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So this is that story of the shootout. I mentioned days ago that I might write this

I seriously contemplated if I should even tell it here in the first place but eh. I'll delete it if I feel the need to. I'll also mention that any investigations are over with & I no longer put myself in these positions anymore. Also, sorry for the length lol.

I realize there are people who will judge me regardless so screw it. I'll take that 🤷

To start, it was another regular day. I worked my ass off on a long shift, got off work, then I decided to stop by a friend's to see what he'd been up to (I'll call him A). His best friend had just gotten killed a few weeks before & he was going through a really hard time. Not only were the same people trying to kill him too, but my friend wanted revenge on the people who did it. Typical hood story. One of my closest friends (I'll call him B) & I would stop by to visit him almost every day to keep him company & make sure he was safe. We didn't want him getting attacked or doing anything stupid.

This one particular night, we were outside by the parking lot because we were smoking. It was late at night on a work day so we weren't expecting anybody to really be looking for us. We were laughing & joking around, telling stories like usual. Suddenly A got a text message that was only a picture of the street sign closest to the corner we were next to.
We knew that picture was sent as a warning that we were being watched & immediately we all changed our whole demeanor.

Every single one of us owned guns & at that moment there was four of us standing together. We all cocked our guns back (put a bullet in the chamber) & kept them at our sides because we already knew something was about to happen. We just didn't know where, what, or how it was gonna pop off.

We decided to start walking back to the apartment so we walked in line, one by one at a distance so we weren't all grouped together at once.

That's when a black sedan pulled into the parking lot. We had our eyes on the car as it pulled up across from the spaces we were next to. Both front doors opened & two men leaned out of each of the doors. We heard the *click clack* of pistols being cocked back. The first shot went off & I heard the bang as I saw the ground spark up right in front of my feet, meaning that's where the first bullet hit. Each of us aimed back & started shooting immediately. My guess is they didn't expect all those shots to be returned. There was only two of them & four of us but we were running for cover since we were in the open while they were ducking, closing their doors, getting ready to drive off. Shots still flying back & forth the whole time.

Thats when we all took the cue to split & started running in different directions. I parked my car outside of the complex when I arrived because I didn't want to risk my car getting towed (since I didn't live there). As I exited the complex from the opposite direction I saw the same black sedan pulling out of the complex on the other side of the street as me. I don't even know how they got there so fast.

I saw the windows rolling down & I knew what that meant so this time I shot at them first because when you're in that state of mind, your thoughts are "hit them before they hit me". They fired back only a few shots before hitting the gas hard & peeling out of there. The way they drove away seemed like the driver definitely got shot. I found out later that's exactly what happened. He got hit in the leg when I shot at his car.

I got to my car & left as quickly but calmly as I could. Of course speeding would draw attention & I could already hear the police sirens so I was just driving like I normally would've. B called at that moment & told me that A is by a tree around the corner. I pulled up, he hopped in my car, then we drove back to B's house.

I was still on high alert when I got there. Every car that passed by his house had me watching them just waiting for something to happen again. I felt like with the amount of bullets that went off that night it's amazing my friends & I didn't get hit.

The next day we found out both of those people in the sedan were shot. Both lived. It's hard to say which of our bullets hit the other guy though. I know I hit the driver but idk who hit the 2nd person. I haven't heard anything about him since. Maybe he didn't even make it.. but I think if that happened I would've heard about it. That shootout was a huge deal & the streets knew about it. So I think he just vanished on his own after.

That was the last incident I got into before I took a step back from that lifestyle. I got tired of looking over my shoulder, wondering if this might be the day I get locked up or maybe even shot. I got tired of being there for my friends & not worrying about myself. When their stupid asses are gonna do what they wanna do no matter what. At a certain point I can't be there anymore. I can't stop them. & Why throw my own life away for other people who are throwing theirs away too?
Even out of all those people in the shootout that night, only two of us are still alive & free. Just me & B.. he's still one of my closest friends.
A is in prison now. So is the other friend who was with us that I didn't name.

As for the other two who targeted us, one of them is dead. He pointed a gun at A's sister a week later so A killed him in broad daylight in front of witnesses. Shot him more than 20 times. So not much of a defense for that in court. The other guy, I have no idea but it wouldn't be hard to guess.

I know there's people who will read this & think about what a lowlife piece of shit I am. The disregard for the safety of others. The recklessness of knowing what could result from the positions I put myself in. I don't disagree with that at all. I'd tell you you're right.

I'm here because I like telling my stories from time to time, giving my input, & accepting others. The same reason I joined EP long ago. I've always liked writing & EP allowed me to write my experiences in a place where people can actually relate or ask questions. Because I ain't telling my family on Facebook these stories 😂 I mean I'm honest with them but I ain't out there writing shit like this for them to read me like a book. Especially this one because it's too much.
I can say I'm a good person.. I can tell you all that I've changed, but words aren't enough for things like that. You guys can decide that yourself. If you think I'm a bad person.. then I am. I won't argue with you.
I'm just here to share my experiences & hope it does something.
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I can't see you as a bad person.
I think you could write a Pulitzer-winning novel based on this story.
The story shows how you were a product of your environment, how you loved and cared for your friends, how you acted only in self-defence, and how your conscience acted on you to create a change of strategy and lifestyle.
I do wonder why more people don't buy bullet-proof vests and helmets in states where firearms are so abundant that they outnumber citizens.
@hartfire honestly I wouldn't even know where to start if I wrote a book. But I've had people tell me that my life would make a great book or a movie & I should collect all the stories I write. Because as much as I love writing, none of my stories are fiction. It's all stuff I actually went through & had to learn.

But thank you. I live in Arizona so wearing a bulletproof vest all the time here would be exhausting. But I wish guns weren't as common as they are. I keep one on me at all times... Even right now in my house, I have one on my hip. But I hate that I feel like I need one to be protected. It sucks that so many of us have to feel vulnerable when we aren't armed
@ChiefWalksWith40oz
Arizona is gorgeous in so many ways, not least the beauties of the landscapes. And it's hard to leave and find a safer place if one is settled with work, family, friends and community all around. In a sense, it would be like becoming a refugee within one's own country.
Yeah, I can see how a bullet-proof vest would be hellish to wear in mid-summer.

Nevertheless, like your friends, I think the book would work. A collection of the short stories could work just as well.

Most first time novels are based on the real life experiences of the writer - or rather, the best novels are based on what the writer knows best. It gives the writing the ring of authenticity. Names and places are disguised to protect against hurting those still alive and their loved ones, and also to protect against any implications of slander.

If you love writing anyway, then you're probably half-way there already.

All writers need editors at the structural, copy and proof reading levels. The cheapest way is to get help from fellow writers and offer the same in return. Another way is to leave your best effort first draft for six months, and then re-read it. What needs editing will pop out at you instantly.

Have you read any of Toni Morrison's novels? She's brilliant.
@hartfire Arizona is beautiful with our sunsets but I still hate the sun 😤🤣

& if anything, I'd probably have to collect any short stories I've written over time, write more, then fit them into chronological order of what time they happened. Then I'd have to use that to rewrite it all & fill in any gaps to lead into each other. It would be a lot of work but I could do it & I'd like it. But I doubt it would sell or anything 😂 but no I've never heard of Tori Morrison. Who's that?
@ChiefWalksWith40oz Your proposed method of linking the stories into a novel would work very well.

I think you'd be surprised at how well it could sell. The topic is on target for issues that rage across the US and around the world.

Toni Morrison is one of America's world famous and best loved novelists.
Wiki introduces her this way: "Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison (born Chloe Ardelia Wofford; February 18, 1931 – August 5, 2019), known as Toni Morrison, was an American novelist. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970. The critically acclaimed Song of Solomon (1977) brought her national attention and won the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 1988, Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved (1987); she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993."

My favourite of hers was "Belovéd" - very hard emotionally, but so profound and so necessary.
Jenny1234 · 51-55, F
@ChiefWalksWith40oz speaking about writing a book, if you’re not sure where to start read Cupcake Brown’s book Piece of Cake about her life. She was in a gang for a while growing up. It might help you be able to piece your story together. I definitely would read your story