Justice4Medina

Arlene and Robert Medina

The loss of our son, Robert John Medina, has devastated our lives.  We were proud of Robert John when he made the decision to join the Marine Corps and begin his career serving this great country of ours.  When he joined the Marine Corps he called us every day and would talk excitedly about his experiences.  We worried for his safety when he told us he was assigned to serve in the Iraq war; but, he like many other American service men throughout history, took on this challenge and with bravery and honor.  

Over the course of his tour in Iraq, Robert John would call home regularly.  At first, he sounded excited and proud to talk about all the positive and honorable things his platoon was doing to help the people of Iraq.  After several months, we noticed he began to sound like we had never heard him sound before.  When I, his mother, asked him about the things he was doing, he spoke haltingly and his voice would quaver.  I tried to get him to tell me about the things he was experiencing in Iraq; but, he would only say, “Mom, everybody takes life for granted.  I can’t talk about what I’ve seen.  I don’t ever want to think about it.  It’s really messed up, I don’t know why we are over here.”  I knew at that point that Robert John was suffering.  

Robert John was a brave young soldier.  His platoon achieved their mission.  He fought through his pain and made it home safely.  My husband and I were so relieved that Robert John was home.  We hoped his return home would re-build his mental strength and get him back to normal.  I remember thinking, even if it took a while for him to heal from the psychological trauma of war, at the very least, his life would not be in danger at home.  This thought brought our family comfort.  Little did we know the danger that life on the home front would bring.

My husband and I were there in San Diego to meet Robert John when he returned from war.  We visited with him and his lovely wife.  Although it was nice to spend time with him, he wasn’t the same man as he was before he left for Iraq.  He had a deep sadness that he could not shake.  He did not want to discuss his experiences and was holding a lot inside himself.  After a few days at home, we were happy to learn that he was receiving counseling at Camp Pendleton. 

My husband and I returned to our home in Colorado worried and hopeful that he would slowly heal and become the bright and happy young man that we lovingly raised and nurtured.  He would call us every day in Colorado just to check in and talk about his day.  The last time I spoke with him was 11pm on the night he was murdered.  He talked about his wife and said that he loved her and that she was a great woman.  He seemed to be on the right path – the road back from that kind of psychological damage is painful; but, he was fighting through it and getting better.  

It hurts me that this frightened, unarmed and defenseless young soldier was gunned down by the deputies.  I know that he had evaded the police, but he didn’t deserve to be killed.  He was not armed.  He was not under the influence of a substance that would impair his driving ability.   An alternative to deadly force could easily have been used to subdue him.  Why didn’t they shoot out his tires, disable the truck or use a taser gun or stun gun?  Instead many rounds were fired at his truck as the bullet holes attest, and he was punished by the police and suffered a horrible death.

After Robert John died his body was left out in the street uncovered for hours.  My mind is tortured when I think of this.  The body of a man who valiantly served his country, shot when unarmed, and cornered then left dead on the street.  What were his last thoughts?  How much pain did he suffer?  Why have the police refuse to reveal to us what happened that evening? Why he was killed?

Robert John was my child, our son.  Children are not supposed to die before their parents. It is heart-breaking beyond words to think that his life was cut so short.  He had so much ahead of him.  So much to live for.  All that was taken from him, from all of us.  My husband and I cannot express the pain that his death brings our family.  He didn’t deserve to die.  He was a brave soldier who made a mistake.  Nothing can bring him back now and nothing can heal this deep wound that our family has suffered.  We miss him deeply every day.

As parents we want justice to be served.  We want answers to the questions we have about our son’s death.  We want to see and end to the senseless shootings by the police of unarmed and cornered civilians.  Mostly, we want our son back, but he will never, never come back.