, ALL DAT SHIT YALL SAYN BOUT HIM IS FALSE. EVERYBODY CANT BELIEVE WAT DEY READ N HEAR 4ROM THA NO GUD EPA POLICE CUZ DEY THROWIN DIRT ON MY CUZIN NAME, DEY DONT GIVA FUCK!! OF COURSE DEY GONE SAY HE WAZ N A GANG DEY JUS AS DUMB AS YALL... R.I.P CUZIN JOHN I LUV U & U WILL NEVA B 4GOTTEN

Posted by POPPIN ASS TATI, a resident of another community, on Jul 26, 2008 at 6:44 pm

FOR PPL WHO WANNA B ON HERE DOWN TALKIN MY CUZIN N SAYN HE WAZ N A GANG YALL STUPID ASS MUTHA FUCKAS DDNT NO HIM, MY CUZIN WAZNT N NOBODIES GANG!! BUT WATZ YALL NUMBERS CUZ IT AINT NEVA BEEN A PROBLEM DOE, SHIT WAZ UP..!! JOHN WAZ TRIN 2 BETTA HIS LYFE, HE WAZ GOIN 2 SKOO & TAKIN CARE OF HIS SON. SO B4 U WANNA B ON HERE RUNNIN YO FUCKIN MOUTH BOUT MY CUZIN NO WAT THA FUCK U TALKIN BOUT. I WISH THA NEWS PAPER WULD STOP WRITIN DUMB SHIT BOUT MY CUZIN, ALL DAT SHIT YALL SAYN BOUT HIM IS FALSE. EVERYBODY CANT BELIEVE WAT DEY READ N HEAR 4ROM THA NO GUD EPA POLICE CUZ DEY THROWIN DIRT ON MY CUZIN NAME, DEY DONT GIVA FUCK!! OF COURSE DEY GONE SAY HE WAZ N A GANG DEY JUS AS DUMB AS YALL... R.I.P CUZIN JOHN I LUV U & U WILL NEVA B 4GOTTEN

Posted by Still Human, a resident of Los Altos, on Jul 31, 2008 at 3:53 pm

Regardless of anything...he is still a human being and that still counts for something. Rather than judging him try to walk in his shoes, or his sons, or his girlfriends. Gang or not we are all born into this world in very different environments and some have to do what it takes to stay alive! Don't judge if you came from money...not everyone is as fortunate. In some neighborhoods it's survival of the fittest and that's because of society...so before people criticize and pass judgment of the life he lived stop and remember he was a human being. Rather than taking the time now to judge him you should have taken the time to maybe reach out when he was alive. Or reach out now to someone who may not have the opportunities you have and see what a difference it will make. He may have done things that you and or I would not do and would not think of doing...but that's because we aren't put in the position where we have to do it if we were it may be a different story. So just stop and let the family grieve and grow in strength. In my eye's I'm not sure who is worse off... someone who did what he did and tried to change, or the people who have nothing good to say about someone they didn't even know. I don't know him... but I do his girlfriend and to raise a child now by herself is a challenge she will face. Send strength not ugliness... I send my loving prayers and thoughts to his family, his son, and his girlfriend. I am sorry for your loss. To his girlfriend... I worked with you and was able to see you when jr. was in your tummy still.... if you need anything...ANYTHING... call info. and ask them for my number! I was in account services... you know me! Much aloha to you!

Posted by Idea, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Aug 8, 2008 at 12:11 am

I've got a GREAT IDEA! Stop hanging out in Murderville!

Posted by PA, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Aug 9, 2008 at 1:24 am

JOHN MAYBE U DID DO SOME DIRT MAYBE U DIDN'T

MAYBE U WERE INVOLVED IN SOME KILLINGS OR NOT

SHIT CATCHES UP TOO U N IT HURTS WHEN IT CATCHES UP WHEN UR TRYNA CHANGE ROGUE