E8 News Article
The Outsiders
YA Realistic Fiction
Speak
1967
Trade Paperback
180
Tulsa 
Tribune
Local Boy Shot and Killed By Police Officer
By Ben Bustamante
Late last night Dallas Winston or known by his friends as “Dally” was shot after stealing from a local convenience shop. At the empty lot by 72nd Street the police found the boy with his friends. The reason they shot at the boy was because he pulled the gun out first. One of his friends, Ponyboy was quoted saying “Dally’s best friend in the whole world Johnny had just died from severe burns.”
The police officer who shot Dally, who is named Officer Jerry Johnson offers his condolences to the family and friends of Dallas Winston. Officer Johnson is under trial and could be spending up to 42 years in prison. Dallas’s mother is quoted saying “This man killed my precious baby boy! This is not enough, this man needs a life sentence!” But Sodapop, a friend of his said “I don’t think Dally would care about this trial he put this on himself. He knew that the gun couldn’t do anything without ammo and that the police would shoot him. If he really cared he wouldn’t have drawn the weapon.”
The friends of the boy have decided to make a memorial and have a memorial service for the family at the place of his death. They say the service is to help with grieving and to bring awareness of suicide. This service will be open to the public and you can come and give your condolences to the family. Keith “Two-Bit” Matthews says, “I think we should do this for him to show our love for him. It was so sad to see him go and I hope no one has to go through what he did. Losing his best friend and then feeling so sad that you just want to die.” The goal of this service is to bring awareness to suicide and the boys say if you ever feel suicidal please tell a trusted adult or someone close to you and get help.
The family is starting a fundraiser to help raise awareness of suicide. They as a family have donated $1,000 and are asking others to donate to. If you would like to donate call (483) – 383 – 0972. The fundraiser has currently raised $4,249.99 out of their $8,000 goal.